Welcome to Barataria, Louisiana!

Barataria is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States with a population of 1,109 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The name comes from Bayou Barataria, a tributary of Barataria Bay south of New Orleans. The bay in turn took its name from the fictional island awarded to Sancho Panza to govern, as a prank in Part II of Don Quixote.

Geography

Barataria is located in south-central Jefferson Parish at 29°42′54″N 90°6′58″W (29.715121, -90.116024), on the west side of Bayou Barataria and just east of Lake Salvador. It is bordered to the east, across Bayou Barataria, by the town of Jean Lafitte and the unincorporated community of Lafitte. Barataria is 23 miles (37 km) south of New Orleans.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Barataria CDP has a total area of 4.8 square miles, of which 4.3 square miles are land and 0.50 square miles or 10.75%, are water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,333 people, 500 households, and 367 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 301.2 people per square mile. There were 571 housing units at an average density of 129.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.95% White, 11.10% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.23% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.

There were 500 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,169, and the median income for a family was $29,913. Males had a median income of $27,159 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,890. About 13.6% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Residents are zoned to Jefferson Parish Public Schools.

Residents from K-6 are zoned to Leo E. Kerner Elementary School (formerly Lafitte Elementary School). Those from 7-12 are zoned to Fisher Middle-High School.