Claiborne Parish, Louisiana

Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Claiborne
Paroisse de Claiborne (French)
The Claiborne Parish Courthouse was built in 1860 in Greek style. It served as a point of departure for Confederate troops.
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
RegionNorth Louisiana
FoundedMarch 15, 1828
Named afterWilliam C. C. Claiborne
Parish seatHomer
Largest municipalityLisbon (area)
Homer (population)
Area
 • Total
767 sq mi (1,990 km2)
 • Land755 sq mi (1,960 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (34 km2)
 • percentage1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,170
 • Estimate 
(2024)
13,537
 • Density18.8/sq mi (7.25/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district4th
WebsiteClaiborne Parish Government

Claiborne Parish (French: Paroisse de Claiborne) is a parish located in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1828,[1] and was named for the first Louisiana governor, William C. C. Claiborne. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,170.[2] The parish seat is Homer.[3]

History

John Murrell moved his family from Arkansas to the Flat Lick Bayou area about 6 miles west of present-day Homer in 1818, and they became the first known non-natives to permanently settle in Claiborne Parish. As more settlers moved into the area, the Murrell house served as a church, school and post office. When the state legislature created Claiborne Parish out of Natchitoches Parish in 1828, all governmental business, including court, began being held in the Murrell house. This continued until the new parish's police jury selected Russellville (now a ghost town located northeast of Athens) as the parish seat.[4][5][6] As the population began swelling in what was then the western part of the parish, the seat was moved to Overton (another modern ghost town found near Minden) in 1836, because of its position at the head of the navigable portion of Dorcheat Bayou. Due to flooding and health concerns, the parish seat was moved to Athens in 1846, but an 1848 fire destroyed the courthouse and all the records in it. Soon thereafter the Claiborne Police Jury chose the present site for the parish seat, which came to be named, Homer.[7][8]

Much of the area history is preserved in the Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum, located across from the parish courthouse in Homer.

Government and infrastructure

Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections operates the David Wade Correctional Center in an unincorporated section of Claiborne Parish near Homer and Haynesville.[9][10]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 755 square miles (1,960 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.6%) is water.[11]

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

National protected area

Communities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18301,764—
18406,185250.6%
18507,47120.8%
186016,848125.5%
187020,24020.1%
188018,837−6.9%
189023,31223.8%
190023,029−1.2%
191025,0508.8%
192027,88511.3%
193032,28515.8%
194029,855−7.5%
195025,063−16.1%
196019,407−22.6%
197017,024−12.3%
198017,0950.4%
199017,4051.8%
200016,851−3.2%
201017,1952.0%
202014,170−17.6%
2024 (est.)13,537[12] −4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2013[2]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the parish had a population of 14,170, 5,498 households, and 3,718 families. The median age was 45.0 years; 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 114.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 118.5 males age 18 and over.[17][18]

The racial makeup of the parish was 51.3% White, 43.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.[18]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[19]

There were 5,498 households in the parish, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.5% were married-couple households, 22.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]

There were 6,775 housing units in the parish, of which 18.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.[17]

Racial and ethnic composition

Claiborne Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[20] Pop 1990[21] Pop 2000[22] Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 9,032 9,300 8,679 8,084 7,064 52.83% 53.43% 51.50% 47.01% 49.85%
Black or African American alone (NH) 7,851 8,022 7,925 8,707 6,138 45.93% 46.09% 47.03% 50.64% 43.32%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2 28 24 59 43 0.01% 0.16% 0.14% 0.34% 0.30%
Asian alone (NH) 10 13 14 39 42 0.06% 0.07% 0.08% 0.23% 0.30%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [25] x [26] 2 1 0 x x 0.01% 0.01% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 13 2 2 2 21 0.08% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [27] x [28] 77 132 383 x x 0.46% 0.77% 2.70%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 187 40 128 171 479 1.09% 0.23% 0.76% 0.99% 3.38%
Total 17,095 17,405 16,851 17,195 14,170 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Politics

With a narrow majority of African Americans in the population, Claiborne Parish in the years after the civil rights movement was primarily Democratic in political complexion. In 1988, Vice President George H. W. Bush prevailed in Claiborne Parish with 3,756 votes (53.6 percent). Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts trailed with 3,158 votes (45.1 percent).[29] In 1996, U.S. President Bill Clinton, of neighboring Arkansas, obtained 3,609 votes (53.6 percent) in Claiborne Parish. Republican Bob Dole of Kansas polled 2,500 votes (37.1 percent).[30]

However, by 2008, Senator John McCain easily carried the parish in his losing race to Barack Obama. McCain polled 3,750 votes (54.8 percent) to Obama's 3,025 votes (44.2 percent).[31] In 2012, Mitt Romney carried the parish, with 3,649 votes (54.2 percent), nearly identical to McCain's tally four years earlier. President Obama received 3,014 votes (44.8 percent), a 0.6% increase.[32]

