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Houma, Louisiana
City of Houma
Former City Hall, now Le Petit Theatre
Former City Hall, now Le Petit Theatre
Location of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
Houma, Louisiana is located in Louisiana
Houma, Louisiana
Houma, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
Houma, Louisiana is located in the United States
Houma, Louisiana
Houma, Louisiana
Location in the United States
Country  United States
States  Louisiana
Parish Terrebonne
Founded 1834; 190 years ago (1834)
Incorporated 1848; 176 years ago (1848)
Reincorporated 1898; 126 years ago (1898)
County seat Terrebonne
Principal city Houma–Bayou CaneThibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area
Region Acadiana
South Louisiana
Government
 • Type Government
 • Body Consolidated City-Parish
Area
 • City 14.60 sq mi (37.80 km2)
 • Land 14.47 sq mi (37.47 km2)
 • Water 0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 33,406
 • Density 2,309.12/sq mi (891.55/km2)
 • Metro
208,178
Time zone UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
70360, 70363-64
Area code 985
FIPS code 22-36255

Houma ( HOH-mə) is the largest city in, and the parish seat of, Terrebonne Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is also the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou CaneThibodaux metropolitan statistical area. The city's government was absorbed by the parish in 1984, which currently operates as the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government.

The population was 33,727 at the 2010 census, an increase of 1,334 over the 2000 census tabulation of 32,393. In 2020, the population estimates program determined 32,467 people lived in the city. At the 2020 census, its population rebounded to 33,406. Many unincorporated areas are adjacent to the city of Houma. The largest, Bayou Cane, is an urbanized area commonly referred to by locals as being part of Houma, but it is not included in the city's census counts, and is a separate census-designated place. If the populations of the urbanized census-designated places were included with that of the city of Houma, the total would exceed 60,000 residents.

Houma was rated as an "affordable" city by Demographia's 2013 International Housing Survey.

History

Houma was founded by European Americans in 1834 at a former settlement of the Houma people, who historically occupied this area. The city was named after them. The city of Houma was incorporated in 1848. The United Houma Nation and two other Houma tribes have been recognized by the state. Houma is also rated as a medium size city.

The area was developed for plantations in the antebellum years, which were worked primarily by enslaved African Americans.

Since the late 19th century, the area has become more industrialized and developed for trade.

Civil War

In 1862, four Union soldiers en route by wagon from New Orleans to Houma were ambushed by several armed citizens. Two of the Union men were killed, and the other two were seriously wounded.

In retaliation, Union officers brought 400 troops into Houma, where they began a wholesale arrest of residents. In his 1963 book, the historian John D. Winters describes the events:

"The investigation of the murders lasted several days but failed to reveal the guilty parties. To frighten the citizens, the home of a Doctor Jennings was burned, two other houses were torn down, and the home and slave quarters of an outlying plantation were burned. The soldiers next began to seize sheep, cattle, mules, wagons, and saddle horses. Negroes began to desert their masters and to flock to the protection of the troops. The frightened citizens had no means of resistance, and many found it hard to stand by and see their country despoiled by a few hundred troops."

Geography

Houma is located at 29°35′15″N 90°42′58″W / 29.58750°N 90.71611°W / 29.58750; -90.71611 (29.587614, -90.716108) and has an elevation of 10 feet (3.0 m). BY SQ

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.2 square miles (37 km2), of which 14.0 square miles (36 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.92%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 429
1870 593 38.2%
1880 1,084 82.8%
1890 1,280 18.1%
1900 3,212 150.9%
1910 5,024 56.4%
1920 5,160 2.7%
1930 6,531 26.6%
1940 9,052 38.6%
1950 11,505 27.1%
1960 22,561 96.1%
1970 30,922 37.1%
1980 32,602 5.4%
1990 30,495 −6.5%
2000 32,393 6.2%
2010 33,727 4.1%
2020 33,406 −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
The Twin Spans Bridge
The "Twin Spans" bridges in downtown Houma serve as the main thoroughfare for crossing the Intracoastal Waterway

2020 census

Houma racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 19,456 58.24%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,065 24.14%
Native American 1,428 4.27%
Asian 472 1.41%
Pacific Islander 12 0.04%
Other/Mixed 1,537 4.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2,436 7.29%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 33,406 people, 12,612 households, and 7,970 families residing in the city.

