East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Feliciana Parish
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Parish
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East Feliciana Parish Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
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 Louisiana's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Louisiana |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Named for | Marie Felice de Gálvez |
| Seat | Clinton |
| Largest town | Jackson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 456 sq mi (1,180 km2) |
| • Land | 453 sq mi (1,170 km2) |
| • Water | 2.4 sq mi (6 km2) 0.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,531 |
| • Density | 42.83/sq mi (16.537/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 5th, 6th |
East Feliciana Parish is a special kind of county called a parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. In 2020, about 19,531 people lived here. The main town, or parish seat, is Clinton.
East Feliciana Parish was created in 1824 when the original Feliciana Parish was split into two parts. The other part is West Feliciana Parish. Both parishes are close to Baton Rouge and are part of its larger metropolitan area. They are also known as part of the "Florida Parishes," which were once controlled by Spain as part of its West Florida colony.
Contents
History
The name "Feliciana" comes from the Spanish governor, Bernardo de Gálvez. In 1810, he named the area after his wife, Marie Felicité.
After the United States took control of this land, more and more people moved here. The area was great for growing sugar cane, and businesses were doing well. In 1824, the state decided to divide Feliciana Parish. This made it easier for people to reach their parish's main office in either East or West Feliciana.
The first state hospital in the parish was the Louisiana State Insane Asylum. It was built near the town of Jackson in 1847. Later, a doctor named John Welch Jones helped make it much bigger and better in 1874. This hospital is now called East Louisiana State Hospital.
Geography
East Feliciana Parish covers about 456 square miles. Most of this area, about 453 square miles, is land. The rest, about 2.4 square miles, is water.
Main Roads
- U.S. Highway 61
- Louisiana Highway 10
- Louisiana Highway 19
- Louisiana Highway 63
- Louisiana Highway 67
- Louisiana Highway 68
- Louisiana Highway 69
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Neighboring Parishes and Counties
- Wilkinson County, Mississippi (to the northwest)
- Amite County, Mississippi (to the northeast)
- St. Helena Parish (to the east)
- East Baton Rouge Parish (to the south)
- West Feliciana Parish (to the west)
Communities
Towns
Villages
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller areas that are not officially towns or villages.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 8,247 | — | |
| 1840 | 11,893 | 44.2% | |
| 1850 | 13,598 | 14.3% | |
| 1860 | 14,697 | 8.1% | |
| 1870 | 13,499 | −8.2% | |
| 1880 | 15,132 | 12.1% | |
| 1890 | 17,903 | 18.3% | |
| 1900 | 20,443 | 14.2% | |
| 1910 | 20,055 | −1.9% | |
| 1920 | 17,487 | −12.8% | |
| 1930 | 17,449 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 18,039 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 19,133 | 6.1% | |
| 1960 | 20,198 | 5.6% | |
| 1970 | 17,657 | −12.6% | |
| 1980 | 19,015 | 7.7% | |
| 1990 | 19,211 | 1.0% | |
| 2000 | 21,360 | 11.2% | |
| 2010 | 20,267 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 19,531 | −3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
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In 2020, the population of East Feliciana Parish was 19,531 people. Here's a look at the different groups of people living there:
| Group | Number | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 11,411 | 58.4% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 7,108 | 36.38% |
| Native American | 60 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 46 | 0.24% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 514 | 2.63% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 391 | 2.0% |
In 2019, about 40% of the people living in the parish had jobs. Most people, about 80.5%, owned their homes. The average value of a home owned by its resident was about $139,300. The average rent was about $647 per month.
The average yearly income for a household in the parish was about $51,803. For men, the average income was about $61,105, and for women, it was about $32,243. About 23.3% of the people in the parish lived below the poverty line in 2019.
Many people in East Feliciana Parish are Christians. The largest Christian group in 2020 was the Southern Baptist Convention, with over 5,200 members. Other groups include United Methodists and Catholics.
Education
The East Feliciana Parish School Board runs the public schools in the parish. These include Jackson Elementary School, Slaughter Elementary School, and Clinton Elementary School. For older students, there are East Feliciana Middle and High School. Some students also go to Wilkinson County Christian Academy in Mississippi.
The parish is also served by Baton Rouge Community College, which offers higher education.
Silliman Institute in Clinton is a private school. It was started in the late 1960s.
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from East Feliciana Parish:
- Donna Douglas (1932-2015) was an actress famous for her role on the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
- Erick Erickson is a well-known editor for the website RedState.
- John Welch Jones (1826-1916) was a doctor and a leader during the Civil War. He also ran the state hospital.
- Junius Wallace Jones (1890-1977) was a Major-General in the United States Air Force.
- Lawrence Brooks (1909-2022) was born in Norwood. He was the oldest American veteran of World War II.
- Eddie Robinson was a famous football coach at Grambling State University. He was born in Jackson.
- John D. Travis (1940-2016) served as a state representative for the area from 1984 to 2000.
- Kendell Beckwith is an NFL player who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went to East Feliciana High School.
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de East Feliciana para niños
