Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Natchitoches Parish (French: Paroisse des Natchitoches ou Les Natchitoches) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,566.[1] The parish seat is Natchitoches.[2] The parish was formed in 1805.[3]

Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Natchitoches
Natchitoches Parish Courthouse (completed 1939 as a WPA project)
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
RegionCentral Louisiana
FoundedApril 10, 1805
Named forNatchitoches people
Parish seatNatchitoches
Largest municipalityAshland (area)
Natchitoches (population)
Area
 • Total3,360 km2 (1,299 sq mi)
 • Land3,240 km2 (1,252 sq mi)
 • Water120 km2 (47 sq mi)
 • percentage9 km2 (3.6 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total39,566
 • Estimate 
(2018)
38,659
 • RankLA: 30th
 • Density12/km2 (30/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district4th
WebsiteNatchitoches Parish Government
The Natchitoches Parish Library.
Hidden by trees, the Magnolia Plantation is located in the Cane River Creole National Historical Park.
Creston Baptist Church is located at the intersections of the highways leading to Ashland, Goldonna, and Readhimer.

The Natchitoches, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Natchitoches Parish. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community, free people of color of mixed-race descent who settled here in the antebellum period. Their descendants continue to be Catholic and many are still French speaking. The Cane River National Heritage Area includes the parish. Among the numerous significant historic sites in the parish is the St. Augustine Parish (Isle Brevelle) Church, a destination on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, founded in 2008.

Including extensive outbuildings at Magnolia and Oakland plantations, the Cane River Creole National Historical Park interprets the history and culture of the Louisiana Creoles. It is also on the Heritage Trail.

History

Natchitoches Parish was created by the act of April 10, 1805 that divided the Territory of Orleans into 12 parishes, including Orleans, Iberville, Rapides and Natchitoches. The parish boundaries were much larger than now defined, but were gradually reduced as new parishes were organized following population increases in the state. The parishes of Caddo, Claiborne, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto, Bienville, Jackson, Sabine, Red River, Winn, and Grant were eventually formed from Natchitoches' enormous territory. Natchitoches Parish has had fifteen border revisions, making it second only to Ouachita parish in number of boundary revisions.

During the antebellum period, numerous large cotton plantations were developed in this area, worked by enslaved African Americans. The parish population was majority black and enslaved by the time of the Civil War. There was also a large mixed-race population of free Creoles of color. Among the institutions they founded was the St. Augustine Parish (Isle Brevelle) Church, built in 1829. It is a destination on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.

In May 1861 free men of color in the area known as Isle Brevelle began to organize two militia companies. Other free men of color of Campti and that area enlisted in the Confederate Army later in the war, and it is believed were accepted into a predominately white company because of their longstanding acceptance in the community. Many of the free people of color were related to longtime white families in the parish, who acknowledged them.[4]

After the war, during Reconstruction and after, there was white violence against freedmen and their sympathizers blacks in the aftermath of emancipation and establishing a free labor system. Most planters continued to rely on cotton as a commodity crop, although the market declined, adding to area problems. In the late 19th century, a timber industry developed in some areas.

Since the late 20th century, the parish has developed considerable heritage tourism. It also attracts people for fishing and other sports, including spring training on Cane River Lake by several university teams.


Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,299 square miles (3,360 km2), of which 1,252 square miles (3,240 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (3.6%) is water.[5] It is the fourth-largest parish by land area in Louisiana. The primary groundwater resources of Natchitoches Parish, from near surface to deepest, include the Red River alluvial, upland terrace, Sparta, and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifers.[6]

Adjacent parishes

Major highways
  • Interstate 49
  • U.S. Highway 71
  • U.S. Highway 84
  • Louisiana Highway 1
  • Louisiana Highway 6
  • Louisiana Highway 9
  • Louisiana Highway 117
  • Louisiana Highway 119
  • Louisiana Highway 126
  • Louisiana Highway 153
  • Louisiana Highway 155
  • Louisiana Highway 156
  • Louisiana Highway 174
  • Louisiana Highway 480
  • Louisiana Highway 485
  • Louisiana Highway 486
  • Louisiana Highway 494
  • Louisiana Highway 1226
  • Louisiana Highway 3163

National protected areas
Name
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
Kisatchie National Forest (part)
Red River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Saline Bayou

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18207,486—
18307,9055.6%
184014,35081.5%
185014,228−0.9%
186016,69917.4%
187018,2659.4%
188019,7077.9%
189025,83631.1%
190033,21628.6%
191036,4559.8%
192038,6025.9%
193038,477−0.3%
194040,9976.5%
195038,144−7.0%
196035,653−6.5%
197035,219−1.2%
198039,86313.2%
199036,689−8.0%
200039,0806.5%
201039,5661.2%
Est. 201838,659[7]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,566 people living in the parish. 54.3% were White, 41.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races. 1.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 39,080 people, 14,263 households, and 9,499 families living in the parish. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 16,890 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 57.85% White, 38.43% Black or African American (42 percent in 2010), 1.08% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,263 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 17.90% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $25,722, and the median income for a family was $32,816. Males had a median income of $29,388 versus $19,234 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,743. About 20.90% of families and 26.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.70% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Until the late 20th century, Natchitoches Parish was reliably Democratic in most competitive elections. But the party affiliations have changed and, like much of the rest of the South, have a distinct ethnic and demographic character. Since African Americans achieved certain gains under civil rights legislation and have been enabled to vote again since the late 1960s, they have supported the Democratic Party. Most white conservatives have left that party, and affiliated with the Republican Party, as has been obvious in parish results in presidential elections since 2000. These results reflect the demographic breakdown of the parish, where whites comprise a slight majority.

