Tallulah, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tallulah, Louisiana
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City
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Tallulah municipal building
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Location in Madison Parish, Louisiana
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 Tallulah, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
Tallulah, Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Madison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.78 sq mi (7.21 km2) |
| • Land | 2.78 sq mi (7.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,286 |
| • Density | 2,258.71/sq mi (872.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
71282, 71284
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| FIPS code | 22-74690 |
Tallulah (/təˈluːlə/ tə-LOO-lə) is a city in, and the parish seat of, Madison Parish in northeastern Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,286, down from 7,335 in 2010.
As this was historically a center of agriculture since the antebellum years, producing cotton and pecans, Tallulah and the parish have long had majority-African American populations. The small city is now nearly 77 percent African American; the surrounding parish is 60 percent black. Mechanization and industrial agriculture have reduced the number of jobs, and many residents have moved since the mid-20th century to larger cities with more opportunities.
Tallulah is the principal city of the Tallulah Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Madison Parish. The Madison Parish Sheriff's office operates the Steve Hoyle Rehabilitation Center in Tallulah.
Contents
History
During the American Civil War, Union gunboats in Lake Providence headed south to Tallulah, where they burned the Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Texas Railroad's depot and captured Confederate supplies awaiting shipment to Indian Territory. The Confederates in Tallulah offered no resistance. Numerous potential Confederate troops in the area were turned down for enlistment because of a lack of weapons.
Tallulah was the first U.S. city to offer shoppers an indoor shopping mall. A businessman built Bloom's Arcade in 1925, in the style of European arcades. It was one hall with stores on either side much like the ones today. The hall opened into the street on both ends. This landmark is still in Tallulah on U.S. Route 80 on the historical registry. As of late 2013, it has been restored to its original character and functions as an apartment complex. Madison Parish claims the title of birthplace of Delta Air Lines, and the original airport building, Scott's Field, still stands near Tallulah, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On April 24, 2010, an EF4 tornado touched down near Tallulah, causing numerous injuries. The tornado also damaged a tanker in a chemical plant causing a small nitrogen leak. The tornado continued on the ground across the Mississippi River. As the tornado gained strength, it struck Yazoo, Holmes, and Choctaw counties in Mississippi, causing 10 fatalities and extensive destruction. Significant damage to an industrial plant with injuries, trapped people and destroyed homes were reported in Madison Parish near the Louisiana-Mississippi state line. There were fifty-four tornadoes reported that day.
Detention and correction facilities
In November 1994, the state opened the privately operated Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth on the western edge of the city. Residents hoped it would provide jobs for local people and aid the local economy, but there were soon problems associated with management of the facility, and the jobs there were low paying. In addition to problems within the facility, the prison seemed to have an adverse effect on the city. In 1999, the state took over operating the facility, renaming it the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth/Madison Parish Unit, but there continued to be problems with the treatment of youth.
A coalition of townspeople began to work on ideas for different uses for the land. The state decided to close the facility, and the coalition proposed an educational center instead. They gained legislative approval in one year, so when the juvenile prison was closed in 2004, there were plans developed for an educational center on the site. A bill for the Northeast Delta Learning Center was signed by Governor Kathleen Blanco in July 2004. Issues remaining were getting funding for it and offsetting a proposal to use the facility as an adult prison. Despite the desire of the townspeople, the facility was converted to house adult prisoners. It is known as the Madison Parish Louisiana Transitional Center for Women (LCTW), houses 535 inmates, and is operated by LaSalle Corrections, a private company.
Other related facilities in Tallulah, as it is the parish seat, are the Madison Parish Detention Center, with 264 inmates, and the Madison Parish Correctional Center, with 334 inmates. These are also operated by LaSalle Corrections.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all land.
