1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 2,2014}}1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census:1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 2,2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27,2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties:1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 2,2014}}2010{{cite web|title=State &County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22107.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 18,2013}}"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwAWA">.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop{border-spacing:1px;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;background-color:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);padding:0.3em;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop caption{background-color:lavender;color:black;padding-right:0.2em;padding-left:0.2em;font-size:110%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-bottom:none}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop th[scope=col]{border-bottom:1px solid black}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop td:nth-child(2){text-align:right;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop td.us-census-pop-estimate{padding-left:0}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop td:nth-child(3){padding-left:0}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop td:nth-child(4){padding-left:0.5em;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop-footnote{border-top:1px solid black;font-size:85%;text-align:center}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop-right{float:right;clear:right;margin:0 0 1em 1em}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop-left{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop-center{float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.mw-parser-output .us-census-pop-none{float:none;margin:0 1em 1em 0}}
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 9,040 | — | |
1860 | 16,078 | 77.9% | |
1870 | 12,419 | −22.8% | |
1880 | 17,815 | 43.4% | |
1890 | 16,647 | −6.6% | |
1900 | 19,070 | 14.6% | |
1910 | 17,060 | −10.5% | |
1920 | 12,085 | −29.2% | |
1930 | 15,096 | 24.9% | |
1940 | 15,940 | 5.6% | |
1950 | 13,209 | −17.1% | |
1960 | 11,796 | −10.7% | |
1970 | 9,732 | −17.5% | |
1980 | 8,525 | −12.4% | |
1990 | 7,103 | −16.7% | |
2000 | 6,618 | −6.8% | |
2010 | 5,252 | −20.6% | |
2020 | 4,147 | −21.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [24] 1790–1960 [25] 1900–1990 [26] 1990–2000 [27] 2010 [28] |
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 [29] | Pop 2010 [30] | Pop 2020 [31] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 2,842 | 2,178 | 1,728 | 42.94% | 41.47% | 41.67% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,642 | 2,957 | 2,232 | 55.03% | 56.30% | 53.82% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.00% |
Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0.11% | 0.15% | 0.14% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.27% |
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 41 | 38 | 102 | 0.62% | 0.72% | 2.46% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 83 | 65 | 67 | 1.25% | 1.24% | 1.62% |
Total | 6,618 | 5,252 | 4,147 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,147 people, 1,792 households, and 1,102 families residing in the parish. As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,252 people living in the county. 56.5% were Black or African American, 41.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,618 people, 2,416 households, and 1,635 families living in the parish. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 3,359 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 55.6% Black or African American, 43.2% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,416 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.10% were married couples living together, 20.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% 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 3.14.
In the parish the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $19,799, and the median income for a family was $25,739. Males had a median income of $26,636 versus $16,781 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,622. About 30.00% of families and 36.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.20% of those under age 18 and 29.60% of those age 65 or over.
Public schools in Tensas Parish are operated by the elected seven-member Tensas Parish School Board.
Parish Administration | Administrators |
---|---|
Sheriff | Robert L. "Rob" Rushing |
Coroner | David McEacharn |
Assessor | Donna R. Ratcliff |
School Board Superintendent | Joyce M. Russ |
Parish Police Jury | Police Jurors |
---|---|
District 1 | Alex "Chip" Watson Jr. |
District 2 | Terrence South |
District 3 | Bill Crigler |
District 4 | Billy Arceneaux |
District 5 | Cash Clay Foster |
District 6 | Bubba Rushing (President) |
District 7 | Robert Clark (Vice President) |
6th Judicial District | Parish Judicial Leaders |
---|---|
Judge of Division "A" | Angela L. Claxton |
Judge of Division "B" | Laurie R. Brister (Chief Judge) |
District Attorney | James E. Paxton |
Clerk of Court | Christina "Christy" C. Lee |
Parish School Board | Board Members |
---|---|
District 1 | Jennifer Burnside |
District 2 | Knola Faye Ransome |
District 3 | George Matthews |
District 4 | Annice Miller |
District 5 | Esaw Turner (Vice President) |
District 6 | Joseph Tarver |
District 7 | John L. Turner (President) |
The Tensas Parish Library was established in 1952. [32]
Tensas Parish is served by a weekly newspaper, The Tensas Gazette, which began in 1871 under the title The North Louisiana Journal. It was renamed The Tensas Gazette in 1886. Some 1,300 copies are circulated each Wednesday throughout the parish. [33]
Josiah Scott (born 1874 in Vidalia) was reared by a maternal uncle who was the editor of the Concordia Sentinel. At the age of twenty, Scott took over The Tensas Gazette, then owned by Judge Hugh Tullis. In 1906, Scott purchased the paper from Tullis and continued as editor until his death in 1953. He was known for political commentary over the decades. [34]
Upon Scott's death, Paul Alexander Myers Jr., and his wife, the former Patricia Wilds (1924–1999) purchased The Tensas Gazette and operated it together until his death in 1964. Thereafter until her retirement in 1988, Mrs. Myers owned and published the paper. [35]
No longer under local ownership, The Tensas Gazette is now published by Louisiana State Newspapers, Inc. [36] After years in a downtown location, The Tensas Gazette moved to 118 Arts Drive near the new Tensas Parish Civic Center off U.S. Highway 65.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 1,093 | 51.36% | 1,002 | 47.09% | 33 | 1.55% |
2020 | 1,197 | 46.87% | 1,329 | 52.04% | 28 | 1.10% |
2016 | 1,182 | 46.39% | 1,332 | 52.28% | 34 | 1.33% |
2012 | 1,230 | 43.74% | 1,564 | 55.62% | 18 | 0.64% |
2008 | 1,367 | 44.97% | 1,646 | 54.14% | 27 | 0.89% |
2004 | 1,453 | 49.04% | 1,469 | 49.58% | 41 | 1.38% |
2000 | 1,330 | 44.19% | 1,580 | 52.49% | 100 | 3.32% |
1996 | 1,000 | 32.27% | 1,882 | 60.73% | 217 | 7.00% |
1992 | 1,153 | 35.30% | 1,666 | 51.01% | 447 | 13.69% |
1988 | 1,645 | 50.00% | 1,556 | 47.29% | 89 | 2.71% |
1984 | 1,956 | 53.52% | 1,628 | 44.54% | 71 | 1.94% |
1980 | 1,645 | 43.46% | 2,046 | 54.06% | 94 | 2.48% |
1976 | 1,553 | 42.24% | 2,081 | 56.60% | 43 | 1.17% |
1972 | 1,729 | 50.47% | 1,568 | 45.77% | 129 | 3.77% |
1968 | 503 | 19.07% | 845 | 32.03% | 1,290 | 48.90% |
1964 | 1,655 | 89.60% | 192 | 10.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 510 | 42.22% | 247 | 20.45% | 451 | 37.33% |
1956 | 359 | 34.99% | 324 | 31.58% | 343 | 33.43% |
1952 | 703 | 50.54% | 688 | 49.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 72 | 6.89% | 239 | 22.87% | 734 | 70.24% |
1944 | 160 | 20.05% | 638 | 79.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 95 | 9.03% | 957 | 90.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 23 | 2.75% | 812 | 97.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 29 | 4.36% | 635 | 95.49% | 1 | 0.15% |
1928 | 96 | 21.52% | 350 | 78.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 21 | 5.85% | 338 | 94.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
1920 | 15 | 5.81% | 243 | 94.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 5 | 2.37% | 204 | 96.68% | 2 | 0.95% |
1912 | 1 | 0.42% | 220 | 91.67% | 19 | 7.92% |