Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Prehistory

Catahoula Parish was the home to many succeeding Native American groups in the thousands of years before European settlements began. Peoples of the Marksville culture, Troyville culture, Coles Creek culture and Plaquemine culture built villages and mound sites throughout the area. Notable examples include Peck Mounds, and the Troyville Earthworks. The Troyville Earthworks have components dating from 100 BCE to 700 CE during the Baytown to the Troyville-Coles Creek periods.^[4]

It once had the tallest mound in Louisiana at 82 feet (25 m) in height; it was the second-tallest mound in North America (after Monk's Mound at Cahokia Mounds). This mound was destroyed to make way for the Jonesville bridge over the Black River.^[4]

Historic era

The parish was founded in 1808 and originally incorporated a very large area. As population increased in the region, new parishes were organized from the territory first included in Catahoula Parish. The parish was divided by the state in 1910, when La Salle Parish was formed from its old western section. As one of the new parishes organized during early United States settlement of this part of the state, it has had the third most boundary changes since that time. Only Natchitoches and Ouachita parishes have had more revisions of boundaries.

This area was settled primarily by migrants from the southern United States after the Louisiana Purchase, when the US acquired the vast, former French-claimed territory west of the Mississippi River. White migrants to north and central Louisiana were from the South, and were mainly of British descent and Protestant religions. They brought a new influence into Louisiana. Some also brought or purchased African-American slaves to work on larger plantations. Many of these were from the Upper South, which sold slaves through the domestic market. They brought their own cultural influences as well.

The plantations included the Battleground Plantation, Ferry Place Plantation, and Marengo Plantation, all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The other listed buildings include Catahoula Parish Courthouse, Harrisonburg Methodist Church, Sargent House, and Spring Ridge Baptist Church.

Major highways

• US 84
• US 425 / LA 15
• LA 8
• LA 28
• LA 124
• LA 126

Adjacent parishes

• Franklin Parish (north)
• Tensas Parish (northeast)
• Concordia Parish (east)
• Avoyelles Parish (south)
• La Salle Parish (west)
• Caldwell Parish (northwest)

National protected area

• Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge (part)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,906 people, 3,505 households, and 2,421 families residing in the parish. The median age was 41.3 years; 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.3 males age 18 and over.^[14]

The racial makeup of the parish was 64.9% White, 25.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.9% of the population.^[15]

There were 3,505 households in the parish, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 44.0% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[14]

There were 4,412 housing units, of which 20.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.8% were owner-occupied and 22.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.^[14]

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

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the census^[26] of 2000, there were 10,920 people, 4,082 households, and 2,992 families residing in the parish. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km²). There were 5,351 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 71.78% White, 27.12% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,082 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $22,528, and the median income for a family was $27,206. Males had a median income of $26,181 versus $18,427 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,608. About 22.60% of families and 28.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.80% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Town

• Jonesville

Villages

• Harrisonburg
• Sicily Island

Unincorporated areas