Springhill, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Springhill
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Downtown Springhill
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Location of Springhill in Webster Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Webster |
| Settled | 1818 |
| Incorporated | 1902 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.29 sq mi (16.30 km2) |
| • Land | 6.21 sq mi (16.09 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 292 ft (89 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,801 |
| • Density | 772.73/sq mi (298.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71075
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| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-72485 |
Springhill is a small city located in the very northern part of Webster Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,800 people lived there. Springhill is part of the Minden area, even though it is about thirty miles north of Minden. Minden is the main government center for Webster Parish.
Contents
History of Springhill
The area around Webster Parish was first settled around 1818. Some of the first settlers included William Farmer and Joseph Murrell. They called the area "Piney Woods."
How Springhill Got Its Name
In 1894, before it was officially a town, the area was called "Barefoot, Louisiana." A woman named Mrs. Maxwell gave it this name. She noticed that many men in the community went to work without shoes.
Becoming a City
The town officially became a city in 1902. The first mayor was N.B. Taylor. Later, Peter Modisette was mayor for many years, from 1914 to 1925.
City Hall and Civic Center
The Springhill City Hall is across from the Springhill Civic Center. The Civic Center is a large meeting hall. It was built in the late 1960s.
Recent Mayors
Over the years, many people have served as mayor. Ray Huddleston became mayor in 2019. He is not part of a major political party.
Springhill in Movies
The 1979 movie Five Days from Home was filmed mostly in Springhill. The director and star of the movie was George Peppard. His wife at the time, Sherry Boucher, grew up in Springhill. Her father, Jesse L. Boucher, was also a mayor of Springhill.
Timber Industry in Springhill
Springhill has a long history with the timber industry. This means making products from trees.
Early Timber Businesses
In 1896, the Pine Woods Lumber Company came to Springhill. The town grew quickly because of the timber business. It was a "boomtown." During the Great Depression, the Pine Woods Lumber Company closed. The number of people living in Springhill went down.
Later, the Frost Lumber Company bought the facility. It was then sold to Springhill Lumber Company. This company later became Anthony Forest Products. They stayed in Springhill until 1972.
International Paper Company
A very important company for Springhill was International Paper Company. They built a huge paper mill in 1937. This mill made paper from wood pulp. It made Springhill very important for the economy of northern Louisiana.
Even though the mill was technically in Cullen, everyone called it the "Springhill paper mill." International Paper also added a wood products plant and a box factory. This made Springhill a major manufacturing center.
Changes in the Industry
In 1979, International Paper closed the paper mill. This caused the local economy to slow down. However, International Paper kept its wood products and box factories open.
In 2006–2007, International Paper sold the wood products plant to Georgia Pacific. They also sold their land in the Springhill area. The box factory is the last part of International Paper left in Springhill.
Another big employer, Trane, moved its factory to Mexico. Trane made parts for air conditioning.
Education in Springhill
Springhill has a high school called North Webster High School. Before 2011, it was called Springhill Jr./Sr. High School. It used to have students from seventh to twelfth grade.
School Changes
After some budget cuts, the school system changed. Now, North Webster High School teaches students from ninth to twelfth grade. These students come from all over northern Webster Parish.
Students who used to go to Springhill Junior High now go to North Webster Junior High School. This school is in Sarepta. The elementary schools in Springhill, Browning Elementary and Brown Middle, are still the same. Students from Pre-Kindergarten to fifth grade attend these schools.
The Georgia Howell Elementary School, built in 1956, is now closed. This is because the building was not safe. Students who went there now attend Browning or Brown Middle.
Geography of Springhill
Springhill is located at 33°0′4″N 93°27′41″W / 33.00111°N 93.46139°W. It is about 292 feet above sea level.
The city covers about 6.3 square miles. Most of this area is land, about 6.2 square miles. A small part, about 0.1 square miles, is water.
People of Springhill
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 748 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,546 | 106.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,822 | 82.5% | |
| 1950 | 3,383 | 19.9% | |
| 1960 | 6,437 | 90.3% | |
| 1970 | 6,496 | 0.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,516 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,668 | −13.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,439 | −4.0% | |
| 2010 | 5,269 | −3.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,801 | −8.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,850 | 59.36% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,649 | 34.35% |
| Native American | 10 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 32 | 0.67% |
| Other/Mixed | 182 | 3.79% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 78 | 1.62% |
In 2020, there were 4,801 people living in Springhill. There were 2,270 households and 1,171 families.
Culture and Events
Springhill holds an annual Lumberjack Festival. This festival includes many fun things. You can find crafts and a "Kids Corner." There is also Louisiana food and live music. A parade is also part of the festival. The festival is now held at the Frank Anthony Park.
Famous People from Springhill
Many notable people have connections to Springhill:
- Devin White – A great football player. He won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went to North Webster High School.
- Trace Adkins – A popular Country music singer.
- Sherry Boucher – A former Hollywood actress. She was married to George Peppard.
- John David Crow – He won the 1957 Heisman Trophy in college football. He played in the National Football League for eleven seasons.
- Joe Stampley – A Country music artist. He was part of the band "The Uniques."
- John Stephens – A football player drafted by the New England Patriots. He was the 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year.
- John Corey Whaley – An author who writes books for young adults. His first book, Where Things Come Back, was published in 2011.
Images for kids
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Springhill clock tower
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Springhill City Hall shares a large building with the municipal civic center.
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Springhill City Council chamber
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Springhill branch of the Webster Parish Library
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The restored Spring Theater in Springhill claims to have the largest screen in north Louisiana.
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The large Central Baptist Church in Springhill
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First United Methodist Church in Springhill
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Lake Erling near Springhill is popular for boating and fishing.
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Frank Anthony Community Activity Center in Springhill has hosted the Texas singer Willie Nelson.
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A natural gas well in front of the Frank Anthony Center in Springhill
See also
In Spanish: Springhill (Luisiana) para niños
