Cottonport, Louisiana

Cottonport, Louisiana
Town
Location of Cottonport in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°59′50″N 92°03′03″W
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Avoyelles
Incorporated	1888
Area
• Total	2.00 sq mi (5.19 km2)
• Land	2.00 sq mi (5.19 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	59 ft (18 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,023
• Density	1,008.98/sq mi (389.53/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71327
Area code	318
FIPS code	22-17880
GNIS feature ID	2406320
Website	https://townofcottonport.com

Cottonport is a town in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,006 at the 2010 census.

History

Cottonport was founded in the early 19th century. In 1835, Joseph Ducote donated land to be used for a road and school, which was the beginnings of the community. Incorporated in 1888 along the banks of Bayou Rouge (French for "Red Bayou"). In the 19th century, large boats made their way through Cottonport with goods destined for the port of New Orleans. The bayou was deep enough to support the large boats and formed a perfect horseshoe, which allowed vessels to turn around. The boats would deliver cargo into the area and would load crops on board to take to larger ports along the route. The main crop available for exporting at that time was cotton. In fact, because so much cotton was being shipped from the port, early settlers named the village Cottonport.

Present day

Today, over 100 years after its incorporation, Cottonport retains many of its picturesque qualities. Although Bayou Rouge is no longer navigable, it continues to be used as a fishing hole. It also serves as the backdrop to the annual Cottonport Christmas Festival, held the second weekend in December, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	505		—
1910	866		71.5%
1920	720		−16.9%
1930	1,015		41.0%
1940	1,196		17.8%
1950	1,534		28.3%
1960	1,581		3.1%
1970	1,862		17.8%
1980	1,911		2.6%
1990	2,600		36.1%
2000	2,316		−10.9%
2010	2,006		−13.4%
2020	2,023		0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

Cottonport town, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,107	895	707	47.80%	44.62%	34.95%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,147	1,058	1,191	49.53%	52.74%	58.87%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	13	6	19	0.56%	0.30%	0.94%
Asian alone (NH)	4	10	7	0.17%	0.50%	0.35%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	1	0.00%	0.00%	0.05%
Other race alone (NH)	5	1	4	0.22%	0.05%	0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	16	18	56	0.69%	0.90%	2.77%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	24	18	38	1.04%	0.90%	1.88%
Total	2,316	2,006	2,023	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,023 people, 711 households, and 435 families residing in the town.

Notable people

• Bill Callegari, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives; born in Cottonport
• Moon Ducote, football, baseball, and basketball player and coach, born in Cottonport.