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Hosston, Louisiana

Hosston is a village in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 318 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Hosston is located in northern Caddo Parish at 32.88667°N, -93.88139°W (32.886777, -93.881364), 3 mi west of the Red River and 1 mi east of Black Bayou Lake. U.S. Route 71 runs through the center of the village, leading south 28 mi to Shreveport and north 9 mi to the Arkansas line at Ida. Louisiana Highway 2 runs west from Hosston 7 mi to Vivian and east 11 mi to Plain Dealing.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Hosston has a total area of 7.2 km2, of which 6.9 km2 is land and 0.3 km2, or 3.94%, is water.

History
Hosston, Louisiana, owes its origins to the pioneering efforts of the Hoss family, particularly James M. Hoss Sr., who played a pivotal role in its founding and early development. The town's history is intertwined with the contributions of other notable figures, such as Noah Tyson and George W. Hale, whose endeavors further shaped the growth of Hosston.

The roots of Hosston can be traced back to the mid-1800s when Nathan Hoss, a prominent merchant, established himself in the region during its early settlement phase. His son, James M. Hoss Sr., would later become instrumental in the town's development. Alongside other members of the Hoss family who had migrated from Tennessee and settled in the area, James fostered the growth of the settlement.

During this period, James Hoss garnered renown as a well-known commissioner, collaborating with Noah Tyson, a key figure responsible for the development of much of Rodessa, LA. The two entrepreneurs joined forces and made significant contributions to the expansion and improvement of the region's infrastructure.

Evidence from historical documents suggests that James Hoss and Noah Tyson worked together on several ventures, including a store. A testament to Tyson's influence is the Noah Tyson Park, situated on Mira Myrtis Rd, which stands as a reminder of his legacy.

Despite James Hoss's vital contributions, the northern settlement of Hosston was also significantly influenced by his cousin, George W. Hale. George's efforts in the early 1900s played a crucial role in the continued progress of Hosston. On May 16, 1890, the Hale Post Office was established, with James Hale serving as the Postmaster. He diligently delivered mail to residents living along the Black Bayou Lake, fostering connectivity in the area.

As more people moved to Hosston, the community's infrastructure and skilled workforce continued to grow, further propelling the settlement's development. The population's expansion and increased importance warranted the establishment of a post office, high school, and several other community buildings for Hosston, reflecting the town's ongoing progress and promising future.

Today there are an unknown number of descendants of Nathan K Hoss. However, there are many descendants of Nathan's grandfather, Jacob Hoss of Tennessee, who live around the Hosston area.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hosston has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 387 people, 152 households, and 101 families residing in the village. The population density was 144.9 PD/sqmi. There were 175 housing units at an average density of 65.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 77.00% White, 22.48% African American, 0.26% Asian, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.

There were 152 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $22,500, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $25,179 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,282. About 24.1% of families and 27.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.7% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

Gallery
 Image:Hosston, LA, Village Hall IMG_5172.JPG|Hosston Village Hall at the intersection of Louisiana State Highway 2 and U.S. Highway 71 Image:Hosston, LA, Methodist Church IMG_5175.JPG|Hosston Methodist Church

title: Hosston, Louisiana


text:
Ida, Louisiana

Ida is a village in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 221 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Ida and nearby Rodessa are the most northwesterly communities in Louisiana. It is nearby I-49.

Geography
Ida is located in Caddo Parish, just south of the Arkansas border. US 71 runs through the village, leading north 34 mi to Texarkana, AR, and south 36 mi to Shreveport. I-49 runs parallel to US 71 between the two cities and bypasses Ida just to west with one exit serving the village, Exit 245 (LA 168).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.6 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 258 people, 117 households, and 80 families residing in the village. The population density was 185.4 PD/sqmi. There were 133 housing units at an average density of 95.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.67% White, 1.55% African American, 0.39% Native American, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.

There were 117 households, out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $32,778. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,166. About 21.1% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 19.7% of those 65 or over.

Sites of interest
The Capt. Fletcher E. Adams United States Air Force 357th Fighter Group Museum occupies the former W. C. Reynolds Building on East Magnolia Avenue in the center of town. Adams was a World War II flying ace. The Reynolds building was the Ida post office from 1923 to 1962, then in 1997 became the Ida Museum. In 2010 it acquired its current name.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ida, Louisiana


text:
Mooringsport, Louisiana

Mooringsport is an incorporated municipality in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located in Caddo Parish. Part of the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area and located approximately 18 mi outside of the principal city of Shreveport, the town of Mooringsport had a population of 748 at the 2020 U.S. census.

History
Settled by Alabama and North Carolina settlers in 1836, present-day Mooringsport served as a minor economic hub for steamboats transporting cotton. From its continued growth into an established settlement, the Kansas City Southern Railway came through the area.

Geography
Mooringsport is located in western Caddo Parish at 32.68694°N, -93.96167°W (32.687029, -93.961630), on the south shore of Caddo Lake. Louisiana Highway 1 bypasses the municipality 2 mi to the east. Downtown Shreveport is approximately 18 mi to the southeast. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2010, Mooringsport had a total area of 3.04 km2, of which 3.01 km2 was land and 0.03 sqkm, or 1.06%, was water.

Demographics
In 1920, Mooringsport had a historic high of 992 residents; since then, its population has fluctuated to a low of 709 at the 1950 U.S. census, to 911 in 1980. By 2020, there were 748 people, 257 households, and 140 families in Mooringsport. At the 2000 census, there were 833 people, 334 households, and 228 families. The population density was 716.6 PD/sqmi. There were 397 housing units at an average density of 341.5 /sqmi.

Reminiscing its historically predominant non-Hispanic white population, the racial and ethnic makeup was 80.19% White American, 17.77% Black and African American, 0.36% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.36% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races in 2000. Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race were 0.72% of the population. At the 2020 census and its nationwide reflection of continued diversification, the racial and ethnic makeup was 76.2% non-Hispanic white, 12.43% Black and African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.62% from two or more races, and 2.94% Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

Financially, the median income for a household was $32,177 at the 2000 census. The median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for Mooringsport was $14,589. About 9.8% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over. At the 2020 American Community Survey, the median household income declined to $21,346 with a mean income of $33,428. Families had a median household income of $33,438 with a mean of $44,989; married-couple families a median income of $53,542; and non-family households a median income of $17,188.

Notable people

 * Lead Belly (Huddie William Ledbetter, 1888–1949), singer and guitarist born in Mooringsport
 * Earl Holliman, actor, was raised in Mooringsport
 * Sam Caldwell, mayor of Shreveport from 1934–1946, born and reared in Mooringsport
 * Bill P. Keith, Texas author, lived in Mooringsport while he represented Caddo Parish in the Louisiana State Senate from 1980-1984

title: Mooringsport, Louisiana


text:
Oil City, Louisiana

Oil City is a town in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. The population was 1,008 at the time of the 2010 census. Oil City is located on Louisiana Highway 1, north of Caddo Lake. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The park in Oil City is named for Earl Williamson. The local politician served for 40 years on the Caddo Parish police jury (1933 to 1972) and again from 1979 to 1980. He served as mayor of Vivian from 1938 to 1946, and again from 1962 to 1966.

John Charles "Chip" Dickey, Jr., the mayor from 2005 until his death in office in 2016 at the age of sixty, pushed for economic ventures, including the community center and restaurants. He was an ordained minister and led various youth camps. Dickey's father, John Charles Dickey, Sr., was the Oil City mayor from 1968 to 1976.

Geography
Oil City is located in northwestern Caddo Parish at 32.74222°N, -93.97444°W (32.742170, -93.974376). Downtown Shreveport is 21 mi to the southeast along Louisiana Highway 1, and Vivian is 9 mi to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oil City has a total area of 4.78 km2, of which 4.62 km2 is land and 0.17 km2, or 3.45%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 901 people, 406 households, and 220 families residing in the town. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,219 people, 480 households, and 311 families residing in the town. The population density was 679.9 PD/sqmi. There were 542 housing units at an average density of 302.3 /sqmi.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the town was 55.13% White, 44.05% African American, 0.08% Native American, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latinos of any race were 1.72% of the population. By 2020, the racial and ethnic makeup was 49.94% non-Hispanic white, 41.4% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 5.88% multiracial, and 1.78% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 480 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $19,375, and the median income for a family was $25,114. Males had a median income of $23,516 versus $15,667 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,697. About 28.8% of families and 35.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.1% of those under age 18 and 28.4% of those age 65 or over. The 2020 American Community Survey estimated the median household income was $20,375, making it one of the poorest rural communities in Louisiana.

Notable people

 * Earl Holliman, Golden Globe-winning film and TV actor, lived in Oil City during his teenage years and graduated from Oil City High School in 1946
 * Roy McArthur "Hoppy" Hopkins (1943–2006) member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1988 until his death

title: Oil City, Louisiana


text:
Rodessa, Louisiana

Rodessa is a village in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 270 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Rodessa is located in northwestern Caddo Parish at 32.97139°N, -93.99583°W (32.971486, -93.995941). It is the incorporated place in Louisiana closest to the state's northwest corner. Louisiana Highway 1 passes through the village, leading south 7 mi to Vivian and northwest 15 mi to Atlanta, Texas (as Texas State Highway 77).

