Church Point, Louisiana Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Church Point, Louisiana | official_name = Town of Church Point | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | image_seal = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = "Buggy Capital U.S.A."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.churchpoint-la.com/|title= Church Point, Louisiana|publisher= Church Point, Louisiana |access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> | anthem = | image_map = File:Acadia Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Church Point Highlighted.svg | mapsize = | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Church Point in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. | image_map1 = Louisiana in United States (US48).svg | mapsize1 = | map_alt1 = | map_caption1 = Location of Louisiana in the United States | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|30|24|17|N|92|13|01|W|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | grid_name = | grid_position = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Louisiana | subdivision_type2 = Parish | subdivision_name2 = [[Acadia Parish, Louisiana|Acadia]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | established_title = Founded | established_date = | established_title1 = | established_date1 = | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | established_title4 = | established_date4 = | established_title5 = | established_date5 = | established_title6 = | established_date6 = | established_title7 = | established_date7 = | extinct_title = | extinct_date = | founder = | named_for = | seat_type = | seat = | seat1_type = | seat1 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = Town Hall | governing_body = | leader_party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Ryan "Spanky" Meche (elected 2019) | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | total_type = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 7.50 | area_total_sq_mi = 2.89 | area_land_km2 = 7.50 | area_land_sq_mi = 2.89 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 | area_water_percent = | area_metro_footnotes = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_rank = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = 46 | elevation_point = | elevation_max_footnotes = | elevation_max_m = | elevation_max_ft = | elevation_max_point = | elevation_max_rank = | elevation_min_footnotes = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_ft = | elevation_min_point = | elevation_min_rank = | population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]] | population_footnotes = | population_total = 4179 | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = 557.46 | population_density_sq_mi = 1444.02 | population_metro_footnotes = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_density = | population_density_rank = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = | population_blank2_title = | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank2_km2 = | population_density_blank2_sq_mi = | population_demonym = | population_note = | demographics_type1 = | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics1_title1 = | demographics1_info1 = | demographics_type2 = | demographics2_footnotes = | demographics2_title1 = | demographics2_info1 = | timezone1 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]] | utc_offset1 = -6 | timezone1_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]] | utc_offset1_DST = -5 | timezone2 = | utc_offset2 = | timezone2_DST = | utc_offset2_DST = |postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] |postal_code = 70525<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/70525|title=Church Point LA ZIP Code|publisher=zipdatamaps.com|year=2023|access-date=June 16, 2023}}</ref> | postal2_code_type = | postal2_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = [[Area code 337|337]] | geocode = | iso_code = | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 22-15465 | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | blank2_name = | blank2_info = | blank_name_sec2 = | blank_info_sec2 = | blank1_name_sec2 = | blank1_info_sec2 = | blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons | blank2_info_sec2 = | website = {{URL|www.churchpoint.org}} | footnotes = }} '''Church Point''' ({{lang-fr|Pointe-脿-l'脡glise}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.codofil.org/english/lafrenchlanguage.html |title=Council for the Development of French in Louisiana - Louisiana's French Language |access-date=2008-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919002834/http://www.codofil.org/english/lafrenchlanguage.html |archive-date=2008-09-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>) is a town in [[Acadia Parish, Louisiana|Acadia Parish]], [[Louisiana]], United States. The population was 4,560 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2215465| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212182550/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2215465| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Church