The last Democrat to win in Natchitoches Parish at the presidential level was native son of the South, Bill Clinton from Arkansas in 1996, who received 8,296 votes (54.7 percent), compared to Republican Robert J. Dole's 5,471 ballots (36.1 percent). Ross Perot of the Reform Party attracted 1,053 votes (6.9 percent).[13]

In his first and disputed election of 2000, Bush topped then Vice President Al Gore in Natchitoches Parish, 7,332 (49.4 percent) to 6,924 (46.6 percent). Patrick J. Buchanan as the Reform Party nominee, received 271 votes (1.8 percent).[14]

U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona won Natchitoches Parish over Barack Obama in the 2008 general election, 9,054 votes (53.1 percent) to 7,801 votes (45.7 percent).[15] The 2004 presidential results in Natchitoches Parish were similar to those of 2008 and 2012, with U.S. President George W. Bush prevailing over U.S. Senator John F. Kerry, 9,261 (54.6 percent) to 7,398 (43.6 percent).[16]

In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney won the parish with 9,077 votes (52.6 percent) to U.S. President Barack Obama's 7,942 votes (46 percent). At the parish-level, former State Representative Rick Nowlin, a Republican, became the first elected president of the new Natchitoches Parish government, which replaces the former Natchitoches Parish Police Jury system. Nowlin received 9,283 votes (59.2 percent) to the Democrat Gerald "Jerry" Longlois' 6,393 (40.8 percent). Natchitoches Parish cast 73 percent of its ballots for Republican U.S. Representative John Fleming, who faced opposition only from a Libertarian Party candidate.[17]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 54.0% 8,968 43.0% 7,144 3.1% 509
2012 52.6% 9,077 46.0% 7,942 1.4% 239
2008 53.1% 9,054 45.7% 7,801 1.2% 212
2004 54.6% 9,261 43.6% 7,398 1.8% 307
2000 49.4% 7,332 46.6% 6,924 4.0% 601
1996 36.1% 5,471 54.7% 8,296 9.3% 1,403
1992 38.5% 5,694 47.2% 6,974 14.3% 2,111
1988 52.6% 7,224 44.8% 6,151 2.6% 358
1984 59.0% 8,836 38.8% 5,806 2.2% 336
1980 47.0% 6,668 50.1% 7,102 3.0% 419
1976 42.3% 5,248 53.9% 6,692 3.8% 477
1972 64.7% 6,994 29.4% 3,180 5.8% 629
1968 19.9% 2,352 33.4% 3,945 46.6% 5,505
1964 65.0% 5,525 35.0% 2,975
1960 36.3% 2,562 39.4% 2,781 24.3% 1,717
1956 55.5% 3,203 35.2% 2,028 9.3% 539
1952 44.5% 3,104 55.5% 3,876
1948 14.3% 763 31.6% 1,692 54.1% 2,897
1944 30.3% 1,105 69.6% 2,536 0.1% 3
1940 15.2% 684 84.8% 3,824
1936 12.6% 502 87.4% 3,476
1932 4.8% 173 95.2% 3,458 0.1% 2
1928 20.0% 526 80.0% 2,099
1924 14.9% 200 84.1% 1,132 1.0% 14
1920 11.3% 203 88.7% 1,595
1916 3.7% 45 95.8% 1,181 0.6% 7
1912 2.1% 21 75.1% 759 22.9% 231

Education

Natchitoches Parish School Board operates local public schools. Parish schools include: Cloutierville Elementary & Junior High School, East Natchitoches Elementary & Middle High School, Fairview Alpha Elementary & Junior High School, Frankie Ray Jackson, Sr. Technical Center, George L. Parks Elementary & Junior High School, Goldonna Elementary & Junior High School, L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Junior High School, Lakeview High School, M.R. Weaver Elementary, Marthaville Elementary & Junior High School, Natchitoches Central High School, Natchitoches Magnet School, NSU Elementary Laboratory School, NSU Middle Laboratory School, and Provencal Elementary & Junior High School.

Government
Parish AdministrationAdministrators
PresidentJohn Richmond
SheriffStuart Wright
AssessorDollie C. Mahoney
School Board SuperintendentGrant Eloi

National Guard

A Troop 2-108TH CAV is headquartered in behind the local college and the airport. This unit has deployed twice to Iraq, first as part of the 1-156TH Armor Battalion in 2004-2005 and then as part of the 2-108TH CAV SQDN in 2010. Both times this company sized element deployed with the 256th Infantry Brigade.

