Hayes (pronounced heɪz) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Hayes had a population of 676. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. Geography Hayes is located in the southeastern corner of Calcasieu Parish, on the west bank of Bayou Lacassine, which forms the boundary with Jefferson Davis Parish. Louisiana Highway 14 runs through the center of the community, leading west to Bell City and south then east to Lake Arthur. Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish seat, is to the northwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the community has a total area of , of which , or 1.52%, is water.
History In the beginning, Hayes was known as Dugas PastureLake Charles American Press, August 9, 1987, pg. 16; article by Nola Mae Ross or "La Savanne des Dugas", named for a cattle grazer from Andrus Cove who discovered this bountiful pasture land. Cattle could be kept here without supervision because the area was bounded on the east by the Lacassine Bayou, on the north and west by swampland, and on the south by marsh. In 1832 Thomas Hayes moved into Dugas Pasture and became the first while settler there. He married Mary Ann Foreman of Andrus Cove, and they settled near the Lacassine Bayou.
The next settler was William Holland, born in Tennessee in 1809. Holland, pioneer and father of nine children,Mar 19, 1929, Lake Charles American Press established a school in what was now becoming known as Hayes (for Thomas Hayes, the first settler). Using a team of oxen, he moved an old slave cabin onto his properly, and he hired his friend Tom Cannon as the teacher. The next settler in Dugas Pasture was a widow with seven sons and one daughter. In 1854, Mrs. Bazeline Derouen of New Iberia bought a piece of property from the U.S. government, near the Lorrain settlement. On her property, the first Methodist church was established in 1898. It was a simple, one-room structure with a small, foot-operated organ. The first pastor was the Rev. Robert P. Howell. Prior to that, as far back as 1835, Methodist circuit riders had come into the area on horseback and held meetings in the Hayes and Holland homes. In 1905, after the railroad came to Hayes and the population shifted, the Methodist congregation decided the location was out of the way, so Bill Cox loaded the church building on a logging wagon and moved it to its present site in Hayes.
Francois, Louis, and Eugene LorrainLouisiana, by Richard Bizier came from France and settled in the Hayes area in 1860, in what was known as the Lorrain Settlement. The Lorrain Settlement had a brick mill, sugar mill, grits mill and sawmill which operated before steam boilers and used two men with cross-saws to work the mill. Louis Lorrain built a school in the settlement about 1860 and hired a teacher from France named Pierre Lenoir. The school was kept open by Paul Lorrain, who hired Marcelne Goodeaux as a teacher. She boarded with the family. Other teachers were Glady Kinsey and Miss Dicarlo. Then the school was moved to Hayes; early teachers there were Helen Bienvieu, Veva Stribling (Thom), J.R. Logan, Irma Howarton and Misses Freeman, Landreneaux, and Roy. There was a post office at Lorrain around 1880, with mail brought up the bayou by schooner. Mrs. Aueline Lorrain was the postmistress.
Another family moved into the Hayes area in 1885: Ophelien Primeaux, grandfather of Eloi Primeaux. In 1875, the first Gibbs made his appearance. Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbs moved to Hayes from Lowry and opened a general store, with living quarters upstairs. Kinney Gibbs was manager of the Island Plantation near Hayes which was owned by the Rice Plantation and Canal Company.
Others settling in the area in the earliest days included families named Brown, Atkinson, Moore, Mitchell, Duhon, Verret, Lemelle, Andrus, and Trahan. They were followed, after the turn of the century, by Gossett, Morgan, Gravelle, Carmouche, Fruge, Kent, Derouen, Theriot and Walker. Groups of northern farmers were brought down by J.B. Watkins'Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society by Adley Cormier extensive advertising of the "Garden of Eden" in the Deep South.
This area remained isolated for many years. Midwives delivered most of the children. A Cherokee "medicine woman" used concoctions prepared from herbs and plants to treat everything from snake bites to toothaches. The first doctor, Leroy Lambert, did not come until 1916.
The Louisiana Western Railroad, through Lake Charles, Holmwood, Bell City, Hayes, and Lake Arthur, was completed in 1904. Overnight, Hayes became a thriving little community. Toliver Hayes, son of the original settler, sold the rights-of-way and a depot site to the Railroad Company and of land to be used as a town site. Thus, the name of Hayes became permanent for the area. In March 1906, a new saw mill was established by Frank Dearborn and Jesse Thom called Hayes Cypress and Lumber Co. Less than two years later, J.M. Nugent of Alexandria purchased controlling interest.
A rice mill was built and a post office opened. In March 1911, Felix Hebert1911 Mar 24 Weekly - The Lake Charles American-Press became postmaster after the resignation of Hayes' first postmaster, Solomon Hayes. Jesse Leo Thom1948 Jul 14 Lake Charles American Press was postmaster for 20 years until his death in 1948. Evelyn Hayes, niece of the first postmaster,1976 Sept 12 Lake Charles American Press served through 1981.
A small school near the big "S" curve on the edge of Hayes was believed to have been established in 1895.
