Venice, Louisiana

Venice is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 202.[1] It is 77 miles south of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River at 29°16′37″N 89°21′17″W. It is the last community down the Mississippi accessible by automobile, and it is the southern terminus of the Great River Road. This has earned the town the nickname "The end of the world." The ZIP code for Venice is 70091.

"Venice, LA" redirects here. For the district on the Westside of Los Angeles, see Venice, Los Angeles.
Venice, Louisiana
Census-designated place & unincorporated community
Venice, Louisiana
Location of Venice in Louisiana
Coordinates: 29°16′37″N 89°21′17″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishPlaquemines
Area
 • Total1.628 sq mi (4.22 km2)
 • Land1.003 sq mi (2.60 km2)
 • Water0.625 sq mi (1.62 km2)
Elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total202
 • Density120/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)504

In 2001, the combined population for Venice and the neighboring communities of Orchard (often considered a part of Venice) and Boothville, Louisiana, was about 2740 people, with about 975 families. About 460 of those people lived in Venice.

Venice has a diverse variety of fish. It is known as the starting point for many doing offshore fishing, who then head to Port Eads. Its main offshore rival is nearby Grand Isle.

History

In 1969, Venice was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Camille. The pressure fell below 950 hPa, with winds over 100 miles per hour. The city would be devastated again 36 years later by Hurricane Katrina.

In 2000, a deck hand on a shrimp boat was accused of the murder of his captain, whose body was discovered a few days after a storm on the Gulf of Mexico. The media, including newspapers in the city, discovered that the man had been coerced into making a false confession, and he was eventually acquitted.

Venice was again almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, significant reconstruction, reopening, and reoccupation has taken place. The high bridge leading to Venice was not destroyed during the hurricane.

In late April 2010, Venice faced an environmental disaster when oil from the Deepwater Horizon explosion began washing ashore in the community.

Geography

Venice is located along the west bank of the Mississippi River at 29°16′37″N, 89°21′17″W. It has an area of 1.628 miles (2.620 km), of which 1.003 miles (1.614 km) is land and 0.625 miles (1.006 km) is water.[2]

Industry

Local industries include commercial and sport fishing, as well as service and transport for off-shore petroleum platforms.

Education

Plaquemines Parish School Board operates the public schools of the parish.

It is served by Boothville-Venice Elementary School in Boothville and South Plaquemines High School in Buras.[3] Prior to 2005 Boothville-Venice High School (PreK-12) served the community,[4] but Hurricane Katrina damaged the original building.[3]

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. "Plaquemines Parish Comprehensive Master Plan 8. Public Facilities and Services." Plaquemines Parish. p. 9/34. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.
  4. "Boothville-Venice High School." Plaquemines Parish School Board. March 22, 2004. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.
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