List of parishes in Louisiana

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The U.S. state of Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes in the same way that 48 of the other states of the United States are divided into counties (Alaska is divided into boroughs and census areas).

Forty-one parishes are governed by a council called the Police Jury. The other twenty-three have various other forms of government, including: president-council, council-manager, parish commission, and consolidated parish/city.

Louisiana was formed from French and Spanish colonies, which were both officially Roman Catholic. Local government was based upon parishes, as the local ecclesiastical division (French: paroisse or Spanish: parroquia). Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Territorial Legislative Council divided the Territory of Orleans (the predecessor of Louisiana state) into twelve counties. The borders of these counties were poorly defined, but they roughly coincided with the colonial parishes, and hence used the same names.[1]

On March 31, 1807, the territorial legislature divided the state into 19 parishes without abolishing the old counties (which continued to exist until 1845).[2]

Contents

In 1811, a constitutional convention was held to prepare for Louisiana's admission into the Union.[3] This organized the state into seven judicial districts, each consisting of groups of parishes. In 1816, the first official map of the state used the term, as did the 1845 constitution. Since then, the official term for Louisiana's primary civil divisions has been parishes.

Listing

Parish
 FIPS code
[4]		 Parish seat
[5]		 Established
[5]		 Origin
 Etymology
[6]		 Population
[5]		 Area
[5]		 Map
Acadia Parish 001 Crowley 1886 from part of St. Landry Parish. Named for the Acadians who settled the area. &1000000000006177300000061,773 &10000000000000658000000658 sq mi
(&100000000000017040000001,704 km2)
Allen Parish 003 Oberlin 1912 from part of Calcasieu Parish. Henry Watkins Allen, the Confederate governor of Louisiana &1000000000002576400000025,764 &10000000000000766000000766 sq mi
(&100000000000019840000001,984 km2)
Ascension Parish 005 Donaldsonville 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Named for the Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Donaldsonville, Louisiana &10000000000107215000000107,215 &10000000000000303000000303 sq mi
(&10000000000000785000000785 km2)
Assumption Parish 007 Napoleonville 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Named for the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, the oldest in the state &1000000000002342100000023,421 &10000000000000364000000364 sq mi
(&10000000000000943000000943 km2)
Avoyelles Parish 009 Marksville 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. The Avoyel Native American people &1000000000004207300000042,073 &10000000000000866000000866 sq mi
(&100000000000022430000002,243 km2)
Beauregard Parish 011 DeRidder 1912 from part of Calcasieu Parish. Confederate general P. G. T. Beauregard &1000000000003565400000035,654 &100000000000011660000001,166 sq mi
(&100000000000030200000003,020 km2)
Bienville Parish 013 Arcadia 1848 from part of Claiborne Parish. Named after the founder of the city of New Orleans, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville &1000000000001435300000014,353 &10000000000000822000000822 sq mi
(&100000000000021290000002,129 km2)
Bossier Parish 015 Benton 1843 from part Claiborne Parish. U.S. Representative Pierre Bossier &10000000000116979000000116,979 &10000000000000867000000867 sq mi
(&100000000000022460000002,246 km2)
Caddo Parish 017 Shreveport 1838 from part of Natchitoches Parish. Named for the Caddo Native American people &10000000000254969000000254,969 &10000000000000937000000937 sq mi
(&100000000000024270000002,427 km2)
Calcasieu Parish 019 Lake Charles 1840 from part of St. Landry Parish. Calcasieu, meaning crying eagle, is said to be the name of an Atakapa Native American leader &10000000000192768000000192,768 &100000000000010940000001,094 sq mi
(&100000000000028330000002,833 km2)
Caldwell Parish 021 Columbia 1838 from part of Catahoula Parish and Ouachita Parish. Named for the Caldwell family, which owned a large plantation and remains politically active in the state. &1000000000001013200000010,132 &10000000000000541000000541 sq mi
(&100000000000014010000001,401 km2)
Cameron Parish 023 Cameron 1870 from parts of Calcasieu Parish and Vermilion Parish. U.S. Secretary of War Simon Cameron &100000000000068390000006,839 &100000000000019320000001,932 sq mi
(&100000000000050040000005,004 km2)
Catahoula Parish 025 Harrisonburg 1808 from parts of Ouachita Parish and Rapides Parish. Catahoula Lake, formerly within the parish's boundaries and named from a Taensa word meaning big, clear lake &1000000000001040700000010,407 &10000000000000739000000739 sq mi
(&100000000000019140000001,914 km2)
Claiborne Parish 027 Homer 1828 from part of Natchitoches Parish. Governor of Louisiana William C. C. Claiborne &1000000000001719500000017,195 &10000000000000768000000768 sq mi
(&100000000000019890000001,989 km2)
Concordia Parish 029 Vidalia 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Name is of uncertain origin; may be from an early land grant called New Concordia, from the "concord" reached by local authorities over a mutual surrender of slaves, or for a mansion called Concord which was owned by Spanish Governor Manuel Gayoso de Lemos &1000000000002082200000020,822 &10000000000000749000000749 sq mi
(&100000000000019400000001,940 km2)
DeSoto Parish 031 Mansfield 1843 from parts of Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto &1000000000002665600000026,656 &10000000000000895000000895 sq mi
(&100000000000023180000002,318 km2)
