Bastrop, Louisiana

History

Bastrop was founded by Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, a Dutch businessman accused as an embezzler. He had fled to the then Spanish colony of Louisiana to escape prosecution and became involved in various land deals. In New Spain, he falsely claimed to be a nobleman. He received a large grant of land, provided that he could settle 450 families on it over the next several years. However, he was unable to do this, and so lost the grant. Afterwards, he moved to Texas, where he claimed to oppose the sale of Louisiana to the United States and became a minor government official. He proved instrumental in Moses Austin's plan (and later, that of his son, Stephen F. Austin) to bring American colonists to what was then northern Mexico.

Bastrop formally incorporated in 1857, and is the commercial and industrial center of Morehouse Parish. In the 19th century, it was notable as the western edge of the great North Louisiana swamp, but more favorable terrain resulted in the antebellum rail line connecting to Monroe, further to the south.

Bastrop was a Confederate stronghold during the American Civil War until January 1865, when 3,000 cavalrymen led by Colonel Embury D. Osband of the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment, embarked from Memphis, Tennessee, for northeastern Louisiana.

During the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Bastrop was the site of a relief camp for refugees. During World War II, it was the site of a German prisoner-of-war camp.

Bastrop is the parish seat of Morehouse Parish and is within an area marketed to tourists as the Sportsman's Paradise Region of Louisiana. It is a Main Street Community and has received Transportation Enhancement funding for improvements in its historic district.

Celebrations and concerts are held in the historic downtown at the restored 1914 Morehouse Parish Courthouse and Rose Theater. Bastrop is home to the Snyder Museum and Creative Arts Center, housed in the circa 1929 home of a local family. Volunteers lead heritage appreciation tours for children and interpret the history of the parish using local artifacts.

Geography

Bastrop is located in western Morehouse Parish, at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 425 and U.S. Highway 165 (Madison Avenue).

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bastrop has a total area of 8.59 sqmi, all of it land.

Climate

| Jan record high F = 84 | Feb record high F = 87 | Mar record high F = 93 | Apr record high F = 94 | May record high F = 101 | Jun record high F = 108 | Jul record high F = 108 | Aug record high F = 107 | Sep record high F = 110 | Oct record high F = 100 | Nov record high F = 89 | Dec record high F = 89

| Jan record low F = 4 | Feb record low F = -12 | Mar record low F = 15 | Apr record low F = 28 | May record low F = 39 | Jun record low F = 48 | Jul record low F = 54 | Aug record low F = 51 | Sep record low F = 37 | Oct record low F = 21 | Nov record low F = 18 | Dec record low F = 3

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Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,691 people, 3,834 households, and 2,273 families residing in the city.

Economy

In 2008, International Paper Company, the largest area employer, ceased operations of its Bastrop mill.

In 2009, poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride closed multiple facilities in the area, which impacted the economy of Bastrop. DG Foods opened a poultry processing plant at Bastrop in 2011.

In 2015, a wood pellet facility opened in Bastrop, employing 64 people.

The 1023rd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 528th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in Bastrop.

Arts and culture

A branch of the Morehouse Parish Public Library System is located in Bastrop.

Government

Bastrop is governed by a mayor, Mark Moore Sr,and a city council, which includes:

• Angela Tappin, District A
• Henry Doaty, District B
• James Green, District C
• Darry Green, District D
• Howard Loche, District E

Education

Public schools

Public schools located in Bastrop are operated by the Morehouse Parish School Board, and include:

• Bastrop High School
• Beekman Charter School
• Morehouse Elementary School
• Morehouse Magnet School

Private schools

Prairie View Academy is a private school in Bastrop serving kindergarten to grade 12.

Postsecondary schools

Louisiana Delta Community College has a campus in Bastrop.

Bastrop High School prayer controversy

In 2011, graduating senior Damon Fowler objected to prayer at the Bastrop High School graduation exercises, claiming a looming violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana asked the school not to include a prayer in the May 20 graduation.

Media

Bastrop and Morehouse Parish were until 2019 served by a daily newspaper, the Bastrop Daily Enterprise, which ceased operations because of financial and readership issues.

Notable people

• Ronnie Coleman, professional bodybuilder
• Denzel Devall, college football player
• Bill Dickey, Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees
• Michael Echols, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• Stump Edington, Major League Baseball player who died in Bastrop
• David 'Bo' Ginn, state senator from Morehouse Parish from 1980 to 1988
• Amos T. Hall (1896–1971), lawyer, judge, and civil rights leader
• Luther E. Hall, governor of Louisiana
• Stacey Hawkins, United States Air Force major general
• Ed Head, Major League Baseball player who died in Bastrop
• Mable John, Motown Records singer born in Bastrop
• Jim Looney, NFL player
• Bob Love, NBA basketball player
• Calvin Natt, National Basketball Association player with the Denver Nuggets
• Kenny Natt, National Basketball Association drafted by Indiana Pacers in 1980
• Willie Parker, NFL and WFL player
• Rueben Randle, LSU Tigers football, wide receiver
• Shane Reynolds, Major League Baseball player
• John Wesley Ryles, country music singer, born in Bastrop in 1950
• Talance Sawyer, played for the Minnesota Vikings; born in Bastrop
• Dylan Scott, country music singer-songwriter
• Pat Williams, NFL player (Minnesota Vikings)
• Hulon B. Whittington, Medal of Honor recipient

References

References

1. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
2. "P1. Race – Bastrop city, Louisiana: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau.
3. {{GNIS. 2403818
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. [[John D. Winters]], ''The Civil War in Louisiana'', [[Baton Rouge]]: [[Louisiana State University Press]], 1963, {{ISBN. 0-8071-0834-0, pp. 413–414
6. "Preserve America {{!}} Advisory Council on Historic Preservation".
7. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
9. Greg Hilburn, [http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20081213/NEWS01/812130312 "Jindal visits region"] {{webarchive. link. (August 16, 2014 , ''The Monroe News-Star'', December 13, 2008)
10. link. (August 16, 2014, ''Monroe News Star'', November 22, 2008, p. 1)
11. link. (August 16, 2014 , ''Monroe News Star'', November 25, 2008)
12. "Greg Hilburn and Robbie Evans, "Pilgrim's Pride decision a bombshell: Sites closing in Arcadia, Athens, Choudrant, Farmerville". [[The Times (Shreveport).
13. "News & Updates | Drax BioMassDrax BioMass".
14. http://www.thepineywoods.com/PelletsJan13.html/{{dead link. (October 2016)
15. "Bastrop Main Branch". Morehouse Parish Library.
16. "Meet the Mayor". City of Bastrop.
17. "City Council". City of Bastrop.
18. "Home". Morehouse Parish School Board.
19. "Prairie View Academy". Prairie View Academy.
20. "Bastrop". Louisiana Delta Community College.
21. Southwell, Zack. (May 21, 2011). "Prayer sparks controversy in Bastrop". The Star.
22. Lebo, Lauri. (May 20, 2011). "Student Says He's Ostracized for Objecting to Graduation Prayer". Religion Dispatches.
23. "Shane Reynolds Stats". Baseball Almanac.