Climate
| Climate data for Tallulah, Louisiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
85 (29) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
104 (40) |
104 (40) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
95 (35) |
90 (32) |
87 (31) |
106 (41) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 59.6 (15.3) |
63.9 (17.7) |
71.5 (21.9) |
79.1 (26.2) |
86.0 (30.0) |
91.6 (33.1) |
94.2 (34.6) |
94.8 (34.9) |
90.2 (32.3) |
81.3 (27.4) |
69.9 (21.1) |
61.9 (16.6) |
78.7 (25.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 49.0 (9.4) |
52.4 (11.3) |
59.9 (15.5) |
67.5 (19.7) |
75.4 (24.1) |
81.6 (27.6) |
84.0 (28.9) |
84.0 (28.9) |
78.9 (26.1) |
68.8 (20.4) |
57.9 (14.4) |
51.1 (10.6) |
67.5 (19.7) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 38.4 (3.6) |
41.0 (5.0) |
48.4 (9.1) |
56.0 (13.3) |
64.8 (18.2) |
71.5 (21.9) |
73.8 (23.2) |
73.3 (22.9) |
67.6 (19.8) |
56.3 (13.5) |
46.0 (7.8) |
40.3 (4.6) |
56.4 (13.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −8 (−22) |
−12 (−24) |
11 (−12) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
47 (8) |
54 (12) |
52 (11) |
34 (1) |
21 (−6) |
15 (−9) |
4 (−16) |
−12 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.63 (143) |
5.54 (141) |
5.34 (136) |
6.65 (169) |
4.49 (114) |
3.85 (98) |
4.29 (109) |
3.86 (98) |
3.28 (83) |
4.43 (113) |
4.68 (119) |
5.83 (148) |
57.87 (1,470) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.1 (0.25) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 89.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Tallulah, Louisiana (Vicksburg – Tallulah Regional Airport) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
86 (30) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
104 (40) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
98 (37) |
88 (31) |
83 (28) |
106 (41) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 57.2 (14.0) |
61.9 (16.6) |
69.6 (20.9) |
76.9 (24.9) |
84.3 (29.1) |
90.2 (32.3) |
92.6 (33.7) |
92.8 (33.8) |
88.4 (31.3) |
79.1 (26.2) |
67.8 (19.9) |
59.6 (15.3) |
76.7 (24.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 47.6 (8.7) |
51.8 (11.0) |
59.1 (15.1) |
66.2 (19.0) |
73.9 (23.3) |
80.4 (26.9) |
82.8 (28.2) |
82.4 (28.0) |
77.2 (25.1) |
66.6 (19.2) |
55.9 (13.3) |
49.7 (9.8) |
66.1 (18.9) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 37.9 (3.3) |
41.7 (5.4) |
48.7 (9.3) |
55.5 (13.1) |
63.5 (17.5) |
70.6 (21.4) |
73.1 (22.8) |
72.0 (22.2) |
66.1 (18.9) |
54.0 (12.2) |
44.0 (6.7) |
39.7 (4.3) |
55.6 (13.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −2 (−19) |
−12 (−24) |
11 (−12) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
47 (8) |
54 (12) |
52 (11) |
34 (1) |
22 (−6) |
15 (−9) |
4 (−16) |
−12 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.44 (138) |
5.11 (130) |
5.02 (128) |
5.96 (151) |
3.85 (98) |
3.74 (95) |
4.05 (103) |
3.75 (95) |
3.00 (76) |
4.13 (105) |
3.92 (100) |
5.38 (137) |
53.35 (1,355) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.3 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 9.1 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 10.1 | 108.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 847 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,316 | 55.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,332 | 153.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,712 | 71.4% | |
| 1950 | 7,758 | 35.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,413 | 21.3% | |
| 1970 | 9,643 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 11,341 | 17.6% | |
| 1990 | 8,526 | −24.8% | |
| 2000 | 9,189 | 7.8% | |
| 2010 | 7,335 | −20.2% | |
| 2020 | 6,286 | −14.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
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| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,016 | 16.16% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,037 | 80.13% |
| Native American | 12 | 0.19% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.08% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 113 | 1.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 100 | 1.59% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,286 people, 2,561 households, and 1,528 families residing in the city.
Education
Madison Parish School Board operates public schools.
- Madison High School - grades 9-12
- Madison Middle School (grades 6, 7 and 8)
- Wright Elementary School (grades 3-5)
- Tallulah Elementary School (grades PreK-2)
- Louisiana Technical College operates a Tallulah campus.
Notable people
- Clifford Cleveland Brooks, planter in St. Joseph; represented Madison Parish in the Louisiana State Senate from 1924 to 1932
- Buddy Caldwell, former Attorney General of Louisiana since 2008; former Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parish district attorney
- James Haynes, NFL player
- Paul Jorgensen, professional boxer
- John Little, professional football player
- Joe Osborn, musician
- James Silas, professional basketball player.
- Jefferson B. Snyder, district attorney of Madison Parish from 1904 to 1948.
- Madam C. J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, near Delta, Louisiana. She was a businesswoman who became a self-made millionaire from health care products she developed and sold for African Americans.
- Zelma Wyche, political activist, first African-American police chief, and elected mayor of Tallulah, sometimes called "Mr. Civil Rights of Louisiana".
Representation in other media
- Donna Jo Napoli, Alligator Bayou (2009), young adult historical novel about the 1899 lynchings of Italians in Tallulah, published by Wendy Lamb Books.
See also
In Spanish: Tallulah para niños
