Thibodaux (pronounced "TIB-uh-doe"; or "TIB-oh-doe"; /ˈtɪbodoʊ/) is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.

ZIP codes for Thibodaux are 70301, 70302, and 70310. Thibodaux's area code is 985. Thibodaux is nicknamed "Queen City of Lafourche."

History

The community was settled in the 18th century. It was incorporated as a town in 1830 under the name Thibodauxville, in honor of local plantation owner Henry Schuyler Thibodaux, who in 1824 served as acting governor of Louisiana. The name was changed to Thibodeaux in 1838, and the current spelling Thibodaux was officially adopted in 1918.

A sugar cane workers' strike culminated in the "Thibodaux Massacre" of Nov. 1-4,1887, the second most bloody labor dispute in U.S. history. The strike for higher wages of 10,000 workers (1,000 of whom were white) was organized by the Knights of Labor during rolling period. This was critical to the sugar cane harvest. Planters were alarmed both by outside organizations and the thought of losing their total crops. Plantations in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes were involved. The governor called in the State militia at the planters' request. Efforts to break the strike resulted in the deaths of a total of 30-35 African American workers, chiefly at the hands of white paramilitary members.

In 1896, the first "rural free delivery" of mail in Louisiana began in Thibodaux. It was the second in the United States.

Geography

Thibodaux is located at (29.7922, -90.8200) and has an elevation of .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,431 people, 5,500 households, and 3,355 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,636.8 people per square mile (1,018.6/km²). There were 6,004 housing units at an average density of 1,097.0/sq mi (423.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.04% White, 33.76% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 5,500 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,697, and the median income for a family was $36,551. Males had a median income of $31,464 versus $21,144 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,966. About 20.6% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Residents are zoned to schools in the Lafourche Parish Public Schools

Zoned elementary schools include:

• South Thibodaux Elementary School
• Thibodaux Elementary School

W.S. Lafargue Elementary School

Zoned middle schools include:

• East Thibodaux Middle School
• West Thibodaux Middle School

Sixth Ward Middle School

Thibodaux residents are zoned to Thibodaux High School.

Catholic schools include

• Edward Douglas White Catholic High School
• St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary
• St. Joseph Catholic Elementary

Colleges:

• Nicholls State University.

Culture

The Roman Catholic patron saints of Thibodaux are Saint Valérie, an early Christian martyr, and Saint Vitalis of Milan, her husband, also a martyr. A life-sized reliquary of Saint Valérie, containing an arm bone, was brought to Thibodaux in 1868 and is displayed in her shrine in St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. St. Valérie has traditionally been invoked for intercession in protecting Thibodaux from hurricanes.

The city was mentioned in Hank Williams' "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)", in the 1970s Jerry Reed song "Amos Moses," in the 1990s George Strait song "Adalida," and its name is the title of a song by jazz songstress Marcia Ball.

A famous blues musician, Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones, is buried in Thibodaux, where he often played, and where his manager, Hosea Hill, resided.

Notable natives and residents

• Charles deGravelles, former Louisiana State Republican chairman; husband of Virginia deGravelles, former Republican national committeewoman from Louisiana
• Edward Douglass White, Chief Justice of the Unites States.
• Edward Douglass White Sr., Governor of Louisiana.
• Eric Andolsek, player for Detroit Lions; died from a motor vehicle accident.
• Jarvis Green, defensive end for the New England Patriots.
• Graham Patrick Martin, Television Actor, The Bill Engvall Show; Movie Actor,Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door.
• John Robichaux, jazz musician.
• Kody Chamberlain, comic book writer and artist.
• Mark Davis, professional basketball player.
• Damian Johnson, player for the Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball team.

Government

The mayor of Thibodaux is Charles Caillouet.

Other

Thibodaux is the annual host of the Manning Passing Academy held by Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning.

References

External links

• City of Thibodaux
• Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce website
• Thibodaux Area Community Forums and Free Classifieds