Webster Parish, Louisiana

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Webster Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Webster
Webster Parish Courthouse, LA.jpg
Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden (dedicated May 1, 1953) was a project of the contractor George A. Caldwell.
Map of Louisiana highlighting Webster Parish.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana in United States.svg
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
StateFlag of Louisiana.svg  Louisiana
Region North Louisiana
Founded1871
Named for Daniel Webster
Parish seat (and largest city) Minden
Area
 • Total
1,590 km2 (615 sq mi)
 • Land1,540 km2 (593 sq mi)
 • Water60 km2 (22 sq mi)
 • percentage9 km2 (3.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
36,967
 • Rank LA: 29th
 • Density23/km2 (60/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 318
Congressional district 4th
Website Parish of Webster

Webster Parish (French: Paroisse de Webster) is a parish located in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat and largest city is Minden. [1]

Contents

As of the 2020 census, the Webster Parish population was 36,967. [2] Public officials who have long sought to increase the industrial potential of the parish, expressed concern over the decline. Jim Bonsall, the president of the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, cited the ending of the Haynesville Shale boom as the primary reason for the population losses. The parish has long depended on jobs in the petroleum and natural gas fields. [3]

The parish is named for 19th-century American statesman Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It was created on February 27, 1871 [4] from lands formerly belonging to Bienville, Bossier, and Claiborne parishes. The parish centennial celebration was held in May 1971. Speakers included Police jury president Leland Garland Mims and Judge Enos McClendon of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court, who gave a biographical sketch of Daniel Webster. Many officials and parish employees dressed in period costume of the 1870s for the event. [5]

Webster Parish is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden CSA.

Among the first settlers in Webster Parish was Newett Drew, a native of Virginia, who about 1818 established a grist mill at the former Overton community near Minden. At this time the area was Natchitoches Parish and later Overton became the Parish Seat of Claiborne Parish in 1836 until it moved in 1848. His son, Richard Maxwell Drew was born in Overton and served as a district judge and state representative prior to his death in 1850 at the age of twenty-eight. R. M. Drew's descendants held judicial or legislative positions in Webster Parish as well, Richard Cleveland Drew, Harmon Caldwell Drew, R. Harmon Drew, Sr., and Harmon Drew, Jr. [6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 615 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (3.5%) is water. [7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

National protected areas

Communities

Cities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 10,005—
1890 12,46624.6%
1900 15,12521.3%
1910 19,18626.8%
1920 24,70728.8%
1930 29,45819.2%
1940 33,67614.3%
1950 35,7046.0%
1960 39,70111.2%
1970 39,9390.6%
1980 43,6319.2%
1990 41,989−3.8%
2000 41,831−0.4%
2010 41,207−1.5%
2020 36,967−10.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010 [12]
Webster Parish racial composition as of 2020 [13]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)22,55461.01%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)12,14232.85%
Native American 1360.37%
Asian 1380.37%
Pacific Islander 120.03%
Other/Mixed 1,2973.51%
Hispanic or Latino 6881.86%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 36,967 people, 16,551 households, and 10,295 families residing in the parish.

As of the census [14] of 2010 there were 52,903 people, 20,500 households, and 12,589 families residing in the parish. The population density was 92 people per square mile (36 people/km2). There were 18,991 housing units at an average density of 32 units per square mile (12 units/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 65.51% White, 32.83% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,501 households, of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $28,408, and the median income for a family was $35,119. Males had a median income of $30,343 versus $20,907 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,203. About 15.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Law, government, and politics

In 1996, the Webster Parish Police Jury approved a $1,849,000 bid to the firm Finney Co. of Shreveport for construction of a new parish library facility on Est and West Street in Minden. [15]

Webster Parish is generally competitive in most contested elections. The parish voted for Republican Barry Goldwater for president in 1964 and George Wallace in 1968, when the former governor of Alabama ran on the American Independent Party ticket. Richard Nixon won here in 1972, and Jimmy Carter of Georgia prevailed in 1976. In 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan won the parish by a nearly two-to-one margin over former Vice President Walter F. Mondale. [16]