According to the United States Census Bureau, Rodessa has a total area of 3.2 sqkm, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 307 people, 119 households, and 81 families residing in the village. The population density was 367.7 PD/sqmi. There were 131 housing units at an average density of 156.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 70.36% White, 27.69% African American, 1.63% Native American, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.

There were 119 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 31.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $21,750, and the median income for a family was $28,125. Males had a median income of $31,750 versus $13,977 for females. The per capita income for the village was $10,693. About 22.0% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.6% of those 65 or over.

A majority of Rodessa's population identifies with the Christian Faith with zero Muslims and only one Jewish adult.

Notable person

 * Dan Flores, historian of the American West
 * Eunice Durden, mother of O.J. Simpson

title: Rodessa, Louisiana


text:
Vivian, Louisiana

Vivian is a town in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States and is home to the Redbud Festival. The population was 3,671 at the 2010 census, down from 4,031 in 2000. According to 2020 census data, Vivian is now the fourth-largest municipality in Caddo Parish by population (after Blanchard, Greenwood, and Shreveport).

History
Vivian developed as a trading center and center of a retail area that included smaller towns in the area. During its heyday, people from the region used to visit Vivian for shopping and movies, especially on the weekends.

Geography
Vivian is in northwestern Caddo Parish. Louisiana Highway 1 passes through the center of the town, leading north 11 mi to the Texas border at the northwest corner of Louisiana, and south 30 mi to Shreveport. LA 2 leads east 7 mi to U.S. Route 71 in Hosston.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Vivian has an area of 14.2 km2, all land.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,073 people, 1,395 households, and 898 families residing in the town. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,031 people, 1,569 households, and 1,019 families residing in the town. The population density was 782.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,812 housing units at an average density of 351.5 /sqmi.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the town was 63.90% White, 34.19% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population. By 2020, the racial makeup was 50.15% non-Hispanic white, 41.91% African American, 0.91% Asian, 4.62% multiracial, and 1.95% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,569 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.9 males.

At the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the town was $23,800, and the median income for a family was $29,867. Males had a median income of $26,844 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,267. About 21.4% of families and 26.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The current mayor is Mike VanSchoick.

Education
The town's single government-sponsored cultural organization is the North Caddo Branch of the Shreve Memorial Library. The library is housed in the once-abandoned, now-restored North Caddo Elementary Middle School building.

Media
Caddo Citizen is the newspaper. Radio stations broadcasting from Vivian include KNCB (AM) (1329) classic rock, and KNCB-FM (105.3) classic country.

Notable people

 * Dan Flores, historian of the American West, born in Vivian in 1948
 * Phil Robertson, inventor of Duck Commander Duck Calls and television personality on Duck Dynasty, born in Vivian in 1946
 * Silas Robertson (born 1948), television personality
 * Jasper Smith (1905-1992), Vivian lawyer, city attorney, and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1944 to 1948 and then 1952 to 1964.
 * Robert Williams III, power forward and center for the Portland Trail Blazers

Filming location
Exterior shots of the supermarket in the film The Mist were shot in Vivian in 2007 at Tom's Market, and outdoor scenes for Straw Dogs (2011) were filmed in the downtown region in 2009.

title: Vivian, Louisiana


text:
Carlyss, Louisiana

Carlyss (pronounced ‘car-liss’) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,101 in 2020. It is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area.

Geography
Carlyss is located south of the center of Calcasieu Parish at 30.19278°N, -93.37417°W (30.192655, -93.374104). It is bordered to the north by the city of Sulphur. Interstate 10 follows the northern border, with access from exits 20 and 21. I-10 leads east 10 mi to Lake Charles and west 22 mi to Orange, Texas. Louisiana Highway 27 runs through the center of Carlyss, connecting Sulphur to the north with Holly Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, 32 mi to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Carlyss CDP has a total area of 31.03 km2, of which 30.86 sqkm is land and 0.18 sqkm, or 0.57%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,101 people, 1,773 households, and 1,252 families residing in the CDP.

title: Carlyss, Louisiana


text:
DeQuincy, Louisiana

DeQuincy is the northernmost city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,235 at the 2010 census. DeQuincy is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area.

History
DeQuincy was founded in 1897 as a railroad town with the Calcasieu, Vernon & Shreveport Railway Company (CV&S) having been completed and Arthur Stilwell's Kansas City, Shreveport & Gulf Railway Company (KCS&G), that was owned by the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad (KCP&G), completed in 1897.

On 8 March 1944, two Air Force aircraft from nearby Barksdale Air Force Base collided overhead killing seven people.

Geography
DeQuincy is located in northern Calcasieu Parish at 30.45083°N, -93.43556°W (30.450915, -93.435613). Louisiana Highways 12 and 27 pass through the center of town: LA 12 leads east 36 mi to Kinder and southwest 22 mi to Deweyville, Texas, while LA 27 leads north 31 mi to DeRidder and south 17 mi to Sulphur, 9 mi west of Lake Charles.

According to the United States Census Bureau, DeQuincy has a total area of 8.2 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,144 people, 972 households, and 720 families residing in the city.

Economy
DeQuincy was founded as a railroad settlement, and the Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific railroads remain principal employers for area citizens.

The timber industry has long been a vital part of the local economy. DeQuincy is home to Temple-Inland's Southwest Louisiana Lumber Operation.

The DeQuincy Industrial Airpark houses facilities for Thermoplastic Services, Recycle Inc., United Oilfield Services, and Paragon Plastic Sheet. In 2002, Calgon Carbon Corporation planned to construct a carbon reactivation plant in the airpark, though those plans have been delayed due to environmental concerns.

Government and infrastructure
The former Grand Avenue High School was the site of the highest scoring boys high school basketball game on January 29, 1964, when Grand Avenue beat Cameron, Louisiana's Audrey Memorial High School by a score of 211 to 29.

The United States Postal Service operates the DeQuincy Post Office.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections formerly operated the C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center in unincorporated Beauregard Parish, about 3 mi north of DeQuincy. The facility closed in November 2012

Education
Calcasieu Parish Public Schools operates public schools:
 * DeQuincy High School
 * DeQuincy Middle School
 * DeQuincy Elementary School
 * DeQuincy Primary School

Subject of multiple hoaxes
The town has been the subject of numerous hoaxes by satirical writer Paul Horner, widely spread on the Internet. The hoaxes claim the town enacted bizarre legislation such as banning those of Korean descent, issuing handguns to school children, permitting bigamy, banning twerking, and the city being completely eradicated by zombies on bath salts.

DeQuincy Mayor Lawrence Henagan, a Democrat, was falsely targeted in 2016 by an Internet hoax that he had jailed a volunteer fire chief for thirty days and then dismissed the man after the chief had prayed at the scene of a fire. The story identified the mayor as "Lawana Jones, an African-American atheist" and the fire chief as "39-year-old Ronnie Edwards." Henagan, the chairman of the deacon board at the First Baptist Church of DeQuincy, said that the chief is free to pray while firefighting. Henagan said he would join the fire chief in prayer. Henagan said that he has no knowledge why he was singled out for a fake news article but noted that he could take no legal action because the reports used fictitious names.

Notable people

 * Burl Cain, warden of Louisiana State Penitentiary since 1995, formerly resided in DeQuincy.
 * Johnny Dowers, actor, writer, composer and musician who has appeared on the TV series GCB and Charmed. He has been cast as Detective Tim Cooper in the police drama series The Bridge.
 * Tina Girouard, award-winning video and performance artist whose work is in the collections of museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, New Orleans Museum of Art, and Museo Rufino Tamayo, was born in DeQuincy.
 * Smiley Lewis, rhythm and blues musician whose songs have been covered by Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Dave Edmunds, and Aerosmith
 * Hanna Nicole and Ashley Grance from the American duo Ha*Ash, singers
 * Anthony Pullard, NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks.
 * Scott Brown, retired major league baseball pitcher.

title: DeQuincy, Louisiana


text:
Iowa, Louisiana

Iowa is a town in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,436 in 2020. It is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area.

History
The history of this region is filled with stories of the early Midwestern settlers from Kansas, Illinois and Iowa, of the Acadians (Cajuns), and of Jean Lafitte's pirates. The community of Iowa was developed in the mid-19th century.

The railroad that cut through this country brought settlers who were lured to the prairie land for rice farming, cattle raising and later oil fields. Much of southwest Louisiana was developed by the North American Land and Timber Co. Seaman A. Knapp, president of the Iowa State College of Agriculture, was engaged in 1885 to demonstrate the suitability of the region for rice production. Knapp attracted a number of Iowans to settle the area. The settlers were lured to this area by advertisements published in newspapers in the midwestern states.

