Webster Parish, Louisiana

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 615 sqmi, of which 593 sqmi is land and 22 sqmi (3.5%) is water.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-20.svg|25px]] Interstate 20
• [[Image:I-69 (Future).svg|25px]] Future Interstate 69
• [[Image:US 79.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 79
• [[Image:US 80.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 80
• [[Image:US 371.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 371
• [[Image:Louisiana 2 (2008).svg|25px]] Louisiana Highway 2

Adjacent counties and parishes

• Lafayette County, Arkansas (north)
• Columbia County, Arkansas (northeast)
• Claiborne Parish (east)
• Bienville Parish (southeast)
• Bossier Parish (west)

National protected areas

• Kisatchie National Forest (part)
• Caney Lakes Recreation Area near Minden (not to be confused with another Caney Lake near Jonesboro, Louisiana)

Communities

Cities

• Minden (parish seat and largest municipality)
• Springhill

Towns

• Cotton Valley
• Cullen
• Sarepta
• Sibley

Villages

• Dixie Inn
• Doyline
• Dubberly
• Heflin
• Shongaloo

Unincorporated communities

• Midway
• Yellow Pine

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the parish had a population of 36,967.

The median age was 43.3 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the parish was 61.5% White, 33.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

50.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 49.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 15,684 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.8% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 10,295 families residing in the parish.

There were 18,236 housing units, of which 14.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.0% were owner-occupied and 30.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the census of 2010 there were 52,903 people, 20,500 households, and 12,589 families residing in the parish. The population density was 92 /mi2. There were 18,991 housing units at an average density of 32 /mi2. The racial makeup of the parish was 65.51% White, 32.83% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,501 households, of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $28,408, and the median income for a family was $35,119. Males had a median income of $30,343 versus $20,907 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,203. About 15.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Law, government, and politics

In 1996, the Webster Parish Police Jury approved a $1,849,000 bid to the firm Finney Co. of Shreveport for construction of a new parish library facility on Est and West Street in Minden.

Voting performance

Webster Parish is generally competitive in most contested elections. The parish voted for Republican Barry Goldwater for president in 1964 and George Wallace in 1968, when the former governor of Alabama ran on the American Independent Party ticket. Richard Nixon won here in 1972, and Jimmy Carter of Georgia prevailed in 1976. In 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan won the parish by a nearly two-to-one margin over former Vice President Walter F. Mondale.

In 2000, Governor George W. Bush of Texas won in Webster Parish with 9,420 votes (55.1 percent), compared to then Vice President Al Gore's 7,197 (42.1 percent). Patrick Buchanan of the Reform Party held 183 votes (1.1 percent). In 2004, Bush again won the parish, having polled 11,070 votes (60 percent) to Democrat John Kerry's 6,833 (37 percent).

In 2008, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona carried Webster Parish with 11,417 votes (62.5 percent), compared to Barack Obama's 6,610 (36.2 percent). Four years later in 2012, Republican Mitt Romney led in the parish with 11,400 votes (61.9 percent), 17 fewer ballots than McCain had received. In 2012, President Obama polled 6,802 votes (36.9 percent), 192 more than his 2008 tabulation.

The last Democrat hence to have won in Webster Parish at the presidential level was Bill Clinton in 1996, who received 9,688 (55.3 percent), compared to Republican Robert Dole's 6,153 ballots (35.1 percent). Ross Perot, founder of the Reform Party, held 1,324 votes (7.6 percent). In that same election, the Democrat Mary Landrieu carried Webster Parish in her successful U.S. Senate race against Republican Woody Jenkins, 8,459 (51.3 percent) to 8,020 (48.7 percent).

Education

The elected Webster Parish School Board operates local public schools.

It is in the service area of Bossier Parish Community College.

National Guard

The 39th MP Company of the 773rd MP Battalion and the 1083rd Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion reside at Camp Minden west of Minden, formerly the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. Both of these battalions are part of the 139TH RSG (Regional Support Group).

Notable people

• Alan Bean, astronaut, fourth person to walk on the Moon
• "Sweet Lou" Dunbar, basketball player, 27-year player for the Harlem Globetrotters
• Gene Austin, crooner, singer of "My Blue Heaven," the best-selling American single until 1942
• Marshall H. Twitchell, Reconstruction official, victim of assassination attempt
• John Cecil Jones, World War II veteran and lynching victim
• John L. Nelson, jazz musician under the name Prince Rogers, father of musician Prince
• Charlie Hennigan, AFL All-Star wide receiver
• James Burton, guitarist, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Roger Carr, Pro Bowl NFL wide receiver
• Percy Mayfield, R&B singer
• John David Crow, American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator
• John T. Watkins, eight-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1905 to 1921)

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Webster Parish, Louisiana". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. Bruce Franklin. (May 23, 2017). "Webster Parish's population declines for sixth year". Minden Press-Herald.
4. (April 29, 2008). "''Louisiana Almanac''". Pelican Publishing.
5. "Webster Centennial Officially Opened," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 3, 1971, p. 1.
6. "Drew Family". mindenmemories.org.
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "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)".
17. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
18. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Webster Parish, Louisiana".
19. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Webster Parish, Louisiana".
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Webster Parish, Louisiana".
21. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
22. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
23. not an option in the 1980 Census
24. not an option in the 1990 Census
25. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. "Library bid approved", ''Minden Profess-Herald'', March 12, 1996, p 1.
27. Marilyn Miller, "Webster follows trend", ''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', November 7, 1984, p. 1
28. "Webster Parish election returns, November 7, 2000". staticresults.sos.la.gov.
29. "Webster Parish election returns, November 2, 2004". staticresults.sos.la.gov.
30. "Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov.
31. "Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov.
32. "Webster Parish election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov.
33. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
34. "Our Colleges". [[Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges]].