| Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana | |
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Natchitoches Parish Courthouse (completed 1939)
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Location in the state of Louisiana |
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Louisiana's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1805 |
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| Named for | Natchitoches Native Americans |
| Seat | Natchitoches |
| Largest city | Natchitoches |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,299 sq mi (3,365 km²) 1,255 sq mi (3,252 km²) 44 sq mi (114 km²), 3.37% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
39,080 31/sq mi (12/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.historicnatchitoches.com |
Natchitoches Parish (French: Paroisse des Natchitoches) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Natchitoches. As of 2000, the population was 39,080. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community. The Natchitoches Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Natchitoches Parish.
Including extensive outbuildings at Magnolia and Oakland plantations, the Cane River Creole National Historical Park interprets the history and culture of the Louisiana Creoles. It was designated one of the original sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
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Natchitoches Parish was created by the act of April 10, 1805 that divided the Territory of Orleans into 12 parishes, including Orleans, Iberville, Rapides and Natchitoches.
The parish is one of the largest in the state in terms of land area. It has a total area of 1,299 square miles (3,365 km²), of which, 1,255 square miles (3,252 km²) of it is land and 44 square miles (114 km²) of it (3.37%) is water.
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
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| 1900 | 33,216 |
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| 1910 | 36,455 | 9.8% | |
| 1920 | 38,602 | 5.9% | |
| 1930 | 38,477 | −0.3% | |
| 1940 | 40,997 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 38,144 | −7.0% | |
| 1960 | 35,653 | −6.5% | |
| 1970 | 35,219 | −1.2% | |
| 1980 | 39,863 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 36,689 | −8.0% | |
| 2000 | 39,080 | 6.5% | |
| Est. 2006 | 38,719 | [1] | −0.9% |
| Natchitoches Parish Census Data[2] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 39,080 people, 14,263 households, and 9,499 families residing in the parish. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 16,890 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 57.85% White, 38.43% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 14,263 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the parish the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 17.90% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $25,722, and the median income for a family was $32,816. Males had a median income of $29,388 versus $19,234 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,743. About 20.90% of families and 26.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.70% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.
A Troop 2-108TH CAV is heaquarted in behind the local college and the airport. This unit has deployed twice to Iraq, first as part of the 1-156TH Armor Battalion in 2004-2005 and then as part of the 2-108TH CAV SQDN in 2010. Both times this company sized element deployed with the 256th Infantry Brigade.
Natchitoches Parish School Board operates local public schools. Several former rural schools, such as Ashland High School and Goldonna High School in the villages of Ashland and Goldonna, have closed over the years under school consolidation.
| De Soto Parish | Red River Parish | Bienville Parish | ||
| Sabine Parish | Winn Parish | |||
| Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana | ||||
| Vernon Parish | Rapides Parish | Grant Parish |
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties
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