- Ferriday, Louisiana
Geobox Town
name = Town of Ferriday
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = Town
image_size = 250px
image_caption =Delta Music Museum in Ferriday's downtownhistoric district
flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
symbol_type =
nickname =
motto =
country = United States
state = Louisiana
region = Concordia
region_type = Parish
area_imperial = 1.7
area_land_imperial = 1.7
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 31
lat_m = 37
lat_s = 50
lat_NS = N
long_d = 91
long_m = 33
long_s = 24
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 52
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 3723
population_density_imperial = 2220.7
population_density_round = 1
government =
established_type =
established =
leader =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code =
postal_code_type =
area_code = 318
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =
map_size =
map_caption = Location of Ferriday in Louisiana
map_locator = Louisiana
map1 = Map of USA LA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Louisiana in the United States
website =Ferriday is a
town in Concordia Parish in easternLouisiana ,United States . The population, which is three-fourthsAfrican American , was 3,723 at the 2000 census.Ferriday claims to have produced more famous people per square mile than any other American small town. This statement intrigued author
Elaine Dundy who probed that phenomenon while profiling both celebrities and townsfolk in her book, "Ferriday, Louisiana", published byE. P. Dutton in1991 . [Dundy, Elaine. "Ferriday, Louisiana".]Ferriday played a role in the promotion of
blues music through the Haney's Big House lounge in the African American community. TheDelta Music Museum in the downtownhistoric district is open daily to visitors, many of whom come from out-of-state. It is located next to the restored Arcade Theater. the museum contains exhibits on Ferriday natives, some of whom were blues musicians.Ferriday is represented by churches of all major denominations, including a large
Pentecostal congregation south of town onU.S. Highway 15 ] as well asBaptist ,Assembly of God , andPresbyterian .Geography
Ferriday is located at coor dms|31|37|50|N|91|33|24|W|city (31.630539, -91.556749).GR|1
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 1.7square mile s (4.4km² ), all being land.Demographics
As of the
census GR|2 of 2000, there were 3,723 people, 1,350 households, and 918 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 2,220.7 people per square mile (855.6/km²). There were 1,498 housing units at an average density of 893.5/sq mi (344.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 24.09% White, 74.89% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.There were 1,350 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 76.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $14,732, and the median income for a family was $18,636. Males had a median income of $23,654 versus $16,725 for females. The
per capita income for the town was $8,767. About 40.7% of families and 47.4% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 70.2% of those under age 18 and 25.1% of those age 65 or over.Notable natives
*
Al Ater , former Louisiana Secretary of State.
*Campbell Brown , NBC and CNN news correspondent.
*James H. "Jim" Brown , Louisiana state senator, secretary of state, insurance commissioner.
* GeneralClaire Chennault ofFlying Tigers fame was reared in nearby Waterproof.
*Noah W. Cross (1908–1976) served as Concordia Parishsheriff from 1944 until 1973, when he resigned after aperjury conviction.
*Troyce Guice of Ferriday and laterNatchez, Mississippi , ran for theUnited States Senate in1966 and1996 .
*Dale Houston (1940 -2007 ), whose "I'm Leaving It Up To You" reached No. 1 in1963 .
*Shelby M. Jackson , Superintendent of Education, 1948—1964.
*Jerry Lee Lewis ,singer ,pianist .
* Rickey L. Nowlin is a freshman Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives fromNatchitoches Parish .
* Daniel Wesley "Dan" Richey, former State Senator.
*Fred L. Schiele (1933-2002), Concordia Parish sheriff from 1973-1980
*Howard K. Smith , journalist.
*Jimmy Lee Swaggart , evangelist.
* Ann Boyar Warner, Hollywood hostess.
*Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker , African Americantrombonist born near Newellton inTensas Parish Education
The
Concordia Parish School Board serves Ferriday.Ferriday High School is a light-colored brick structure offU.S. Highway 15 . Its sports teams are known as The Trojans. To the right rear of the high school is the Concordia Parish Library.In a middle-class residential area of north Ferriday on Jerry Lee Lewis Avenue is the private Huntington School, first established for all grades in 1970, with the arrival of school
desegregation to the remaining segregated districts. The Huntington sports teams are known as the Hounds.Ferriday gallery
References
External links
* [http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2002-03-12/setbrk.html Delta Music Museum opens (3/2/02)]
* [http://www.elainedundy.com/Ferriday.html Elaine Dundy's "Ferriday Frappé"]
* [http://av.sos.louisiana.gov/videomain/museums/delta.wmv Video tour of Delta Music Museum]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.