Iowa experienced a growth boom when oil was struck in 1930 and oil companies came to try their luck in the Iowa oil and gas fields. Even though this was the Great Depression era, Iowa thrived as more men came to work in the oil fields.

Today, oil continues to be a vital part of the town's economy, as are farming and cattle.

The town of "Iowa" is actually pronounced with the long A sound at the end ("EYE-uh-way"), opposed to the pronunciation of the state of Iowa.

Geography
Iowa is located along the eastern edge of Calcasieu Parish at 30.2375°N, -93.01417°W (30.237433, -93.014191). The eastern border of the town is the Jefferson Davis Parish line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Iowa has a total area of 8.22 km2, of which 8.15 km2 is land and 0.07 km2, or 0.80%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,436 people, 1,211 households, and 812 families residing in the town.

Education
Iowa High School serves students both in Iowa and the surrounding area as part of the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools.

Transportation
U.S. Route 90 passes through the center of town as 4th Street, and Interstate 10 passes along the northern edge, with access from exits 43 and 44. The southern terminus of U.S. Route 165 is at US 90 on the eastern town border. Lake Charles is 13 mi to the west via Highways 90 or 10, and Lafayette is 63 mi to the east. US 165 leads 85 mi northeast to Alexandria.

Notable person

 * Tierre Brown, National Basketball Association player and MVP of the NBA Development League in 2004

title: Iowa, Louisiana


text:
Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles is the fifth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Founded in 1861 in Calcasieu Parish, it is a major industrial, cultural, and educational center in the southwest region of the state. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Lake Charles's population was 84,872.

The city and metropolitan area of Lake Charles is considered a regionally significant center of petrochemical refining, gambling, tourism, and education, being home to McNeese State University and Sowela Technical Community College. Because of the lakes and waterways throughout the city, metropolitan Lake Charles is often called the Lake Area.

History
On March 7, 1861, Lake Charles was incorporated as the town of Charleston, Louisiana.

Lake Charles was founded by merchant and tradesman Marco Eliche (or Marco de Élitxe) as an outpost. He was a Sephardic Jewish trader of either Basque-Spanish or Venetian-Italian origins. He had arrived in Louisiana after hitchhiking and was invited onto a Spanish vessel due to his determination and loyalty to volunteer and work freely for the Spanish Empire. Long before incorporation and even before the Louisiana Purchase, other names for Lake Charles were Porte du Lafitte (Port of Jean Lafitte) or Rivière Lafitte (River Lafitte/Lafitte's River), among many other names now lost. Eliche had also founded other outposts and towns in Louisiana prior, most notably Marksville, which is named after him. There are also urban tales he had planned to name the settlement Nouveau Cadix (New Cádiz)", after the city in Spain, but this is uncertain.

The town was first incorporated in 1857 as Charleston, after an early settler, Charles Sallier. Ten years later, on March 16, 1867, Charleston was reincorporated as the City of Lake Charles. The Great Fire of April 1910 devastated much of the city.

Lake Charles soon rebuilt, grew and expanded in the twentieth century. The Charleston Hotel was completed in 1929, during the administration of Mayor Henry J. Geary. During and after World War II, Lake Charles experienced industrial growth with the arrival of petrochemical refineries. The city grew to a high of some 75,000 people in the early 1980s, but with local economic recession, the population declined and stagnated. In 1985, the city was identified as a potential Strategic Homeport to support Navy Secretary John Lehman's desire for a 600-ship Navy. Support ships were to be operated from the new Naval Station Lake Charles; but with the tailing-off of the Cold War, the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended it be closed. By 1991, the incomplete base was dropped from the program and shuttered.

In 2005, the city was heavily damaged by Hurricane Rita. In 2020, it was battered by two hurricanes, Category 4 Hurricane Laura on August 26–27, and Hurricane Delta on October 9, 2020. Lake Charles after the hurricane was described as if “20 tornadoes came in and wiped the city”.

The southern portion of the city was damaged by an EF2 tornado on October 27, 2021, and an EF1 tornado caused minor damage to downtown Lake Charles on May 13, 2024.

Geography
Lake Charles, located on a level plain about 30 mi from the Gulf of Mexico, has an elevation of approximately 13 ft above sea level, and is located on the banks of the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana. It borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. Contraband Bayou, Henderson Bayou, and English Bayou flow through the city. Oak trees and pine trees dot the landscape; the lumber industry was once the main economic engine of the area. The Calcasieu Ship Channel, which allows large ocean-going vessels to sail up from the Gulf, also borders the city. The 2010 census recorded Lake Charles total land size was 48.6 sq miles was to 2023 census records Lake Charles being 61.35 sq miles in total size. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 116.0 km2, of which 108.9 sqkm is land and 7.1 sqkm, or 6.12%, is water.

Climate
Lake Charles is tied with Port Arthur, Texas, and Astoria, Oregon, as the most humid city in the contiguous United States, and the second-most humid measured location behind unincorporated Quillayute, Washington. The average relative humidity in Lake Charles is 90% in the morning, and 72% in the afternoon. Average annual precipitation is also high among U.S. cities, at 57.49 in per year.

Hurricanes
Hurricane Laura devastated the city in 2020. The National Weather Service called the storm surge "unsurvivable" with one-minute sustained wind speeds of 150 mph (240 km/h). Numerous trees were blown down. The Lake Charles Regional Airport saw a gust of 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) as well as multiple hangars destroyed. Another gust in the city reached 137 miles per hour (220 km/h). Many windows were blown out of Capital One Tower downtown. A communications tower collapsed onto the KPLC studio building (which had been evacuated) and part of a sky bridge was blown out. The radar at the NWS Lake Charles forecast office (whose staff evacuated, with the office's operations transferred to the Brownsville, Texas office) was destroyed around the time of landfall, with its dome and much of its internal equipment sheared from the radar tower's base. A few weeks later, Hurricane Delta also hit Lake Charles.

Demographics
Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 202,040 as of 2013. It is the larger principal city of the Lake Charles-Jennings combined statistical area, with a population of 225,235. The 2010 population of the five-parish region of Southwest Louisiana was 292,619. For the city proper of Lake Charles at the 2020 census, it had a population of 84,872, with a population density of 1,890 people per square mile among 38,434 housing units. In 2010, the population was 71,993, reflecting a rebound from its 1990 population of 70,580.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the city was $36,001. The per capita income for the city was $22,855. 20.9% of the population was below the poverty line; in 2020, the median income for a household in the city was $37,894. 26.7% of the population was below the poverty line. The average commute time was 22.4 minutes.

Race and ethnicity
The 2010 census determined that the racial and ethnic makeup for the city was 47% African American, 46% White <1% Native American, 2% Asian, 1% from other races, 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3% of the population. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the racial and ethnic makeup for Lake Charles was 46.2% Black or African American, 42.5% non-Hispanic white, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 2.6% some other race, 5.6% two or more races, and 5.6% Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

Religion
In common with most of the American South, Christianity is the predominant religion in the Lake Area. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the Roman Catholic Church is the area's largest individual Christian denomination, with 51,161 adherents in Calcasieu Parish alone. The Southern Baptist Convention was the city and area's second largest denomination, followed by non-denominational Protestant churches. Other prominent Christian denominations have included the United Methodist Church, National Baptist Convention, USA, Churches of Christ, Church of God in Christ, and the Assemblies of God USA.

Additionally, outside of Christianity, there were an estimated 354 adherents of Islam in the city and metropolitan area. According to Dwellics and Sperling's BestPlaces, there is also a small Jewish population.

Crime
In 2018, the violent crime rate in the Lake Charles area was of the highest in the United States, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Violent offenses tracked include rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon. Lake Charles is safer than 13% of cities in the United States. For every 100,000 people, 13.11 daily crimes occur in Lake Charles. Year over year, crime in Lake Charles has decreased by 25%.

Economy

The top employer, the Calcasieu Parish School System, employs approximately 5,000 workers. The second-largest employer is L'Auberge Casino Resort, which has 2,400 workers.

Industry and manufacturing
Several petrochemical plants and an oil refinery are located nearby along the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Turner Industries, Westlake Chemical Corporation, and Citgo each employ over a thousand people. The Trunkline LNG terminal, immediately southwest of Lake Charles, is one of the United States' few liquified natural gas terminals. It has facilities for LNG receipt, storage, and re-gasification. Other industrial companies include PPG Industries, Phillips 66, Sasol, and W. R. Grace. Local industry also includes a number of manufacturing companies. Chennault International Airport hosts AAR Corp, which services airplanes, and a Northrop Grumman facility. The Shaw Group has a manufacturing facility which manufactures and exports parts for nuclear power plants.

Commerce and retail
With small businesses, big box stores, and a regional mall, Lake Charles serves as the shopping and retail hub of the five-parish area. Prien Lake Mall, which serves nearly 300,000 people is anchored by three department stores. The Lake Charles Power Center is a shopping area that has 1000000 sqft of shopping space. The Cottage Shop District supports approximately a dozen small businesses.

