Webster Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Webster Parish, Louisiana
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| Parish of Webster | |
The Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden was built by George A. Caldwell and opened on May 1, 1953.
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Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
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Louisiana's location within the U.S.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Louisiana |
| Region | North Louisiana |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Named for | Daniel Webster |
| Parish seat (and largest city) | Minden |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,590 km2 (615 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,540 km2 (593 sq mi) |
| • Water | 60 km2 (22 sq mi) |
| • percentage | 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 36,967 |
| • Rank | LA: 29th |
| • Density | 23.208/km2 (60.11/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 318 |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Webster Parish is a special area in the northwestern part of Louisiana. In Louisiana, a "parish" is like a "county" in other U.S. states. The main town and biggest city in Webster Parish is Minden.
In 2020, about 36,967 people lived in Webster Parish. The number of people living here has gone down a bit. This is partly because there are fewer jobs in the petroleum (oil) and natural gas industries, which used to be very important for the area.
The parish is named after a famous American leader from the 1800s, Daniel Webster. It was created on February 27, 1871. Land from other parishes like Bienville, Bossier, and Claiborne was used to form it. In May 1971, the parish celebrated its 100th birthday! Many people dressed in clothes from the 1870s for the party.
Webster Parish is also part of a larger area that includes Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden CSA.
One of the first people to settle in Webster Parish was Newett Drew from Virginia. Around 1818, he built a grist mill (a place to grind grain) near what is now Minden. His son, Richard Maxwell Drew, became a judge and a state representative. His family continued to hold important jobs in the area for many years.
Contents
Exploring Webster Parish Geography
Webster Parish covers about 615 square miles. Most of this area, about 593 square miles, is land. The rest, about 22 square miles, is water, which is about 3.5% of the total area.
Main Roads and Travel
You can get around Webster Parish using several important highways:
Interstate 20
Future Interstate 69
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 80
U.S. Highway 371
Louisiana Highway 2
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Neighboring Areas
Webster Parish shares borders with other counties and parishes:
- Lafayette County, Arkansas (to the north)
- Columbia County, Arkansas (to the northeast)
- Claiborne Parish (to the east)
- Bienville Parish (to the southeast)
- Bossier Parish (to the west)
Protected Natural Places
Part of the Kisatchie National Forest is in Webster Parish. There is also the Caney Lakes Recreation Area near Minden, which is a great place for outdoor activities.
Towns and Villages in Webster Parish
Webster Parish has several communities, from larger cities to smaller villages.
Cities
- Minden (This is the main town and the biggest one.)
- Springhill
Towns
Villages
Other Communities
Understanding the Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 10,005 | — | |
| 1890 | 12,466 | 24.6% | |
| 1900 | 15,125 | 21.3% | |
| 1910 | 19,186 | 26.8% | |
| 1920 | 24,707 | 28.8% | |
| 1930 | 29,458 | 19.2% | |
| 1940 | 33,676 | 14.3% | |
| 1950 | 35,704 | 6.0% | |
| 1960 | 39,701 | 11.2% | |
| 1970 | 39,939 | 0.6% | |
| 1980 | 43,631 | 9.2% | |
| 1990 | 41,989 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 41,831 | −0.4% | |
| 2010 | 41,207 | −1.5% | |
| 2020 | 36,967 | −10.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
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The population of Webster Parish has changed over the years. Here's a look at the different groups of people living there in 2020:
| Group | Number | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 22,554 | 61.01% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 12,142 | 32.85% |
| Native American | 136 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 138 | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander | 12 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,297 | 3.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 688 | 1.86% |
In 2020, there were 36,967 people living in the parish. They lived in 16,551 households, which are like homes or families.
Learning and Education
The schools in Webster Parish are managed by the elected Webster Parish School Board. Students in the area can also attend Bossier Parish Community College.
National Guard Presence
Webster Parish is home to parts of the National Guard. The 39th MP Company and the 1083rd Transportation Company are located at Camp Minden. This used to be the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. These groups are part of a larger support unit for the military.
Famous People from Webster Parish
Many interesting people have come from Webster Parish:
- Alan Bean: An astronaut who was the fourth person to walk on the Moon.
- "Sweet Lou" Dunbar: A basketball player who played for the famous Harlem Globetrotters for 27 years.
- Gene Austin: A popular singer known for his song "My Blue Heaven."
- John L. Nelson: A jazz musician and the father of the famous musician Prince.
- Charlie Hennigan: A great wide receiver in American Football.
- James Burton: A guitarist who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Roger Carr: A Pro Bowl NFL wide receiver.
- Percy Mayfield: A well-known R&B singer.
- John David Crow: An American football player, coach, and college sports leader.
- John T. Watkins: He served eight terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de Webster para niños
