| Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana | |
| Official Name: | Parish of Natchitoches |
| Image Map1: | Louisiana in United States.svg |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Seat1 Type: | Largest municipality |
| Seat1: | Ashland (area) Natchitoches (population) Campti (population density) |
| Parts Type: | Incorporated municipalities |
| Parts: | 9 (total) |
| P1: | 1 city, 1 town, and 7 villages |
| P2: | (located entirely or partially within parish boundaries) |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1299 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1252 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 47 |
| Area Blank1 Title: | percentage |
| Area Blank1 Sq Mi: | 3.6 |
| Population Total: | 37515 |
| Population Rank: | LA 30th |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Utc Offset1: | -6 |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -5 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Congressional district |
Natchitoches Parish (French: Paroisse des Natchitoches or French: Les Natchitoches) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,515.[1] The parish seat and most populous municipality is Natchitoches, the largest by land area is Ashland, and the most density populated area is Campti.[2] The parish was formed in 1805.[3]
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.
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 that they 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.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of, of which is land and (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]
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Cane River Creole National Historical Park | |
| Kisatchie National Forest (part) | |
| Red River National Wildlife Refuge (part) | |
| Saline Bayou |
| Number | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 18,898 | 50.37% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 14,857 | 39.6% | |
| Native American | 284 | 0.76% | |
| Asian | 166 | 0.44% | |
| Pacific Islander | 19 | 0.05% | |
| Other/Mixed | 1,801 | 4.8% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,490 | 3.97% |
Of its population in 2010, 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). In 2000, its racial makeup was 57.85% White, 38.43% Black or African American, 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. By 2020, its racial makeup was 50.37% non-Hispanic white, 39.6% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.8% multiracial, and 3.97% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2000, 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.
Until the late 20th century, Natchitoches Parish was reliably Democratic in most competitive elections. But the party affiliations have changed, and like most of the Deep 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).[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Natchitoches Parish School Board operates local public schools.[13]
Parish Schools,East Natchitoches Elementary & Middle High School,Fairview Alpha Elementary & Junior High School,Frankie Ray Jackson Sr. Technical Center,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, andProvencal Elementary & Junior High School.
It is in the service area of Bossier Parish Community College.[14]
| Parish Administration | Administrators | |
|---|---|---|
| President | John Salter | |
| Sheriff | Stuart Wright | |
| Assessor | Timothy K. Page | |
| School Board Superintendent | Grant Eloi |
Parish