2019 ACS

According to the 2019 American Community Survey, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 62.1% non-Hispanic white, 23.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian alone, 0.1% some other race, 3.9% two or more races, and 4.3% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. At the 2010 census, the racial make up of the city was 67.46% White American, 20.62% Black or African American, 5.45% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.71% Asian, 0.12% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races; Hispanics and Latin Americans of any race were 5.76% of the population.

In 2019, the median age was 36.8. Of the population aged 18 and older, they made 75.9% of the demographic; 8.1% of the population were aged 5 and under; 14.6% were aged 65 and older. The median income for a household at the 2019 American Community Survey was $42,949 and 23.8% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.

2000 census

In 2000, there were 11,634 households of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.24.

27.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median household income was $34,471 and the median family income was $40,679. Males had a median income of $35,897 and females $22,202. The per capita income was $17,720. About 16.4% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Houma and the surrounding communities are steeped in the French and Cajun history of the region. Originally the region was settled by French and Spanish colonists who made their way south through Bayou Lafourche, and then later it was settled by Acadians (Cajuns). The Acadians had been expelled from Nova Scotia for their unwillingness to bow down to the King and to abandon their Catholic religion for the Church of England, an idea any Frenchman would consider preposterous. The number expelled was about 15,000 in number of which 3,000 settled in the region. As the French, Spanish, and Native American tribes began to mix, a unique Cajun culture was born.

The swampland around Houma was isolated from the rest of the United States well into the 1930's, thus outside influences such as radio and WWI patriotism failed to inspire the Cajuns to become more "Americanized". So the culture in this region persevered much longer than in cities on the border of Cajun country like Lake Charles or Baton Rouge. Such rich culture in Houma includes the French language, Cajun cuisine, and festivals such as Mardi Gras. That culture remains evident today and is the source of much tourism.

In the 1970's many South Vietnamese came over to Southern Louisiana to work as shrimpers, just as they had in Vietnam. A fairly significant portion of them settled in New Orleans and many settled in Houma as well. They are still seen at the docks shrimping as their families have for several decades.

Downtown Houma has been listed as a significant historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. It offers a downtown walking tour and attractions such as the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, the Folklife Culture Center, the Regional Military Museum, Southdown Plantation, the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, monuments to local armed forces, and local eateries.

Although Houma is quickly changing, many residents in the surrounding communities continue to make their living as their ancestors did. They are shrimpers, oystermen, crabbers, fishermen, and trappers, although more are beginning to work in occupations of the oil industry and ship building. As reported by records held by the United States Government Patent and Trademark Office, Houma, Louisiana was the site of the deepest oil well in Terrebonne Parish (name of sections in the State of Louisiana, often characterized in the name as "counties" in other States within the United States of America. At that time the United States Postal Service was delivering the mail at a one cent rate. Many long-standing traditions and lifestyles remain as part of the area's rich cultural history. Houma is also the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Tab Benoit's Voice of the Wetlands Music Festival, established in 2005, takes place in Houma, annually in October.

In popular culture

  • Houma and the surrounding area are the setting for the fictional Swamp Thing comic books, and the 1994 V. C. Andrews book Ruby. The Suicide Squad is based at Belle Reve in Houma, as well.
  • The 1996 film The Apostle, starring Robert Duvall, was partially filmed in Terrebonne Parish.
  • The 1999 films Crazy in Alabama, Fight Club and A Lesson Before Dying were partially filmed in Houma.
  • Many wetlands shots in the IMAX production, Hurricane on the Bayou, were filmed in the area.
  • The 2005 film The Skeleton Key is set in Houma and the nearby area of Bayou Gauche.
  • The HBO documentary, The Recruiter, followed the life of an Army recruiter and several of his recruits from Houma.
  • Several scenes from the 2013 film, The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, were filmed in downtown Houma.
  • In 1992, Unsolved Mysteries profiled the case of Adam John "AJ" Breaux, a resident of Houma, Louisiana, who went missing in 1991.