Casinos

Lake Charles has Louisiana's biggest casino market. The L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort is a 242 acre, 26-story hotel in Lake Charles. It has nearly 1000 guest rooms, a casino, golf course, spa, and meeting center. A second casino, the Golden Nugget Lake Charles, opened in 2014 next to L'Auberge du Lac. The 18-story casino resort hotel has more than 740 guest rooms, a casino, golf course, meeting space, retail corridor and a private beach and marina.

While Horseshoe Lake Charles is technically in one of the city's suburbs known as Westlake, Louisiana, it forms part of the city's gambling market along with Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana and  Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.

Arts and culture

Lake Charles has a Creole and Cajun culture because of its location in Southwest Louisiana—an extension of Acadiana.

The city has its own symphony orchestra, the Lake Charles Symphony. It was founded in 1938 and hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre, which has a capacity of over 2,000.

The Lake Charles Little Theatre was founded in 1927 and is the second oldest community theater in Louisiana.

Lake Charles is home to a number of museums and art galleries. The largest, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, features a permanent historical exhibit with artifacts and an art gallery. Its grounds are home to the Sallier oak tree, which is around 400 years old. The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is used as exhibition space; moving art exhibits are displayed at this public art gallery each month. It also hosts the Charlestown Farmers' Market, which provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell goods.

The Central School Arts and Humanities Center, located in the historical Charpentier District, is owned by the city. Charpentier is French for "carpenter", a reference to the carpenter-architects who built the mixed-style homes in the district. Central School features the Black Heritage Art Gallery, which is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, as well as the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which features extravagant costumes and an interactive float. It has the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia in the South. Other studios and cultural activities include the Art Associates Gallery, Studio 347 Gallery, the Lake Charles Symphony, and the Lake Charles Community Band.

McNeese State University produces the annual Banners Series of various musical and theatrical performances. Banners also hosts lectures and presentations from notable persons and academics. Local theaters include the Lake Charles Little Theatre, the Artists Civic Theatre and Studio (ACTS), and the Children's Theatre.

Louisiana Pirate Festival
Many festivals are held at the Civic Center. The most popular, the Louisiana Pirate Festival (formerly Contraband Days), is hosted on the Civic Center grounds and lakefront. The festival is a twelve-day annual festival held during the first two weeks of May. The celebrations are filled with savory Cajun food, family fun, and live entertainment, including several national acts. The festival is regularly attended by more than 200,000 people, making it one of the largest celebrations in Louisiana. In a reference to the legends of piracy on the lake and Contraband Bayou, the festival begins when the pirate Jean Lafitte and his crew capture the city and force the mayor to walk the plank.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles has a long history dating back to 1882, when Momus, King of Mardi Gras, landed his royal yacht at the foot of Pujo Street downtown. Throughout the two World Wars, Mardi Gras was downsized which led to a lack of participation by the area's youth. However, an interest in redeveloping the festivities arose, and the first Mardi Gras Ball in Lake Charles was staged in 1964. The full revival of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles was not realized until 1979, when several Krewe captains formed the "Krewe of Krewes", with the primary purpose of parading and promoting Mardi Gras for local residents. In 1985, Mardi Gras of Imperial Calcasieu, Inc. was formed by a group of civic-minded volunteers to further aid in the preservation of this festival. Mardi Gras in Lake Charles regularly draws in crowds of 150,000.

Cultural events
Some of the city's cultural events include Chuck Fest, Martin Luther King Festival, Livestock Show & Rodeo, Black Heritage Festival, Garden Festival, Palm Sunday Tour of Homes, Downtown at Sundown, Memorial Day Avenue of Flags, Crawfish Festival, Asian/American Culturefest, Cajun French, Creole, Zydeco Music & Zydeco Trail Rides, Food Festivals, Marshland Festival, Gatorman Triathlon, Music & Food Festival, Arts Fest, and Riverside Fall Festival.

Libraries
Lake Charles has four libraries. The largest, with over 400,000 volumes, is Frazar Memorial Library, on the McNeese State University campus. The first library, Carnegie Memorial Library, was financed by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1904. It also houses the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library. It, Central Library and Epps Memorial Library are part of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library, which has 13 locations in Calcasieu Parish.

Sports

Lake Charles is home to the McNeese Cowboys, whose football team hosts games at Cowboy Stadium which has a seating capacity of 17,410. Burton Coliseum hosts the McNeese basketball teams.

Lake Charles has been home to the Lake Charles Lakers and other minor-league baseball teams, indoor football teams, a minor-league ice hockey team and soccer teams.

Golf is popular at the city's Mallard Cove Golf Course. Other golf courses include Gray Plantation Golf Course, Lake Charles Country Club Golf Course, the Contraband Bayou Golf Club, and the Country Club at Golden Nugget. Gray Plantation Golf Course is featured on Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail.

South Lake Charles Little League has had nationally winning teams televised on ESPN.

Parks and recreation

The city has 31 parks, many of which include playground equipment, athletic facilities, and walking paths. Shiver-Me-Timbers Millennium Park, located downtown, was built entirely by volunteers in 2000. Adventure Cove, a state-of-the-art park, was also built by volunteers, and is specifically designed for handicapped children. Hunting and fishing are popular with both residents and visitors to the Lake Area. An All-American Road, the Creole Nature Trail – "Louisiana's Outback" – brings tourists to Lake Charles and throughout Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas.

Government
Lake Charles has a mayor-council government. The elected officials include the mayor, the clerk of court, and seven city council members. Each council member represents a district within the city limits. One is elected president and presides over each meeting. The mayor serves a four-year term. The current mayor is Nic Hunter. The mayor appoints the city attorney.

The Lake Charles Police Department (LCPD) provides law enforcement and protection for the city. The police chief is appointed to a six-year term, and the fire chief is also appointed. The Lake Charles Fire Department has eight stations and 15 companies. McNeese State University also has its own police department, the McNeese State University Police Department.

The Lake Charles City Court's jurisdiction covers the city and Ward 3 in Calcasieu Parish. The Fourteenth Judicial District Court, in downtown Lake Charles, covers Calcasieu Parish and includes nine judges who preside over family, juvenile, civil, and criminal trials. Lake Charles is home to a United States District Court, also downtown. The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals is headquartered in the city.

Lake Charles is represented by Clay Higgins of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Most of the city is represented by Senator Jeremy Stine of District 27 in the Louisiana State Senate, though Mark Abraham's District 25 includes some neighborhoods of south Lake Charles.

Universities and colleges
The city has one university and one community college. McNeese State University, on a 121 acre campus lined with oak trees in the heart of Lake Charles, is a four-year public university in the University of Louisiana System. Contraband Bayou flows through it. McNeese was founded in 1939 and named after educator John McNeese. It offers over 80 majors, and includes the colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Science, Honors College, and the Doré School of Graduate Studies. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Other properties include a 65 acre athletic plant and student apartment complex, the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, Burton Coliseum, the 503 acre MSU Farm, and nearly 1600 acre of donated farm property used for research, farming, and ranching. Over 8,500 students attend McNeese.

SOWELA Technical Community College offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificate programs, and general education courses that can transfer to four-year universities. Delta School of Business and Technology specializes in vocational courses.

Primary and secondary schools
Lake Charles's public schools are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System. There are two charter schools and several private schools. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles operates and/or is affiliated with private Roman Catholic schools.

Print
The most widely distributed, daily newspaper is The American Press. Other popular periodicals include Lagniappe Magazine, The Jambalaya News, Gumbeaux Magazine, and Thrive Magazine. The Contraband is McNeese State University's student newspaper.

Television
Major television network affiliates include KPLC 7, an NBC affiliate also operating the area's CW affiliate on its DT2 subchannel, KSWL-LD 17, a CBS affiliate, KLTL 18, a PBS member station, KWWE-LD 19, a MyNetworkTV/MeTV affiliate, and KVHP 29, a Fox affiliate also operating the area's ABC affiliate on its DT2 subchannel.

Radio
KBYS 88.3 Oldies, KRVS 88.7 Npr, KRLR 89.1 K-Love, KYLC 90.3, KOJO (FM) 91.1, KBAN 91.5, KTSR 92.1 Classic Rock, KHLA 92.9 Classic Hits, KPPM-LP 93.5 Black Gospel, KSMB 94.5 Top40(Chr), KYKZ 96.1 Country, KQLK 97.9 Country, W252AQ 98.3, KNGT 99.5 Country, KELB-LP 100.5, KKGB 101.3 Mainstream Rock, KYBG 102.1 Classic Hits, KAJN-FM 102.9 Contemporary Christian, KBIU 103.3 Chr, KLCJ 104.1 Oldies, KKMY 104.5 Rhythmic Top 40, KZWA 104.9 Urban Adult Contemporary, KIOC 106.1 Active Rock, KJMH 107.5 Urban, KLVI 560 News/Talk, KAOK 1400 Talk, KLCL 1470 Urban Adult Contemporary, KHB42 162.400 NOAA Weather Radio

Roads
The city's streets are laid out primarily in a grid pattern. Interstate 10 passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Houston to the west and New Orleans to the east. The Calcasieu River Bridge crosses the Calcasieu River and part of lake. Featuring decorative flintlock pistols on the railing, it is 135 ft high. About 50,000 vehicles pass over it daily. Despite its age of over 60 years, it is considered safe by the Louisiana DOTD.

