Livonia, Louisiana
Town
Town of Livonia
Location of Livonia in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Livonia in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°33′37″N 91°33′01″W / 30.56028°N 91.55028°W / 30.56028; -91.55028
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishPointe Coupee
Government
 • MayorRhett Pourciau (D)
Area
[1]
 • Total1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2)
 • Land1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,212
 • Density639.92/sq mi (247.11/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
70755
Area code225
GNIS feature ID543403[2]
FIPS code22-44690
Websitewww.livoniala.net

[3][4]Livonia (pronounced Le Vone ya) is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,442 at the 2010 census, up from 1,339 in 2000. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to a 2007 Louisiana Legislative report,[5] Livonia derived 41.18% of its revenue, an average of roughly $349 per capita, from fines and forfeitures in the 2005 fiscal year.

District 17 State Senator Rick Ward, III, was born in Livonia and resides in Maringouin, in neighboring Iberville Parish.

Its main police agency is the Livonia Police Department.

History

Early history

The area of present-day Livonia has been occupied by several American Indian tribes, including Chitimacha, Houma, Tunica-Biloxi, Attakapas, and Coushatta and the site of the conical Livonia Mound. With a base of 165 feet and nearly 31 (30.7) feet tall, is the tallest of 10 remaining Indian burial mounds in Pointe Coupee Parish. Dated to the Coles Creek archaeological culture (400AD-1100AD) period,[6] the mound sits between La 77 and La 78, 150 feet from Bayou Grosse Tête. A second low-rise unnamed mound (destroyed by the mid-1900s) is located 200 feet southeast and a third was reportedly south of these on the water's edge.[7]

Colonial history

Main articles: New France, Expulsion of the Acadians, and Louisiana Purchase

France ruled the Livonia area as part of Louisiana from 1699 to 1763, when the area was ceded to Spain. Spain controlled the area until 1800 when Napoleon took control of Louisiana for France. Some French Canadians migrated to Louisiana earlier, but the majority came between 1755 and 1764 after being expelled from Acadia. Some of the French culture remains in Livonia, as shown by the 2000 census that revealed 5.6% of the parish spoke French, Cajun French, or Louisiana Creole French. The land was sold to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Foundation

The Post office opened 1846[8] and was named by first postmaster James B. Johnson for his native Livonia, Pennsylvania.[9][citation needed]

Geography

Livonia is located at 30°33′37″N 91°33′1″W / 30.56028°N 91.55028°W / 30.56028; -91.55028 (30.560159, -91.550165).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1960430—
197061142.1%
198098060.4%
1990970−1.0%
20001,33938.0%
20101,4427.7%
20201,212−16.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
Livonia racial composition as of 2020[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 996 82.18%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 120 9.9%
Native American 2 0.17%
Other/Mixed 52 4.29%
Hispanic or Latino 42 3.47%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,212 people, 572 households, and 323 families residing in the town.

Education

School

Culture

The town is host to the annual Livonia Lions Club Mardi Gras parade which is held the weekend before Mardi Gras Day.

Probably one of Livonia's most famous international tourists was Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, who arrived by train following the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1950.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Livonia, Louisiana
  3. ^ "Henry of Livonia". doi:10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_sim_09569. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Louisiana. Office of Public Health. Louisiana. Office of Public Health. Safe Drinking Water Program. Louisiana. Department of Environmental Quality. (2009). Report ... pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 92 of the 2008 regular legislative session. Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals. OCLC 407907045.
  5. ^ http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2007/la-speedtraps.pdf Louisiana speed traps
  6. ^ archaeological dating- Retrieved 2014-05-29
  7. ^ Livonia mound- p. 2-3; Retrieved 2014-05-29
  8. ^ Livonia Post Office- Retrieved 2014-05-31
  9. ^ Naming of Livonia Post Office- Retrieved 2014-05-31
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  13. ^ Lockhart, John M. "Did You Know?", The Riverside Reader, January 14, 2008, p. 1
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