Caldwell Parish, Louisiana

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 541 sqmi, of which 529 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (2.1%) is water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 165.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 165
• [[Image:Louisiana 4 (2008).svg|25px]] Louisiana Highway 4

Adjacent parishes

• Jackson Parish (northwest)
• Ouachita Parish (north)
• Richland Parish (northeast)
• Franklin Parish (east)
• Catahoula Parish (southeast)
• La Salle Parish (south)
• Winn Parish (southwest)

Communities

Towns

• Columbia (parish seat)

Villages

• Clarks
• Grayson

Census-designated place

• Banks Springs

Unincorporated communities

• Bosco
• Copenhagen
• Corey
• Hebert
• Kelly
• Ward 5

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the parish had a population of 9,645, 3,752 households, and 2,534 families. The median age was 41.2 years, 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 108.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 107.3 males age 18 and over.

There were 4,583 housing units, of which 18.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.7% were owner-occupied and 23.3% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the parish was 79.3% White, 15.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 10,560 people, 3,941 households, and 2,817 families residing in the parish. The population density was 20 /mi2. There were 5,035 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 80.43% White, 17.90% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Law enforcement

The Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency of the parish.

Politics

Caldwell Parish has been a Republican stronghold since the 1960s. Bill Clinton carried it in 1992 and 1996, which was partly due to heavy third-party presence in those presidential elections. Since then, the Republican strength in the Parish has improved in every single election, with Donald Trump obtaining nearly 86% of the vote in 2024.

Notable people

• Buddy Caldwell, Louisiana State Attorney General, 2008–2016
• Graves B. Erskine, Marine Corps General Officer (4-Star)
• Garland Gregory, LA Tech Football
• Pam Kelly, recipient of the Wade Trophy
• John J. McKeithen, Governor of Louisiana (1964–1972)
• W. Fox McKeithen, Louisiana House of Representatives (1984–1988)
• Clay Parker, LSU baseball pitcher and football punter (1981-1985)
• Neil Riser, Louisiana State Senator elected in 2007
• Chet D. Traylor, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1997–2009

Gallery

Image:Martin Homeplace Museum, Columbia, LA IMG 2753.JPG|Martin Homeplace Museum outside Columbia

Image:Caldwell Parish Library, Columbia, LA IMG 2718.JPG|The Caldwell Parish Library is located behind the courthouse in Columbia

Image:Caldwell Parish High School, Columbia, LA IMG 2682.JPG|Caldwell Parish High School

Image:Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Columbia, LA IMG 2719.JPG|Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Columbia

Image:Long Lake, Caldwell Parish, LA IMG 2730.JPG|Long Lake in Caldwell Parish; a landowner builds a pier with slide and diving board.

References

References

1. "Explore Census Data".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Caldwell Parish, Louisiana". quickfacts.census.gov.
9. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
10. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. "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)".
13. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Caldwell Parish, Louisiana".
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Caldwell Parish, Louisiana".
16. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Caldwell Parish, Louisiana".
17. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
18. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
19. not an option in the 1980 Census
20. not an option in the 1990 Census
21. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "CALDWELL PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE – Committed to our Community".
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".