Bunkie, Louisiana

Bunkie is a city in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,171 at the 2010 census.[4]

Bunkie, Louisiana
City
Motto(s): 
"The best place top side God's Green Earth"[1]
Location of Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°57′13″N 92°11′08″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishAvoyelles
Government
Area
 • Total3.04 sq mi (7.87 km2)
 • Land3.02 sq mi (7.83 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
66 ft (20 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,171
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
3,858
 • Density1,276.64/sq mi (492.90/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Code
71322
Area code(s)318
FIPS code22-10950
Websitebunkiecityhall.com

History

Bunkie was founded as a station terminus on the Texas and Pacific Railroad line. It was named for the daughter (whose nickname was "Bunkie") of the original landowner.[5]

The federal post office in town contains a mural, Cotton Pickers, painted in 1939 during the Great Depression by Caroline Speare Rohland. Federally commissioned murals were produced from 1934-43 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department. This work was part of the effort by the federal government to employ artists during the difficult Depression years.[6]

The area around Bunkie is devoted to agriculture; since the late 20th century, corn has been an important commodity crop. Since 1987, Bunkie has hosted the annual Louisiana Corn Festival during the second full weekend of June.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.69 square miles (6.97 km2), of which 2.68 square miles (6.93 km2) is land and 0.015 square miles (0.04 km2), or 0.57%, is water.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890299—
1900873192.0%
19101,765102.2%
19201,743−1.2%
19302,46441.4%
19403,57545.1%
19504,66630.5%
19605,18811.2%
19705,3954.0%
19805,364−0.6%
19905,044−6.0%
20004,662−7.6%
20104,171−10.5%
2019 (est.)3,858[3]−7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 4,662 people, 1,698 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,763.4 people per square mile (681.8/km2). There were 1,866 housing units at an average density of 705.8 per square mile (272.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 48.54% White, 50.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 1,698 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 26.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $14,745, and the median income for a family was $23,448. Males had a median income of $31,382 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,302. About 34.4% of families and 37.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References
  1. "City of Bunkie, Louisiana". City of Bunkie, Louisiana. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bunkie city, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  5. Leeper, Clare D'Artois (October 19, 2012). Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. LSU Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-8071-4740-5.
  6. Arnesen, Eric (2007). Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-Class History. 1. New York: Routledge. p. 1540. ISBN 9780415968263.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. "Obituary of Sue Lyles Eakin". melanconfunerals.com. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  10. "Donald Hines' Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
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