Rayne is a town in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is in an agricultural area where rice and sugarcane have been grown. With a population of 7,326 at the 2020 United States census, it is nicknamed the "Frog Capital of the World", as well as the "Louisiana City of Murals". Rayne is part of the Crowley micropolitan statistical area, and within the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area in Acadiana.

History

The area that would become Rayne was originally part of a large land grant awarded to French settlers in the 18th century. These settlers were primarily involved in agriculture, cultivating crops such as rice and sugarcane.

The establishment of Rayne began in the 1880s with the arrival of the railroad. The city was initially named Pouppeville, after a prominent local figure, but was soon renamed Rayne in honor of Rayne Grey, an engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, whose efforts were instrumental in bringing the railroad to the area. The railroad not only facilitated transportation and commerce but also attracted a diverse population, contributing to the town's growth and development.

An EF2 tornado hit Rayne on March 5, 2011, injuring at least twelve people and killing one person, leveling homes and causing natural gas leaks that prompted evacuations.

Rayne had a "negro school".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.18%, is water. The city is located in Acadiana, and forms part of the Lafayette metropolitan area.

Demographics

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

|+Rayne racial composition as of 2020

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

|-

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

| 4,428

| 61.19%

|-

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

| 2,429

| 33.57%

|-

!scope="row"| Native American

| 21

| 0.29%

|-

!scope="row"| Asian

| 25

| 0.35%

|-

!scope="row"| Pacific Islander

| 2

| 0.03%

|-

!scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 217

| 3.0%

|-

!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 114

| 1.58%

|}

thumb|Frog mural

thumb|Depot Square with one of many Rayne rice mills in the background

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,236 people, 2,834 households, and 1,879 families residing in the city. The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 8,041 people and 2,834 households resided in the city.

In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 58.0% non-Hispanic or Latino white, 37.6% Black or African American, 3.3% two or more races, and 1.1% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. At the 2000 United States census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 65.55% White American, 33.52% African American, 0.11% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.16% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races; Hispanic and Latin Americans of any race were 0.81% of the population. From 2015 to 2019, the largest Hispanic and Latin American groups were Mexican Americans and stateside Puerto Ricans (0.3% each). It's a family-friendly event filled with a variety of activities and entertainment that reflect the city's distinctive character, including frog racing and jumping contests, frog-eating competitions, carnival rides, and live music performances.

Year-round, there are frog sculptures, murals, signs, and statues for visitors to see.

Education

thumb|[[Rayne High School]]

The Acadia Parish School Board serves the city. Rayne High School, home of the Mighty Wolves, is located in Rayne.

Other schools in Rayne include:

  • Central Rayne Kindergarten
  • Martin Pettijean Elementary
  • South Rayne Elementary
  • Armstrong Middle School
  • Rayne Catholic Elementary

Notable people

  • Cajun and swamp pop musicians Johnnie Allan, Lee Benoit, Amedée Breaux, Harry Choates, Joe Falcon, "Happy Fats" LeBlanc, Belton Richard, Jo-El Sonnier, Tony Thibodeaux, Lawrence Walker, and Joe Werner
  • Joshua Benton, director of Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University
  • Clint Conque and Ed Zaunbrecher, American football coaches
  • Catherine Fischer, deafblind librarian and author
  • Rhonda Franklin, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Minnesota
  • Mike Heinen, professional golfer
  • Margaret Rose Henry, former majority leader of the Delaware Senate
  • Donnie Meche, Gerard Melancon, and Elvis Perrodin, horse racing jockeys
  • Byron Mouton, former standout basketball player at Tulane and Maryland
  • Gerald Paddio, former NBA basketball player
  • Dave Petitjean, humorist and actor
  • Addison Rae (Easterling), American social media personality and dancer
  • Josh Reed, LSU standout and NFL wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
  • Irene Whitfield Holmes, ethnomusicologist

References

  • City of Rayne official website