Rodessa, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rodessa, Louisiana
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Village
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| Village of Rodessa | |
Location of Rodessa in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Caddo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.20 sq mi (3.12 km2) |
| • Land | 1.20 sq mi (3.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 230 ft (70 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 192 |
| • Rank | CD: 8th |
| • Density | 159.47/sq mi (61.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-65710 |
Rodessa is a small village located in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2010, about 270 people lived there. It is part of the larger Shreveport–Bossier City area.
Contents
History of Rodessa
Rodessa likely started as a place where people traded goods in the mid-1800s. Locals say it was first called Frog Level. This name came about because frogs were croaking loudly during a town meeting!
A post office was built in 1879. Later, in 1898, the Kansas City Southern Railway built train tracks through the area. This helped the village grow, and Rodessa officially became a village that same year.
The Rodessa Oilfield
Rodessa is famous for giving its name to the Rodessa Oilfield. This oilfield is very large, stretching from western Louisiana into parts of Texas. Even though it's named after the village in Louisiana, most of the oil drilling happens in Texas. Drilling started in 1936 and continues today. The original oil drill in Rodessa was removed in 1947. Now, a small monument stands by the post office where the old Rodessa Oilfield Museum used to be.
Past Events in Rodessa
In February 1938, a very strong tornado hit northwestern Louisiana. It caused a lot of damage in Rodessa. Sadly, 21 people died, and many more were hurt.
More recently, on November 1, 2023, ten train cars went off their tracks just north of the village. This happened in the early morning. Luckily, no one was hurt, and there were no deaths. The main effect was that LA-1 had to be closed for a short time.
Geography of Rodessa
Rodessa is in the northwestern part of Caddo Parish. It's the closest village in Louisiana to the state's northwest corner. Louisiana Highway 1 goes through the village. This highway leads south about 7 miles (11 km) to Vivian. It also goes northwest about 15 miles (24 km) to Atlanta, Texas.
The United States Census Bureau says that Rodessa covers a total area of about 1.2 square miles (3.12 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 273 | — | |
| 1980 | 337 | 23.4% | |
| 1990 | 294 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 307 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 270 | −12.1% | |
| 2020 | 192 | −28.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census from 2000, there were 307 people living in Rodessa. These people lived in 119 households, and 81 of those were families. The population density was about 368 people per square mile (142 people per square kilometer).
About 70% of the people were White, and about 28% were African American. A small number were Native American or from two or more races.
In 2000, about 36% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 49% were married couples. The average household had about 2.58 people. The average family had about 3.17 people.
The median age in the village was 31 years old. This means half the people were younger than 31, and half were older. About 32% of the population was under 18.
Notable People from Rodessa
- Dan Flores – A historian who studies the American West.
- Eunice Durden – A person who grew up in Rodessa.
See also
In Spanish: Rodessa para niños