East Baton Rouge Parish 033 Baton Rouge 1810 from West Florida territory. French phrase bâton rouge meaning red stick. A red stick was used by local Native Americans to mark the boundaries between tribal territories &10000000000440171000000440,171 &10000000000000471000000471 sq mi
(&100000000000012200000001,220 km2)
East Carroll Parish 035 Lake Providence 1877 when Carroll Parish was divided. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence &100000000000077590000007,759 &10000000000000442000000442 sq mi
(&100000000000011450000001,145 km2)
East Feliciana Parish 037 Clinton 1824 when Feliciana Parish was divided. Felicite de Gálvez, the wife of Bernardo de Gálvez, a Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory &1000000000002026700000020,267 &10000000000000456000000456 sq mi
(&100000000000011810000001,181 km2)
Evangeline Parish 039 Ville Platte 1910 from part of St. Landry Parish. Acadian heroine of the poem "Evangeline" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow &1000000000003398400000033,984 &10000000000000680000000680 sq mi
(&100000000000017610000001,761 km2)
Franklin Parish 041 Winnsboro 1843 from parts of Carroll Parish, Catahoula Parish, Madison Parish and Ouachita Parish Founding Father Benjamin Franklin &1000000000002076700000020,767 &10000000000000636000000636 sq mi
(&100000000000016470000001,647 km2)
Grant Parish 043 Colfax 1869 from parts of Rapides Parish and Winn Parish. U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant &1000000000002230900000022,309 &10000000000000664000000664 sq mi
(&100000000000017200000001,720 km2)
Iberia Parish 045 New Iberia 1868 from parts of St. Martin Parish and St. Mary Parish. Named by Spanish settlers in honor of the Iberian Peninsula &1000000000007324000000073,240 &100000000000010310000001,031 sq mi
(&100000000000026700000002,670 km2)
Iberville Parish 047 Plaquemine 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, the brother of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville &1000000000003338700000033,387 &10000000000000653000000653 sq mi
(&100000000000016910000001,691 km2)
Jackson Parish 049 Jonesboro 1845 from parts of Claiborne Parish, Ouachita Parish and Union Parish U.S. President Andrew Jackson &1000000000001627400000016,274 &10000000000000580000000580 sq mi
(&100000000000015020000001,502 km2)
Jefferson Parish 051 Gretna 1825 from part of Orleans Parish Founding Father Thomas Jefferson &10000000000432552000000432,552 &10000000000000642000000642 sq mi
(&100000000000016630000001,663 km2)
Jefferson Davis Parish 053 Jennings 1912 from part of Calcasieu Parish. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America &1000000000003159400000031,594 &10000000000000659000000659 sq mi
(&100000000000017070000001,707 km2)
Lafayette Parish 055 Lafayette 1823 from part of St. Martin Parish. French-born American Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de la Fayette &10000000000221578000000221,578 &10000000000000270000000270 sq mi
(&10000000000000699000000699 km2)
Lafourche Parish 057 Thibodaux 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Was named Interior Parish until 1812 and Lafourche Interior Parish until 1853. French phrase la fourche or in English, the fork; Bayou Lafourche, or Fork Bayou, is a fork of the Mississippi River &1000000000009631800000096,318 &100000000000014720000001,472 sq mi
(&100000000000038120000003,812 km2)
La Salle Parish 059 Jena 1908 from part of Catahoula Parish. Explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle &1000000000001489000000014,890 &10000000000000663000000663 sq mi
(&100000000000017170000001,717 km2)
Lincoln Parish 061 Ruston 1873 from parts of Bienville Parish, Claiborne Parish, Jackson Parish and Union Parish. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln &1000000000004673500000046,735 &10000000000000472000000472 sq mi
(&100000000000012220000001,222 km2)
Livingston Parish 063 Livingston 1832 from part of St. Helena Parish. U.S. Secretary of State Edward Livingston &10000000000128026000000128,026 &10000000000000703000000703 sq mi
(&100000000000018210000001,821 km2)
Madison Parish 065 Tallulah 1838 from Concordia Parish. U.S. President James Madison &1000000000001209300000012,093 &10000000000000651000000651 sq mi
(&100000000000016860000001,686 km2)
Morehouse Parish 067 Bastrop 1844 from parts of Carroll Parish and Ouachita Parish. Abraham Morehouse, who led the first settlers into the region &1000000000002797900000027,979 &10000000000000805000000805 sq mi
(&100000000000020850000002,085 km2)
Natchitoches Parish 069 Natchitoches 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. The Natchitoches Native American people &1000000000003956600000039,566 &100000000000012990000001,299 sq mi
(&100000000000033640000003,364 km2)
Orleans Parish 071 New Orleans 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Today coterminous with the City of New Orleans. Named after the Duke of Orléans, the regent of France &10000000000343829000000343,829 &10000000000000907000000907 sq mi
(&100000000000023490000002,349 km2)
Ouachita Parish 073 Monroe 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. The Ouachita Native American people. &10000000000153720000000153,720 &10000000000000350000000350 sq mi
(&10000000000000906000000906 km2)
Plaquemines Parish 075 Pointe a la Hache 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. A word meaning persimmons created from the Louisiana Creole French and the Mobile Native American language &1000000000002304200000023,042 &100000000000024290000002,429 sq mi
(&100000000000062910000006,291 km2)
Pointe Coupee Parish 077 New Roads 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. French phrase la pointe coupée or in English, the cut-off point, which refers to a bend in the Mississippi River &1000000000002280200000022,802 &10000000000000591000000591 sq mi
(&100000000000015310000001,531 km2)
Rapides Parish 079 Alexandria 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Named for local river rapids (French: rapides) &10000000000131613000000131,613 &100000000000013620000001,362 sq mi
