West Monroe, Louisiana

Last updated

West Monroe, Louisiana
City
Historic district, West Monroe, LA IMG 0114.JPG
Cottonport Historic District in West Monroe
Ouachita Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas West Monroe Highlighted.svg
Location of West Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
Louisiana in United States (US48).svg
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 32°30′39″N92°08′24″W / 32.51083°N 92.14000°W / 32.51083; -92.14000
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
Parish Ouachita
Government
 • MayorStaci Albritton Mitchell
Area
[1]
 • Total
8.31 sq mi (21.53 km2)
 • Land8.03 sq mi (20.79 km2)
 • Water0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation
82 ft (25 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,103
 • Density1,632.57/sq mi (630.35/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 318
FIPS code 22-80955
Website

West Monroe is the second largest city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana. Its population was 13,065 at the 2010 census and it is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

Originally laid out in 1837 as Byron by John Campbell at the foot of the ferry landing to Monroe, the town floundered and Campbell went bankrupt. The area was bought by Christopher Dabbs, a doctor from Virginia who submitted the plans for Cotton Port in 1854; it was officially recognized in 1859. It too languished until the arrival of the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway and the construction of the bridge over the Ouachita River. Cotton Port boomed as a river port and rail depot. [2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km2), of which 7.7 square miles (20.0 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2) (3.14%) is water.

West Monroe is a separate municipality from Monroe.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890 447—
1900 77573.4%
1910 1,12745.4%
1920 2,24098.8%
1930 6,566193.1%
1940 8,56030.4%
1950 10,30220.4%
1960 15,21547.7%
1970 14,868−2.3%
1980 14,9930.8%
1990 14,096−6.0%
2000 13,250−6.0%
2010 13,065−1.4%
2020 13,1030.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [3]
West Monroe City Hall West Monroe, LA, City Hall IMG 0128.JPG
West Monroe City Hall
West Monroe racial composition as of 2020 [4]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)7,08254.05%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)4,60735.16%
Native American 270.21%
Asian 1160.89%
Pacific Islander 60.05%
Other/Mixed 5213.98%
Hispanic or Latino 7445.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.

Government

The current mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell, who has served since 2018.

A 2013 "Community Impressions" report complimented the green spaces, including the Kiroli and Restoration parks, and Antique Alley as important assets to the West Monroe community. According to long-term Mayor Dave Norris, the study confirms "the value of many of the projects we've focused on to enhance quality of life." [5] The report identifies situations in need of improvement, many of which have already been addressed, including insufficient or inaccurate signage to area attractions, brown water and the need to renovate certain wells, limited shopping opportunities for clothing, traffic problems on Thomas Road, and the failure to promote the popular phenomenon created from the West Monroe-based A&E reality television series, Duck Dynasty . [5] The consultants declared West Monroe and the general area west of the Ouachita River overall as "a clean, vibrant, growing friendly area ... [with] a small town atmosphere and yet ... many of the amenities and features of a [larger] city." [5]

National Guard

1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.

Media

Radio

West Monroe is the second most populous city of the Monroe media market for radio.

Television

West Monroe is part of the Monroe media market for television.

Education

Ouachita Parish School System is the area school district. [6]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Antique Alley".
  3. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Greg Hilburn, "Consultants: 'West Monroe clean, vibrant, growing'"". Monroe News-Star . Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  6. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ouachita Parish, LA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 12–13, 19 (PDF pp. 13-14, 20/31). Retrieved January 4, 2025. - Text list
  7. ↑ "Former state representative Blackmon dead at 89", Monroe News-Star , May 22, 2014
  8. ↑ "Donnie Copeland's Biography". Project Vote Smart . Retrieved April 18, 2016.
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