Mayor: Opelousas suffering from incorrect 2010 Census population count

More people have lived in Opelousas during the past decade than the 2010 Census indicates and Mayor Julius Alsandor said a demographer can prove it.

Demographer Mike Hefner told the Board of Aldermen last week that 2010 Census numbers for Opelousas were “dismally low,” something Alsandor said needs to be corrected if the city hopes to obtain grant money for infrastructure improvements.

The 2010 Census, Hefner said, “gives the impression to the rest of the world that Opelousas is a dying town.”

Officially the 2010 Census showed Opelousas with 16,634 residents. That population count was often questioned by former Mayor Donald Cravins Sr., who served two terms that ended in 2018.

The 2010 Census also indicated Opelousas had a 27.4 percent decline in population between 2000 and 2019. In 2000, the Census numbers had Opelousas with 22,860 residents.

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During his administration, Cravins often maintained the city had more people living there than the 2010 Census showed. Several times Cravins threatened to request a 2010 Census recount, but that never occurred. The city administration and the board did not take action.

Alsandor said he doesn’t know exactly how many people live in Opelousas. The correct number of residents, Alsandor said, is probably between 18,000 and 20,000.

Census taker Jacelyn Vaughn told aldermen they should explain to residents in their election districts that information provided for the 2020 Census is vital, does not require much time to offer and would remain confidential.

Alsandor said the city has possibly lost “millions and millions of dollars,” due to an inaccurate 2010 count.

Hefner told the board a lower Census count also affects the city’s chances of landing businesses and promoting economic development.

“You might have great opportunities but the attitude of businesses looking for places to locate will not reflect those opportunities. One thing that businesses are going to look at is whether a town is shrinking or growing,” Hefner said.

Hefner said city wide reapportionment, which he thinks will be completed sometime in 2021, will be affected by the 2020 Census.

Zoning lines for Opelousas’ five election districts and one alderman at-large will be incorrect if the 2020 Census is not recorded accurately, he said.