Communities
Map of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

City

Town

Villages

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Hospital
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches
Exchange Bank in Natchitoches, Louisiana is the Tallest building in the Downtown Natchitoches
  • Natchitoches Regional Medical Center is the Natchitoches Parish Only Hospital that owns 96 beds serving for Natchitoches, Sabine and Winn Parishes.

Prison

County

NameAddressZipAged
Natchitoches Parish Detention Center299 Edwina Dr, Natchitoches, Louisiana7145716+

Notable people
  • H. Welborn Ayres (1900–1985), born in Ashland, judge of the Louisiana Third Judicial District Court in Jonesboro and the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport
  • Curtis Boozman (1898-1979), served two nonconsecutive terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives from Natchitoches, 1952 to 1956 and 1960 to 1964.[19]
  • Leopold Caspari (1830-1915), merchant in Cloutierville from 1849-1858 and thereafter businessman and banker in Natchitoches. He served nonconsecutively in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature between 1884 and 1914.[20]
  • Monnie T. Cheves (1902-1988), Northwestern State University professor; member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1952 to 1960[21]
  • Charles Milton Cunningham (1877-1936), educator, lawyer, police juror, state senator, editor of The Natchitoches Times[22]
  • William Tharp Cunningham (1871-1952), planter, lawyer, judge of the 11th Judicial District in Natchitoches and Red River parishes, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1908 to 1912, born in Natchitoches Parish in 1871[23]
  • Numa T. Delouche (1888-1965), member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Cloutierville from 1944 to 1948, served alongside Sylvan Friedman of Natchez, Louisiana
  • Caroline Dormon (1888–1971), naturalist, botanist, and preservationist (1888–1971) was born and lived on her family estate of Briarwood in Natchitoches Parish.
  • Abraham Dowden, Democratic political figure.
  • Brothers J. Isaac Friedman (1877-1949) and Leon Friedman (1886-1948) served in the Louisiana House from 1908 to 1916 and 1932 to 1940, respectively. Isaac Friedman also completed two years of a term in the state Senate (1922 to 1924), following the resignation of Charles Milton Cunningham. Their nephew, Sylvan Friedman was a member of both houses of the state legislature, serving in the House from 1944 to 1952, and the state senate from 1952 to 1972. The Friedmans came from a large Jewish landholding family in Natchez, Louisiana.
  • Thomas Gilcrease (1890 - 1962), was born in Robeline. He moved as a child with his parents in 1899 to the community of Wealaka in the Creek Nation in Indian Territory, now Eastern Oklahoma. He became a wealthy oilman and began collecting art, eventually founding the noted Gilcrease Museum, which he later donated to the city of Tulsa.
  • Lloyd Hendrick (1908-1951), member of the Louisiana State Senate for DeSoto and Caddo parishes, 1940 to 1948; born in Natchitoches Parish.
  • Andrew R. Johnson (1856–1933), Louisiana state senator and former mayor of Homer, Louisiana, in 1901 named and sold lots to establish the village of Ashland in Natchitoches Parish.[24]
  • Bob Reese (1929-2004), Co-chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Republican Executive Committee, 1968-2004.[25]
  • Roy Sanders (1904-1976), educator who served from Natchitoches Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1948 to 1952[26]
  • Ray Tarver (1921-1972), dentist from Natchitoches who represented Natchitoches Parish in the Louisiana House from 1964 to 1968; reared in Hagewood community in Natchitoches Parish[27]
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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Natchitoches Parish". Center for Regional Heritage Research. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  4. Lawrence L. Hewitt, Arthur W. Bergeron, Chapter: "Louisiana's Free Men of Color in Gray", in Louisianians in the Civil War, University of Missouri Press, 2002, pp. 110-114
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  6. Fendick, R.B. (2013). Water Resources of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Reston, Va.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  12. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. "Natchitoches Parish election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  14. "Natchitoches Parish election returns, November 7, 2000". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  15. "Natchitoches Parish election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  16. "Natchitoches Parish election returns, November 2, 2004". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  17. "Natchitoches Parish election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  19. "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  20. "Caspari, Leopold". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  21. "In Memoriam: Monnie T. Cheves". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. August 17, 1988. p. D3. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  22. "Charles Milton Cunningham". familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  23. "William Tharp Cunningham". genealogy.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  24. Mike Miller (1925). Henry E. Chambers (ed.). "Andrew R. Johnson". A History of Louisiana. Chicago and New York City: usgarchives.org. pp. 147–148. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  25. Obituary of Bob Reese. The Shreveport Times, November 27, 2004
  26. "Roy Sanders". Winnfield, Louisiana: Winn Parish Enterprise News-American. December 29, 1976. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  27. "123. Richard David Tarver, Jr". familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Retrieved September 10, 2014r.

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