Crowley, Louisiana

Crowley is a city in and the parish seat of Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,265 at the 2010 census but 14,225 in 2000, a loss of nearly a thousand persons. It is 65 percent white.

Crowley is noted for its annual International Rice Festival. Crowley has the nickname of "Rice Capital of America", because at one time it was a major center for rice harvesting and milling. Today, Crowley still has a number of rice mills and rice is the main crop of many local farmers. In addition, in recent years, crawfish farming has become increasingly popular.

The Crowley High School "Fighting Gents" were State Division 3A Champs in the 1989 football season and had an 8-2 regular season. Crowley is also the home of Notre Dame High School. Notre Dame is a parish-wide Catholic school whose football program has won 4 state championships and numerous District Champion titles.

Crowley is the principal city of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Acadia Parish. It is also part of the larger Lafayette–Acadiana Combined Statistical Area. The town is named after Pat Crowley.

Geography

Crowley is located at 30°12′49″N 92°22′25″W (30.213618, -92.373695) and has an elevation of 20 feet (6.1 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (13 km²), all of it land.

History

Patrick Crowley

Crowley was founded in 1886 by C.C. Duson and W.W. Duson. Incorporated in 1887, W.W. Duson, General Manager of Southwest Louisiana Land Company, plotted and developed Crowley. W.W. Duson's daughter, Maime Duson, married Percy Lee Lawrence, who founded the First National Bank of Crowley. The 7-story building was once the tallest building between Houston and New Orleans. They lived with their three children, P.L. Jr., Pattee, and Jack at 219 East 2nd Street. The house is now on the historic register.

The town was named after Pat Crowley, an Irish railroad man who brought the railroad depot to W.W. Duson's land. Descendants of founder W.W. Duson, continue to live in Crowley.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,225 people, 5,294 households, and 3,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,895.1 people per square mile (1,118.6/km²). There were 5,904 housing units at an average density of 1,201.6 per square mile (464.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.83% White, 30.98% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 5,294 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,495, and the median income for a family was $28,180. Males had a median income of $27,684 versus $19,706 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,734. About 24.3% of families and 28.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.1% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people from Crowley

• John Breaux, former US Senator and before that a Representative
• Jack Brooks, member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas from 1953 to 1995 and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1989 to 1995, born in Crowley
• Tommy Casanova, four-time All-Pro Cincinnati Bengals defensive back/punt returner from 1972–1977
• Edwin Edwards, former governor of Louisiana, U.S. representative, and state senator
• Michael D. Edwards,famous radio Personality for K.A.J.N, K.S.I.G, K.X.K.C,and K.R.O.F. Radio stations from 1982-85.Known as the radio Jokker. U.S. Veteran
• Paul B. Freeland, Presbyterian minister, author, genealogist, philanthropist, historian of Acadia Parish
• Jim Gueno, Green Bay Packers linebacker from 1976–1980
• Allen C. Gremillion, state representative, 1964–1971
• Winsor Harmon, soap opera actor born on the day of the John F. Kennedy assassination
• Chris John, former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and the Louisiana House of Representatives
• John N. John, III, state representative, 1972–1983
• Edward "Kidd" Jordan, jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator
• Victoria Reggie Kennedy, native of Crowley, second wife of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy
• Rose Wilder Lane, daughter of famed American children's author Laura Ingalls Wilder, attended high school in Crowley
• J. D. "Jay" Miller, composer! musician, recording engineer
• Gil Pinac, member of the Crowley City Council (1987–1996), Alderman-at-Large & Mayor Pro-tempore; member of the Louisiana State House of Representatives (1996–2008); candidate for Louisiana Public Service Commission (2009)
• Edmund Reggie, former Crowley judge; father-in-law of Edward Kennedy
• Orlando Thomas, Minnesota Vikings defensive back from 1995–2001
• Clifford Joseph Trahan, recorded anti-African-American songs under the name Johnny Rebel

External links

• City of Crowley
• International Rice Festival, held every third weekend in October
• Acadia Parish Library