Town of Krotz Springs
Town
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	St. Landry
Area	1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
- land	1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
- water	0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0%
Center
- coordinates	30°32′15″N 91°45′18″W / 30.5375, -91.755Coordinates: 30°32′15″N 91°45′18″W / 30.5375, -91.755
- elevation	30 ft (9.1 m)
Population	1,219 (2000)
Density	705.0 /sq mi (272.2 /km²)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code	337
Location of Krotz Springs in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States

Krotz Springs is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana on the Atchafalaya River. The population was 1,219 at the 2000 census.

History

Around the turn of the 20th century, an Ohio native, C W Krotz, bought 20,000 acres (81 km²) of woodland around the Atchafalaya Basin and set up a sawmill to trim the trees hauled out of the basin. The tiny settlement that grew up around the mill was called Lantania (fan palm), after the bayou of the same name and the types of palm plants found in the area.

Thinking he was sitting on an untapped pool of oil Krotz put down the first oil well in St. Landry Parish, but he struck water instead of oil which became known as Krotz’s spring. The spring was used to supply water for the developing sawmill town and Krotz even bottled the water, selling it throughout the country.

In 1909, a post office was established in the town, and the obvious choice was Krotz Springs. ^[1]

Geography

Krotz Springs is located at 30°32′15″N, 91°45′18″W (30.537565, -91.754926)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.5 km²).

Demographics

Krotz Springs Bridge spanning the Atchafalaya River.

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,219 people, 490 households, and 339 families residing in the town. The population density was 705.0 people per square mile (272.1/km²). There were 562 housing units at an average density of 325.0/sq mi (125.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.10% White, 0.25% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 490 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,823, and the median income for a family was $31,842. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,914. About 17.5% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

Film history

1966: The prison camp scenes in Nevada Smith, starring Steve McQueen, were filmed just west of Krotz Springs in the 2 O'Clock Bayou area,

1969: The final scenes of Easy Rider, starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, were filmed there in which the two main characters are shot by two local residents.

1998: In the film Out of Sight, starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, two of the main characters lose control of their vehicle coming down the Atchafalaya River Bridge on Hwy. 190 Westbound.

References

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Parish seat: Opelousas
Cities	Eunice | Opelousas
Towns	Arnaudville | Grand Coteau | Krotz Springs | Leonville | Melville | Port Barre | Sunset | Washington
Villages	Cankton | Palmetto
Unincorporated communities	Augusta | Barbreck | Bat | Bayou Current | Bayou Jack | Beggs | Big Cane | Boretta | Boscoville | Bristol | Chiasson | Courtableau | Danks | Darbonne | Dubuisson | Elba | Faubourg | Frozard | Gibbs | Goodwood | Gordon | Grand Prairie | Hallf Moon | Hazelwood | Immaculata | Lawtell | Lebeau | Ledoux | Le Moyen | Lewisburg | Macland | McClure | Morrow | Notelyville | Pecaniere | Petetin | Plaisance | Poplar Grove | Pointe Claire | Powell Ridge | Prairie Ronde | Rideau Settlement | Robin | Rosa | Sambo | Savoy | Shuteston | Soileau | St. Louis | Suna | Swayze Lake | Swords | Veazie | Veltin | Waxia | Whiteville | Woodside