Point town, Louisiana| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> It is part of the [[Crowley, Louisiana|Crowley]] [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. Church Point is known as the Buggy Capital of the World as it used to be host to the annual Buggy Festival which has since gone defunct. ==History== In the late 18th century, French settlers from Nova Scotia (Acadie) Canada, created clearings by burning the underbrush, leaving what they called a ''br没l茅'', or "burn", much as the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] in the area had created a "burn" to promote new grass to attract [[bison]] and other grazing and browsing animals. One of these clearings was created on a slough off Bayou Mermentau, near where the slough came to a point. This new clearing became known as Plaquemine Br没l茅 in 1843 when Etienne d'Aigle III, a descendant of immigrants from Quebec, became the first settler in the area, which at that time was in the middle of Opelousas Parish (later [[St. Landry Parish]]), which stretched from the [[Atchafalaya River]] to the [[Sabine River (Texas鈥揕ouisiana)|Sabine River]]. ''Plaquemine'' is an [[Atakapa]] word for the native Louisiana [[persimmon]]. The French term ''Plaquemine Br没l茅'' is translated into English as "Burnt Persimmon" - a result of the burning of the brush and other woody growth, which apparently contained persimmon trees, during the widening of a slough off Bayou Mermentau to accommodate barge travel for local farmers. As more families were attracted to the area, Jesuit missionaries fulfilled their spiritual needs by establishing a chapel in 1848 on land donated by the d'Aigle brothers Etienne (III) and Joseph ("Jos茅"). The church was known as ''La Chapelle de la pointe de Plaquemine Br没l茅'' (in English, "The Church at the point of Burnt Persimmon"). The English term was later shortened to "Church Point" to refer to the spire on top of the church which could be seen, and traversed to, for miles in this frontier area, and translated back into French as ''La Pointe de l'Eglise''. "Plaquemine Br没l茅 was considered part of the frontier for the next several decades, as there were no railroads and the swampy terrain made overland travel difficult. Early pioneers to the area requested land grants along the bayou only large enough to satisfy their families' immediate needs. Many families raised cattle, which roamed freely on the open range of the prairie." [2] The town's first school was established in 1856, providing encouragement for the community to grow further. The first post office for the town of "Church Point" was established in the area on September 29, 1873, marking the settlement's first official recognition as a community. Thirteen years later, residents of the town voted with those of surrounding communities to form a new parish known as [[Acadia Parish, Louisiana|Acadia]].<ref name="cphistory">{{cite web|title=History of Church Point |publisher=Acadia Parish Tourist Commission |year=2007 |url=http://www.acadiatourism.org/cphistory.htm |access-date=2007-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202001439/http://www.acadiatourism.org/cphistory.htm |archive-date=2007-02-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ==Geography== Church Point is located at {{Coord|30|24|17|N|92|13|1|W|type:city}} (30.404592, -92.216893).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|7.5|km2|order=flip}}, all land. ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1900= 278 |1910= 481 |1920= 557 |1930= 1037 |1940= 1892 |1950= 2897 |1960= 3606 |1970= 3865 |1980= 4599 |1990= 4677 |2000= 4756 |2010= 4560 |2020= 4179 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> }} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |+Church Point racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2215465&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-29|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> !scope="col"| Race !scope="col"| Number !scope="col"| Percentage |- !scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic) | 2,308 | 55.23% |- !scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic) | 1,533 | 36.68% |- !scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] | 4 | 0.1% |- !scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] | 6 | 0.14% |- !scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] | 162 | 3.88% |- !scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] | 166 | 3.97% |} As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 4,179 people, 1,823 households, and 1,064 families residing in the town. ==Economy== As [[Interstate 10]] and [[Interstate 49]] are less than {{convert|15|mi}} from town, many of the people who live in Church Point work in larger surrounding communities. Many of those who work in the area are farmers, growing rice, soybeans, corn, [[commercial sorghum|milo]], sugarcane or [[crawfish]].