Arcadia, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arcadia
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Town
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| Town of Arcadia | |
Downtown Arcadia, Louisiana
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Location of Arcadia in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Bienville |
| Incorporated | 1855 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.67 sq mi (9.51 km2) |
| • Land | 3.65 sq mi (9.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 384 ft (117 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,746 |
| • Rank | BV: 1st |
| • Density | 753.36/sq mi (290.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
71001
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| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-02655 |
Arcadia is a town located in northern Louisiana, United States. It is the main town, also called the parish seat, of Bienville Parish. In 2010, about 2,919 people lived there. Arcadia is special because it is the highest town in Louisiana. Its name comes from an old region in Ancient Greece called Arcadia.
Contents
History of Arcadia
In 1934, two famous bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde, were killed near Arcadia. Their bodies were brought to a local furniture store that also served as a funeral home. Many people came to Arcadia when they heard the news.
Arcadia has been an important center for the poultry industry. For many years, about 300 local farmers supplied chickens to a company called Pilgrim's Pride. In 2009, Pilgrim's Pride planned to close its operations in Louisiana, including the one in Arcadia. This would have meant losing about 1,300 jobs.
However, a few weeks later, another company called Foster Farms bought the operations. This deal, worth about $80 million, saved the jobs and kept the plants running. The State of Louisiana helped with $40 million of the purchase price.
Geography and Location
Arcadia is located at 32°33′7″N 92°55′27″W / 32.55194°N 92.92417°W. It is about 384 feet (117.0 m) above sea level, which is quite high for Louisiana. The town covers an area of about 3.1 square miles (7.9 km2), and all of it is land. Arcadia is located about 50 miles (80 km) east of Shreveport.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 862 | — | |
| 1900 | 924 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,079 | 16.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,240 | 14.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,809 | 45.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,601 | −11.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,241 | 40.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,547 | 13.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,970 | 16.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,403 | 14.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,079 | −9.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,041 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,919 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,746 | −5.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Arcadia as of 2020.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 705 | 25.67% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,895 | 69.01% |
| Native American | 12 | 0.44% |
| Asian | 3 | 0.11% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 69 | 2.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 61 | 2.22% |
In 2000, there were 3,041 people living in Arcadia. By 2020, the population was 2,746.
In 2019, most people in Arcadia (73.2%) were Black or African American. About 22% were white. A small number of people were from other backgrounds or mixed races.
In 2000, about 31.7% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average home had about 2.57 people. The average family had about 3.16 people. About 20.6% of the population was 65 years or older.
The average income for a household in Arcadia was $21,661 in 2000. By 2019, this increased to $23,494. About 41.9% of the people in Arcadia lived below the poverty line in 2019. This means they had a very low income.
Religion in Arcadia
Arcadia has several churches, including the First United Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church. The Louisiana Baptist Convention was started nearby in 1848.
Local Media
The Bienville Democrat is a weekly newspaper for the area. It is printed every Wednesday in Natchitoches. Then, it is delivered all over Bienville Parish.
Education in Arcadia
Public schools in Arcadia are managed by the Bienville Parish School Board. There are no private schools in the town. Arcadia has two public schools in one complex: Arcadia High School and Crawford Elementary School.
Transportation
The Arcadia-Bienville Parish Airport is located about two nautical miles (2.3 mi; 3.7 km) southwest of the town center. The Bienville Parish Council on Aging offers public transportation for people in town. You usually need to book these rides in advance. Other private transport services, like charter buses, are also available.
Notable People from Arcadia
Many interesting people have connections to Arcadia:
- Rodney Cook organized the annual Possum Festival. This festival raised over $100,000 for charities like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Marcus Fizer is a professional basketball player. He was a college All-American at Iowa State University.
- Patrick O. Jefferson is a lawyer in Arcadia. He has been a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives since 2012.
- Dub Jones (1924–2024) was an American football player.
- Henderson Jordan (1896–1958) was the Bienville Parish sheriff. He was involved in the event where Bonnie and Clyde were stopped.
- C. L. McCrary (1905–1989) was a businessman and state representative from Arcadia.
- Philip H. Mecom (1889–1969) was a United States Attorney.
- Danny Roy Moore (1925–c. 2020) was a State senator.
- Prentiss Oakley (1905–1957) was also a sheriff. He was part of the group that stopped Bonnie and Clyde.
- Pol Perritt was a Major League Baseball player. He pitched for the New York Giants in the 1917 World Series.
- Bettye Swann is a soul singer. She is known for her 1967 hit song "Make Me Yours".
- Lorris M. Wimberly was a farmer and insurance agent. He served as the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives four times.
- Rush Wimberly was a lawyer in Arcadia and Shreveport. He was a member of the Louisiana legislature and a school superintendent.
See also
In Spanish: Arcadia (Luisiana) para niños
