Plaquemine, Louisiana
Iberville Parish
(submitted by and photos by Gerald & Tammy Westmoreland)
Plaquemine is a city in Iberville Parish and serves as the Parish Seat.
Early inhabitants of the area were the Chitimacha people. Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville claimed all of Louisiana in 1699 for King Louis XIV of France. Plaquemine was settled by 1775 and named for the Native word Plakemine, which means persimmon.
Due to its location at the juncture of the Bayou Plaquemine and the Mississippi River, the village soon began to prosper and grow, beginning a long history of prosperity. By 1838, the town was incorporated, electing Zenon LaBauve, for whom a street in New Orleans' Garden District is named, as its first mayor.
Plaquemine continued to grow in the Antebellum era. Massive plantations were established in the area, including St. Louis, Nottoway, and Belle Grove. The town has been the seat of Iberville Parish government since its incorporation. The second parish courthouse (c1906) on Railroad Avenue has been serving as City Hall since 1985. Plaquemine did not have a hospital until 1923.
Plaquemine has a total area of 3.0 square miles. In the 2010 United States census, the population was 7,119; the 2020 census determined its population at 6,269. It is located on Highway 1 south of Baton Rouge. GPS: 30.289167, -91.234167
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