United States presidential election results for Claiborne Parish, Louisiana[33]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 10 1.18% 785 92.24% 56 6.58%
1916 15 1.16% 1,276 98.76% 1 0.08%
1920 48 3.80% 1,216 96.20% 0 0.00%
1924 54 4.13% 1,252 95.87% 0 0.00%
1928 249 13.76% 1,560 86.24% 0 0.00%
1932 61 2.16% 2,765 97.84% 0 0.00%
1936 146 5.39% 2,563 94.54% 2 0.07%
1940 187 5.78% 3,049 94.22% 0 0.00%
1944 578 20.32% 2,266 79.68% 0 0.00%
1948 265 9.51% 457 16.40% 2,064 74.08%
1952 2,796 64.63% 1,530 35.37% 0 0.00%
1956 2,084 53.63% 810 20.84% 992 25.53%
1960 1,336 34.67% 489 12.69% 2,029 52.65%
1964 3,917 89.04% 482 10.96% 0 0.00%
1968 1,117 18.70% 1,545 25.87% 3,311 55.43%
1972 3,432 64.08% 1,551 28.96% 373 6.96%
1976 3,216 51.81% 2,891 46.58% 100 1.61%
1980 3,538 50.01% 3,443 48.67% 93 1.31%
1984 4,349 60.29% 2,788 38.65% 77 1.07%
1988 3,756 53.60% 3,158 45.07% 93 1.33%
1992 2,599 37.15% 3,263 46.64% 1,134 16.21%
1996 2,500 37.10% 3,609 53.55% 630 9.35%
2000 3,384 53.88% 2,721 43.32% 176 2.80%
2004 3,704 55.87% 2,854 43.05% 72 1.09%
2008 3,750 54.82% 3,025 44.22% 66 0.96%
2012 3,649 54.20% 3,014 44.77% 69 1.02%
2016 3,585 55.83% 2,717 42.31% 119 1.85%
2020 3,770 57.29% 2,731 41.50% 79 1.20%
2024 3,522 60.56% 2,239 38.50% 55 0.95%

Education

Claiborne Parish School Board serves the entire parish.[34]

Claiborne Academy is a private institution in an unincorporated area in the parish, near Haynesville.[35]

Notable people

Prominent Claiborne Parish residents include or have included:

See also

References

  1. ^ Harris, D. W.; Hulse, B. M. (1886). The History of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. New Orleans, LA: W. H. Stansbury & Company. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "QuickFacts Caliborne Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Burr, Murphy J. "Murrell family pioneered in Claiborne Parish". www.thepineywoods.com/. The Piney Woods Journal. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  5. ^ Volentine, Linda; Herring, Susan T. "Bridges Mill School Remembered". The Guardian-Journal. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  6. ^ Herring, Susan T. (April 29, 1999). ""Father Of Claiborne Parish" John Murrell Arrived In August Of 1819". www.usgwarchives.net/. The Guardian-Journal. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  7. ^ Harris, D. W.; Hulse, B. M., eds. (1886). The History of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, From Its Incorporation in 1828 to the Close of the Year 1885. New Orleans: W. B. Stansbury & Co. pp. 19–20, 103.
  8. ^ "Russellville: Ghost Town of Claiborne Parish". claiborneone.org. Archived from the original on July 7, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  9. ^ "David Wade Corr. Center Archived 2011-01-27 at the Wayback Machine." Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Accessed September 14, 2008.
  10. ^ "Inmate wants his privileges restored." The Advocate. January 11, 1990. Retrieved on October 2, 2010. "But Mule was transferred to Wade Correctional Center in Haynesville[...]"
  11. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  18. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  19. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  20. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 15 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 20/12-20/20)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-38.
  22. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Claiborne Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Claiborne Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Claiborne Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  26. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  27. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  28. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  29. ^ "Claiborne Parish presidential election returns, November 8, 1988". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  30. ^ "Claiborne Parish presidential election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  31. ^ "Claiborne Parish presidential election returns". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  32. ^ "Claiborne Parish presidential election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  33. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  34. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Claiborne Parish, LA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 11, 2024. - Text list
  35. ^ "image007.gif Archived 2011-06-27 at the Wayback Machine." Claiborne Academy. Retrieved on October 2, 2010. "6741 Highway 19, Haynesville, LA 71038."
  36. ^ Bibb, Henry (1849). Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, Written by Himself. New York: The Author.
  37. ^ "T H Harris 1925 bio - Claiborne LAGenWeb". www.lagenweb.org. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  38. ^ "Andrew R Johnson 1925 bio - Claiborne LAGenWeb". www.lagenweb.org. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  39. ^ "John Killen Home". Minden Memories. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  40. ^ "Joe C. LeSage, Jr., obituary". The Shreveport Times. September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  41. ^ "Congressman George Mahon Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  42. ^ "Membership in the Louisiana Senate, 1880-2024" (PDF). senate.louisiana.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  43. ^ "Membership in the Louisiana Senate, 1880-2024" (PDF). senate.louisiana.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  44. ^ "Lake Charles American-Press from Lake Charles, Louisiana". Newspapers.com. December 15, 1965. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  45. ^ Exhibit, Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum, Homer, Louisiana
  46. ^ Wade Room, Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum, Homer, Louisiana
  47. ^ "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2012" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  48. ^ admin. "Mule Watson – Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  49. ^ "State Rep. Wilkerson Killed in Auto Accident". house.legis.state.la.us. August 1, 2000. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  50. ^ "Sheriff Pat Garrett Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  51. ^ "Restaurant inspired by popular Lake Claiborne eatery coming to Cross Lake". Shreveport Times. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

32°49′N 92°59′W / 32.82°N 92.99°W / 32.82; -92.99

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