Marksville, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marksville, Louisiana
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| City of Marksville | |
| Motto(s):
Where Everybody is Somebody
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Location of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.
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 Marksville, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Louisiana |
| Parish | Avoyelles |
| Founded | 1794 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.83 sq mi (12.50 km2) |
| • Land | 4.81 sq mi (12.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,065 |
| • Density | 1,052.36/sq mi (406.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71351
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| Area code | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-48750 |
Marksville is a small city in Louisiana, United States. It is the main city and government center, known as the parish seat, of Avoyelles Parish. In 2020, about 5,065 people lived there.
Marksville is home to Louisiana's first land-based casino, the Paragon Casino Resort. It opened in 1994. The Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe owns and runs this casino. They have a special area, called a reservation, in the parish.
Contents
History of Marksville
The area where Marksville is located was once a popular meeting spot. This led to the creation of the Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site. It's a place where ancient Native American mounds can still be seen today.
Marksville got its name from Marc Eliche. He was a Jewish trader from Venice, Italy. Around 1794, his wagon broke down here, so he set up a trading post. This was a place where people could buy and sell goods.
Marksville appeared on maps of Louisiana as early as 1809. This was after the United States bought the land in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Marc Eliche later gave the land for the Courthouse Square. This square is now in the middle of Marksville.
The people of Marksville come from many different backgrounds. Many families have Cajun ancestors. There are also African American, European American, and mixed-heritage families. Their ancestors have lived here since the city was first formed.
Marksville became a busy trading center for nearby cotton farms. During the 1800s, many enslaved African Americans were brought to the Deep South. They were often bought in markets like New Orleans. Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. He was held for nearly 12 years in Avoyelles Parish. In 1853, he was finally freed with help from officials in Marksville and New York. His story was written in a book and later made into the movie 12 Years A Slave.
Marksville's Location and Land
Marksville is located at 31°7′36″N 92°3′58″W / 31.12667°N 92.06611°W.
The city covers a total area of about 4.1 square miles (10.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.24%, is water.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 437 | — | |
| 1880 | 553 | 26.5% | |
| 1890 | 540 | −2.4% | |
| 1900 | 837 | 55.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,076 | 28.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,185 | 10.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,527 | 28.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,811 | 18.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,635 | 100.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,257 | 17.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,518 | 6.1% | |
| 1980 | 5,113 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,526 | 8.1% | |
| 2000 | 5,537 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,702 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,065 | −11.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Marksville had 5,065 residents. There were 2,145 households and 1,150 families living in the city. The population includes people from various backgrounds.
Education in Marksville
The Avoyelles Parish School Board manages all public schools in Marksville. There are two main public schools within the city.
Elementary Schools
- Marksville Elementary
High Schools
- Marksville High School
Media in Marksville
Newspapers
- Avoyelles Journal
Radio Stations
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92.1 | KLIL | Classic hit | Cajun Broadcasting |
| 95.9 | KZLG | Adult contemporary | Cajun Broadcasting |
| 97.7 | KAPB-FM | Classic country | Bontemps Media Services |
Famous People from Marksville
Many notable people have connections to Marksville:
- D'Anthony Batiste (born 1982), a former football player for the National Football League and Canadian Football League.
- Aaron Broussard, a politician from Jefferson Parish.
- Chester Coco (1915–2001), a politician and lawyer who served as a Louisiana state senator.
- Edwin Edwards, who served four terms as the Governor of Louisiana.
- Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards, who was a US senator in 1972.
- H. Claude Hudson, a civil rights activist and founder of Broadway Federal Savings and Loan.
- Matthew "Boogie Jake" Jacobs, a blues musician.
- Jeannette Knoll, an associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court since 1997 and a long-time Marksville resident.
- Chad Lavalais, a former football player for LSU and the NFL.
- Tommy Neck, an LSU and NFL football player from the 1960s.
- Ed Oliver, an NFL football player.
- John H. Overton (1875–1948), a U.S. senator who was born in Marksville.
- Gaston Porterie, a former Attorney General for the State of Louisiana.
- Charles Addison Riddle III, the District Attorney since 2003 and a former State Representative.
- Little Walter Jacobs, a blues musician who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Chief Sesostrie Youchigant, a former chief of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe. He was the last person to speak the Tunica language fluently and shared his knowledge with researchers.
- Horace Pierite, a former chief of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe.
- Earl Barbry, a politician and Native American leader, and former chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe.
- Allen Barbre, an American football offensive tackle who played for the Denver Broncos.
National Guard Presence
The 1020th Engineer Company (Vertical) is located in Marksville. This unit is part of the 527th Engineer Battalion, which belongs to the 225th Engineer Brigade.
Nearby Communities
Here are some smaller communities located near Marksville:
- Brouillette
- Fifth Ward
- Moncla
- Spring Bayou
- Tunica-Biloxi Indian Reservation
See also
In Spanish: Marksville (Luisiana) para niños
