PLAQUEMINES PARISH, LA HISTORY AND LOOKUP

Parish History Books

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Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana: A Genealogical Overview

Stretching along the final 70 miles of the Mississippi River as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico, Plaquemines Parish is a land defined by water. Its history and culture are deeply intertwined with the Mississippi River Delta, shaping a unique society of Creoles, Canary Islanders (Islenos), Croatian fishermen, and others who adapted to its fertile but challenging environment. The parish is a vital hub for maritime commerce, the seafood industry, and oil and gas production, but its low-lying geography also makes its history one of resilience in the face of frequent hurricanes.

I. Parish Formation and Evolution

Understanding Plaquemines Parish’s formation, its unique East Bank/West Bank division, and the impact of natural disasters on its government is critical for locating records. Note that Louisiana has parishes, which are equivalent to counties in other states.

  • 1807: Parish Formed: Plaquemines Parish was established on March 31, 1807, as one of the original 19 parishes created by the Territory of Orleans legislature.
  • Parent County: It was created from the vast “County of Orleans,” which existed from 1805 to 1807. Records prior to 1807 for this area would be located in the records of the Spanish Cabildo or French Superior Council in New Orleans.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The parish’s boundaries have remained relatively stable, but the most significant internal division is the Mississippi River itself, which separates the parish into a West Bank and an East Bank. Historically, travel between the two sides was difficult, and communities developed independently. This geographic split is essential for understanding settlement patterns and record keeping.
  • Name Origin: The name is derived from the French word for the native persimmon tree, plaqueminier, which itself came from the Atakapa word, piakimin.
  • Parish Seat History: The official (de jure) parish seat is Pointe à la Hache on the East Bank. However, due to significant hurricane damage over the years (especially Hurricane Katrina in 2005) and population growth on the West Bank, many administrative functions are now based in the larger community of Belle Chasse. This split is crucial for researchers to know when seeking different government offices.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The fertile delta was home to several Native American groups, most notably the Chitimacha and Houma tribes, who lived in villages along the bayous and the river.
  • Colonial Settlement and Economy: French colonists established forts near the mouth of the Mississippi in the early 18th century to control access to the river valley. The rich alluvial soil was soon developed into large sugar and rice plantations worked by enslaved Africans, whose descendants form a significant part of the parish’s vibrant Creole culture. In the 1770s, Spanish colonial authorities settled Canary Islanders, known as Islenos, in the lower parish to establish a loyal population base. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Croatian immigrants arrived, dominating the oyster industry. The economy has always been tied to the river—agriculture, fishing, shipping—and later expanded to include sulfur mining and oil and gas exploration. Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson on opposite banks of the river played key strategic roles from the colonial era through the Civil War.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, keeping in mind the significant challenges posed by hurricanes.

  • Parish Clerk of Court: The Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court is the primary repository for parish records. The main courthouse is located at 301 Main Street, Pointe à la Hache, LA 70082. This office holds land records, successions (probate), civil court cases, and marriage licenses. Crucial Note: The courthouse has suffered catastrophic flooding from numerous hurricanes, including Betsy (1965) and Katrina (2005), resulting in severe damage and loss of historical records. While extensive restoration efforts have been undertaken, researchers should be prepared for gaps in the available archives.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Louisiana began in 1914. These records are held by the Louisiana State Archives or the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records in New Orleans. For records prior to this, especially in the colonial period, researchers must consult church records.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage licenses from 1807 to the present should be held by the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court, subject to the record loss mentioned above.
    • Catholic Church Records: For this predominantly Catholic region, records of baptism, marriage, and burial kept by the Roman Catholic Church are an essential genealogical resource, often predating civil records. These are held by individual churches and the Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Plaquemines Parish Library: The library system has branches throughout the parish with local history resources.
    • The Historic New Orleans Collection: Located in New Orleans, this is an indispensable private archive for the entire region, holding maps, manuscripts, and family papers related to Plaquemines Parish.
    • New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division: This library holds extensive genealogical resources for southeastern Louisiana, including census records, city directories, and microfilmed newspapers.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Orleans Parish, LA
    • St. Bernard Parish, LA
    • Jefferson Parish, LA

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