Choudrant, Louisiana

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Village of Choudrant
Village
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Lincoln
Area	1.8 sq mi (4.7 km²)
- land	1.8 sq mi (4.7 km²)
- water	0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0%
Center
- coordinates	32°31′49″N 92°30′45″W / 32.53028, -92.5125Coordinates: 32°31′49″N 92°30′45″W / 32.53028, -92.5125
- elevation	157 ft (47.9 m)
Population	571 (2000)
Density	318.9 /sq mi (123.1 /km²)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code	318
Location of Choudrant in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Website : http://www.choudrant.org

Choudrant is a village located in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 582.

1 Geography
2 Village Government and Services
3 Education
4 Business
5 Demographics
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Geography

Choudrant is located at 32°31′49″N, 92°30′45″W (32.530269, -92.512405)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²). 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

[edit] Village Government and Services

Choudrant is served by four elected officials - a mayor and three village aldermen. Other public employees include a town clerk and a small police force.
For many years, Choudrant was served by only one law enforcement officer, its police chief, but the force has grown in recent years adding additional officers and a canine unit. The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office also provides law enforcement services as needed.
Fire protection in the area is provided and active Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) and the parish-wide Lincoln Parish Fire Department.

[edit] Education

Choudrant is located within the fifth district of the Lincoln Parish School System. There are two schools within the Choudrant district - Choudrant Elementary and Choudrant High. The elementary school services between 400 and 450 students in grades K-6 while the high school contains approximately 350 students in grade levels 7-12.
Both schools are well known as having high academic achievement under the state's school improvement plan and No Child Left Behind.
One sore point for the community is the fact that both school facilities are falling into decline. The high school was rebuilt in 1937 after a fire and has had no substantive renovations or updates since that time. Choudrant Elementary was similarly rebuilt and expanded after a fire in the 1970s, but the student population has outgrown its walls. However, attempts to renovate the high school and rebuild the elementary school were halted in 2007 when citizens of the school district voted by a 2-1 majority against passage of a bond issue to fund such changes.

[edit] Business

Being a small village, Choudrant has limited business growth or opportunity. Village leaders, led by the mayor, are seeking to change this, though they experience opposition from other prominent villagers who seek to keep Choudrant small.
There are several "home grown" businesses within the village limits. Some of the more notable and long-standing of these are Parnell's Station, Ken's Mini Mart, Spiller's Service Station, Morrison's Building Supply, and Choudrant Appliance. Choudrant is also home to a chicken feed mill that produces much of the feed used in the poultry industry of the area. Likewise, Choudrant also houses a Pilgrim's Pride hatchery just within its eastern boundary.
Most prominent of all local businesses though is Community Trust Bank, originally founded as the Bank of Choudrant. It has since grown to become one of the largest banks in both Lincoln Parish and the neighboring Ouachita Parish. Despite its growth though, the FDIC still recognizes the original Choudrant branch as its home office. Community Trust also sponsored the Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston until 2005, whence sponsorship was taken up by Squire Creek Country Club.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2004, there are 571 people. For the following information, the 2000 census will have to be referred to: 234 households, and 167 families residing in the village. The population density is 123.5/km² (318.9/mi²). There are 257 housing units at an average density of 54.5/km² (140.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 91.92% White, 6.53% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 234 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% are non-families. 24.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 2.98.

In the village the population is spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village is $37,321, and the median income for a family is $42,656. Males have a median income of $30,855 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the village is $15,726. 6.6% of the population and 4.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.5% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.