Mossville City's population is shrinking. Sasol's construction has forced the buyout of more than half the city's population. There used to be more than 500 people in Mossville in the late 1990s, but today only 50 remain. Mossville City has become a "transition city" for the oil and gas industry. But it's not just the oil and gas industry that's hurting Mossville.
In the 1790s, freed slaves founded Mossville, a town in southeast Louisiana. They were the first black communities in the U.S., and it's still the second largest city. Residents lived off the land and grew their own fruits and vegetables. They also strained the juice from a Mayhaw tree. Sullivan Ramirez recalls her childhood in Mossville, which was a different story from the modern day. She remembers falling asleep on her grandma's front porch. Today, a conoco chemical plant sits across the street, destroying a historic neighborhood.
While Sasol's Voluntary Property Purchase Program was supposed to benefit residents of Mossville, many of those residents have since rejected the buyouts. While more than half of Mossville's residents opted for the buyouts, they have since run their course. The residents who refused the buyouts, however, have petitioned for higher offers. One resident is preparing to leave the town to escape the construction zone.