(&100000000000035280000003,528 km2)
Red River Parish 081 Coushatta 1871 from parts of Bienville Parish, Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. Named for Red River, which is part of the Mississippi River watershed &100000000000090910000009,091 &10000000000000402000000402 sq mi
(&100000000000010410000001,041 km2)
Richland Parish 083 Rayville 1868 from parts of Carroll Parish, Franklin Parish, Morehouse Parish and Ouachita Parish. Named for its rich land &1000000000002072500000020,725 &10000000000000564000000564 sq mi
(&100000000000014610000001,461 km2)
Sabine Parish 085 Many 1843 from parts of Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. Named for the Sabine River and the so-called Sabine Free State &1000000000002423300000024,233 &100000000000010120000001,012 sq mi
(&100000000000026210000002,621 km2)
Saint Bernard Parish 087 Chalmette 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Saint Bernard, who was presumably the patron saint of Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor who granted land to the Canary Islanders who settled the area in 1778 while Louisiana was under Spanish rule. &1000000000003589700000035,897 &100000000000017940000001,794 sq mi
(&100000000000046460000004,646 km2)
Saint Charles Parish 089 Hahnville 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Saint Charles &1000000000005278000000052,780 &10000000000000410000000410 sq mi
(&100000000000010620000001,062 km2)
Saint Helena Parish 091 Greensburg 1810 from West Florida territory. Saint Helena &1000000000001120300000011,203 &10000000000000409000000409 sq mi
(&100000000000010590000001,059 km2)
Saint James Parish 093 Convent 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Saint James &1000000000002210200000022,102 &10000000000000258000000258 sq mi
(&10000000000000668000000668 km2)
Saint John the Baptist Parish 095 Edgard 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Saint John the Baptist &1000000000004592400000045,924 &10000000000000348000000348 sq mi
(&10000000000000901000000901 km2)
Saint Landry Parish 097 Opelousas 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Saint Landry &1000000000008338400000083,384 &10000000000000939000000939 sq mi
(&100000000000024320000002,432 km2)
Saint Martin Parish 099 Saint Martinville 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Saint Martin &1000000000005216000000052,160 &10000000000000817000000817 sq mi
(&100000000000021160000002,116 km2)
Saint Mary Parish 101 Franklin 1811 from part of St. Martin County. Saint Mary. &1000000000005465000000054,650 &10000000000000612000000612 sq mi
(&100000000000015850000001,585 km2)
Saint Tammany Parish 103 Covington 1810 from West Florida territory. Legendary Indian Chief Tamanend. &10000000000233740000000233,740 &100000000000011240000001,124 sq mi
(&100000000000029110000002,911 km2)
Tangipahoa Parish 105 Amite 1868 from parts of Livingston Parish, St. Helena Parish, St. Tammany Parish and Washington Parish. Comes from an Acolapissa word meaning ear of corn or those who gather corn &10000000000121097000000121,097 &10000000000000823000000823 sq mi
(&100000000000021320000002,132 km2)
Tensas Parish 107 Saint Joseph 1843 from part of Concordia Parish. The Taensa Native American people. &100000000000052520000005,252 &10000000000000641000000641 sq mi
(&100000000000016600000001,660 km2)
Terrebonne Parish 109 Houma 1822 from part of Lafourche Parish. French phrase terre bonne or in English, good earth &10000000000111860000000111,860 &100000000000020800000002,080 sq mi
(&100000000000053870000005,387 km2)
Union Parish 111 Farmerville 1839 from part of Ouachita Parish. Named for the union of states which make up the U.S. &1000000000002272100000022,721 &10000000000000905000000905 sq mi
(&100000000000023440000002,344 km2)
Vermilion Parish 113 Abbeville 1844 from part of Lafayette Parish. Both the Vermilion River and Vermilion Bay &1000000000005799900000057,999 &100000000000015380000001,538 sq mi
(&100000000000039830000003,983 km2)
Vernon Parish 115 Leesville 1871 from parts of Natchitoches Parish, Rapides Parish and Sabine Parish. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the first U.S. President &1000000000005233400000052,334 &100000000000013410000001,341 sq mi
(&100000000000034730000003,473 km2)
Washington Parish 117 Franklinton 1819 from part of St. Tammany Parish. U.S. President George Washington &1000000000004716800000047,168 &10000000000000676000000676 sq mi
(&100000000000017510000001,751 km2)
Webster Parish 119 Minden 1871 from parts of Bienville Parish, Bossier Parish and Claiborne Parish. U.S. statesman Daniel Webster &1000000000004120700000041,207 &10000000000000615000000615 sq mi
(&100000000000015930000001,593 km2)
West Baton Rouge Parish 121 Port Allen 1807 One of the original 19 parishes. Was named Baton Rouge Parish until 1812. French phrase bâton rouge meaning red stick. A red stick was used by local Native Americans to mark the boundaries between tribal territories &1000000000002378800000023,788 &10000000000000203000000203 sq mi
(&10000000000000526000000526 km2)
West Carroll Parish 123 Oak Grove 1877 when Carroll Parish was divided. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence &1000000000001160400000011,604 &10000000000000360000000360 sq mi
(&10000000000000932000000932 km2)
West Feliciana Parish 125 Saint Francisville 1824 when Feliciana Parish was divided. Felicite de Gálvez, the wife of Bernardo de Gálvez, a Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory &1000000000001562500000015,625 &100000000000010510000001,051 sq mi
(&100000000000027220000002,722 km2)
Winn Parish 127 Winnfield 1852 from parts of Catahoula Parish, Natchitoches Parish and Rapides Parish. Louisiana state legislator Walter Winn &1000000000001531300000015,313 &10000000000000957000000957 sq mi
(&100000000000024790000002,479 km2)

