Grand Isle is a town located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, on a barrier island of the same name. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,541; during summers, the populations increases to over 20,000.
Grand Isle's only land connection to the mainland is via an automobile causeway bridge which connects it to southern Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.
Grand Isle State Park, on the east end of the island, is the only state-owned and operated beach on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, a beach frequented by people from the Greater New Orleans area.
Grand Isle is located at 29°13'40" North, 90°0'44" West (29.227769, -90.012115).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.1 km2 (7.8 mi2). 15.9 km2 (6.1 mi2) of it is land and 4.2 km2 (1.6 mi2 or 20.88%) of it is water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,541 people, 622 households, and 436 families residing in the town. The population density is 96.9/km2 (251.1/mi2). There are 1,875 housing units at an average density of 117.9/km2 (305.6/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 96.04% White, 2.27% Native American, 0.19% African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 622 households out of which 29.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% are married couples living together, 8.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% are non-families. 24.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 2.89.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 108.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $33,548, and the median income for a family is $35,517. Males have a median income of $34,000 versus $19,333 for females. The per capita income for the town is $18,330. 13.2% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Grand Isle has been repeatedly pummelled by hurricanes through its history. On average, Grand Isle has been affected by tropical storms or hurricanes every 2.68 years since 1877, with hurricane direct hits on average every 7.88 years . Only some of the more severe are listed here.
In 1860 a 6 foot storm surge and great winds resulted in the total devastation of the island.
In the 1893 Atlantic hurricane season Grand Isle was devastated by a 16 foot storm surge.
In the 1909 Atlantic hurricane season a 16 foot storm surge
A Category 4 hurricane devastated Grand Island on 29 September during the 1915 Atlantic hurricane season.
In 1928 the annual Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, a fishing tournament, was established.
Grand Isle was hit by a 3.6 foot storm surge on 22 August during the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season.
In 1956 Hurricane Flossy damaged the island.
Grand Isle was hit by Hurricane Betsy in September of 1965.
Hurricane Frances put the entire island under water in 1998.
On 26 September, 2002, Grand Isle was hit by Hurricane Isidore.
Grand Isle was among the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A news report published less than two days after the hurricane hit noted the area sustained catastrophic damage, similar to that which befell Last Island in 1856. The Hurricane made landfall 50 miles to the east of Grand Isle in the early morning hours of August 29, 2005; winds drove 12-to-20 feet of water over the island, destroying 80% of the island's homes and significantly damaging the rest.
Less than a month later, Grand Isle was further affected by Hurricane Rita. By mid October, a number of businesses were again open on the island.
Source:
GrandIsleLouisiana.com
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