Bienville Parish, Louisiana | |
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Parish of Bienville | |
Country | United States |
State | Louisiana |
Region | North Louisiana |
Founded | March 14, 1848 |
Named for | Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville |
Parish seat | Arcadia |
Largest municipality | Bienville (area) Arcadia (population) |
Incorporated municipalities | 10 (total)
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Area | |
• Total | 2,130 km2 (822 sq mi) |
• Land | 2,100 km2 (811 sq mi) |
• Water | 30 km2 (11 sq mi) |
• percentage | 3 km2 (1.3 sq mi) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,981 |
• Density | 6.1/km2 (16/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area code | 318 |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | Bienville Parish Government |
Bienville Parish (French: Paroisse de Bienville, pronounced [paʁwas də bjɛ̃vil]) is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, the population was 12,981.[1] The parish seat and most populous municipality is Arcadia.[2]
The highest natural point in Louisiana, a hill known as Mt. Driskill, 535 feet (163 m) in elevation, is located in north central Bienville Parish. The mountain is located on private land with public access by walking trail. It is named for James Christopher Driskill, a 19th-century landowner. Nearby is Jordan Mountain, with an elevation of 493 feet (150 m).
In the 1830s, Ruben Drake moved his family from South Carolina to what he named Mount Lebanon, the first permanent settlement in the parish. As the Drakes were devout Baptists, they established a church and school, which evolved into Mount Lebanon University, the forerunner of Louisiana Christian University in Pineville in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.[3] Bonnie and Clyde were shot dead in Bienville Parish on May 23, 1934.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 822 square miles (2,130 km2), of which 811 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4] The highest natural point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain (535 ft), is located in Bienville Parish. Driskill Mountain is 11 miles (18 km) south of Arcadia at Latitude 32 degree, 25 minutes North; Longitude 92 degree 54 minutes West.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 5,539 | — | |
1860 | 11,000 | 98.6% | |
1870 | 10,636 | −3.3% | |
1880 | 10,442 | −1.8% | |
1890 | 14,108 | 35.1% | |
1900 | 17,588 | 24.7% | |
1910 | 21,776 | 23.8% | |
1920 | 20,977 | −3.7% | |
1930 | 23,789 | 13.4% | |
1940 | 23,933 | 0.6% | |
1950 | 19,105 | −20.2% | |
1960 | 16,726 | −12.5% | |
1970 | 16,024 | −4.2% | |
1980 | 16,387 | 2.3% | |
1990 | 15,979 | −2.5% | |
2000 | 15,752 | −1.4% | |
2010 | 14,353 | −8.9% | |
2020 | 12,981 | −9.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 6,901 | 53.16% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,273 | 40.62% |
Native American | 61 | 0.47% |
Asian | 21 | 0.16% |
Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.04% |
Other/Mixed | 509 | 3.92% |
Hispanic or Latino | 211 | 1.63% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,981 people, 5,812 households, and 3,586 families residing in the parish. At the census of 2000, there were 15,752 people, 6,108 households, and 4,214 families residing in the parish.[10] The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 7,830 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2).
In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 54.92% White, 43.78% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2020 census, the racial makeup was 53.16% non-Hispanic white, 40.62% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.92% multiracial, and 1.63% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9]
At the 2000 census, were 6,108 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% 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 3.09.
A tabulated 27.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% were 18 to 24, 24.60% were 25 to 44, 22.50% were 45 to 64, and 17.60% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $23,663, and the median income for a family was $30,241. Males had a median income of $28,022 versus $18,682 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,471. About 21.80% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
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No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 3,891 | 55.19% | 3,067 | 43.50% | 92 | 1.30% |
2016 | 3,756 | 53.62% | 3,129 | 44.67% | 120 | 1.71% |
2012 | 3,641 | 50.55% | 3,490 | 48.45% | 72 | 1.00% |
2008 | 3,776 | 50.82% | 3,589 | 48.30% | 65 | 0.87% |
2004 | 3,612 | 50.47% | 3,399 | 47.49% | 146 | 2.04% |
2000 | 3,269 | 46.66% | 3,413 | 48.72% | 324 | 4.62% |
1996 | 2,402 | 32.53% | 4,335 | 58.71% | 647 | 8.76% |
1992 | 2,412 | 32.45% | 3,899 | 52.46% | 1,121 | 15.08% |
1988 | 3,680 | 48.83% | 3,705 | 49.16% | 152 | 2.02% |
1984 | 4,587 | 55.76% | 3,530 | 42.91% | 109 | 1.33% |
1980 | 3,508 | 45.15% | 4,123 | 53.06% | 139 | 1.79% |
1976 | 2,499 | 41.57% | 3,402 | 56.60% | 110 | 1.83% |
1972 | 3,384 | 58.99% | 1,890 | 32.94% | 463 | 8.07% |
1968 | 941 | 15.24% | 1,768 | 28.63% | 3,466 | 56.13% |
1964 | 3,740 | 81.39% | 855 | 18.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,230 | 34.67% | 625 | 17.62% | 1,693 | 47.72% |
1956 | 1,515 | 48.87% | 815 | 26.29% | 770 | 24.84% |
1952 | 1,986 | 53.10% | 1,754 | 46.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 191 | 6.42% | 421 | 14.14% | 2,365 | 79.44% |
1944 | 705 | 28.13% | 1,801 | 71.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 362 | 11.15% | 2,883 | 88.82% | 1 | 0.03% |
1936 | 213 | 7.59% | 2,593 | 92.38% | 1 | 0.04% |
1932 | 41 | 1.51% | 2,671 | 98.45% | 1 | 0.04% |
1928 | 367 | 22.00% | 1,301 | 78.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 67 | 7.94% | 774 | 91.71% | 3 | 0.36% |
1920 | 257 | 15.08% | 1,419 | 83.27% | 28 | 1.64% |
1916 | 20 | 1.59% | 1,229 | 98.01% | 5 | 0.40% |
1912 | 8 | 0.80% | 822 | 81.79% | 175 | 17.41% |
The Bienville Parish School Board operates area public schools.
Places adjacent to Bienville Parish, Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities of Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States | ||
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