Interstate 210 is an interstate highway bypass that loops through the southern portion of the city. The curving Israel LaFleur Bridge goes over the Calcasieu Ship Channel. This bridge has a 96% rating even after withstanding recent hurricanes. The loop has served Lake Charles commuters for 40 years, and carries about 40,000 vehicles per day.

Other major highways include U.S. Highway 90, which runs parallel with Interstate 10, and U.S. Highway 171, which connects the city to the north with Moss Bluff, DeRidder, and Shreveport. Highway 165, which runs northeast to Alexandria terminates at Highway 90 just a few miles east of the city. Louisiana Highway 14 ends at a junction with Highway 90, and runs south then east of the city.

Airports
Lake Charles is served by two airports. Lake Charles Regional Airport, located south of the city, provides commercial airline service to Houston and Dallas. Chennault International Airport, while a fully operational airport, is an industrial and maintenance center. The latter airport, a former Strategic Air Command US Air Force base during the Cold War, is named for Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, the aviator famous for commanding the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II.

Seaports
The Port of Lake Charles is the thirteenth-busiest seaport in the United States, the fourth-largest liner service seaport in the U.S. Gulf, and a major West Gulf container load center. The City Docks in Lake Charles are the main hub of shipping activity. The Calcasieu Ship Channel provides direct access to the Gulf of Mexico 34 mi downstream. The ship channel, which has a projected depth of 40 ft and a bottom width of 400 ft, intersects the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just north of Calcasieu Lake.

Public transportation
Lake Charles Transit, the city's bus system, provides five routes throughout the city. It has one Greyhound bus station, and the Amtrak station serves the Sunset Limited train route.

Utilities
Electrical needs are provided by the energy company Entergy. The city provides drinking water and sewage service to residents within city limits. Water is treated at six water treatment facilities in the city.

Healthcare and medicine
Lake Charles is served by two hospitals with multiple locations. Christus St. Patrick Hospital operates the Lake Area Medical Center campus in south Lake Charles, and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital operates a birthing hospital called Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women.

In popular culture

 * The musical Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner, which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2004, is set in Lake Charles.
 * Lake Charles is mentioned in Jack Kerouac's On the Road. After leaving Sal Paradise in Mexico, Dean Moriarty's car breaks down in Lake Charles.
 * Lucinda Williams, singer and songwriter, wrote the song "Lake Charles" about her hometown.
 * Lake Charles is mentioned as the traveler's destination in the song "Up on Cripple Creek" by The Band.

Films
Lake Charles is featured or mentioned in The Drowning Pool, The Beyond, A Taste of Louisiana with Chef John Folse & Co., Passion Fish, Good Eats, UFC 22: There Can Be Only One Champion, UFC 24: First Defense, Blue Vinyl, Little Chenier, Mercy, Split Ends, All Over But to Cry, Film Hustle, Good Boy, and 10 Cloverfield Lane.
 * In the 1969 film Easy Rider, the as-yet unfinished I-210 Israel LaFleur Bridge can be seen in the background of a motorcycle scene with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda traveling west through Lake Charles on the I-10 Interstate.

Sister cities

 * 🇺🇸 Sioux City, Iowa, United States (1995)
 * 🇫🇷 Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France (1993)
 * 🇮🇪 Cobh, County Cork, Ireland (2008)

title: Lake Charles, Louisiana


text:
Moss Bluff, Louisiana

Moss Bluff is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,522 at the 2020 census. Located just north of the city of Lake Charles, it is considered a suburb of that city. Moss Bluff is a burgeoning community, and is one of the communities in Calcasieu Parish besides Lake Charles and Sulphur experiencing growth. Several efforts have been made to incorporate Moss Bluff, but at the present time the community is unincorporated.

Geography
Moss Bluff is located at 30.31°N, -93.20472°W (30.310003, -93.204753).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 15.8 sqmi, of which 15.2 sqmi is land and 0.6 sqmi (3.98%) is water.

Moss Bluff is intersected by U.S. Highway 171 and Louisiana Highway 378.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,522 people, 4,163 households, and 3,061 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 692.6 PD/sqmi. There were 3,984 housing units at an average density of 261.9 /sqmi. There were 4,163 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,588, and the median income for a family was $54,137. Males had a median income of $41,226 versus $22,327 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,766. About 7.3% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Culture
Moss Bluff is the home of Sam Houston Jones State Park, a protected natural park of the state.

Former Louisiana State Representative Vic Stelly, author of the Stelly Plan, resides in Moss Bluff, as does Stelly's successor in the House, businessman Brett Geymann.

Notable residents
David Filo, businessman and co-founder of Yahoo!.

Clifford Joseph Trahan, better known as Johnny Rebel, musician

Education
Moss Bluff's elementary and middle schools maintain some of the highest student populations in Calcasieu Parish. The single Moss Bluff high school, Sam Houston High School, competes in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class AAAAA.

title: Moss Bluff, Louisiana


text:
Prien, Louisiana

Prien is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,810 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area. Some of the area has been annexed into the city of Lake Charles.

Geography
Prien is located at 30.17167°N, -93.2675°W (30.171700, -93.267384) and consists of unincorporated land on the south side of Lake Charles. The original community of Prien is located on the southeast shore of Prien Lake, a widening in the Calcasieu River, but the CDP now extends south as far as West Gauthier Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.2 sqkm, of which 15.6 sqkm is land and 1.6 sqkm, or 9.32%, is water. The area of the CDP has decreased by 1.3 sqmi since the 2000 census, due to annexation of certain neighborhoods by the city of Lake Charles.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,745 people, 2,999 households, and 2,284 families residing in the CDP.

title: Prien, Louisiana


text:
Sulphur, Louisiana

Sulphur (Soufre) is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 21,809 in 2020. Sulphur is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area.

History
Sulphur is named for the sulfur mines that were operated in the area in the 1900s. In 1867, Professor Eugene W. Hilgard, an experienced geologist who was prospecting for oil and other minerals, conducted exploratory borings in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana and discovered sulfur in the caprock of a salt dome. However, the sulfur was beneath several hundred feet of muck and quicksand containing deadly hydrogen sulfide gas, which made mining extremely hazardous. Repeated unsuccessful attempts to sink conventional mining shafts in the 1870s and 1880s resulted in the loss of many lives.

In 1890, the German immigrant Herman Frasch invented and patented the Frasch Process of mining sulfur, using concentric pipes to pump superheated water into the ground, liquefy the mineral, and force the liquid to the surface with compressed air. The first molten sulfur was brought to the surface on Christmas Eve of 1894. Sulfur soon began to be mined on an industrial scale, with the molten mineral allowed to solidify and dry in enormous vats 100 by 400 feet, then blasted and hauled by rail to the Sabine River for shipment. Frasch's invention greatly facilitated sulfur mining, and the Union Sulphur Company, a joint venture of Dr. Frasch and the American Sulphur Company that owned the land, sparked a period of booming growth in the decades that followed. The elementary school on South Huntington Street in downtown Sulphur is named after Frasch.

With the addition of the Cities Service (Citgo) oil refinery in 1943, the areas of Maplewood and Hollywood were developed to house refinery workers. The Sulphur area is still mostly dependent on the oil refineries and petrochemical plants for employment.

Geography
Sulphur is located near the center of Calcasieu Parish. The city lies on Interstate 10 between the towns of Vinton and Westlake, approximately 20 mi east of the Texas border. The city of Lake Charles is 9 mi to the east. U.S. Route 90 passes through the center of Sulphur as Napoleon Street. Access from I-10 is via exits 20, 21, 23, and 26. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.9 km2, all land.

Communities inside Sulphur city limits include, from west to east, old Sulphur, Hollywood, and Maplewood, as well as Northwest Sulphur, also known as Portie Town, but usually pronounced with the Cajun form of pō-chay or Pohchay town. Outside of city limits are the communities of Carlyss and Choupique (Shoe-peak). Like the bowfin, that has many alternate names, the word "Choupique" has several variations of pronunciation in south Louisiana. Choupique is also pronounced shoe-pick, shoe-peg, or chew-pic. Moss Lake to the south. The community of Houston River is north of town, and Mossville is east of town, all but a memory with Sasol's purchase of over 4 square miles of land, that included with a few property exceptions, the entire community of Mossville. Most new development in the city is taking place south of town in Carlyss or around I-10.

Wildlife
The bayous near Sulphur are habitat for American alligators, which have been known to enter into the city.

Climate
The climate for Sulphur, and climate data, closely mirrors that of the National Weather Service's Lake Charles Weather Forecast Office measured at the Lake Charles Regional Airport (KLCH).

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,809 people, 8,033 households, and 4,981 families residing in the city.