Transportation

Houma is served by Houma-Terrebonne Airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of the central business district.

Good Earth Transit is Houma's parish bus system. It has five major routes and serves the surrounding suburban areas, including the small bayou communities and the city of Thibodaux.

Houma relies mainly on roads and personal vehicles as the main form of transportation. The major roads in Houma are:

  • US Route 90 (Future I-49)
  • LA HWY 311
  • Tunnel Boulevard (LA 3040)
  • LA 24 (locally called West Park Avenue (westbound) and Main Street (eastbound))
  • LA 182 (New Orleans Boulevard)
  • South and North Hollywood Road
  • St. Louis Canal Road
  • Savanne Road
  • Valhi Boulevard

Twin towns

  • France Cambrai, Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
  • Turkey Datca, Turkey
  • New Brunswick Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada
  • In June 2012, Terrebonne Parish signed a letter of intent to become a sister city with Weihai, China, for economic development purposes.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Houma has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

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Education

Terrebonne Parish School District operates the city and parish public schools. Houma is home to Louisiana's second-oldest high school, Terrebonne High School. South Terrebonne High School was founded in 1961. H.L. Bourgeois High School, Ellender Memorial High School and Vandebilt Catholic High School are also in Terrebonne Parish. Southdown High School (originally Houma Colored High School) was constructed in the mid-20th century as a segregated school for black students, serving them exclusively from 1946 to 1969. After that the school was integrated as a result of 1964 civil rights legislation.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from Houma, Louisiana
  • George Arceneaux, U.S. District Court judge from 1979 until his death in office in 1993
  • Tab Benoit, blues musician and co-star of the IMAX movie feature Hurricane on the Bayou
  • Sherman A. Bernard, Louisiana insurance commissioner from 1972 to 1988, graduated from Terrebonne High School in Houma
  • Elward Thomas Brady, Jr., state representative from Terrebonne Parish from 1972 to 1976; businessman
  • Wanda Brister, operatic mezzo-soprano, presently on the faculty at Florida State University
  • Joe Burks, professional athlete
  • Leonard J. Chabert, member of both houses of Louisiana State Legislature from Terrebonne Parish; namesake of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma
  • Marty J. Chabert, former state senator from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes
  • Norby Chabert, current Republican member of Louisiana State Senate from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes
  • Richie Cunningham, professional athlete
  • Allen J. Ellender (1890–1972), former president pro tempore and Democratic U.S. Senator
  • Anthony Freeman, Catholic writer and religious
  • Shane Gibson (musician), guitarist for Korn
  • Skyler Green, gridiron football wide receiver and return specialist
  • Johnny Hartman (1923-1983), jazz singer
  • Hal Haydel, professional athlete
  • Cyril and Libbye Hellier, operatic sopranos
  • Brandon Jacobs, NFL running back
  • Frank Lewis, professional athlete
  • Morris Lottinger, Jr., former state representative and retired circuit court judge from Houma
  • Morris Lottinger, Sr., state representative from 1936 to 1950, House Speaker from 1948 to 1950, and state circuit court judge until retirement in 1965
  • Jesse Marcel, lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force who helped administer Operation Crossroads
  • Elijah McGuire, NFL running back for the New York Jets
  • Jay Pennison, professional athlete
  • Audie Pitre, bassist for Acid Bath, killed in a head-on collision in 1997.
  • Lloyd Pye, ancient astronauts proponent
  • Dax Riggs, frontman for Acid Bath, Deadboy and the Elephantmen, Agents of Oblivion, others
  • Quvenzhané Wallis, young film actress (Beasts of the Southern Wild, 2012)
  • J. Louis Watkins, Jr., judge of Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal from 1979 to 1997; former attorney in Houma
  • Wally Whitehurst, MLB pitcher
  • Justin Williams (baseball), MLB Outfielder
  • Tramon Williams, professional athlete
  • Jerome Zeringue, state representative for Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, effective 2016
  • Chloe Suazo, Actress

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Houma (Luisiana) para niños

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