Caldwell Parish, Louisiana

Infobox U.S. County
county = Caldwell Parish
state = Louisiana




founded year = 1838
founded date =
seat wl = Columbia
largest city wl = Clarks
area_total_sq_mi = 541
area_total_km2 = 1400
area_land_sq_mi = 529
area_land_km2 = 1371
area_water_sq_mi = 11
area_water_km2 = 29
area percentage = 2.09%
census yr = 2000
pop = 10560
density_sq_mi = 20
density_km2 = 8
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web =
named for = Local Caldwell family

Caldwell Parish ( _fr. Paroisse de Caldwell) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Columbia and as of 2000, the population was 10,560.

Geography

The parish has a total area of 541 square miles (1,400 km²), of which, 529 square miles (1,371 km²) of it is land and 11 square miles (29 km²) of it (2.09%) is water.

Major highways

*
*

Adjacent parishes

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

Demographics

USCensusPop
title=
1790=
1800=
1810=
1820=
1830=
1840=
1850=
1860=
1870=
1880=
1890=
1900= 6917
1910= 8593
1920= 9514
1930= 10430
1940= 12046
1950= 10293
1960= 9004
1970= 9354
1980= 10761
1990= 9810
2000= 10560
estimate= 10615
estyear= 2006
estref= [cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22021.html|title=Caldwell Parish Quickfacts|author=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-02-02]
footnote=Caldwell Parish Census Data [cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Louisiana Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|author=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-02-02] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 10,560 people, 3,941 households, and 2,817 families residing in the parish. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 5,035 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 80.43% White, 17.90% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,941 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% 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 2.99.

In the parish the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $26,972, and the median income for a family was $33,653. Males had a median income of $29,677 versus $19,475 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,884. About 17.70% of families and 21.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.10% of those under age 18 and 19.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Clarks
*Columbia
*Grayson

Education

Caldwell Parish School Board serves the parish.

Notable natives and residents

* Fox McKeithen once taught social studies at Caldwell Parish High School. Other public schools include Caldwell Parish Junior High School in Columbia, and four elementary schools -- Union Central Elementary, Kelly Elementary, Grayson Elementary, and Columbia Elementary.
* J.D. DeBlieux, State Senator, who represented East Baton Rouge Parish from 1956-1960 and again from 1964-1976, was born in Columbia and graduated in 1929 from Caldwell Parish High School.
* Jack Keahey of Columbia, a former school board president and member of the Tensas Basin Levee Board, having served as president of the district from 2000 until his death in 2007. [John Stringer, executive director of the Tensas Levee District, to the "Monroe News-Star", 2006]
* John Julian McKeithen (1918-1999), Louisiana Governor, resided in Caldwell Parish.
* Hartwood Caldwell "Neil" Riser, Jr., became the first Republican since Reconstruction to have been elected to the Louisiana State Senate from the 32nd District.

ee also

References