Bienville Parish, Louisiana

Bienville Parish (French: Paroisse de Bienville, pronounced [paʁwas də bjɛ̃vil]) is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, the population was 12,981.[1] The parish seat is Arcadia.[2]

Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Bienville
The new Bienville Parish Courthouse building in Arcadia is located to the north of Interstate 20.
The new Bienville Parish Courthouse building in Arcadia is located to the north of Interstate 20.
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
RegionNorth Louisiana
FoundedMarch 14, 1848
Named forJean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville
Parish seatArcadia
Largest municipalityBienville (area)
Arcadia (population)
Area
 • Total2,130 km2 (822 sq mi)
 • Land2,100 km2 (811 sq mi)
 • Water30 km2 (11 sq mi)
 • percentage3 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total12,981
 • Density6.1/km2 (16/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district4th
WebsiteBienville Parish Government

The highest natural point in Louisiana, a hill known as Mt. Driskill, 535 feet (163 m) in elevation, is located in north central Bienville Parish. The mountain is located on private land with public access by walking trail. It is named for James Christopher Driskill, a 19th-century landowner. Nearby is Jordan Mountain, with an elevation of 493 feet (150 m).

History

In the 1830s, Ruben Drake moved his family from South Carolina to what he named Mount Lebanon, the first permanent settlement in the parish. As the Drakes were devout Baptists, they established a church and school, which evolved into Mount Lebanon University, the forerunner of Louisiana Christian University in Pineville in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.[3] Bonnie and Clyde were shot dead in Bienville Parish on May 23, 1934.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 822 square miles (2,130 km2), of which 811 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4] The highest natural point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain (535 ft), is located in Bienville Parish. Driskill Mountain is 11 miles (18 km) south of Arcadia at Latitude 32 degree, 25 minutes North; Longitude 92 degree 54 minutes West.

Interstates

Communities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18505,539—
186011,00098.6%
187010,636−3.3%
188010,442−1.8%
189014,10835.1%
190017,58824.7%
191021,77623.8%
192020,977−3.7%
193023,78913.4%
194023,9330.6%
195019,105−20.2%
196016,726−12.5%
197016,024−4.2%
198016,3872.3%
199015,979−2.5%
200015,752−1.4%
201014,353−8.9%
202012,981−9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8]
Bienville Parish racial composition as of 2020[9]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 6,901 53.16%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 5,273 40.62%
Native American 61 0.47%
Asian 21 0.16%
Pacific Islander 5 0.04%
Other/Mixed 509 3.92%
Hispanic or Latino 211 1.63%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,981 people, 5,812 households, and 3,586 families residing in the parish. At the census of 2000, there were 15,752 people, 6,108 households, and 4,214 families residing in the parish.[10] The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 7,830 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2).

In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 54.92% White, 43.78% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2020 census, the racial makeup was 53.16% non-Hispanic white, 40.62% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.92% multiracial, and 1.63% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9]

At the 2000 census, were 6,108 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.

A tabulated 27.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% were 18 to 24, 24.60% were 25 to 44, 22.50% were 45 to 64, and 17.60% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $23,663, and the median income for a family was $30,241. Males had a median income of $28,022 versus $18,682 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,471. About 21.80% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
United States presidential election results for Bienville Parish, Louisiana[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,891 55.19% 3,067 43.50% 92 1.30%
2016 3,756 53.62% 3,129 44.67% 120 1.71%
2012 3,641 50.55% 3,490 48.45% 72 1.00%
2008 3,776 50.82% 3,589 48.30% 65 0.87%
2004 3,612 50.47% 3,399 47.49% 146 2.04%
2000 3,269 46.66% 3,413 48.72% 324 4.62%
1996 2,402 32.53% 4,335 58.71% 647 8.76%
1992 2,412 32.45% 3,899 52.46% 1,121 15.08%
1988 3,680 48.83% 3,705 49.16% 152 2.02%
1984 4,587 55.76% 3,530 42.91% 109 1.33%
1980 3,508 45.15% 4,123 53.06% 139 1.79%
1976 2,499 41.57% 3,402 56.60% 110 1.83%
1972 3,384 58.99% 1,890 32.94% 463 8.07%
1968 941 15.24% 1,768 28.63% 3,466 56.13%
1964 3,740 81.39% 855 18.61% 0 0.00%
1960 1,230 34.67% 625 17.62% 1,693 47.72%
1956 1,515 48.87% 815 26.29% 770 24.84%
1952 1,986 53.10% 1,754 46.90% 0 0.00%
1948 191 6.42% 421 14.14% 2,365 79.44%
1944 705 28.13% 1,801 71.87% 0 0.00%
1940 362 11.15% 2,883 88.82% 1 0.03%
1936 213 7.59% 2,593 92.38% 1 0.04%
1932 41 1.51% 2,671 98.45% 1 0.04%
1928 367 22.00% 1,301 78.00% 0 0.00%
1924 67 7.94% 774 91.71% 3 0.36%
1920 257 15.08% 1,419 83.27% 28 1.64%
1916 20 1.59% 1,229 98.01% 5 0.40%
1912 8 0.80% 822 81.79% 175 17.41%

Education

The Bienville Parish School Board operates area public schools.

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile". archive.ph. January 13, 2022. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Dison, Benjamin Brad (May 26, 2014). Bienville Parish (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 978-1467111911.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  12. Ruston Daily Leader, October 11, 1933, p. 20
  13. "Joseph Rush Wimberly, I". usgwarchives.net. Retrieved June 22, 2013.

32.35°N 93.06°W / 32.35; -93.06

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