Tourism
Tourist attractions as well as local destinations in Sulphur include:
 * Brimstone Museum: A former Southern Pacific Railway depot built in 1915 to facilitate the moving of passengers and freight for the Sulfur mines. The depot was discontinued in the early 1970s and in 1975 was sold to the Sulphur Association of Commerce, on condition that it be moved for safety reasons, and was moved to a location near Frasch Park and renovated. Building restoration was completed and the dedication ceremony took place on the nation's 200th birthday, July 4, 1976. The museum highlights includes a permanent exhibit on the history of Sulphur, and is also the only museum in the United States to exhibit historical information on the Frasch mining process. The building was moved a second time, to 900 S. Huntington street, providing more visibility resulting in an increase in visitors, and on December 5, 2005 was transferred to the Brimstone Historical Society. Aside from the permanent exhibits the museum provides exhibits of local interest including art and other historical artifacts from the history of the city.
 * Henning Cultural Center: Was built in 1904 and in 2002, was acquired by Sulphur Parks and Recreation, and opened in Heritage Square community area.
 * The Creole Nature Trail starts in Sulphur and the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point provides information on nature and wildlife Areas, hiking trails, outdoor activities, and nature & parks along the route.

Arts and culture
In 2014 Sulphur was named the third best city in Louisiana to raise a family.

Recreation
Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) includes Frasch Park and Golf Course, North Frasch Park, the SPAR Water Park, The Grove at Heritage Square, Kyle Park, Pattison Park, McMurry Park, Center Circle Park, and Carlyss Park,

Education
Most of Sulphur's schools are under the Calcasieu Parish School Board. One high school, Sulphur High School, serves the city, along with the Sulphur High Ninth Grade Campus that was completed in 2004. Elementary schools include Frasch, E.K. Key, W.T. Henning, R.W. Vincent, Maplewood, and Vincent Settlement (Carlyss). D.S. Perkins Elementary, one of the area's most challenged schools, closed in 2010, and all students and teachers were transferred to Cypress Cove, a completely new facility located in Carlyss. This represented a move from one of the more impoverished areas of old Sulphur (North Sulphur, a.k.a. "Portie Town" [Portie is pronounced pō-chay]) to one of the wealthier, emerging communities south of town. Middle schools include Leblanc Middle School, the W.W. Lewis Middle School, and Maplewood (K-8th grade). There are some private schools in the area as well, including Our Lady's Catholic School on Cypress Street.

Frasch Elementary, W.W. Lewis Middle, and Sulphur High School offer Spanish Immersion classes in which students take Spanish language as well as core classes totally in Spanish from kindergarten all the way to eighth grade, and Spanish language classes up to Spanish V or VI in High School. The program has been praised for giving children a fluency in the Spanish language as well as an understanding of other cultures at an early age. Most of the Immersion teachers come from Hispanic countries or are of Hispanic descent.

Notable people

 * David Walker (born 1955), former Sulphur High School and Texas A&M University quarterback.
 * Marcus R. Clark, justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, born in Sulphur in 1956
 * Casey Daigle, former pitcher in MLB. He graduated from Sulphur High School.
 * Mike Danahay, Louisiana state representative for Calcasieu Parish since 2008; sales representative in Lake Charles, reared in Sulphur, elected city mayor 2018
 * Michael Lynn Durham, born in Sulphur, was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Johnny Grunge. He has held the ECW and WCW tag titles with his partner, Rocco Rock, who are together known as The Public Enemy.
 * Herman Frasch, inventor of the "Frasch Method" of mining sulphur, was head of Union Sulphur Company. Its headquarters were at the Sulphur Mines, a company town just west of present-day Sulphur. Herman Frasch Elementary School is named after him.
 * Edith Killgore Kirkpatrick, lived in Sulphur in the late 1930s before moving to Jennings. She was a member of Louisiana Board of Regents from 1978 to 1990.

 * Janice Lynde, actress, original cast member of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless for three years, then went on to ABC's One Life to Live and NBC's Another World
 * Dak Prescott, NFL quarterback, professional football player with the Dallas Cowboys
 * Matt Stevens, former football player: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, UCLA college football radio analyst
 * Les Farnum, members of the Louisiana House of Representatives

title: Sulphur, Louisiana


text:
Vinton, Louisiana

Vinton is a town in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,400 in 2020. It is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area.

History
The Old Spanish Trail, which was neither old nor Spanish, wandered north and south of what is now U.S. Highway 90, in large part because of the unstable roadbed. The chief means of outside travel in the parish relied on riverboats plying the Sabine and Calcasieu rivers. Much of the marsh and bayous remained impassable. River travel made Lake Charles possible, just as mining for sulfur led to the founding of Sulphur. Settlers had long been in the Vinton area.

Jean Baptise Granger settled acreage between what is now Vinton and Big Woods about 1827, one of the first pioneers of the area. Even so, the area remained sparsely populated.

The area had few settlers because France, New Spain, and Mexico disputed the western boundary of Louisiana for many years. When the United States made the Louisiana Purchase, the disputed area was inherited. Spanish Lt. Col. Simón de Herrera and U.S. General James Wilkinson signed an agreement designating the area as neutral ground, also known as the Neutral Strip. The agreement was not a treaty and not ratified by either government, but it was respected by both countries. The area, sometimes referred to as the Rio Hondo Territory, was off limits to the military of both countries, and settlers were not to be allowed, but that did not stop squatters from both countries.

There had been numerous attempts to improve transportation throughout the 19th century. In the 1830s, on the nearby Sabine River, Dr. Robert Neblett developed a bluff into a thriving river port, which became known as Niblett's Bluff (sic) 6 mi west of the present-day town. Confederate soldiers in 1863 cut a military road extending from Niblett's Bluff on the Sabine River to Alexandria. Although the road never developed into a major artery, during the American Civil War, Niblett's Bluff became Fort Niblett, which assisted the Confederate success in the Battle of Mansfield. Fort Niblett continues to be commemorated as part of Niblett's Bluff Park.

The parish and Vinton itself might have remained an undeveloped rural backwater without two signal events. The first, which had the greatest material impact on the entire community, was the effort by Charles Morgan's railroad companies to construct a railroad from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Orange, Texas — filling a gap that would enable direct rail travel between New Orleans and Houston. The stretch that included Vinton, the Louisiana Western Railroad, opened for traffic on August 30, 1880. The second and most important for Vinton was the arrival of a physician and former professor from Indiana and Iowa, Dr. Seaman A. Knapp. The economy of the town was further diversified and strengthened by the discovery of petroleum at Ged Lake.

Logging trains
The coming of the railroad enabled the growth of a logging industry. The part of Louisiana that included Calcasieu Parish was home to the finest longleaf pine in the world. When combined with the stands of cypress and other hardwood lumber, logging was a lucrative prospect. The railroad gave life to Vinton, starting with a switching track. Although there would be a depot later, Vinton began as a whistle stop called Blair. The source of the name is unknown. Some have speculated that the railroad siding took its name from a local family. However, no family named Blair was in residence in the area at that time.

Agriculture
Knapp completed the founding of Vinton. Precisely what brought him to Louisiana is unclear, but he certainly had a keen interest in agriculture, especially the improvement of farming methods. Formerly the president of the Iowa Agricultural College in Ames (now Iowa State University, Knapp arrived in Lake Charles in 1884 and went to work running an agricultural business for land developer Jabez B. Watkins. In 1887, he quit his job with Watkins and opened his own land company (some sources claim that Knapp started his company in 1885, but the evidence is inconclusive).

Watkins was a native of Lawrence, Kansas, who came to Lake Charles in 1883. Using English capital, Watkins bought 500000 acre of prairie and marshland in southwest Louisiana. To bring in settlers, he advertised in newspapers across the nation. It is assumed that Knapp was one of the settlers that Watkins attracted to the area. It is also assumed that Knapp was the leading force behind the first settler in what would become the township of Vinton.

Knapp purchased from the US government the 160 acre tract of land that would form the basis of the town. At the time, he paid $2.50 an acre. On October 17, 1887, Robert F. Evans, also an Iowa native, purchased an additional 640 acre. The sources are unclear if the acreage was then sold to Knapp or to George Horridge. The records nonetheless show that the Southern Real Estate and Guaranty Company had bought all the land tracts by April 1889. The land was divided into lots and sold at prices ranging between $10 and $25 each. In time, 30 blocks extended the original 12-block plot of land. When the post office was registered with the US Postmaster General, Vinton, Knapp's Iowa hometown, was chosen as the name of the settlement, but when the Postmaster designated the name, he left no explanation for his choice so there is some doubt about the origin of the name. In a 2013 article on the town, the Advocate asserted that Knapp indeed named Vinton, Louisiana, "after his hometown of Vinton, Iowa."

It is possible that Knapp was responsible for the large influx of settlers from Vinton, Iowa. The Horridge, Stevenson, Eddie, Ferguson, Stockwell, Morgan, Nelson, Fairchild, Banker, Hall, and Haskill families were Iowa transplants. Some streets still bear the name of those families. Shortly after construction of the first homes came a sawmill, the Methodist Church, and the first public school building. In 1890, Mrs. Mabel K. Kelly became the first teacher in Vinton. A larger school replaced the older structure in 1901.