<ref name="lsue">{{cite web | title = Church Point | publisher = Louisiana State University - Eunice | url = http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/cp.htm | access-date = 2007-03-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608001618/http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/cp.htm | archive-date = 2007-06-08 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Church Point is home to Church Point Wholesale, a grocery distributor that transports goods in the southern United States. Also, Richard鈥檚 Cajun Foods, who has called Church Point its home since 1981, creates a variety of smoked meats and pre-packaged Cajun meat mixes that is in stores around the United States. Since 2021, Cajun Family Traditions, owned by the original Richard鈥檚 Cajun Foods owners, also has ties to the Cajun [[meat industry]] and delivers their foods regionally at this time. ==Arts and culture== [[File:Winners of Children's Courir de Mardi Gras in Church Point, Louisiana - 2017.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Award for "Most Original Costume" is given at the 2017 [[Courir de Mardi Gras|Children's Courir de Mardi Gras]]]] Since 1981, the Acadia St. Landry Medical Foundation, which supports the Acadia St. Landry Hospital, has organized an annual Buggy Festival held in Church Point on the first weekend in June. The town was chosen because residents had used buggies as their main means of transportation until the early 1950s, earning Church Point the nickname "Buggy Capital of the world" in 1927.<ref name="cphistory"/> In its first 25 years, the festival earned over $440,000 in profits, which were distributed among the hospital, the parks department of the city of Church Point, and various civic organizations. Two scholarships are also awarded annually.<ref name="buggy">{{cite web | title = Church Point Buggy Festival | publisher = The Church Point Buggy Festival | year = 2007 | url =http://www.churchpointbuggyfestival.com/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070305014632/http://www.churchpointbuggyfestival.com/ | access-date = 2007-03-19| archive-date = March 5, 2007 }}</ref> The festival, which includes a Sunday parade, gives visitors the opportunity to explore various [[horse-drawn vehicle]]s. [[Cajun music]]ians perform throughout the weekend, while [[Cajun cuisine]] is featured. The festival also often includes a French speaking contest and a Cajun French accordion contest.<ref name="lsue"/> Each year the town holds a ''[[Courir de Mardi Gras]]''. In 1987 Church Point established a relationship with [[Pointe-de-l'脡glise, Nova Scotia|Church Point, Nova Scotia]], bringing about a revival of interest in its French culture.<ref name="cphistory"/> The town now proudly calls itself the "Cajun Music Capital of the World", based on "having the greatest number of professional Cajun musicians of any place on earth".<ref name="lsue"/> A different Cajun musician is honored each year on Cajun Day, the second Sunday in November.<ref name="lsue"/> Among the many professional musicians, Church Point is also the origin of the multi-media recording artist, musician, and composer [[Isadar|Fabian Thibodeaux]] (professionally known as "Isadar") and his oldest brother, organist Dexter Thibodeaux. Isadar's award-winning music covers a wide range of genres and styles including Pop, Dance, Adult Contemporary, Solo Piano, New Age, Classical, and Jazz. He has also produced Cajun music in the past and comes from a family with a rich musical lineage reaching back two generations of Church Point residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isadar.com/isadar-biography-long-form/|title = Biography (Long form) | ISADAR / AMPHABIAN - Mainya Music Entertainment}}</ref> [[Iry LeJeune]] Born in Church Point, October 28, 1929. One of the most popular Cajun musicians in the mid to late 1940s into the early 1950s. [[Boozoo Chavis]] Born in Church Point, October 23, 1930. Accordion player, singer, songwriter and bandleader. Boozoo Chavis was one of the pioneers of zydeco music. [[Rosie Ledet]] Born Mary Roszela Bellard, in Church Point, October 25, 1971. An American Creole, Zydeco Accordion player and singer. She is currently playing with her band, The Zydeco Playboys. ==Government== Church Point is organized under the Louisiana Lawrason Act and is governed by an elected mayor and five members of the Board of Aldermen. These officials are responsible for implementing and carrying out laws for the advancement of interest, welfare, health, comfort, safety, and convenience of the community and its citizens. Elections are held every four years, with candidates taking office on the first day of July following the election and remaining in power for the next four years.