Iota, Louisiana

Iota, Louisiana
Town
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Acadia
Elevation	30 ft (9.1 m)
Coordinates	30°19′43″N 92°29′35″W / 30.32861°N 92.49306°WCoordinates: 30°19′43″N 92°29′35″W / 30.32861°N 92.49306°W
Area	3.3 km^2 (1.3 sq mi)
- land	3.3 km^2 (1.3 sq mi)
- water	0.0 km^2 (0 sq mi), 0%
Population	1,500 (2010)
Density	456.0/sq mi (176.1/km^2)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Zip Code	70543
Area Code	337
Location of Iota in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States

Iota is a town in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,500 at the 2010 census.^[1] Its previous names were "Pointe Aux Loups" (French for "Wolves' Point") "Cartville" and "Hodge town"

Iota is part of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Iota is located at 30°19′43″N 92°29′35″W / 30.32861°N 92.49306°W (30.328500, -92.493123).^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	769		—
1920	802		4.3%
1930	827		3.1%
1940	1,000		20.9%
1950	1,162		16.2%
1960	1,245		7.1%
1970	1,271		2.1%
1980	1,326		4.3%
1990	1,256		−5.3%
2000	1,376		9.6%
2010	1,500		9.0%
Est. 2015	1,480	[3]	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 1,376 people, 524 households, and 374 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,084.1 people per square mile (418.3/km²). There were 583 housing units at an average density of 459.3 per square mile (177.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.94% White, 11.26% African American, 0.15% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 524 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,107, and the median income for a family was $31,328. Males had a median income of $31,538 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,916. About 21.4% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 23.6% of those age 65 or over.

Iota was represented in the novel No Place Louisiana by Martin Pousson, published in 2002.

Arts and culture

Bon Tee Cajun accordion shop in Iota

Iota is home to the annual "Tee Mamou/Iota Mardi Gras Folklife Festival" during Mardi Gras Day, attracting thousands of tourists and visitors. The festival offers authentic Cajun food, crafts, and music. In contrast to the elaborate costumes and regal "krewes," for example, in the New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities, in Iota and surrounding areas, Cajuns celebrate the more traditional ritual of the Courir de Mardi Gras riders.^[6] Disguised in home-made costumes which often feature faux tatters and tall conical caps known as capuchons, the townspeople maraude through the surrounding countryside incognito, speaking only Cajun French, begging for ingredients for a chicken and sausage gumbo. The gumbo is the centerpiece of the community supper the same night, where the Mardi Gras riders sing the Chanson de Mardi Gras, an old song in Cajun French sung for generations,^[7] then take off their masks and reveal, ostensibly for the first time that day, the identity of each rider.^[8]

Education

Acadia Parish School Board serves Iota, operating Iota High School. St. Francis Catholic School is also located in the district.^[9]

References

1. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Iota town, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
5. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. "Tee Mamou-Iota Mardi Gras".
7. www.lsue.edu
8. www.lsue.edu
9. St. Francis School