Leesville, Louisiana
City
Downtown Leesville Historic District
Motto:  "Best Hometown in the World" [1]
Location of Leesville in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.
Coordinates: 31°08′37″N 93°16′16″W / 31.14361°N 93.27111°W / 31.14361; -93.27111
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Vernon
Government
Area [2]
• Total	9.03 sq mi (23.38 km2)
• Land	8.89 sq mi (23.04 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation	254 ft (77 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,649
• Density	635.15/sq mi (245.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71446, 71459
Area code	337
FIPS code	22-43010
Website	City of Leesville, Louisiana

Leesville is a city in, and the parish seat of, Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States.^[3] The population was 5,649 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Fort Johnson South micropolitan area and is additionally served by the Leesville Airport. The city is home to the Fort Johnson (formerly known as Fort Polk) U.S. Army installation.

Geography

Leesville is located at 31°8′37″N 93°16′16″W / 31.14361°N 93.27111°W / 31.14361; -93.27111 (31.143553, -93.271196)^[4] and has an elevation of 254 feet (77.4 m).^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.49 square miles (14.2 km²), of which 5.45 square miles (14.1 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (0.55%) is water.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by hot, humid summers and mild winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Leesville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[6]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,649 people, 2,415 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 6,753 people, 2,841 households, and 1,650 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,238.7 inhabitants per square mile (478.3/km²). There were 3,389 housing units at an average density of 621.7 per square mile (240.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.49% White, 35.33% African American, 1.47% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.56% Pacific Islander, 2.25% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.92% of the population.

There were 2,841 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. Nearly 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,864, and the median income for a family was $30,435. Males had a median income of $27,267 versus $21,661 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,360. About 24.5% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Vernon Parish School District operates public schools:

• Hicks High School K-12
• Pickering Elementary School K-6
• Pickering High School 7-12
• West Leesville Elementary School: 1-4
• East Leesville Elementary School: PK-K
• Vernon Middle School: 5th and 6th grade
• Leesville Jr. High: 7th and 8th grade
• Leesville High School: 9th through 12th grade

The Vernon Parish Public Library operates the Main Library and the Dunbar Branch Library.^[12]

Notable people

• Bert A. Adams, state representative from Vernon Parish from 1956 to 1968^[13]
• James Armes, Louisiana state representative for Beauregard and Vernon parishes since 2008^[14]
• Ward Connerly, political activist, businessman, and former University of California Regent (1993–2005). He is the founder and the chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, and is considered to be the man behind California's Proposition 209, which prohibits affirmative action in that state.
• Michael Ford (American football), LSU runningback^[15]
• Eddie Fuller - NFL player, running back with the Buffalo Bills, also played for Louisiana State University and was part of the play which became known as the "Earthquake game".^[16]
• Bo Harris - NFL player, played with the Cincinnati Bengals^[17]
• Carolyn Huntoon - NASA scientist, first woman director of the Johnson Space Center^[18]
• Buddy Leach - Politician, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th congressional district
• Demond Mallet - Professional basketball player^[19]
• Kevin Mawae - NFL All-Pro Center for the Tennessee Titans New York Jets, Pro Football Hall of Fame^[20]
• D'Anthony Smith - NFL player, born in Berlin, Germany, but spent his teen years in Leesville while his family was stationed at Fort Polk. Attended Pickering High School in Leesville and Louisiana Tech. Currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• John R. Smith, state senator, former state representative, and former president of the Vernon Parish Police Jury