Scott, Louisiana

Scott, Louisiana
City
City of Scott
Downtown
Flag
Mottoes:  "Boudin capital of the world" "Where the West begins"[1]
Location in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°14′17″N 92°05′31″W / 30.23806°N 92.09194°W / 30.23806; -92.09194
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Lafayette
Government
• Mayor	Purvis Morrison (D) (defeated 2018) Jan-Scott Richard (R)[2]
• Police Chief	Chad Leger
Area [3]
• Total	11.73 sq mi (30.39 km2)
• Land	11.73 sq mi (30.39 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,119
• Density	691.9/sq mi (267.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	70583[4]
Area code	337
FIPS code	22-68475
Website	cityofscott.org

Scott is the fourth largest municipality in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,614 as of the 2010 U.S. census,^[5] and 8,119 at the 2020 census,^[6] up from 7,870 at the 2000 census. Scott is a suburban community of Lafayette and is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area in Acadiana.

In 1902, Gabby Anderson built a western-style saloon to serve as "an exclusive, all-men's bar and a meeting place for old folks." His reason for the saloon is because he believed "this is where the West begins." However, it is believed that the slogan started because Scott was where eastern train fare rates ended and western train, referred to as the "West Line", fare rates began.

The Union Pacific Railroad, formerly the Southern Pacific Railroad, cuts the town in two. The first settler of Scott was Alexander Delhomme, who took land in the northern part of the town. Delhomme owned the first hay-mowing machine, grist mill and cotton gin. By 1880, the train depot was completed and the town became a village. In 1907, the town was incorporated and named after J. B. Scott, who was division superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The village became a town in 1960, and the town became a city in 1990.^[7]

On April 12, 2012, Scott was designated by the Louisiana State Legislature as the "Boudin Capital of the World", referring to Cajun sausage, which Scott produces more of than any other city in Louisiana. This meant that two other Louisiana towns needed to relinquish their titles. Jennings, in Jefferson Davis Parish, owns the title of "Boudin Capital of the Universe", while Broussard, also in Lafayette Parish, is now known as the "former Boudin Capital of the World", although it has also proclaimed itself the "Intergalactic Boudin Capital of Positive Infinity".^[8]

Scott is located in west-central Lafayette Parish at 30°14′17″N 92°5′31″W / 30.23806°N 92.09194°W / 30.23806; -92.09194 (30.237951, -92.091996).^[9] It shares its eastern and southern borders with Lafayette, the parish seat, and its northern border with unincorporated coummunity of Ossun.

U.S. Route 90 traverses the heart of Scott as Cameron Street, leading east 5 miles (8 km) to the center of Lafayette and the same distance west to Duson. Interstate 10 runs along the northern edge of Scott, accessible via Exit 97 (Louisiana Highway 93). This interstate stretches 58 miles (93 km) east to Baton Rouge, the state capital, and 67 miles (108 km) west to Lake Charles. Louisiana Highway 93 also cuts through the center of Scott, extending 23 miles (37 km) north and east to Arnaudville and 6 miles (10 km) south to the southern Lafayette.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Scott encompasses a total area of 11.6 square miles (30.1 km²), all of it recorded as land.^[10]

As of the 2020 census, Scott had a population of 8,119. The median age was 39.8 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.5 males age 18 and over.^[12][13]

94.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.6% lived in rural areas.^[14]

There were 3,282 households in Scott, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.6% were married-couple households, 16.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 3,616 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.^[12]

In 2019, the median household income was $54,551 and the poverty rate was 12.5%.^[15]

According to the 2000 census,^[16] there were 7,870 people, 2,920 households, and 2,143 families residing in the city. The population density was 885.6 inhabitants per square mile (341.9/km²). There were 3,154 housing units at an average density of 354.9 per square mile (137.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.78% White, 11.56% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latin Americans of any race were 1.30% of the population.

There were 2,920 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,320, and the median income for a family was $41,538. Males had a median income of $31,446 versus $22,229 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,469. About 11.9% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.

• Zachary Richard, Cajun singer, songwriter and poet
• Addison Duplantis, Miss Scott Louisiana 2025-2026, Acadiana High School 2026

• Official website

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