kids encyclopedia robot

Vidalia, Louisiana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Vidalia, Louisiana
City of Vidalia
Motto(s): 
City on the Move
Location of Vidalia in Concordia Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Vidalia in Concordia Parish, Louisiana.
Vidalia, Louisiana is located in Louisiana
Vidalia, Louisiana
Vidalia, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
Country  United States
States  Louisiana
Parish Concordia
Incorporated (town) 1870
Incorporated (city) 2012
Government
 • Type Mayor-council government
 • Body City council
Area
 • Total 2.59 sq mi (6.72 km2)
 • Land 2.59 sq mi (6.72 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
65 ft (20 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,027
 • Density 1,552.43/sq mi (599.36/km2)
ZIP code
71373

Vidalia is the largest city and the parish seat of Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,299 as of the 2010 census.

Vidalia is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

The city of Natchez, Mississippi, lies on the opposite bank of the river, connected by the Natchez–Vidalia Bridge, carrying U.S. Routes 65, 84, and 425.

Geography

Vidalia is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River at 31°34′6″N 91°26′3″W / 31.56833°N 91.43417°W / 31.56833; -91.43417 (31.568295, -91.434268) and has an elevation of 66 feet (20.1 m). The city of Natchez, Mississippi, lies on the opposite bank of the river, connected by the Natchez–Vidalia Bridge, carrying U.S. Routes 65, 84, and 425.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), all of it land.

History

Vidalia was founded by Don José Vidal, when the territory was under Spanish rule, before the United States acquired it in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The Great Sandbar Duel, featuring Jim Bowie, is one of the stories still told by local residents.

On July 14, 1863, shortly after the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson to Union forces, Confederate-controlled Vidalia was entered by 200 mounted infantrymen led by Major Asa Worden of the 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This detachment captured the rear of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith's ordnance train on the Trinity Road, 15 miles (24 km) from the river. The Union forces took a large supply of muskets, cartridges, and ammunition.

The longest-serving sheriff of Concordia Parish was Eugene P. Campbell, who held the position from 1908 until his death in February 1940. Another long-serving sheriff was Noah W. Cross of Ferriday, who was in office from 1944 to 1948, and 1952 to 1973. Fred L. Schiele, a Vidalia native, was appointed and then elected sheriff from Cross' resignation until 1980.

In 1976, the former West and Company Department Store in Vidalia, owned by the late H. O. West of Minden, gained national attention when six female employees filed a civil rights suit claiming gender discrimination for the store's failure to promote women. They said they had been passed over for managerial promotions, although none had filed written applications for such positions. In its 1986 ruling, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans ruled that the lack of written applications is no defense for companies in such matters, because the women had made verbal requests or may have feared retaliation for filing written records.

Vidalia is home to Louisiana's first hydroelectric power plant and the largest prefabricated power plant in the world. A total of 41 countries and 21 states collaborated in this historic endeavor, the Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station, located in the southern portion of Concordia Parish. The power plant began operation in 1990. The office is located on Texas Street in town.

Sites of interest

Vidalia City Hall is located at 200 Vernon Stevens Boulevard. Historic photographs are on display for viewing between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some of the historic photographs feature the moving of the town from the original site in 1938-1939.

The Tacony Plantation in Vidalia is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the community's favorite features is Vidalia Landing Riverfront Park which consists of beautifully landscaped green space, hotel, convention and conference center, amphitheater, ambulatory care center, acute care facility, walking/biking trail and public boat ramps. Vidalia Landing Riverfront Park re-ignites the "rivertown" charm of the city's past.

Vidalia leaders joined to partner in the creation of Municipal Park. With the City's purchase of 70+ acres, Concordia Recreation District #3 constructed a Sports Complex. Municipal Park is also home to the newly constructed City Hall, Police Station, and Fire Department. In addition to municipal services and sports, the park also accommodates the Dr. William T. Polk City Park and the Vidalia Community Garden.

Through a grant from the TDF Foundation, both Vidalia Landing Riverfront Park and Municipal Park, are WiFi accessible. Patrons of the parks are encouraged to use this available, free service.

Concordia Parish is the northern gateway to the Atchafalaya Trace Heritage Area, a culturally rich natural wonder encompassing 13 parishes in and around the Atchafalaya Basin. Here, the basin becomes the natural setting to experience the lives and traditions of the people of the region. The state of Louisiana and representatives from each of the thirteen impacted parishes are working to bring this project to its full potential over the next few years. A scenic byway will be part of the Atchafalaya Trace Heritage Area.

The Delta Museum, which is now housed in the former post office building in downtown Ferriday, honors Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis, journalist Howard K. Smith, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, journalist Howard K. Smith, Hollywood socialite Ann Boyar Warner, and jazz musician Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker. The museum, featuring six life-sized exhibits, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Frogmore Plantation west of Vidalia is a 1,800-acre (730 ha) working cotton plantation with gins, slave row, and eighteen dependencies. The plantation received a Rural Tourism Award in 1999.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 449
1890 821 82.9%
1900 1,022 24.5%
1910 1,345 31.6%
1920 1,246 −7.4%
1930 1,141 −8.4%
1940 1,318 15.5%
1950 1,641 24.5%
1960 4,313 162.8%
1970 5,538 28.4%
1980 5,936 7.2%
1990 4,953 −16.6%
2000 4,543 −8.3%
2010 4,299 −5.4%
2020 4,027 −6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Vidalia racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 2,724 67.64%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,028 25.53%
Native American 7 0.17%
Asian 48 1.19%
Other/Mixed 80 1.99%
Hispanic or Latino 140 3.48%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,027 people, 1,480 households, and 948 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,299 people, 1,707 households, and 1,186 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,959.7 people per square mile (756.1/km2). There were 1,910 housing units at an average density of 823.9 per square mile (317.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 72.0% White, 26.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 1,779 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,500, and the median income for a family was $36,917. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $21,455 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,478. About 17.8% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Images for kids

See also

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

kids search engine
Vidalia, Louisiana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.