Pierre Part, Louisiana

History

Pierre Part was founded by Acadian French settlers after the Great Upheaval of 1755, during which much of the French population of Acadia was expelled by its British conquerors.

The town, Pierre Part is named for Pierre Part, who was exiled from Port Royal, Nova Scotia, New France, and arrived in Louisiana in 1766. (6) Pierre came with his wife Marguerite Melancon, a son and daughter. They were to have 4 more children before Pierre died the 3rd of October 1826. His descendants are still living in the area. The town remained isolated from most of the world, since it was surrounded by water and was inaccessible by land until the mid-twentieth century. Before the Great Depression, the inhabitants of Pierre Part were fishermen and alligator hunters; after the Depression, many men of the town were forced to find work in other fields including logging, levee building, and the growing petroleum industry in Louisiana. Fewer people continue the traditional ways of fishing and living off the land with each generation.

Pierre Part experienced flooding when the Morganza Spillway was opened during the 1973 Mississippi River flooding.

The History Channel's reality show, Swamp People, features the Landry family, a Cajun family who lives in Pierre Part; the series debuted on History in 2010.

On August 3, 2012, the Bayou Corne Sinkhole, situated roughly 3 miles from Pierre Part, appeared. In areas of Pierre Part near the sinkhole, residents reported gaseous odors and strange bubbling in local waterways, prompting Governor Bobby Jindal to issue an evacuation order for the nearby community of Bayou Corne. The sinkhole expanded significantly during the months after it first appeared, invoking fear in residents of Pierre Part due to what was perceived to be an imminent threat to the community. Significantly, the sinkhole continued to grow in the direction of Louisiana Highway 70, the main highway on which most residents drove. Public outrage to the events in Bayou Corne was largely directed towards Texas Brine Company, the salt mining company perceived to be chiefly responsible for the disaster; a class-action lawsuit against Texas Brine ensued. However, a 2018 court ruling declared the fault to be shared between three companies: Occidental Chemical was 50% at fault, Texas Brine was 35% at fault, and Vulcan was 15% at fault. As of 2019, the sinkhole continues to expand, albeit slowly, and the community of Bayou Corne remains deserted, with most homes commercially demolished.

Geography

Pierre Part is located at (29.960975, -91.206612). According to the United States Census Bureau, this Census Designated Place has a total area of 7.98 sqkm, of which 7.95 sqkm is land and 0.03 sqkm, or 0.37%, is water.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Pierre Part first appeared as a census designated place the 1980 U.S. census.

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 3,024 people, 1,099 households, and 625 families residing in the CDP.

Education

Pierre Part is part of the Assumption Parish public school system.

• Pierre Part Primary School
• Pierre Part Middle School
• Assumption High School (located in Napoleonville)

Transportation

Louisiana Highway 70 runs through and serves as the main highway for Pierre Part . Other highways that serve the community include Louisiana 997, Louisiana 1015–1, Louisiana 1015–2, Louisiana 1016–1, and Louisiana 1016–2.

Notable people

• Cliff Crochet, professional bass fisherman and competitor on the Bassmaster Elite Series
• Troy Landry, TV personality starring in Swamp People. Nicknamed "King of the Swamp" in the series.
• Pierre Part, the man the city is named for, and one of the earliest settlers in the area.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. (2023). "Pierre Part LA ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pierre Part CDP, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
4. "Language Spoken at Home: 2000". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
5. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "Decennial Census by Decade".
7. (1950). "1950 Census of Population - Louisiana - Table 7 - Population of all incorporated places and of unincorporated places of 1,000 or more: 1950 and 1940".
8. (1960). "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Louisiana - Table 8 - Population of All Incorporated Places and Unincorporated Places of 1,000 or More: 1940 to 1960".
9. (1970). "1970 Census of Population - Louisiana - Characteristics of the Population - Table 6. Population of Places: 1970 and 1960".
10. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Louisiana - Table 14 - Summary of General Characteristics".
11. (1990). "1990 Census of Population - Louisiana - Table 1. Summary of General Characteristics of Persons: 1990".
12. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
13. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Louisiana".
14. "Explore Census Data".
15. Masson, Todd. (2014-10-04). "Pierre Part's Cliff Crochet retraces his journey to bass-fishing's elite".