In 2000, Governor George W. Bush of Texas won in Webster Parish with 9,420 votes (55.1 percent), compared to then Vice President Al Gore's 7,197 (42.1 percent). Patrick Buchanan of the Reform Party held 183 votes (1.1 percent). [17] In 2004, Bush again won the parish, having polled 11,070 votes (60 percent) to Democrat John Kerry's 6,833 (37 percent). [18]

In 2008, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona carried Webster Parish with 11,417 votes (62.5 percent), compared to Barack Obama's 6,610 (36.2 percent). [19] Four years later in 2012, Republican Mitt Romney led in the parish with 11,400 votes (61.9 percent), 17 fewer ballots than McCain had received. In 2012, President Obama polled 6,802 votes (36.9 percent), 192 more than his 2008 tabulation. [20]

The last Democrat hence to have won in Webster Parish at the presidential level was Bill Clinton in 1996, who received 9,688 (55.3 percent), compared to Republican Robert Dole's 6,153 ballots (35.1 percent). Ross Perot, founder of the Reform Party, held 1,324 votes (7.6 percent). In that same election, the Democrat Mary Landrieu carried Webster Parish in her successful U.S. Senate race against Republican Woody Jenkins, 8,459 (51.3 percent) to 8,020 (48.7 percent). [21]

United States presidential election results for Webster Parish, Louisiana [22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 10,96567.66%5,05331.18%1871.15%
2020 11,83064.94%6,17233.88%2141.17%
2016 11,54263.61%6,26034.50%3431.89%
2012 11,40061.90%6,80236.94%2141.16%
2008 11,41762.49%6,61036.18%2431.33%
2004 11,07060.00%6,83337.04%5462.96%
2000 9,42055.12%7,19742.11%4732.77%
1996 6,15335.13%9,68855.31%1,6769.57%
1992 6,64036.36%8,38045.88%3,24417.76%
1988 10,20457.31%7,43441.75%1670.94%
1984 12,05564.54%6,50934.85%1130.61%
1980 8,86550.24%8,56848.55%2141.21%
1976 7,55050.28%7,28648.52%1811.21%
1972 8,82971.50%2,85923.15%6615.35%
1968 2,49617.81%2,87120.49%8,64661.70%
1964 8,17782.33%1,75517.67%00.00%
1960 3,13940.94%1,27316.60%3,25542.45%
1956 3,28048.72%2,35234.93%1,10116.35%
1952 3,44243.10%4,54456.90%00.00%
1948 4558.60%1,93336.53%2,90354.87%
1944 89919.74%3,65580.26%00.00%
1940 3328.07%3,77791.83%40.10%
1936 3019.69%2,79990.12%60.19%
1932 732.36%3,02097.64%00.00%
1928 35619.93%1,43080.07%00.00%
1924 525.03%92989.93%525.03%
1920 1129.99%1,00990.01%00.00%
1916 60.57%1,04099.24%20.19%
1912 91.09%69683.96%12414.96%

Education

The elected Webster Parish School Board operates local public schools.

It is in the service area of Bossier Parish Community College. [23]

National Guard

The 39th MP Company of the 773rd MP Battalion and the 1083rd Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion reside at Camp Minden west of Minden, formerly the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. Both of these battalions are part of the 139TH RSG (Regional Support Group).

Notable people

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Webster Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ Bruce Franklin (May 23, 2017). "Webster Parish's population declines for sixth year". Minden Press-Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  4. ↑ Calhoun, Milburn; McGovern, Bernie (April 29, 2008). Louisiana Almanac (18 ed.). Pelican Publishing. p. 278. ISBN   978-1-58980-543-9.
  5. ↑ "Webster Centennial Officially Opened," Minden Press-Herald, May 3, 1971, p. 1.
  6. ↑ "Drew Family". mindenmemories.org. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Library bid approved", Minden Profess-Herald, March 12, 1996, p 1.
  16. ↑ Marilyn Miller, "Webster follows trend", Minden Press-Herald , November 7, 1984, p. 1
  17. ↑ "Webster Parish election returns, November 7, 2000". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Webster Parish election returns, November 2, 2004". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Webster Parish election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  22. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Our Colleges". Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges . Retrieved June 3, 2021.

32°42′N93°20′W / 32.70°N 93.33°W / 32.70; -93.33

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