Located in Lafourche Parish, the city of Thibodaux, LA is Cajun Country at its finest. At the time of the 2020 census, Thibodaux was home to just under 16,000 residents. Conveniently located, it’s less than 70 miles to the nightlife of New Orleans, or the state capitol of Baton Rouge.
By no means, Louisiana’s largest city, Thibodaux is steeped in history and culture. Here, we’ll give you the history, statistical data, and all the reasons Thibodaux is a great place to call home.
The geography of Thibodaux, LA
The “Queen City of Lafourche” is one of the principal cities of the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux metropolitan statistical area. Covering the parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne, the metropolis has a population of just over 200,000. The primary coordinates of Thibodaux are latitude 29.7887 and longitude -90.8187
The city has a total area of 5.47 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, of which all is land.
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The history of Thibodaux, LA
The indigenous tribe of the Chawasha were the first known inhabitants of the land we now know as Thibodaux. In the early 18th century, during the Spanish rule of Louisiana, French and German creoles, along with French nationals began to settle in the area. They were soon followed by the French Acadian immigrants whose descendents we know today as Cajuns.
In the late 1700s, the village of Thibodeauxville, was founded. Originally a trading post, in 1808 after the Louisiana Purchase, Thibodeauxville became the seat of Lafourche Parish. It remains so today.
The city, named in honor Acadian exile and local planter Henry Schuyler Thibodaux (originally Thibodeaux), was officially incorporated in 1830. Henry had provided the land for the original town center. He eventually became both lieutenant governor, and for a brief time acting governor of Louisiana.
In addition to its importance as a center for trading, the area was developed for sugar plantations. Sugar was a commodity crop, and this solidified the town’s significance as an epicenter of commerce for the region.
By 1838, the city had shortened its name to Thibodeaux. The current spelling was adopted in 1900 to further honor its namesake, who’d also shortened the spelling of his surname.
The population of Thibodaux, LA
Since 1850, the population of Thibodaux has seen a steady increase based on each census. The only exception being the 1980s when the city saw an 11% decrease in its number of residents. As of January 2023, the estimated population is 16,362.
Thibodaux, LA attractions
As we mentioned, Thibodaux is filled with history and culture, and the city has the sites and attractions to that statement up.
Historic Downtown Thibodaux
As the center for many of Thibodaux’s events, the Historic Downtown is where a lot of the magic happens. The Main Street Cookoff, Fall Festival, Boogie on the Bayou, and annual Arts Walk all take place downtown. In addition, it’s filled with shops and boutiques, some of the area’s most well known restaurants, and the city’s nightlife.
Dansereau House
Built in 1847, this once private home has been restored into a 4-star hotel. While it offers all the modern amenities one could ask for, it retains its architectural beauty and historical charm. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is a rare example of Italianate style in South Louisiana. Even for residents of Thibodaux, a weekend at the Dansereau House is a must.
Laurel Valley Village
Located on Bayou Lafourche, Laurel Valley Village is the largest remaining, intact sugar plantation in the Southern United States. Several big budget movies have been filmed there, and they have a museum, gift shop, and offer guided tours.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church
The oldest Episcopal church west of the Mississippi River, St. John’s was consecrated in 1844, and is noted for its Georgian architecture. The Bishop Leonidas Polk, first Episcopal bishop of Louisiana, is buried in the adjoining cemetery. Both the church and cemetery offer tours.
Bayou Country Children’s Museum
Bayou Country Children’s Museum offers children and their families the chance to play, learn and create in an informal, innovative environment. You will learn about Cajun culture and the unique music, food, agriculture, industry, festivals, and culture that makes it so special.
Thibodaux, LA real estate market
The median cost of homes is $221,701. Thibodaux real estate and house prices are near the national average for all cities and towns.
Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Thibodaux, accounting for 59.68% of the city’s housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Thibodaux include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 18.00%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 13.00%), and a few mobile homes or trailers ( 6.19%).
People in Thibodaux primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) single-family detached homes. Thibodaux has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.
Some of the lowest real estate appreciation rates in America over the last ten years have been in Thibodaux, where house values have increased just 26.49%, which is an annualized rate of 2.38%. This rate is lower than the appreciation rate found in 90% of the cities and towns in America. A Thibodaux Realtor can help you make a smart decision.
Over the last year, Thibodaux appreciation rates have trailed the rest of the nation. In the last twelve months, Thibodaux’s appreciation rate has been 7.18%, which is lower than appreciation rates in most communities in America. In the latest quarter, NeighborhoodScout’s data show that house appreciation rates in Thibodaux were at 1.78%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 7.31%.
Thibodaux, LA subdivisions
Here are a few of the best subdivisions Thibodaux has to offer:
- The Villas at Leighton Plantation
- Acadia Plantation
- Olde Towne
- King George Estates
General info about Thibodaux, LA
- Area code: 985
- Zip code(s): 70301, 70302, 70310
- Parish: Lafourche
- Population: 15,948
- Median age: 31
- Cost of living: 6% below the national average
- Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
- Elevation: 13 feet above sea level
- Total area: 5.47 square miles