West Monroe, Louisiana | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 32°30′39″N92°08′24″W / 32.51083°N 92.14000°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Louisiana |
Parish | Ouachita |
Government | |
• Mayor | Staci Albritton Mitchell |
Area | |
• Total | 8.31 sq mi (21.53 km2) |
• Land | 8.03 sq mi (20.79 km2) |
• Water | 0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2) |
Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,103 |
• Density | 1,632.57/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.
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]
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.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 447 | — | |
1900 | 775 | 73.4% | |
1910 | 1,127 | 45.4% | |
1920 | 2,240 | 98.8% | |
1930 | 6,566 | 193.1% | |
1940 | 8,560 | 30.4% | |
1950 | 10,302 | 20.4% | |
1960 | 15,215 | 47.7% | |
1970 | 14,868 | −2.3% | |
1980 | 14,993 | 0.8% | |
1990 | 14,096 | −6.0% | |
2000 | 13,250 | −6.0% | |
2010 | 13,065 | −1.4% | |
2020 | 13,103 | 0.3% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [3] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 7,082 | 54.05% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,607 | 35.16% |
Native American | 27 | 0.21% |
Asian | 116 | 0.89% |
Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.05% |
Other/Mixed | 521 | 3.98% |
Hispanic or Latino | 744 | 5.68% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.
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]
1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.
West Monroe shares the radio market with Monroe
Ouachita Parish School System is the area school district. [6]
West Carroll Parish is a parish located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,751. The parish seat is Oak Grove. The parish was founded in 1877, when Carroll Parish was divided.
Union Parish is a parish located in the north central section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,107. The parish seat is Farmerville. The parish was created on March 13, 1839, from a section of Ouachita Parish. Its boundaries have changed four times since then.
Richland Parish is a parish located in the North Louisiana Delta Country in the U.S. state of Louisiana, known for its fertile, flat farmland, cane brakes, and open spaces. The parish had a population of 20,043 at the 2020 United States census. The name Richland was chosen due to the rich production from farming. The parish seat and largest community is Rayville.
Ouachita Parish is a parish located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,368. The parish seat and largest city is Monroe. The parish was formed in 1807.
Vivian is a town in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States and is home to the Redbud Festival. The population was 3,671 at the 2010 census, down from 4,031 in 2000. According to 2020 census data, Vivian is now the fourth-largest municipality in Caddo Parish by population.
Columbia is a town in and the parish seat of Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 277 in 2020.
Harrisonburg is a village in and the parish seat of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 348 as of the 2010 census, down from 746 in 2000.
Lake Providence is a town in, and the parish seat of, East Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. The population was 5,104 at the 2000 census and declined by 21.8 percent to 3,991 in 2010. The town's poverty rate is approximately 55 percent; the average median household income is $16,500, and the average age is 31.
Claiborne is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 9,830 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Monroe is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the parish seat and largest city of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolitan statistical area, the second-largest metropolitan area in North Louisiana.
Swartz is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,354 at the 2020 United States Census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Farmerville is a town in and the parish seat of Union Parish, Louisiana, United States. It has also been known as Farmersville. The population was 3,860 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is spread about Lake D'Arbonne, a popular fishing and boating waterway.
Ouachita Parish School Board is a school district headquartered in West Monroe, Louisiana, United States.
Ouachita Parish High School is a public high school located an unincorporated area of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, with a Monroe postal address. The school is administered by the Ouachita Parish School Board and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's mascot is the Lion.
A special election for Louisiana's 5th congressional district was held on November 16, 2013, to elect a member of the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Congressman Rodney Alexander resigned on September 26, 2013, to become the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs under Governor Bobby Jindal.
Lakeshore is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 1,930 as of the 2010 census. The community is located on the south bank of Bayou Desiard, east of Monroe.
William Norris III also known as Bill Norris, was an American judge from West Monroe, Louisiana, who served at the municipal, district, and circuit court levels.
Bawcomville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 3,588 as of the 2010 census.
Brownsville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 4,317 as of the 2010 census.