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Hackberry

Hackberry

Neighborhood in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Calcasieu Parish 70645

$315,226 Average Value
$211 Average Price per Sq Ft
11 Homes For Sale

A rural fishing town south of Lake Charles

The remote community of Hackberry sits on the western bank of the Calcasieu Ship Channel. To learn how residents spend their free time, all it takes is a drive down Main Street, where one sign after another points to a fishing charter or seafood market down the road. "People that are looking at Hackberry, they like to fish," says Realtor Steve Rackley of R Home Real Estate. Residents of this swampy, soggy community adhere to a Southern outdoorsman's way of life, enjoying immediate access to open water, plus unpretentious local businesses and community events. But it all comes with a cost: Hurricanes — and worse, tidal surges — are common when storms roll through.

Hackberry is home to about 988 full time residents.
Hackberry is home to about 988 full time residents.
Fishing is the heartbeat of Hackberry, and has been for generations.
Fishing is the heartbeat of Hackberry, and has been for generations.
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Fishing in the Gulf and Black Lake

Crabbing, trawling and deep-water fishing are Hackberry's great pastimes. Boaters gas up and fill their coolers with ice to hit the Gulf for tuna, red snapper and mackerel. Other anglers head west to Black Lake, which is especially popular in spring as a prime spot for spotted trout. Multiple marinas scattered around Hackberry provide water access for those who don’t own a home with a private slip. When they aren't out on open waters, residents spend hot summer days poolside at the Hackberry Recreation Center, which boasts two waterslides, a splash park, a shallow kiddy pool, a diving board and a cafe. The center also includes two baseball fields, a playground, and indoor facilities for classes and events.

Black Lake is a vast, open marshland that borders Hackberry.
Black Lake is a vast, open marshland that borders Hackberry.
Fishermen prepare to launch their boat to explore the vast marshlands of Hackberry.
Fishermen prepare to launch their boat to explore the vast marshlands of Hackberry.
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Resilient new builds with private boat slips

Narrow inlets of water reach into Hackberry and separate quarter- to 1-acre lots, creating small communities with places for homeowners to anchor their skippers, whalers and other small craft. These are found east of Main Street, where most of Hackberry's population is concentrated. Listings for the ranchers that sit beside or west of Main Street come few and far between. Most lots in Hackberry sell for between $25,000 to $150,000 and share the trait of homes raised a few feet above the ground, although some residents simply park their RVs there. Many residents live in manufactured and Acadian-style homes, most built post-Hurricane Rita in 2005. Most homes are raised, offering extra protection against the elements — a vital asset in a watery environment like Hackberry. "As an observer of construction here, I noticed that structures built after Rita tended to withstand the onslaught of Laura-Delta a lot better than buildings built between the 1950s and the late 1990s," says local historian Adley Cormier. Further inland, home styles and amenities are mostly the same, although they typically feature more yard space minus the waterfront access. Manufactured homes in Hackberry typically sell for between $165,000 to $300,000, while the larger Acadian-style homes sell for between $500,000 and $650,000.

Large porch space is a popular home amenity in Hackberry, offering great views and breezes.
Large porch space is a popular home amenity in Hackberry, offering great views and breezes.
A row of acadian style beach homes sit on a canal in Hackberry, LA.
A row of acadian style beach homes sit on a canal in Hackberry, LA.
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Hackberry Seafood and dino burgers

Family-owned since 1978, Brown's Food Center is the true anchor for this secluded angler's hideaway, offering a place in town to purchase frozen foods, fresh produce and other groceries. The only other place locals can sit down for a meal is the Hackberry Recreation Center's cafe, which serves a "dino burger" locals swear is the best in Cameron Parish. Hackberry's most common type of business takes customers out of town rather than keeping them local. Dozens of fishing charters offer multiple ways to cast a line in the Gulf, Black Lake or other nearby bodies of water. Meanwhile, seafood vendors like Hackberry Seafood share the spoils with the community. After a day in the salt and sun, anglers return to shore and make their way to Bucks & Ducks Sports Bar to close out the day with a frosty beer.

