White Castle is a town located in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,946.
White Castle is located at 30°10'7" North, 91°8'48" West (30.168503, -91.146708).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 km2 (0.8 mi2). 1.9 km2 (0.8 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,946 people, 699 households, and 513 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,001.8/km2 (2,592.0/mi2). There are 762 housing units at an average density of 392.3/km2 (1,014.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 22.56% White, 76.82% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 699 households out of which 38.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% are married couples living together, 30.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% are non-families. 24.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.78 and the average family size is 3.34.
In the town the population is spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $19,435, and the median income for a family is $24,236. Males have a median income of $25,170 versus $15,885 for females. The per capita income for the town is $12,246. 31.3% of the population and 25.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 43.0% of those under the age of 18 and 18.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
White Castle was established as a town at the beginning of the 1900's with the influx of people and business brought by the logging done in the Cyprus swamps in the area. When the Cyprus was depleted the main economic growth reverted back to the sugar cane industry that had been established during the 1800's. Individual plantation sugar mills gave way to larger mills servicing many plantations. By 1970 White Castle had three major sugar mills, Cora-Texas, Cedar Grove, and Catherine/Supples. Presently only one Cora-Texas located just south of White Castle on LA 1 is still in service.
Plantations in the area are Nottaway, Bell Grove, and Laurel Ridge among many more. People living in the unincorporated areas of Samstown, Lone Star, Bell Grove, Dorseyville, and as far away as Bayou Goula helped support White Castle businesses. At one time there were three Car Dealerships, Dufour Chevrolet, White Castle Motor company(Ford) and Dixie Sales and Service(Chrysler/Plymouth), three drug stores, Heberts, Viallons, and Bajons, Weils and Shaheens clothing stores, and two lumber yards. Sammy's, Dominics, Tina's, Fortes, and Landry's were used for grocery shopping.
During the 1950's the Chemical industry entered the area congregating around the Mississippi river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. This entry of this industry brought economic growth that took White Castle to the 1980's. Companies establishing chemical plants in the area near White Castle are Dow Chemical north of Plaquemine, Georgia-Pacific and Hercules north of White Castle, and Ciba-Gigey on the east side of the Mississippi.
Population trends has remained between 1900 to 2200 residents for the last 40 years within the city limits of White Castle, this is probably due to the stable boundaries though the surrounding unincorporated areas have seen an increase.
Source:
WhiteCastleLouisiana.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS