Webster Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Webster Parish, Louisiana
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| Parish of Webster | |
Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden (dedicated May 1, 1953) was a project of the contractor George A. Caldwell.
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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
(2010)
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| • Total | 41,207 |
| • Estimate
(2018)
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38,798 |
| • Rank | LA: 29th |
| • Density | 25.870/km2 (67.00/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 318 |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Webster Parish (French: Paroisse de Webster) is a parish located in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden.
As of the 2010 census, the Webster Parish population was 41,207. In 2018, the population estimate was 38,798. Public officials who have long sought to increase the industrial potential of the parish, expressed concern over the decline. Jim Bonsall, the president of the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, cited the ending of the Haynesville Shale boom as the primary reason for the population losses. The parish has long depended on jobs in the petroleum and natural gas fields.
The parish is named for 19th-century American statesman Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It was created on February 27, 1871 from lands formerly belonging to Bienville, Bossier, and Claiborne parishes. The parish centennial celebration was held in May 1971. Speakers included Police jury president Leland Garland Mims and Judge Enos McClendon of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court, who gave a biographical sketch of Daniel Webster. Many officials and parish employees dressed in period costume of the 1870s for the event.
Webster Parish is part of the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Among the first settlers in Webster Parish was Newett Drew, a native of Virginia, who about 1818 established a grist mill at the former Overton community near Minden. At this time the area was Natchitoches Parish and later Overton became the Parish Seat of Claiborne Parish in 1836 until it moved in 1848. His son, Richard Maxwell Drew was born in Overton and served as a district judge and state representative prior to his death in 1850 at the age of twenty-eight. R. M. Drew's descendants held judicial or legislative positions in Webster Parish as well, Richard Cleveland Drew, Harmon Caldwell Drew, R. Harmon Drew, Sr., and Harmon Drew, Jr.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 615 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (3.5%) is water.
Major highways
Future Interstate 69
Interstate 20
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 80
U.S. Highway 371
Louisiana Highway 2
Adjacent counties and parishes
- Lafayette County, Arkansas (north)
- Columbia County, Arkansas (northeast)
- Claiborne Parish (east)
- Bienville Parish (southeast)
- Bossier Parish (west)
National protected areas
- Kisatchie National Forest (part)
- Caney Lakes Recreation Area near Minden (not to be confused with another Caney Lake near Jonesboro, Louisiana)
Demographics
| 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% | |
| Est. 2018 | 38,798 | −5.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 22,554 | 61.01% |
| Black or African American (non-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% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 36,967 people, 16,551 households, and 10,295 families residing in the parish.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010 there were 52,903 people, 20,500 households, and 12,589 families residing in the parish. The population density was 92 people per square mile (27/km2). There were 18,991 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 65.51% White, 32.83% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 16,501 households, of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the parish the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $28,408, and the median income for a family was $35,119. Males had a median income of $30,343 versus $20,907 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,203. About 15.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.
National Guard
The 39th MP Company of the 773rd MP Battalion and the 1083rd Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion reside at Camp Minden west of Minden, formerly the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. Both of these battalions are part of the 139TH RSG (Regional Support Group).
Communities
Cities
- Minden (parish seat)
- Springhill
Towns
Villages
Unincorporated communities
Gallery
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American statesman Daniel Webster, the namesake of Webster Parish
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The Webster Parish Library is located in the Minden Historic District. To the right is the library annex, which was the previous library structure. The current library was constructed in 1996 under the direction of library board president Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012) and vice-president and former State Representative Eugene Eason. Prior to 1965, the annex had been the J.G. Ferguson home.
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Now a Louisiana Army National Guard training facility located west of Minden, this site was originally the location of the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, which opened in 1942 to manufacture munitions for use in World War II. The main building is named for the late Judge James E. Bolin.
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The pioneer Germantown Colony and Museum is located off Louisiana Highway 531 in Webster Parish.
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The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum at 116 Pearl Street in Minden hosts monthly lectures open to the public.
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Wooded road leading to Upper Caney Lake at Caney Lakes Recreation Area
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The one-room Yellow Pine Christian Church, formerly known as Union Church, located south of Sibley, Louisiana, was established in 1902 and in 1996 added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2013, the congregation initiated the construction of a second building for Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall.
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Whispering Pines Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery is located north of Dixie Inn off U.S. Highway 371 next to a stand of pine trees.
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The Pine Grove United Methodist Cemetery north of Minden is among several rural cemeteries in Webster Parish.
Education
The elected Webster Parish School Board operates local public schools.
It is in the service area of Bossier Parish Community College.
