| Bienville Parish, Louisiana | |
| Official Name: | Parish of Bienville |
| Settlement Type: | Parish |
| Image Map1: | Louisiana in United States.svg |
| Map Caption1: | Louisiana's location within the U.S. |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | North Louisiana |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Named For: | Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville |
| Seat Type: | Parish seat |
| Seat: | Arcadia |
| Seat1 Type: | Largest municipality |
| Seat1: | Bienville (area) Arcadia (population) |
| Parts Type: | Incorporated municipalities |
| Parts: | 10 (total) |
| P1: | 4 towns and 6 villages |
| P2: | (located entirely or partially within parish boundaries) |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 822 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 811 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 11 |
| Area Blank1 Title: | percentage |
| Area Blank1 Sq Mi: | 1.3 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 12981 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CST |
| Utc Offset1: | -6 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -5 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 318 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Congressional district |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 4th |
Bienville Parish (French: link=no|Paroisse de Bienville, in French pronounced as /paʁwas də bjɛ̃vil/) is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, the population was 12,981.[1] The parish seat and most populous municipality is Arcadia.[2]
The highest natural point in Louisiana, a hill known as Mt. Driskill, 535feet in elevation, is located in north central Bienville Parish. The mountain is located on private land with public access by walking trail. It is named for James Christopher Driskill, a 19th-century landowner. Nearby is Jordan Mountain, with an elevation of 493feet.
In the 1830s, Ruben Drake moved his family from South Carolina to what he named Mount Lebanon, the first permanent settlement in the parish. As the Drakes were devout Baptists, they established a church and school, which evolved into Mount Lebanon University, the forerunner of Louisiana Christian University in Pineville in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.[3] Bonnie and Clyde were shot dead in Bienville Parish on May 23, 1934.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of, of which is land and (1.3%) is water.[4] The highest natural point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain (535 ft), is located in Bienville Parish. Driskill Mountain is 11miles south of Arcadia at Latitude 32 degree, 25 minutes North; Longitude 92 degree 54 minutes West.
| Number | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,901 | 53.16% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,273 | 40.62% | |
| Native American | 61 | 0.47% | |
| Asian | 21 | 0.16% | |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.04% | |
| Other/Mixed | 509 | 3.92% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 211 | 1.63% |
In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 54.92% White, 43.78% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2020 census, the racial makeup was 53.16% non-Hispanic white, 40.62% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.92% multiracial, and 1.63% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
At the 2000 census, were 6,108 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
A tabulated 27.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% were 18 to 24, 24.60% were 25 to 44, 22.50% were 45 to 64, and 17.60% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $23,663, and the median income for a family was $30,241. Males had a median income of $28,022 versus $18,682 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,471. About 21.80% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
The Bienville Parish School Board operates area public schools.