Mount Lebanon, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Lebanon, Louisiana
Town
Location of Mount Lebanon in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Bienville
Area
• Total	4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2)
• Land	4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	338 ft (103 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	66
• Density	16.38/sq mi (6.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	318
FIPS code	22-52740

Mount Lebanon is a small town in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 66 people lived there.

History of Mount Lebanon

Mount Lebanon was likely the first lasting settlement in what is now Bienville Parish. The first people to settle here were Baptists from South Carolina. They quickly built a church and a school.

Mount Lebanon University

The school grew and became Mount Lebanon University in 1853. However, it closed during the Civil War to be used as a high school and a hospital for soldiers fighting for the Confederacy. After the war, the school reopened. It faced challenges for many years. In 1906, it joined with Louisiana College in Pineville.

Mount Lebanon Baptist Church

The Mount Lebanon Baptist Church was started in 1837. The Louisiana Baptist Convention, a large group of Baptist churches, was formed there in 1848. One of the church leaders was pastor George Washington Baines. He was the great-grandfather of future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. The church building is still used today. Inside, the seating area was once divided down the middle, with men on one side and women on the other. There was also a balcony where enslaved people sat.

Historic Homes

There are eight houses in Mount Lebanon that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical buildings. One of these buildings was once a stop for stagecoaches and a hotel. It was built around 1848 and is still owned by the same family today.

Town's Decline

Mount Lebanon began to shrink in size and importance after a railroad was built through Gibsland, which is about 3 miles (5 km) north. This meant that trade and travel shifted away from Mount Lebanon. The town's post office closed in the 1950s.

Geography of Mount Lebanon

Mount Lebanon is located in the northern part of Bienville Parish. Its exact location is 32°30′42″N 93°2′29″W / 32.51167°N 93.04139°W / 32.51167; -93.04139.

The United States Census Bureau says the town covers a total area of about 4.0 square miles (10.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

Population and People

In 2000, there were 73 people living in Mount Lebanon. The town had 34 households and 21 families. About 77% of the people were White, and about 23% were African American.

About 23.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households were married couples living together, while some had a female head of household without a husband. About 35% of households were made up of individuals living alone. The average household had about 2 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 18% were under 18 years old, and about 35% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 48 years.

Notable People from Mount Lebanon

• Joseph Wilson Baines: He was born in Mount Lebanon in 1846. He served as the Secretary of State of Texas and was a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was also the grandfather of U.S. president Lyndon Baines Johnson.
• Claybrook Cottingham: He was the president of Mount Lebanon University from 1905 to 1906. Later, he became president of Louisiana College and then Louisiana Tech University. He lived in Mount Lebanon from 1902 to 1906.

See also

In Spanish: Mount Lebanon (Luisiana) para niños