Petroleum
Between the initial founding of the settlement and its incorporation is an extraordinary event. The winter of 1895 brought a surprise. On February 14–15, the edge of the worst blizzard in American history touched southwestern Louisiana. A record 22 in of snow fell on Lake Charles. Some areas reported snowfall between 18 and 24 in. In Vinton, the blizzard crippled the new sheep industry, and the farmers salvaged what they could by shaving wool from the dead flocks.

Despite the setback caused by the storm, the town grew steadily, aided by the oil boom following the discovery of petroleum reserves at Ged Lake, about 5 mi south of Vinton, along Ged Road.

Geography
Vinton is located in western Calcasieu Parish at 30.19°N, -93.58056°W (30.190093, -93.580587). U.S. Route 90 passes through the center of town, and Interstate 10 runs along the southern edge, with access from exits 7 and 8. Sulphur, Louisiana, is 13 mi to the east, and Orange, Texas, is the same distance to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Vinton has a total area of 13.07 km2, of which 12.94 km2 is land and 0.13 km2, or 1.01%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,400 people, 1,152 households, and 829 families residing in the town.

Education
The Vinton High School serves students both in Vinton and surrounding areas. It is part of the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools.

Notable people

 * Bobby Kimball, lead singer of the legendary 70s and 80s band Toto
 * Marcia Ball, singer/songwriter
 * Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (1924–2005), blues musician
 * Mike Danahay, state representative for Calcasieu Parish since 2008; former Vinton resident
 * Russell Hantz, reality television star, raised in Vinton
 * Seaman A. Knapp (1833–1911), formative influence in USDA's Cooperative Extension System
 * Theodore "Ted" Lyons (1900–1986), Major League Baseball hall of famer
 * Ken Bahnsen, NFL running back and member of the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame

title: Vinton, Louisiana


text:
Westlake, Louisiana

Westlake is an industrial city in Calcasieu Parish, in western Louisiana, United States, and is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area. The population was 4,781 in 2020. Westlake was incorporated in 1945. There are many chemical plants and oil refineries situated around the Westlake area.

Geography
Westlake is located in east-central Calcasieu Parish at 30.24833°N, -93.25917°W (30.248455, -93.259047), on the west bank of the Calcasieu River, just north of that river's entry into the water body of Lake Charles. The city of Lake Charles borders Westlake across the river, connected via the Interstate 10 bridge, Calcasieu River Bridge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Westlake has a total area of 9.60 sqkm, of which 9.46 sqkm is land and 0.14 sqkm, or 1.49%, is water.

Moss Bluff is just to the northeast. Sulphur is to the west, after the small community of Mossville.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,781 people, 1,935 households, and 1,178 families residing in the city.

Government
Westlake uses a city council consisting of five council members. As of Jan 2023, the current mayor of Westlake is Hal Mcmillin.

Notable people

 * Mikey Kile, racing driver
 * David LaFleur, professional American football player. He started as a tight end at Louisiana State University and later played for the Dallas Cowboys.
 * Joshua Ledet earned third place on American Idol season 11 and is a native of Westlake.

Education
Public schools in the town are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System.

Elementary schools: Middle school:
 * Westwood Elementary School
 * Western Heights Elementary School
 * S. P. Arnett Middle School

High school:
 * Westlake High School

List of mayors

 * 1945–1950 Gus Warren Anderson
 * 1950–1954 John Warren (Jack) Grout
 * 1954–1957 Gus Warren Anderson (2.)
 * 1957–1974 Charles M. Carroll
 * 1974–1982 Wilridge P. Doucet
 * 1982–2006 Dudley Dixon
 * 2007–2014 Daniel Cupit
 * 2015–2022 Robert "Bob" Hardey
 * 2022–2023 Dan Racca (Pro-Tem)
 * 2023–Present Hal McMillin

title: Westlake, Louisiana


text:
Clarks, Louisiana

Clarks is a rural village in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,017 at the 2010 census. Clarks is the largest community by population in Caldwell Parish.

Geography
Clarks is located southwest of the center of Caldwell Parish at 32.02639°N, -92.13944°W (32.026445, -92.139516). U.S. Route 165 passes by the east side of the village, leading northeast 7 mi to Columbia, the parish seat, and southwest 11 mi to Olla.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Clarks has a total area of 2.5 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,071 people, 246 households, and 160 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,112.7 PD/sqmi. There were 270 housing units at an average density of 280.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 48.74% White, 47.90% African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 1.40% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.

There were 246 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 14.0% under the age of 18, 21.8% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 200.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 225.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $19,583, and the median income for a family was $27,083. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $18,438 for females. The per capita income for the village was $7,039. About 19.9% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 38.2% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Clarks had the 13th-lowest median household income of all places in the United States with a population over 1,000.

Notable person
Eugene Eason, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Webster Parish, was born in Clarks in 1928.

title: Clarks, Louisiana


text:
Columbia, Louisiana

Columbia is a town in, and the parish seat of, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 277 in 2020.

History
The land that became Columbia was first cleared by Daniel Humphries in 1827. A store was built a few years later the only settlement between Monroe, Louisiana, and the settlements of the Black River was formed. The harbor became a busy port for shipping cotton by steamboats and Packet boats until the arrival of the railroad. In February 1864 Columbia was the location of a skirmish between Federal and Confederate troops during the Civil War and there are several plantations in the area.

Geography
Columbia is located just east of the center of Caldwell Parish at 32.10417°N, -92.07694°W (32.104042, -92.076921), on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River. U.S. Route 165 passes through the center of town and bridges the river, leading north 32 mi to Monroe and south 64 mi to Alexandria.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.00 km2, of which 1.96 km2 is land and 0.03 sqkm, or 1.75%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 277 people, 152 households, and 107 families residing in the town.

Government and infrastructure
Law enforcement services are provided by the Columbia Police Department and the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office. Fire protection services are provided by the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, and by other Volunteer Fire Departments across the parish when needed.

Notable people

 * Buddy Caldwell, Attorney General of Louisiana, elected in 2007
 * Graves B. Erskine, U.S. Marine Corps general; combat officer in World War I, having received the Silver Star and Purple Heart; U.S. Commander of the 3rd Marine Division in World War II in the Battle of Iwo Jima, having earned the Distinguished Service Medal
 * J.D. DeBlieux, Louisiana State Senator representing East Baton Rouge Parish, 1956-1960 & 1964-1976
 * Pam Kelly, recipient of the Wade Trophy in 1982; the title is awarded to the most valuable women's collegiate basketball player in the nation
 * Lelon Kenney, Louisiana state representative, farmer, and businessman
 * John J. McKeithen, governor of Louisiana (1964–1972); Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (1955–1964); state representative (1948–1952); U.S. Army combat officer (1942–1945) in the 77th Infantry Division having received two Bronze Stars in the battles of Guam, Leyte, Okinawa and Ie Shima
 * W. Fox McKeithen, Louisiana House of Representatives, 1984–1988; five-term Louisiana Secretary of State, 1988–2005; former teacher at Caldwell Parish High School
 * Clay Parker, former pitcher for the New York Yankees & Seattle Mariners
 * Neil Riser, state senator elected in 2007 from the 32nd District, which includes Caldwell Parish; the first Republican from this district since Reconstruction
 * Chet D. Traylor, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1997–2009

title: Columbia, Louisiana


text:
Grayson, Louisiana

Grayson is a village in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 532 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Grayson is located southwest of the center of Caldwell Parish at 32.04861°N, -92.11167°W (32.048640, -92.111666). U.S. Route 165 passes through the center of the village, leading northeast 4 mi to Columbia, the parish seat, and southwest 13 mi to Olla.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Grayson has a total area of 3.3 km2, all land.

Notable people
Though primarily associated with Columbia, former Governor John J. McKeithen was born in Grayson in 1918.

The Louisiana historian Hubert D. Humphreys was born and reared in Grayson. He published an article on the village in a 1992 edition of the journal, North Louisiana History.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 531 people, 227 households, and 167 families residing in the village. The population density was 418.2 PD/sqmi. There were 260 housing units at an average density of 204.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 88.89% White, 9.79% African American, 0.56% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.

There were 227 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $28,125, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,536 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,491. About 23.2% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.2% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Grayson, Louisiana


text:
Cameron, Louisiana

Cameron is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the parish seat of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. After sustaining extreme damage from Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008, in the 2010 Census Cameron was recorded as having a population of only 406, a 79% drop since 2000.

History
The town of Cameron was originally called Leesburg, although the post office was designated Cameron, like the parish. Its location at the mouth of the Calcasieu River made it a transhipment location for mail, cattle, and other goods to be taken by ship to Lake Charles. After the sinking of the first successful oil well in Louisiana in 1901, Cameron became a center of petroleum extraction.

