Raceland

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. 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.

• Name — Raceland, Louisiana • Type — Census-designated place • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Louisiana • Subdivision Type2 — Parish • Subdivision Name2 — Lafourche • Area Total Km2 — 55.99 • Area Land Km2 — 55.86 • Area Water Km2 — 0.13 • Elevation Ft — 14 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 9768 • Population Density Km2 — 174.86 • Population Density Sq Mi — 452.89 • Time Zone1 — CST • Utc Offset1 — -6 • Time Zone1 Dst — CDT • Utc Offset1 Dst — -5 • Postal Code Type — ZIP Code • Postal Code — 70394 • Area Code — 985 • Custom Label Sec1 — FIPS code • Custom Data Sec1 — 22-63155 • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Sq Mi — 21.62 • Area Land Sq Mi — 21.57 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.05 • Illustration — A house in Raceland • Illustration — Drinking at the bar, crab boil night, Raceland, September 1938

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 44 mi to New Orleans and west 40 mi 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) 7 mi to Lockport and northwest (upriver) 15 mi to Thibodaux, the parish seat. Louisiana Highway 182 passes through the center of Raceland on the old route of US-90; it leads northeast 3.5 mi to US-90 and southwest 12 mi to Houma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Raceland CDP has a total area of 56.0 sqkm, of which 0.1 sqkm, or 0.23%, are water.

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.

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Raceland Post Office.

Lafourche Parish Public Schools operates public schools. • Raceland Lower Elementary School • Raceland Upper Elementary School • Raceland Middle School Central Lafourche High School is in Mathews, and has a Raceland postal address. The school serves all of Raceland. 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. In the era before desegregation (circa 1969) Raceland Colored School educated black residents. 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.

• 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