RACELAND, LA

Raceland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 10,193 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the Louisiana Office of Tourism, Raceland was named for the Race family that once owned a large plantation named "Raceland" on Bayou Lafourche.

Geography

Raceland is located at (29.722576, -90.605172), on both sides of Bayou Lafourche. It is bordered to the southeast by Mathews.

U.S. Route 90 passes through the southeast part of Raceland, leading northeast to New Orleans and west to Morgan City. Louisiana Highways 1 and 308 pass through the center of Raceland, on the south and the north sides of Bayou Lafourche, respectively. Both highways lead southeast (downriver) to Lockport and northwest (upriver) to Thibodaux, the parish seat. Louisiana Highway 182 passes through the center of Raceland on the old route of US-90; it leads northeast to US-90 and southwest to Houma.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Raceland CDP has a total area of , of which , or 0.23%, are water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,768 people, 3,971 households, and 2,812 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,224 people, 3,656 households, and 2,837 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 472.3 people per square mile (182.3/km). There were 3,908 housing units at an average density of 180.5 per square mile (69.7/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.19% White, 26.23% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.

There were 3,656 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,969, and the median income for a family was $35,460. Males had a median income of $33,340 versus $17,399 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,539. About 15.6% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Raceland Post Office.

Education

Lafourche Parish Public Schools operates public schools.

Central Lafourche High School is in Mathews, and has a Raceland postal address. The school serves all of Raceland.

Raceland High School opened in 1912 and was expanded in 1924; it was consolidated into Lafourche Central High along with Lockport High School in 1966. An elementary school occupies the former Raceland High. In the era before desegregation (circa 1969) Raceland Colored School educated black residents.

Lafourche Parish Library operates the Raceland Branch.

Notable people