Raceland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 9,768 in 2020. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux metropolitan statistical area.

According to the Louisiana Office of Tourism, Raceland was named for the Race family that once owned a large plantation named "Raceland" on Bayou Lafourche.

Raceland sugar plantation was founded by Ebeneezer Eaton Kittredge and his son in law Fayette Clay Ewing. On April 19, 1855, a daughter of Kittredge, Olivia Corrinne, married George W. Race.Times-Picayune April 25, 1855 page 2 The plantation was named Raceland the same year in honor of the young couple who made it their first home where their children were born.Case Papers, 1880-1929; Author: Louisiana. Civil District Court (Orleans Parish); Probate Place: Orleans, Louisiana

Geography Raceland is located at (29.722576, -90.605172), on both sides of Bayou Lafourche. It is bordered to the southeast by Mathews.

U.S. Route 90 (future Interstate 49) passes through the southeast part of Raceland, leading northeast to New Orleans and west to Morgan City. Louisiana Highways 1 and 308 pass through the center of Raceland, on the south and the north sides of Bayou Lafourche, respectively. Both highways lead southeast (downriver) to Lockport and northwest (upriver) to Thibodaux, the parish seat. Louisiana Highway 182 passes through the center of Raceland on the old route of US-90; it leads northeast to US-90 and southwest to Houma.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Raceland CDP has a total area of , of which , or 0.23%, are water.

Demographics

Raceland first appeared as an unincorporated place in the 1950 U.S. census; and was redesignated as a census designated place in the 1980 United States census.

+Raceland racial composition as of 2020 Race Number Percentage White (non-Hispanic) 6,163 63.09% Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,749 28.14% Native American 108 1.11% Asian 38 0.39% Pacific Islander 2 0.02% Other/Mixed 305 3.12% Hispanic or Latino 403 4.13% As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,768 people, 3,971 households, and 2,812 families residing in the CDP.

Government and infrastructure The U.S. Postal Service operates the Raceland Post Office."Raceland." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on March 12, 2017. "109 RACELAND ST RACELAND, LA 70394-9998"

Education Lafourche Parish Public Schools operates public schools. Raceland Lower Elementary SchoolHome. Raceland Lower Elementary School. Retrieved on November 29, 2016. Raceland Upper Elementary SchoolHome. Raceland Upper Elementary School. Retrieved on November 29, 2016. Raceland Middle SchoolHome. Raceland Middle School. Retrieved on November 29, 2016.

Central Lafourche High School is in Mathews,"2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Mathews CDP, LA." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on November 29, 2016. and has a Raceland postal address.Home . Central Lafourche High School. Retrieved on November 29, 2016. "4820 Highway 1, Raceland, LA 70394" The school serves all of Raceland."2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Raceland CDP, LA." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on November 29, 2016. Pages: 1, 2."SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES ." Lafourche Parish Public Schools. Retrieved on December 2, 2016. Based on the text description of the school boundaries

Raceland High School opened in 1912 and was expanded in 1924; it was consolidated into Lafourche Central High along with Lockport High School in 1966. An elementary school occupies the former Raceland High.Theriot, Clifton. Lafourche Parish. Arcadia Publishing, December 1, 2014. , 9781439648667. p. 71. In the era before desegregation (circa 1969) Raceland Colored School educated black residents.Engineering News-Record, Volume 143, Part 1. McGraw-Hill, 1949. p. 50. "C.+M.+Washington+Colored" See search page.

Lafourche Parish Library operates the Raceland Branch.

Fletcher Technical Community College has Lafourche Parish in the college's service area. Additionally, a Delgado Community College document stated that Lafourche Parish was in the college's service area.

Notable people Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, convicted murderer and notable true crime personality; born in Raceland. Donald G. Bollinger, founder of Bollinger Shipyards (1946) and state chairman of the Republican Party of Louisiana (1986–1988); born and died in Raceland, resided as an adult in Lockport Jimmy Clanton, singer and actor; born in Raceland Ron Estay, football player, All-American defensive lineman for LSU; played professionally for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos Aaron Loup, pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels Punch Miller, jazz musician; born in Raceland Larry Wilson, basketball player and NBA draft pick

References

External links

Raceland Middle School Raceland Upper Elementary School Raceland Lower Elementary School