Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson Davis Parish
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Parish
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Elton Methodist Church in Elton.
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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 | January 1, 1913 |
| Named for | Jefferson Davis |
| Seat | Jennings |
| Largest city | Jennings |
| Area | |
| • Total | 659 sq mi (1,710 km2) |
| • Land | 651 sq mi (1,690 km2) |
| • Water | 7.2 sq mi (19 km2) 1.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 32,250 |
| • Density | 48.94/sq mi (18.895/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Jefferson Davis Parish is a special kind of county called a parish in the state of Louisiana. In 2020, about 32,250 people lived here. The main town, or parish seat, is Jennings.
This parish is named after Jefferson Davis. He was the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Jefferson Davis Parish is in southwestern Louisiana. It is also part of a larger area called Acadiana. This region has a strong French cultural influence.
Contents
History of Jefferson Davis Parish
Jefferson Davis Parish was one of the last parishes created in Louisiana. It used to be part of a much larger area called Imperial Calcasieu Parish. As more people moved into the area, this big parish was split into five new ones.
The idea to create Jefferson Davis Parish became a law in 1912. However, it officially started in 1913. This parish is part of the 22-county Acadiana region. Many people in Acadiana have French roots and speak French.
The very first oil well in Louisiana was drilled nearby in 1901. This happened in Evangeline, Acadia Parish. A man named W. Scott Heywood drilled it. The oil field was called the Jennings Oil Field. This was because Jennings was the closest train stop to where the oil was found.
In 2005, Hurricane Rita hit the parish. It caused a lot of flooding and wind damage.
Geography and Nature
Jefferson Davis Parish covers about 660 square miles. Most of this area, about 651 square miles, is land. The rest, about 7.2 square miles, is water.
The parish has five main towns: Elton, Fenton, Jennings, Lake Arthur, and Welsh. There are also many smaller, "unincorporated" areas. These are places that are not officially part of a town. They still add to the parish's economy and interesting places.
Interstate 10 is a major highway that runs through the middle of the parish. It helps people travel and businesses move goods. The Union Pacific Railroad also runs through the parish. The Mermentau River connects to the Intracoastal Waterway. This river is nine feet deep and allows boats to reach the Port of Mermentau.
The Jennings Airport is located near Interstate 10. Its runway is 5,000 feet long. This means small jets can land there. Many people who enjoy outdoor activities visit the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge in the parish.
Neighboring Parishes
- Allen Parish (north)
- Evangeline Parish (northeast)
- Acadia Parish (east)
- Vermilion Parish (southeast)
- Cameron Parish (south)
- Calcasieu Parish (west)
- Beauregard Parish (northwest)
Transportation
Major Highways
Interstate 10
U.S. Highway 90
U.S. Highway 165
U.S. Highway 190
Louisiana Highway 14
Louisiana Highway 26
Louisiana Highway 97
Louisiana Highway 99
Louisiana Highway 101
Louisiana Highway 102
Louisiana Highway 380
Louisiana Highway 382
Louisiana Highway 395
Louisiana Highway 1130
Louisiana Highway 3055
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Airports
- Jennings, (3R7)
- Welsh
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Jennings, USA
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Jennings, LA | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 23 ft / 7 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°14′33″N 92°40′24″W / 30.24250°N 92.67333°W | ||||||||||||||||||
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Communities in the Parish
City
- Jennings (This is the parish seat and the largest town.)
Towns
Village
Unincorporated Areas
These are places that are not officially part of a city or town.
Census-Designated Places
Other Unincorporated Communities
- Barnsdall
- Buller
- China
- Edna
- Fontenot
- Foreman's Hall
- Gravel Point
- Lauderdale
- Niblett
- Panchoville
- Pine Island
- Raymond
- Silverwood
- Thornwell
- Topsy
- Verrett
- Woodlawn
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 18,999 | — | |
| 1930 | 19,765 | 4.0% | |
| 1940 | 24,191 | 22.4% | |
| 1950 | 26,298 | 8.7% | |
| 1960 | 29,825 | 13.4% | |
| 1970 | 29,554 | −0.9% | |
| 1980 | 32,168 | 8.8% | |
| 1990 | 30,722 | −4.5% | |
| 2000 | 31,435 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 31,594 | 0.5% | |
| 2020 | 32,250 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
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| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 24,855 | 77.07% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,130 | 15.91% |
| Native American | 147 | 0.46% |
| Asian | 100 | 0.31% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,280 | 3.97% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 734 | 2.28% |
In 2020, there were 32,250 people living in Jefferson Davis Parish. These people made up 11,726 households and 8,149 families.
Education in the Parish
The Jefferson Davis Parish Public Schools system runs the public schools here.
- Elton Elementary School (Grades PK-5) (Elton)
- Elton High School (Grades 6–12) (Elton)
- Fenton Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Fenton)
- Hathaway High School (Grades K-12) (Jennings)
- Jennings Elementary School (Grades 3–6) (Jennings)
- Jennings High School (Grades 7–12) (Jennings)
- Lacassine High School (Grades K-12) (Lacassine)
- Lake Arthur Elementary School (Grades PK-6) (Lake Arthur)
- Lake Arthur High School (Grades 7–12) (Lake Arthur)
- James Ward Elementary School (Grades PK-2) (Jennings)
- Welsh Elementary School (Grades PK-5) (Welsh)
- Welsh High School (Grades 8–12) (Welsh)
- Welsh-Roanoke Jr. High School (Grades 6–8) (Roanoke)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette also has one school in the parish:
- Our Lady Immaculate (Grades PK-8) (Jennings)
For higher education, the parish is served by Sowela Technical Community College. Its Morgan Smith campus is located in Jennings.
National Guard Presence
C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion is located in Jennings, Louisiana. This unit is part of the 256th IBCT. It was sent to Iraq twice, in 2004-2005 and again in 2010.
Famous People from the Parish
- A.C. Clemons (1921-1992), a former Louisiana state senator.
- Al Woods (born 1987), an American football player for the New York Jets of the NFL.
- Thomas A. "Tom" Greene (born 1948), another former Louisiana state senator.
- Travis Etienne (born 1999), an American football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.
- Cleve Francis (born 1945), a country music singer, songwriter, and heart doctor.
- Monte Ledbetter (1943-2020), a former American football player in the NFL.
- Eugene John Hebert (1923-1990), a priest and missionary who disappeared in Sri Lanka.
- Canray Fontenot (1922-1995), a famous American Creole musician.
- Lance Guidry (born 1971), an American football coach.
- Charles Mann (born 1944), a singer and "swamp pop" performer. He is in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
- Jack Doland (1928-1991), a former Louisiana state senator, football coach, and university president.
- Chancy Croft (born 1937), a former politician from Alaska.
- Avalon Daggett (1907-2002), a filmmaker and helper of good causes.
- June James (1962-1990), a former American football player in the NFL and CFL.
- Pat Rapp (born 1967), a former professional baseball player.
- Guy Sockrider (1921-2011), a former Louisiana state senator.
- Donald Ellsworth Walter (born 1936), a former judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
- Phillip Walker (1937-2010), a musician.
- Troy Romero, the current Louisiana State Representative for the 37th district.
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de Jefferson Davis para niños