Shrimpers cull their catch from the day at sea in Hackberry.
Shrimpers cull their catch from the day at sea in Hackberry.
Residents stop by Browns Food Center in central Hackberry for everyday essentials.
Residents stop by Browns Food Center in central Hackberry for everyday essentials.
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Fully car dependent

Life in Hackberry requires a car. The community is spread out over 34 square miles, and few roads have sidewalks. The trade-off is that traffic is pretty much non-existent. LA-27 (also Main Street) is the only direct route toward Lake Charles, making Hackberry a one-way-in, one-way-out community.

Hackberry is a small, coastal town located about twenty minutes from Sulphur, LA.
Hackberry is a small, coastal town located about twenty minutes from Sulphur, LA.
Hackberry is prone to flooding due to its proximity to the bay and gulf.
Hackberry is prone to flooding due to its proximity to the bay and gulf.
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The Grand Ole Opry comes to town

Public events are less common in Hackberry than in communities a few miles north, like Lake Charles proper. However, municipal facilities in Hackberry do provide special activities, like the Hackberry Library, which hosts Lego building groups, bimonthly bingo games and an end-of-summer party. The Hackberry Community Center throws a country-style party, often doubling as fundraisers for local initiatives. In April 2024, country music stars T.G. Shepard and T. Graham Brown — the latter a recent inductee to the world-famous Grand Ole Opry — came to Hackberry to perform at A Night on the Town, an annual fundraiser for the Hackberry Future Farmers of America. The event features a night of live music, dancing and a dinner of Southern delights like smoked brisket, potatoes au gratin and bread pudding.

Stop by the Hackberry Rec Center to exercise or grab a bite at their cafe.
Stop by the Hackberry Rec Center to exercise or grab a bite at their cafe.
The Hackberry Library offers a wide variety of books and computer access.
The Hackberry Library offers a wide variety of books and computer access.
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Tiny class sizes at Hackberry High School

Hackberry belongs to the Cameron Parish School District, which does not follow a traditional pipeline. Instead, students attend grades K-12 all at the same school: Hackberry High School, which has a Niche score of C. Class sizes are extremely small across each grade level, with an average of 8 students per teacher.

Hackberry High earns a C rating from niche.com.
Hackberry High earns a C rating from niche.com.
Hackberry High is a place where students can grow.
Hackberry High is a place where students can grow.
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Things to consider

No stranger to hurricanes, Hackberry has long weathered the strength of storms that sweep across the region. Most homes are elevated off the ground, and anything built after 2005 has generally better resiliency due to building codes that were updated following Hurricane Rita. Still, almost all of Hackberry is in a special hazard flood zone, and storm surges can easily inundate the low-lying area. Beyond safety, there are financial ramifications, too: Insurance companies increasingly deny home policies in Cameron Parish.

The Hackberry Ship Channel provides many commercial opportunities for fishermen.
The Hackberry Ship Channel provides many commercial opportunities for fishermen.
The shrimping industry is thriving in the small town of Hackberry.
The shrimping industry is thriving in the small town of Hackberry.
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Tom Jakob
Written By
Tom Jakob
Brandon Fox
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Fox
Adam Barkley
Video By
Adam Barkley

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Steve Rackley, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Transit

Airport

Lake Charles Regional

62 min drive

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Hackberry US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 1 4
Robbery 1 4
Burglary 1 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 1 4
Larceny 1 4
Crime Score 1 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$282,500
Median Single Family Price
$315,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$211
Number of Homes for Sale
11
Last 12 months Home Sales
8
Months of Supply
16.50
Median List Price
$345,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
12%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-33%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
148
Median Year Built
2007
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,790
Below the national average
1,935
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,360
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
15,681

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Steve Rackley, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
890
Median Age
45
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
23.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$73,676
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$80,719

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
91.8%
College Graduates
22%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.8%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.6%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
64''
Average Winter Low Temperature
42°F
Average Summer High Temperature
91°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

25 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

0 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Reviews

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Hackberry
Steve Rackley
R Home Real Estate LLC
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