<ref name="guillot">{{cite web|last=Guillot |first=Jerry |title=The Lawrason Act |publisher=Church Point, Louisiana |date=February 2004 |url=http://churchpoint-la.com/LAWRASON20ACT.pdf |access-date=2007-03-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007085250/http://churchpoint-la.com/LAWRASON20ACT.pdf |archive-date=October 7, 2007 }}</ref><br> The current mayor of Church Point is:<ref>{{cite web |title=Government |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/government/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> *Ryan "Spanky" Meche (R), a local businessowner and entrepreneur Aldermen include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Alderman |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/board-of-alderman/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> *Christine Simeon (D) - District 1 *Nelson "Kim" Cormier (D) - District 2 *Patrick "Pat" O'Pry (I) - District 3 *Christopher "Chris" LeBas (R) - District 4 *Errol "Slu" Comeaux (D) - District 5 Chief of Police of Church Point is: *Dale Thibodeaux (NP), former police officer for the Church Point Police Department and the Acadia Parish Sheriff鈥檚 Department.<ref>{{cite web |title=Police Department |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/police-department/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> Non-elected leadership positions include: *Raymond Ledoux - Fire Chief, Church Point Volunteer Fire Department<ref>{{cite web |title=Fire Department |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/fire-department/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> *Anthony Jones - Street Commissioner, Church Point Street Department<ref>{{cite web |title=Street Department |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/street-department/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> *Keith LeJeune - Wastewater Superintendent, Church Point Wastewater Department<ref>{{cite web |title=Wastewater Department |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/wastewater-department/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> *Johnathon Murphy - Superintendent, Church Point Water Works Department <ref name="Water Works Department">{{cite web |title=Water Works Department |url=https://www.churchpoint.org/water-works-department/ |website=Church Point, Louisiana}}</ref> *Tyrone Wheeler - Parks Director, Church Point Parks & Recreations Department<ref name="Water Works Department"/> *Patrick Duplechin - Recreations Director, Church Point Parks & Recreations Department<ref name="Water Works Department"/> ==Education== Public * Church Point High School (9-12) * Church Point Middle School (6-8) * Church Point Elementary (PK-5) Private * Our Mother of Peace Elementary (PK4-8) ==Athletics== The town of Church Point has one high school, which fields these sports: Church Point High School * Men's Football (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman) * Men's Baseball (Varsity) * Men's Basketball (Varsity) * Men's Wrestling (Varsity) * Men's Powerlifting (Varsity) * Women's Softball (Varsity) * Women's Basketball (Varsity) * Women's Volleyball (Varsity, Junior Varsity) * Men's and Women's Track and Field (Not including club sports) NFL Wide Receiver [[Mark Carrier (wide receiver)|Mark Carrier]] was born in Church Point, October 28, 1965. Mark was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the third round of the 1987 NFL Draft, 57th overall. He was a 3 sport athlete at Church Point High School, playing football, basketball and track. Carrier went on to play college football at Nicholls State University. [[Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball]] assistant head coach and former [[Nicholls Colonels baseball]] head coach [[Seth Thibodeaux]] is originally from Church Point. He was the head coach at Nicholls from 2011 until 2021 and began his tenure at Louisiana in 2022. He has an overall career record of 229-220-1 and has reached the [[Southland Conference]] baseball tournament four times in his head coaching job. The Town of Church Point also hosts recreational softball and baseball during the spring time as well as FNA, Football N' America, a youth flag football league created by [[Drew Brees]] during the summer and fall.<ref>{{cite web |title=FOOTBALL 'N' AMERICA |url=https://playfna.com/League/ChurchPoint |website=www.playfna.com |language=en}}</ref> Church Point's FNA is one of the first leagues to be played in a small town. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.churchpoint-la.com/ Town of Church Point official website] {{Acadia Parish, Louisiana}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Towns in Acadia Parish, Louisiana]] [[Category:Towns in Louisiana]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1843]] [[Category:1843 establishments in Louisiana]] Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Templates used on this page: Template:Acadia Parish, Louisiana (edit) Template:Authority control (edit) Template:Cite web (edit) Template:Convert (edit) Template:Coord (edit) Template:Infobox settlement (edit) Template:Lang-fr (edit) Template:Main other (edit) Template:Reflist (edit) Template:Reflist/styles.css (edit) Template:US Census population (edit) Template:Use mdy dates (edit) Discuss this page