LaSalle Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LaSalle Parish, Louisiana
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| Parish of LaSalle | |
LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena
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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 |
| Region | Central Louisiana |
| Founded | January 1, 1910 |
| Named for | René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle |
| Parish seat (and largest town) | Jena |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,710 km2 (662 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,620 km2 (625 sq mi) |
| • Water | 100 km2 (38 sq mi) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,791 |
| • Density | 8.627/km2 (22.343/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 318 |
| Congressional district | 5th |
LaSalle Parish (French: Paroisse de La Salle) is a special kind of county, called a parish, located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. In 2020, about 14,791 people lived there. The main town and government center is Jena. This parish was formed in 1910 from a part of Catahoula Parish.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of LaSalle Parish
LaSalle Parish is named after René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. He was a famous French explorer.
There can be some confusion about how to spell the parish name. Sometimes it's "LaSalle" (no space) and sometimes "La Salle" (with a space). For example, a sign at the "La Salle Parish Courthouse" uses a space. However, the official spelling used by the U.S. Census since 2011 is "LaSalle" without a space. This is also the most common way to spell it.
History of LaSalle Parish
LaSalle Parish was officially created on July 3, 1908. It began as the Parish of LaSalle.
Geography of LaSalle Parish
LaSalle Parish is located in Central Louisiana. It covers a total area of about 662 square miles. Most of this area, about 625 square miles, is land. The remaining 38 square miles, which is about 5.7% of the total area, is water.
Main Roads in LaSalle Parish
These are the most important roads that run through LaSalle Parish:
U.S. Highway 84
U.S. Highway 165
Louisiana Highway 8
Louisiana Highway 28
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Neighboring Parishes
LaSalle Parish shares borders with several other parishes:
- Caldwell Parish to the north
- Catahoula Parish to the east
- Avoyelles Parish to the south
- Rapides Parish to the southwest
- Grant Parish to the west
- Winn Parish to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
Part of the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge is located within LaSalle Parish. This refuge helps protect wildlife and their habitats.
Population and People of LaSalle Parish
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 9,402 | — | |
| 1920 | 9,856 | 4.8% | |
| 1930 | 11,668 | 18.4% | |
| 1940 | 10,959 | −6.1% | |
| 1950 | 12,717 | 16.0% | |
| 1960 | 13,011 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 13,295 | 2.2% | |
| 1980 | 17,004 | 27.9% | |
| 1990 | 13,662 | −19.7% | |
| 2000 | 14,282 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 14,890 | 4.3% | |
| 2020 | 14,791 | −0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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The population of LaSalle Parish has changed over the years. The table above shows how many people have lived there during different U.S. Census counts.
Who Lives in LaSalle Parish? (2020 Census)
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 11,263 | 76.15% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,283 | 8.67% |
| Native American | 133 | 0.9% |
| Asian | 252 | 1.7% |
| Pacific Islander | 10 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 448 | 3.03% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,402 | 9.48% |
According to the 2020 United States census, there were 14,791 people living in the parish. These people made up 4,814 households, with 3,643 of them being families.
National Guard Presence
The 1087th Transportation Company is part of the National Guard. This unit is located in Jena, Louisiana. It belongs to the 165th CSS (combat service support) Battalion and the 139th RSG (regional support group).
Towns and Communities
LaSalle Parish has several towns and smaller communities where people live.
Main Towns
Other Communities
These are smaller areas that are not officially towns:
Famous People from LaSalle Parish
- Thomas "Bud" Brady was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He served from 1976 to 1988.
- Mike Francis used to be the chairman for the Republican party in Louisiana.
- Henry E. Hardtner was a lumberman. He was known as "Louisiana's first conservationist" because he cared about protecting nature. He also served in the Louisiana State Legislature and helped found Urania.
- Speedy O. Long was a state senator and a U.S. representative. He also worked as a district attorney.
- Jeffery Simmons is a football player. He plays for the Tennessee Titans.
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de La Salle para niños
