Buras, Louisiana

Buras (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell)<ref>Saul Bernard Cohen, The Columbia Gazetteer of the World: v. 1. A to G (Columbia University Press, 1998; ISBN 0231110405), p. 468.</ref> is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 945 at the 2010 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> and 1,109 in 2020.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Prior to the 2010 census, Buras was considered to be part of the Buras-Triumph CDP.

History

Template:MainHurricane Katrina made its official landfall in Louisiana in Buras in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana on August 29, 2005. Buras experienced the full force of the storm, with catastrophic winds and storm surge leading to extensive damage. This area marked the first point of impact for one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history.Template:Expand section In November 2006, Jeré Longman of The New York Times wrote that "almost no evidence of recovery exist[ed]" in the post-Hurricane Katrina period.<ref name=LongmanJereDoubt>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2007, Longman reported that there was still "little sign of recovery" in Buras.<ref name=Longmanfocustrumps>Template:Cite news</ref> The town was founded in the 1840s; 20 years later, it was the site of Civil War battles at Forts Jackson and St. Philip. Today, the Buras area is known for hauling in much of the state's oysters.

Demographics

Buras first appeared in the 2010 U.S. census formed along with the Triumph CDP from the deleted Buras-Triumph CDP.<ref name=2010CensusLA>Template:Cite web</ref>

Buras CDP, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	564	471	59.68%	42.47%
Black or African American alone (NH)	63	118	6.67%	10.64%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	19	16	2.01%	1.44%
Asian alone (NH)	210	344	22.22%	31.02%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	5	18	0.53%	1.62%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	53	82	5.61%	7.39%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	31	60	3.28%	5.41%
Total	945	1,109	100.00%	100.00%

Buras was split off from the Buras-Triumph CDP prior to the 2010 U.S. census. In the pre-Katrina period (before August 29, 2005) Buras had about 30-40 Cambodian shrimpers, presenting the area's large Asian American population. In the post-Hurricane period (after August 29, 2005) Brenda Kap, quoted in The New York Times, stated most of them had returned.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the 2020 United States census, its Asian population was 344, making them the second-largest racial and ethnic group in the CDP; non-Hispanic and Latino whites made up 471 persons total, and Black and African Americans were the third largest group.<ref name="2020CensusP2" />

Government

The United States Postal Service operates a post office.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Plaquemines Parish School Board operates the public schools of the parish.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

It is served by South Plaquemines High School in Empire, next to the Buras CDP, and with a Buras postal address.<ref>Template:Cite web - Compare to the school's entire postal address.
Template:Cite web - While the address states "Buras, LA", the school is physically in the Empire CDP.</ref>

Prior to 2005, Buras Middle School (grades 6–8) and Buras High School (grades PK-5 and 9–12) served the community,<ref>"Buras Middle School." Plaquemines Parish School Board. March 22, 2004. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.</ref><ref>"Buras High School." Plaquemines Parish School Board. March 22, 2004. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.</ref> but Hurricane Katrina damaged the buildings.<ref name=PlaqPlanp9>"Plaquemines Parish Comprehensive Master Plan 8. Public Facilities and Services Template:Webarchive." Plaquemines Parish. p. 9/34. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.</ref> In the immediate post-Katrina period no new campuses opened in Buras, leading some residents to feel that the community may further erode.<ref>Template:Cite news Print: p. D1, New York edition, "The Hurt After Katrina Continues for a Prospect"</ref> The permanent school building of South Plaquemines High was established on the site of the former Buras Middle School, while faculty residences were placed on the property of the former Buras High School.<ref name=PlaqPlanp9/>

Plaquemines Parish is in the service area of Nunez Community College.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Plaquemines Parish Library maintains the Buras Branch.<ref>Template:Cite web - Click "Buras Library" tab.</ref>