Former Parishes

  1. Biloxi Parish formed in 1811 from West Florida territory. It was eliminated in 1812 when part of the former West Florida area was transferred to Mississippi Territory.[1]
  2. Carroll Parish formed in 1838 from part of Ouachita Parish. In 1877, it was divided into East Carroll Parish and West Carroll Parish.[1]
  3. Feliciana Parish formed in 1810 from West Florida territory. In 1824, it was divided into East Feliciana Parish and West Feliciana Parish.[1]
  4. Pascagoula Parish formed in 1811 from West Florida territory. It was eliminated in 1812 when part of the former West Florida area was transferred to Mississippi Territory.[1]
  5. Warren Parish formed in 1811 from part of Concordia Parish, and merged into Concordia Parish and Ouachita Parish in 1814.[1]

Parishes

The thirteen parishes defined by the Territorial Legislative Council in 1803 were:

  1. Acadia Parish
  2. Attakapas Parish
  3. Concordia Parish
  4. German Coast Parish
  5. Iberville Parish
  6. Lafourche Parish
  7. Natchitoches Parish
  8. Opelousas Parish
  9. Orleans Parish
  10. Ouachita Parish
  11. Pointe Coupee Parish
  12. Rapides Parish

In addition, Feliciana Parish was established in 1810 from West Florida territory.

Fictional parishes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bryansite - Louisiana parishes
  2. ^ Louisiana Timeline - 1807
  3. ^ The Admission of Louisiana into the Union
  4. ^ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/ar.html. Retrieved 2008-02-23. 
  5. ^ a b c d National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&state.cfm&statecode=la. Retrieved 2008-06-12. 
  6. ^ Louisiana Dept. of Public Health Parish Profiles

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