Ascension Parish, Louisiana

Not to be confused with Assumption Parish, Louisiana.

Ascension Parish
Parish
Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville
Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville
Flag of Ascension Parish
Flag
Map of Louisiana highlighting Ascension Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°12′N 90°55′W / 30.2°N 90.91°W / 30.2; -90.91
Country United States
State Louisiana
Founded1807
Named forAscension of Jesus Christ
SeatDonaldsonville
Largest cityPrairieville
Area
 • Total
303 sq mi (780 km2)
 • Land290 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  3.75%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
126,500
 • Density420/sq mi (160/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 6th
Websitewww.ascensionparish.net

Ascension Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Ascension; Spanish: Parroquia de la Ascensión) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 126,500.[1] Its parish seat is Donaldsonville.[2] The parish was created in 1807.[3] Ascension Parish is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area.

Ascension Parish is one of the 22 parishes that make up Acadiana, the heartland of the Cajun people and their culture. This is exhibited by the prevalence of the French or Cajun French language heard throughout the parish, as well as the many festivals celebrated by its residents, including the Boucherie Festival, Lagniappe Music and Seafood Festival, Crawfish Festival, and the Jambalaya Festival.[4][5][6][7] The largest incorporated city in Ascension Parish, Gonzales, is celebrated as the "Jambalaya Capital of the World".[8]

  1. ^ "QuickFacts: Ascension Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Ascension Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "2021 Boucherie Festival". www.boucheriefestival.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lagniappe Music & Seafood Festival - Tour Ascension". Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  6. ^ https://tourascension.com/events/dreams-come-true-crawfish-festival/ [dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Welcome to the Gonzales Jambalaya Festival Website!". Jambalaya Festival Association. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "JAMBALAYA FESTIVAL | Gonzales Louisiana".