Kaplan is a city in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,600 at the 2010 census, and 4,345 at the 2020 population estimates program. It is part of the Abbeville micropolitan statistical area in Acadiana.

History

In 1896, the Holy Rosary Catholic Church was established in the growing European-American settlement. Most of the people were Acadian, so the main language was French. The town was named after Abrom Kaplan, who bought the Jim Todd Plantation in 1901. The town of Kaplan grew quickly and was established in 1902. The following year, residents created the first school.

On July 14, 1906, the first Bastille Day Celebration was held. In 1911, the Eleazar Theater was built. In 1916, the Kaplan Telephone Company began. In 1920, the school was rebuilt.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Louisiana Highway 14 passes through the city which heads east to Abbeville, the Vermilion Parish seat, and west to the town of Gueydan. Louisiana Highway 13 intersects with LA-14 outside the city limits and heads north to the cities of Crowley (26 miles) and Eunice (39 miles). Louisiana Highway 35, which intersects LA-14 as North Cushing Avenue, heads north to Rayne.

Demographics

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

|+Kaplan racial composition as of 2020

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

|-

!scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)

| 3,393

| 77.96%

|-

!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

| 605

| 13.9%

|-

!scope="row"| Native American

| 11

| 0.25%

|-

!scope="row"| Asian

| 43

| 0.99%

|-

!scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 178

| 4.09%

|-

!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 122

| 2.8%

|}

According to the 2000 U.S. census, there were 5,177 people, 2,069 households, and 1,342 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,265 housing units at an average density of . The 2020 population estimates program determined 4,345 people lived in the city.

At the 2000 census, were 2,069 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

At the 2019 American Community Survey, the median household income was $34,943; males had a median income of $52,747 versus $33,750 for females.

Notable people

  • Inez Catalon, Creole singer
  • Iron Eyes Cody, portrayed Native Americans as actor
  • Sammy Kershaw, American Country and Western music singer and songwriter
  • Jonathan W. Perry, former Kaplan city council member and state representative
  • Frank Glasgow Tinker, Spanish Civil War volunteer pilot and flying ace

References

  • Kaplan City Council