LaSalle Parish, Louisiana

LaSalle Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of LaSalle
Paroisse de La Salle (French)
LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
RegionCentral Louisiana
FoundedJanuary 1, 1910
Named afterRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
Parish seat (and largest town)Jena
Area
 • Total
662 sq mi (1,710 km2)
 • Land625 sq mi (1,620 km2)
 • Water38 sq mi (98 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,791
 • Density23.7/sq mi (9.14/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district5th

LaSalle Parish (French: Paroisse de La Salle) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 14,791.[1] The parish seat is Jena.[2] The parish was created in 1910 from the western section of Catahoula Parish.[3]

Name

The parish is named for René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.

There is some confusion as to whether the parish is spelled "LaSalle" (no space) or "La Salle." An example of the latter view can be seen in the photo at right of the sign over the entrance to a "La Salle Parish Courthouse." A photo of this sign is also featured on the main webpage of the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court, but the parish is consistently spelled "LaSalle" (no space) in the website text. The prevailing spelling of the parish is "LaSalle" (no space), consistent with the U.S. Census since 2011,[4] and as demonstrated for example by a Google Trends comparison of the phrase's different spellings.[5]

History

The parish was established (as the Parish of LaSalle) on July 3, 1908.[6][7]

In 1908, when Catahoula Parish was split in half and formed LaSalle Parish an immediate struggle developed between the towns of Olla and Jena over the location of the parish courthouse and seat. Jena was subsequently chosen over Olla, the larger and more established community at the time, as the seat of government due to Jena's central location within the newly formed Parish.

Town of Olla

The Town of Olla, incorporated in 1899 is the oldest incorporated town in LaSalle Parish and the Olla State Bank Building is the oldest permanent brick structure in LaSalle Parish. Settled prior to the American Civil War by the descendants of Scotch-Irish or Ulster Scot immigrants. The area around the modern Town of Olla was formerly known as Castor Sulfur Springs with a steamboat port located on nearby Bayou Castor, or locally known as Castor Creek.[5]

In 1891, the Houston, Central Arkansas, and Northern Railroad was constructed in what was then northwest Catahoula Parish miles away from the town of Castor Sulfur Springs. Castor Sulfur Springs community leaders decided that business must be moved to a new site and a railroad station for passenger and commercial services must be constructed along the new trainline to ensure the survival of Castor Sulfur Springs.

Dr. Frank Mills and Mr. J.D. Adams selected 40 acres along the new trainline and constructed a train station and laid out streets for a town-site. This transaction was recorded on February 9, 1891. During this time many names were considered for the new town. After much debate, local leaders agreed the new town shall be named in honor of Miss Olla Mills, daughter of Dr. Frank Mills and sister of Judge W.H. Mills, who were prominent residents of Castor Sulfur Springs. Ms. Olla Mills was very accomplished, intelligent, attractive, and a charming young lady who was instrumental in all community activities. Ms. Olla also served as the as Head of the Olla Military Institute English Department. Miss Olla Mills married Mr. C.C. Young and was laid to rest in the Olla Cemetery in 1901. A portrait of Ms. Olla Mills is available to view inside the Olla Town Hall.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 662 square miles (1,710 km2), of which 625 square miles (1,620 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (5.7%) is water.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19109,402—
19209,8564.8%
193011,66818.4%
194010,959−6.1%
195012,71716.0%
196013,0112.3%
197013,2952.2%
198017,00427.9%
199013,662−19.7%
200014,2824.5%
201014,8904.3%
202014,791−0.7%
2023 (est.)14,800[9]0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,791 people, 5,140 households, and 3,643 families residing in the parish. The median age was 38.1 years; 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older.[14]

For every 100 females there were 114.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.7 males age 18 and over.[14]

The racial makeup of the parish was 76.7% White, 8.8% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.5% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.5% of the population.[15]

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]

There were 5,140 households in the parish, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.8% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 6,151 housing units, of which 16.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.[14]

