Winnsboro, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winnsboro
City & parish seat
City of Winnsboro
A glimpse of the downtown historic district of Winnsboro
Motto(s):  The Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana
Location of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
States	Louisiana
Parish	Franklin
Area
• Total	4.06 sq mi (10.52 km2)
• Land	4.00 sq mi (10.35 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,862
• Density	1,216.11/sq mi (469.54/km2)
Demonym(s)	Winnsboroian
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71295
Area code	318
U.S. Highway
Louisiana
Website	City of Winnsboro

Winnsboro is a city in, and the parish seat of Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,910, down from 5,344 in 2000. The city is 59 percent African American. U.S. Highway 425 passes north–south through Winnsboro concurrent with Louisiana Highway 15 and extends northward to Rayville, the seat of neighboring Richland Parish.

History

Franklin Parish is named for Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin Parish was created on March 1, 1843, from portions of Ouachita, Catahoula, and Madison parishes through the efforts of Senator John Winn. The parish was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

The village of Winnsboro was incorporated in 1902, and Captain William Phillip Powell was appointed to serve as the first mayor.

Early Winnsboro City records show that the telephone came to Winnsboro in 1905; electricity in 1914; and water and sewer service in 1923. In 1924, a volunteer fire department was formed.

Geography

Winnsboro is located west of the center of Franklin Parish at 32°9′48″N 91°43′24″W / 32.16333°N 91.72333°W / 32.16333; -91.72333 (32.163412, -91.723293). Rayville is 23 miles (37 km) to the north via US 425, while Natchez, Mississippi, is 54 miles (87 km) to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.14 square miles (10.73 km²), of which 4.08 square miles (10.57 km²) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²), or 1.49%, is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,862 people, 1,504 households, and 1,007 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,910 people living in the city. 66.6% were African American, 31.3% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Culture

Princess Theatre

The Princess Theatre was established in 1925 by George Elam. Two years later, Elam moved his theatre into a building on Prairie Street, where it stands today. Leasing the building from Rowena Ramage, Elam worked to improve the building which was built in 1907. Silent movies were shown on a screen while live piano music brought the films to life. A few years later Elam bought records to play along with the movies. When sound was added to films in 1930 Elam installed a sound system in the theatre.

The Princess Theatre in downtown Winnsboro

In the early 1940s, Elam added onto the building, making it longer. In 1960, Elam sold the theatre to Jack Pope. Pope continued leasing the building from Ramage while keeping the Princess operating just as Elam had done. Competition from a multiple-screen movie theater led to the closing of the Princess Theatre in 1985.

In 1992, Rowena Ramage gave the Princess Theatre building to the city of Winnsboro. A Board of Directors was appointed to take care of the building. In 1993, the board announced renovation plans to begin immediately on the Princess Theatre.

The Governor's Arts Award program in May 2002 carried the following statement.

The Princess Theatre is an inspiring example of what can happen when a community believes in itself and the value of the arts to quality of life. The theatre has contributed substantially to the life and economy of Winnsboro and Franklin Parish. The restoration of the turn-of-the-century Princess Theatre to a live performance venue was the catalyst for the development of historic downtown Winnsboro. Further, the theatre's programs include a full series offering international, national, and local performances as well as a coffee house series that is free to the community. The Princess functions as both a performing arts venue and a forum for educational programming; it has transformed cultural opportunities in Northeast Louisiana and continues to be a model for success throughout the region.

Franklin Parish Catfish Festival

This annual "Spring Party" started as a Chamber of Commerce initiative twenty years ago and now draws some twenty thousand to Winnsboro each year. The festival offers an opportunity for local groups and organizations to raise funds for their various endeavors, as well as showcase their products to the crowds that attend. The festival is held the second Saturday in April unless Easter falls on that particular week-end and then it would be scheduled on the first Saturday. This is the largest one-day festival in Louisiana.

National Guard

921st Engineer Company (Horizontal), part of the 528th Engineer Battalion which belongs to the 225th Engineer Brigade, is located in Winnsboro.

Gallery

• 

  Winnsboro welcome sign

• 

  Flags fly off Louisiana State Highway 15 in Winnsboro (May 2013).

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  Winnsboro water tower

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Economy

Grain elevator in Winnsboro

The economic base of Winnsboro consists of companies in the apparel, boat manufacturing, bottling and food products industries, aviation, healthcare, agriculture and agricultural related industries. There is a large grain elevator.

Education

Public schools

Franklin Academy in Winnsboro

Public education in Winnsboro is managed by the Franklin Parish School Board. There are two schools:

• Franklin Parish High School
• Winnsboro Elementary School

Private schools

• Franklin Academy was first incorporated on June 29, 1970. Its first class began September 14, 1970, with 105 students and is a part of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). In 1971 Franklin Academy had one graduate and over the past 43 years has graduated over 650 students. The school has classes from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, and its teams are known as the Cougars.
• Family Community Christian School provides education from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade and its mascot is the Warrior.

Higher education

Louisiana Technical College's Northeast Louisiana Campus is located in Winnsboro.

Notable people

• Fred Carter, Jr., rock and roll guitarist and singer
• Noble Ellington, state representative and state senator
• Allen "Puddler" Harris, rock and roll and country music pianist
• T. H. Harris, state education superintendent
• Ralph E. King, physician and state senator from 1944 to 1952 and 1956 to 1960
• L. D. Knox, perennial political candidate who legally changed his name to "None of the Above" Knox
• Caleb Martin, American football player
• Anthony McFarland, professional football player and ESPN commentator
• John Moffitt, 2004 Olympic silver medalist
• L.D. "Buddy" Napper, state representative
• Morgan D. Peoples, historian who specialized in the Long political dynasty
• Woody Sauldsberry, NBA player
• Steve D. Thompson, member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1988 to 1996; real estate agent in Winnsboro
• Chet D. Traylor, Associate Justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court
• R. B. Walden, director of Louisiana Department of Hospitals
• Calvin A. H. Waller, Lieutenant General, United States Army; Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Operation Desert Storm
• Sammy White, professional football player
• Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble (dir. Hattie Addison Burkhalter), recipients of a 2021 NEA National Heritage Fellowship
• Lantz Womack, late state representative and banker from Winnsboro

See also

In Spanish: Winnsboro (Luisiana) para niños