New Iberia, Louisiana, United States

🇺🇸 New Iberia is the largest city in and parish seat of, Iberia Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The city of New Iberia is located approximately 21 miles (34 km) south-east of Lafayette, and forms part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area in the region of Acadiana. New Iberia is served by a major four lane highway, being U.S. 90 (future Interstate 49), and has its own general aviation airfield, Acadiana Regional Airport. Scheduled passenger and cargo airline service is available via the nearby Lafayette Regional Airport located adjacent to U.S. 90 in Lafayette.

History New Iberia dates its founding to the spring of 1779, when a group of some 500 colonists (Malagueños) from Spain, led by Lt. Col. Francisco Bouligny, came up Bayou Teche and settled around what became known as Spanish Lake.

The Spanish settlers called the town "Nueva Iberia" in honor of the Iberian Peninsula; French-speakers referred to the town as "Nouvelle Ibérie" while the English settlers arriving after the Louisiana Purchase called it "New Town". In 1814, the U.S. government opened a post office in the town, officially recognizing the name as New Iberia, but postmarks from 1802 show the town being called “Nova Iberia” (Latin for "new"). The town was incorporated as the "Town of Iberia" in 1839, but the state legislature amended the town's charter in 1847, recognizing New Iberia as the town's name.

In 1868, Iberia Parish was established, and New Iberia became the seat of parish government. At first, only rented space served for the courthouse. State senator Samuel Wakefield and his family fled to New Orleans after their son was lynched by a white mob. By 1884 a new courthouse was completed on a landscaped lot in downtown New Iberia, at the present-day site of Bouligny Plaza. That courthouse served Iberia Parish until 1940. That year the current courthouse was built along Iberia Street, two blocks from the New Iberia downtown commercial district.

In September 2008, New Iberia was struck by Hurricane Ike. The lakes overflowed and filled the city, flooding it under several feet of dirty, brown water. On December 14, 2022, the south-eastern part of the city was heavily damaged by a high-end EF2 tornado, injuring 16 people.

Geography New Iberia is located in southern Louisiana, in the Acadiana region. The city of New Iberia is a part of the Lafayette metropolitan area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27.4 km²), all land. In 2000, the population density was 3,088.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,192.6/km²). There were 12,880 housing units at an average density of 1,219.5 per square mile (470.9/km²). New Iberia lies approximately 16 to 20 feet above sea level.

Among the lakes near the city is Lake Peigneur, which was formerly a 10-foot (3.0 m) deep freshwater lake until a 1980 disaster involving oil drilling and a salt mine. The lake is now a 1,300-foot (400 m) deep salt water lake, having been refilled by the Gulf of Mexico via the Delcambre Canal. There is also Lake Tasse, better known as Spanish Lake. This region has many natural features of interest, such as Avery Island, famous for its Tabasco sauce factory, deposits of rock salt, and Jungle Gardens.

Race and ethnicity New Iberia had a racial and ethnic makeup of 51.6% non-Hispanic whites, 40.7% Blacks or African Americans, 0.1% American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1.4% Asian, 2.1% some other race, and 2.1% multiracial Americans. Hispanics or Latino Americans of any race made up 3.8% of the total population in 2019. After the 2020 census, its racial and ethnic makeup was 44.47% non-Hispanic white, 44.04% Black or African American, 0.26% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, <0.0 Pacific Islander, 3.37% two or more races, and 5.06% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. At the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the city was 56.99% White, 38.42% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races; 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

Religion In common with most of Louisiana, the majority of New Iberians profess a religion. New Iberia is dominated by Christianity, and the single largest Christian denomination in the city is the Roman Catholic Church, owing in part to the Spanish and French heritage of its residents. Catholics in New Iberia and the surrounding area are served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. Of the religious population, 0.1% each practice Judaism or an eastern religion.

Economy The city of New Iberia was the founding headquarters for Bruce Foods before their relocation to Lafayette; it was also the birthplace of Trappey's Hot Sauce. Currently, the economy is stimulated by small businesses, agriculture, New Iberia station, Louisiana Hot Sauce, and Acadiana Regional Airport.

Places of interest • Shadows-on-the-Teche historic former residence and plantation, now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. • The Bayou Teche Museum has exhibits on the history, culture, artists and industries of the Bayou Teche region. Location of artist George Rodrigue's last studio. • Avery Island, home of Tabasco sauce and claims to be the oldest salt mine in North America. In operation since 1862. • Jungle Gardens, botanical garden and bird sanctuary located in Avery Island. • Jefferson Island is a former salt mine, botanical garden, rookery, nursery, as well as the historic Victorian Joseph Jefferson House. • Conrad Rice Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places, oldest rice mill in operation since 1912, offering public tours. • The city used to hold a statue of the Roman emperor, Hadrian. It was located on the corner of Weeks and St. Peter Streets, until approx. 2008 when it was sold.

Festivals New Iberia hosts the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival in September. The Sugar Cane Festival celebrates the commencement of the sugar cane harvest, locally referred to as grinding. Sugar cane is a principal crop grown by New Iberia farmers. The city also hosts El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia, which honors the area's Spanish heritage. Other notable festivals include the World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off, on the second full weekend in October; and the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival, in April, which celebrates James Lee Burke and South Louisiana literature.

Popular culture New Iberia is home to fictional detective Dave Robicheaux and his creator, author James Lee Burke. In the Electric Mist, a movie based on one of Burke's novels, was filmed in New Iberia in 2009 and starred Tommy Lee Jones.

Education Iberia Parish School System serves the city and parish area.

High schools • New Iberia Senior High School • Westgate High School; Middle schools • Anderson Middle School • Belle Place Middle School • Iberia Middle School; Elementary schools • Belle Place Elementary • Caneview Elementary • Center Street Elementary • Coteau Elementary • Daspit Elementary • Jefferson Island Road Elementary • John Hopkins Elementary • Magnolia Elementary • North Lewis Elementary • North Street Elementary • Park Elementary • Pesson Elementary • Sugarland Elementary.

Private schools • Acadiana Christian School is a private non-denominational Protestant K-12 School in New Iberia. • Catholic High School (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana) is a private Catholic 4-12 school in New Iberia. • Highland Baptist Christian School is a private Baptist K-12 school in New Iberia.

Education: Universities Iberia Parish is in the service area of Fletcher Technical Community College and of South Louisiana Community College.