Racial and ethnic composition

La Salle 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[17] Pop 1990[18] Pop 2000[19] Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 15,158 12,247 12,225 12,520 11,263 89.14% 89.64% 85.60% 84.08% 76.15%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,582 1,256 1,732 1,758 1,283 9.30% 9.19% 12.13% 11.81% 8.67%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 143 77 91 146 133 0.84% 0.56% 0.64% 0.98% 0.90%
Asian alone (NH) 21 36 25 26 252 0.12% 0.26% 0.18% 0.17% 1.70%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [22] x [23] 1 1 10 x x 0.01% 0.01% 0.07%
Other race alone (NH) 20 0 6 3 26 0.12% 0.00% 0.04% 0.02% 0.18%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [24] x [25] 85 105 422 x x 0.60% 0.71% 2.85%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 80 46 117 331 1,402 0.47% 0.34% 0.82% 2.22% 9.48%
Total 17,004 13,662 14,282 14,890 14,791 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

As of the census[26] of 2000, there were 14,282 people, 5,291 households, and 3,798 families residing in the parish. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 6,273 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 86.13% White, 12.20% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,291 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $28,189, and the median income for a family was $36,197. Males had a median income of $27,431 versus $19,697 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,033. About 14.90% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 18.90% of those age 65 or over.

National Guard

The 1087TH Transportation Company of the 165TH CSS (combat service support) Battalion of the 139TH RSG (regional support group) resides in Jena, Louisiana.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

LaSalle Parish has been staunchly Republican since 1956, except in 1968 when it voted strongly for American Independent nominee George Wallace. Prior to that, it had been heavily Democratic, but no Democratic nominee since 1956 besides Jimmy Carter has passed forty percent of the parish’s vote, with Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris not even reaching double digits. In 2008 John McCain's performance was the strongest of any Republican in Parish history; every subsequent presidential election through 2024 has broken this record.

United States presidential election results for LaSalle Parish, Louisiana[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 7 1.26% 366 65.95% 182 32.79%
1916 20 3.13% 610 95.61% 8 1.25%
1920 109 15.71% 570 82.13% 15 2.16%
1924 102 17.93% 456 80.14% 11 1.93%
1928 450 33.81% 881 66.19% 0 0.00%
1932 117 6.30% 1,738 93.64% 1 0.05%
1936 256 13.48% 1,643 86.52% 0 0.00%
1940 258 11.18% 2,039 88.38% 10 0.43%
1944 504 19.78% 2,018 79.20% 26 1.02%
1948 266 9.67% 716 26.03% 1,769 64.30%
1952 1,692 45.82% 2,001 54.18% 0 0.00%
1956 1,885 61.56% 951 31.06% 226 7.38%
1960 2,123 55.26% 843 21.94% 876 22.80%
1964 4,319 83.33% 864 16.67% 0 0.00%
1968 1,258 21.52% 710 12.15% 3,878 66.34%
1972 3,858 81.51% 651 13.75% 224 4.73%
1976 3,161 50.10% 2,961 46.93% 188 2.98%
1980 3,792 57.16% 2,665 40.17% 177 2.67%
1984 5,404 78.60% 1,318 19.17% 153 2.23%
1988 4,559 71.69% 1,622 25.51% 178 2.80%
1992 3,068 45.63% 2,389 35.53% 1,266 18.83%
1996 2,925 44.96% 2,543 39.09% 1,038 15.95%
2000 4,564 74.72% 1,397 22.87% 147 2.41%
2004 5,015 80.39% 1,155 18.52% 68 1.09%
2008 5,602 85.49% 860 13.12% 91 1.39%
2012 5,726 87.13% 764 11.63% 82 1.25%
2016 5,836 88.84% 605 9.21% 128 1.95%
2020 6,378 90.12% 638 9.02% 61 0.86%
2024 6,023 90.98% 546 8.25% 51 0.77%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "LaSalle Parish, Louisiana". quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "LaSalle Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. ^ "Changes to Counties or County Equivalent Entities: 2010s". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Google Trends". trends.google.com. Google. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: LaSalle Parish, Louisiana
  7. ^ "House Bill No. 295". Official Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana at the First Regular Session of the Third General Assembly. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: The Daily State Publishing Company: 991. 1908 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  9. ^ "2023 Population Estimates (PEP)". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  13. ^ "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 September 1, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-38.
  19. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – La Salle Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – La Salle Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – La Salle Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  23. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  24. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  25. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  26. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

31°41′N 92°10′W / 31.68°N 92.16°W / 31.68; -92.16

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