In 1957, Cameron was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Audrey. A storm surge of 12 ft and winds of 125 mph devastated nearby oilfields and caused the deaths of more than 300 residents of the town.

Nearly fifty years later, in late September 2005, Hurricane Rita hit Cameron with 120 mph winds and the highest storm surges ever recorded in the state, 17.8 ft at Cameron and possibly 18 ft in some locations. Much of the town was destroyed, but everyone had evacuated beforehand.

On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike leveled Cameron with a 12 ft storm surge while the town was still recovering from Rita in 2005. Ike destroyed more than 90 percent of the homes in the parish seat and caused catastrophic flooding in every part of the parish.

After Rita and Ike, the parish instituted stricter building codes, and insurance rates rose dramatically, making rebuilding too expensive for many residents. The population of Cameron fell 79 percent between 2000 and 2010. By 2010, when the First Baptist Church was rebuilt, the town had lost its grocery stores and drug store and had only a gas station and a bank, and the post office and a restaurant, both housed in trailers. Most residents were still living in mobile homes. The main parish library, destroyed by Rita and again by Ike, was rebuilt on tall stilts; South Cameron Memorial Hospital, destroyed by Rita, was also rebuilt to withstand tropical storms. A new government complex was completed in 2015 but repairs to the parish courthouse were still needed.

On August 27, 2020, at 1:00 am CDT, Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, a category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. A storm surge measured between 9 and 12 feet inundated the immediate areas surrounding Cameron according to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. Much of the town was again destroyed or severely damaged, including the hospital.

Six weeks later, Hurricane Delta made landfall not too far east of Cameron as a category 2 storm. It caused further damage following Laura. Clean up from Laura was paused in preparation for Delta.

Geography
Cameron is located in south-central Cameron Parish at 29.78806°N, -93.31167°W (29.788055, -93.311764), along the Gulf of Mexico at an elevation of 4 ft above sea level. State highways 27 and 82 pass through the community as Marshall Street, crossing the Calcasieu Ship Channel just west of town. Highway 82 leads east 93 mi to Abbeville and west 48 mi to Port Arthur, Texas. Highway 27 leads west then north 48 mi to Sulphur. Lake Charles is 52 mi to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 32.6 km2, of which 29.6 km2 is land and 3.0 km2, or 9.31%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,965 people, 695 households, and 510 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 70.5 PD/sqmi. There were 800 housing units at an average density of 28.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.49% White, 11.86% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.36% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.

There were 695 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,370, and the median income for a family was $33,661. Males had a median income of $24,762 versus $26,406 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,499. About 17.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Culture
Cameron is on the Creole Nature Trail, a National Scenic Byway.

Cameron is home to the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival held in January.

Government
The United States Postal Service Cameron Post Office is located at 144 Adam Roux Street in the CDP.

Education
The Cameron Parish School Board serves the town.

Prior to Hurricane Rita's impact in September 2005, Cameron Elementary School served pre-kindergarten through 7th grade students, while high schoolers attended Johnson Bayou High School. Hurricane Rita damaged both schools and also South Cameron High School, a K–12 school in Creole. Students from both high schools shared Grand Lake High School's campus with Grand Lake for nearly a year. In fall 2006, using portable buildings, high school students returned to the Johnson Bayou campus while Cameron Elementary, South Cameron Elementary, and South Cameron High School students were consolidated on the South Cameron High School campus.

Hurricane Ike in 2008 caused varying degrees of damage to every school and library in Cameron Parish. Most were flooded by storm surge and sustained wind damage, and as a result, all schools were closed. Four new schools were built over the following seven years, the last being a new Johnson Bayou High School near Cameron.

The Cameron Parish Public Library operated the main Cameron Parish Library in Cameron. negative effects from a hurricane mean the library is not open. The current building opened after a previous one was razed by Hurricane Ike, with yet another one razed by Hurricane Rita before it. In 2020 Rick Rojas of The New York Times described the current library as "like a fortress on stilts". For a period beginning on April 1, 2010, the ex-Wendell Electric and Hardware Store served as the library.

Cameron Parish is in the service area of Sowela Technical Community College.

title: Cameron, Louisiana


text:
Hackberry, Louisiana

Hackberry is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,261 at the 2010 census, down from 1,699 in 2000. The losses were due to extensive damage from hurricanes Rita and Ike in 2005 and 2008, respectively. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The community of Hackberry was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Ike's 22 ft storm surge crawled 60 mi inland and devastated Hackberry. The small community was flooded by the high storm surge and all structures (houses, churches, buildings, etc.) were affected. Flooding caused by the hurricane killed many cattle and other farm animals. The community also suffered severe damage in Hurricane Rita, in 2005, and again suffered severe damage due to the landfall of Category 4 Hurricane Laura in the late evening and early morning of August 27, 2020, Hackberry being within the eye-wall of the storm.

Geography
Hackberry is located in north-central Cameron Parish at 29.98639°N, -93.39722°W (29.986485, -93.397190), at an elevation of 8 ft above sea level on the west side of Calcasieu Lake. Louisiana State Highway 27 passes through the CDP, leading north 17 mi to Sulphur and south 20 mi to Holly Beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Hackberry CDP has a total area of 89.3 km2, of which 72.7 km2 is land and 16.6 km2, or 18.59%, is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hackberry has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,699 people, 626 households, and 458 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 20.7 people per square mile (8.0/km$2$). There were 818 housing units at an average density of 9.9 per square mile (3.8/km$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.53% White, 0.47% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.

There were 626 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,366, and the median income for a family was $51,780. Males had a median income of $36,719 versus $25,192 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,332. About 3.9% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

The population had dropped to 1,261 at the 2010 census, as many people left after the community was flooded deeply in Hurricane Ike.

Government
The United States Postal Service Hackberry Post Office is located at 904 Main Street in the CDP.

Education
Hackberry is served by the Cameron Parish School Board. Hackberry High School, a primary and secondary school, serves Hackberry.

Cameron Parish Public Library operated the Hackberry Branch at 613 Main Street in the Hackberry CDP. it is not open due to the building being damaged by a hurricane.

Notable people
The Grammy Award-nominated Hackberry Ramblers, a Cajun music group, are from the community.

title: Hackberry, Louisiana


text:
Harrisonburg, Louisiana

Harrisonburg is a village in and the parish seat of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 348 as of the 2010 census, down from 746 in 2000.

Riley J. Wilson, who held Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat from 1915 to 1937, resided in Harrisonburg, where he was principal of Harrisonburg High School and then an attorney, district attorney, and state district court judge prior to his election to Congress.

History
Harrisonburg was named for the Harrison family of Virginia.

Fort Beauregard, located on a bluff in the northern corner of the village, was a Confederate stronghold during the American Civil War. In 1863, the fort successfully defended Harrisonburg from the attack of four Union gunboats coming from the Black River to the Ouachita River. After four days of bombardment, little damage was done, and the gunboats retired down river. Harrisonburg and fort were evacuated before Brig. General Crocker's considerable naval and army forces arrived on September 4, 1863. The Confederates lost eight significant artillery pieces although two large 32 pound cannons were preserved. On March 1 through the 4, 1864 the town was again attacked by Union gunboats, but the falling river level prevented the advance on Monroe.

The village of Harrisonburg formerly staged reenactments at Fort Beauregard, also known as Fort Hill, but those ceremonies ended in the late 20th century. These reenactments were brought back to life for 2015, but halted in 2016, still planned for future years to come.

Harrisonburg was once a trade capital because of its location on the Ouachita River, with easy access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans. The Harrisonburg Road ran through the area as it crossed Louisiana between Mississippi's Natchez Trace and Texas' El Camino Real.

Harrisonburg was considered for the new site of the Louisiana state capital when the legislature decided to move it from New Orleans after the Civil War.

Geography
Harrisonburg is located in northern Catahoula Parish at 31.77222°N, -91.8275°W (31.772177, -91.827403), on the west bank of the Ouachita River. Louisiana State Highway 8 passes through the village, leading northeast across the Ouachita to Sicily Island, and southwest 18 mi to U.S. Route 84 near Catahoula Lake. Jonesville, the largest town in Catahoula Parish, is 10 mi south of Harrisonburg via Highway 124.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Harrisonburg has a total area of 2.7 km2, of which 2.5 km2 is land and 0.2 km2, or 8.07%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 746 people, 142 households, and 91 families residing in the village. The population density was 792.5 PD/sqmi. There were 157 housing units at an average density of 166.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 43.43% White, 54.83% African American, 1.47% Asian, and 0.27% from two or more races.

There were 142 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 13.4% under the age of 18, 22.4% from 18 to 24, 42.5% from 25 to 44, 12.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 273.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 316.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $21,786, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $15,000 versus $14,167 for females. The per capita income for the village was $6,242, making it the poorest census-designated place in the state. About 17.1% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 25.7% of those age 65 or over.

The village is currently undergoing a dramatic demographic decline. It runs the risk of becoming a ghost town.

Education

 * Harrisonburg High School

Climate
The climate consists of hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Harrisonburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

title: Harrisonburg, Louisiana