20th century time-line
1903 Toliver Hayes transferred to M.E. Shaddock land for First Baptist Church of Hayes.1903 October 27, American Press
1906 By a vote of 42 to 1 the Hayes precinct prohibited the sale of liquor, making Hayes a dry town.1906 Aug 24 Weekly - The Lake Charles American
1910 The first public school, under the supervision of the Calcasieu School Board, was opened.
1923 Marked the beginning of the "Lafitte Cut-Off Old Spanish Trail" highway project, extending from New Iberia to Lake Charles, via Abbeville, Kaplan, Gueydan, Lake Arthur, Hayes, and Holmwood. On the elected committee to represent Hayes in this highway project was J. W. Gardiner. By July 1925 only on each side of Bayou Lacassine remained incomplete.1923 Dec 31, American Press1925 Jul 15, Lake Charles American Press
1930 Talking and sound picture equipment was installed in the Magnolia Theater by Felix Hebert, owner. Mr. Hebert reported to the Lake Charles American Press he was convinced that Hayes, with a population of only 80 persons, is the smallest town in the U.S. to have this up-to-date type of entertainment. With no electric lines, a private power plant was established to run the theater.1930 Oct 15 Lake Charles American Press
1934 oil was discovered.
1938 electricity was brought into Hayes.
1941 Hayes Elementary school had 140 students1941 Oct 14, Lake Charles American Press
1944 The Hayes Library opened on April 10.Calcasieu Parish Library - History It was located in Martin's Store, and Mrs. Emma Martin was the first branch manager.
1946 Natural gas plant established.
1947 The first PTA was organized, with Mrs. Elias Lorrain as president.1947 Oct 17, Lake Charles American Press
1948 A gas heating system was installed in Hayes School.1948 Sep 07, Lake Charles American Press
1950 Researcher Eloi Primeaux documented2003 Sep 18, Lake Charles American Press 300 registered voters among the 1,200 people living in Hayes.
1953 St. Daniel Catholic Chapel was dedicated and named in honor of Father Daniel Habetz.1953 Jan 14, Lake Charles American Press
1955 The Hayes Branch of the Calcasieu Parish library celebrated the use of a new building. The new building was owned by Miss Evelyn Hayes, local postmaster, and Mrs. Horace Hebert was the local librarian.1955 April 3, Lake Charles American-Press
1968 The Hayes Water System was incorporated.
1971 January 4 Consolidation of Hayes and Bell City Schools.
Climate Residents of Hayes always stay aware of the possibility of evacuations during the official hurricane season from June 1 to November 30.
On average, the warmest month is July with an average high of . The highest recorded temperature was in 2000. On average, the coolest month is January with an average low of . The lowest recorded temperature was in 1951.
The maximum average precipitation occurs in May with average rainfall of , and the minimum average precipitation occurs in February with average rainfall of .
Demographics
Hayes was first listed as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census. The 2010 United States census population was 780.
2000 United States census Demographic Profile Highlights:
General Characteristics - for 70646 Number Total population 418 Male 205 Female 213 Median age (years) 40Under 5 years 21 18 years and over 307 65 years and over 59 White 405 Black or African American 4 Asian 1 Other Race 3 Two or more races 5 Hispanic or Latino 7 Average household size 2.65 Average family size 3.24 Total housing units 200 Owner occupied 138 Renter-occupied 20 Vacant 42 Social characteristics Number Civilian veterans ( 18 years and over) 15 Disability status (5 years and over) 93 Male, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over) 57 Female, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over) 67 Speak a language other than English at home (population 5 years and over) 103 Economic characteristics Number Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and older) 38.7 Median household income in 1999 $14,844 Individuals below poverty level 78
2009 OASDI beneficiaries for Hayes, La - 70646 Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.
In 2009 beneficiaries total was 150. The breakdown of this total is: Retired workers 70, Disabled workers 20, Widow(er)s 30, Spouses 15, Children 15
Monthly benefits are $141,000. The breakdown of this total is: Retired workers $73,000, Widow(er)s $28,000, Aged 65 or older $95,000
Culture Hayes has a strong Cajun culture and retains a unique dialect of the Cajun-French language and numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group.
The Cajun cuisine of the region is one of the most famous regional cuisines in the United States.
Outdoor recreation Lorrain Park
Lorrain ParkLorrain Park - Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is located at the foot of Lorrain Bridge. Because of its unique design and construction, Lorrain Bridge is in the National Register of Historical Places. The site was acquired in 1894, and a wooden drawbridge was constructed around 1895. In 1920 it was re-constructed, still as a wooden drawbridge. It was damaged in 1950, repaired in 1951, and in 1955 the drawbridge portion was disabled. The bridge remained open and connected Calcasieu Parish and Jefferson Davis Parish until it was closed to traffic in March 1998. Due to joint efforts of the Lorrain Bridge Association, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and Jeff Davis Police Jury, the bridge was rebuilt and opened to traffic on July 1, 2004.
Lorrain Park has a public boat launch allowing access into the Lacassine Bayou. Two wharves are available at the launch site. A fish cleaning area is also provided for the convenience of park users. The park has tent camp sites and nine RV camper sites with electricity available. A dump station is available for RV campers.
Hayes Park
Hayes Parkwww.kplctv.com Posted: Feb 27, 2010 6:14 PM CST includes a swing set, swing safety surround, trash bins, picnic tables, a walking trail, landscaping, and playground equipment for small children. It is located behind the Calcasieu Parish Library-Hayes Branch.