Sugartown, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sugartown, Louisiana
Census-designated place
Sugartown, Louisiana Location in Louisiana
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Beauregard
Settled	circa 1816
Area
• Total	1.96 sq mi (5.08 km2)
• Land	1.96 sq mi (5.07 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	104 ft (32 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	33
• Density	16.85/sq mi (6.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	70662
Area code(s)	337
FIPS code	22-73570

Sugartown is a small community in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located about 16 miles east of DeRidder. In 2020, 33 people lived there. Today, the center of Sugartown is where LA 112 and LA 113 meet. The original community was much larger.

People Living in Sugartown

Sugartown is a small community. The number of people living there has changed over time.

How Sugartown is Governed

The local government for Sugartown is the Beauregard Parish Police Jury. The main office for the parish is in DeRidder. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement. The Louisiana State Police also patrol the state highways in the area.

Timber Industry in Sugartown

The timber industry is very important to Sugartown's economy. Many tree farms are located in the area. From the early 1800s to the 1920s, large timber companies owned land. They would cut down huge, old pine trees. Once the trees were gone, the sawmills would move, and towns would shrink.

Today, people still harvest pine stumps. These stumps, called "rich lighter," are full of resin. New trees are planted, so the timber industry is still strong. Harvested wood goes to sawmills and the Boise Cascade paper mill in DeRidder.

Sugartown's Early History

The first permanent settlement in Southwest Louisiana happened around Sugartown before 1818. At that time, the area was part of the Neutral Strip. Sugartown was an important place. It had the first cotton gin west of the Calcasieu River. It also had the first local school, the oldest cemetery, and the first church in the area.

Around 1900, Sugartown had many buildings. These included a Masonic Lodge, a school, churches, a racetrack, saloons, and stores. It was the main center for trade and business in the area. However, as the timber industry grew, DeRidder became more important. This happened because the railroad was built through DeRidder in the early 1900s.

How Sugartown Got Its Name

There are two stories about how Sugartown got its name.

• One story says a wagon carrying sugar overturned while crossing a creek. The sugar spilled into the creek, giving the creek and the town their names.
• Another story says an early settler was cooking sugar cane juice. They left it unwatched, and it cooked too long, turning into sugar.

Sugartown's First School

The Sugartown Male and Female Academy opened in 1870. Many people believe this school started the educational system in Southwest Louisiana. W.H. Baldwin, a graduate of Columbia University, was its first teacher. Students came from many parishes in Louisiana and from East Texas. Graduates of the academy became leaders in medicine, ministry, education, government, and business. Their positive impact is still felt today.

Mail Delivery in Sugartown

From about 1820 to 1840, people had to travel far to get their mail. They picked it up in Belgrade, Texas. In 1841, a post office was set up in Sugartown. Mail was delivered weekly by horseback from Lake Charles.

The Old Campground Cemetery

The earliest settlers of Sugartown are buried in the "Old Campground Cemetery." It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area. It is located near an old crossing point of Sugar Creek. This spot was a resting place for pioneers traveling west in the early 1800s.

Why Sugartown's Importance Declined

Sugartown's population began to shrink as businesses moved away. This happened when railroads were built to serve busy sawmill towns like Bon Ami, Ludington, Fullerton, and DeRidder. If any of these sawmills or rail lines had been built in Sugartown, it might have stayed the main "Queen City of the Frontier."

Notable People from Sugartown

• Cleveland Dear, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana, was born in Sugartown in 1888.

Sugartown Today

Today, Sugartown is mostly just a crossroads. Watermelons are still grown in the area. Most of these are hybrid types that can be shipped easily. However, the original Sugartown melon was the "Crimson Sweet" melon, which is still grown locally. Many people in the region call any sweet local melon a "Sugartown melon," even if it wasn't grown right in Sugartown.

Images for kids

• 

  Watermelon stand in Sugartown

• 

  Fields in Sugartown

• 

  Calcasieu River, eastern Neutral Strip boundary

See also

In Spanish: Sugartown (Luisiana) para niños