Washington Parish, Louisiana

Infobox U.S. County
county = Washington Parish
state = Louisiana




founded year = 1819
founded date =
seat wl = Franklinton
largest city wl = Bogalusa
area_total_sq_mi = 676
area_total_km2 = 1751
area_land_sq_mi = 670
area_land_km2 = 1734
area_water_sq_mi = 6
area_water_km2 = 17
area percentage = 0.95%
census yr = 2000
pop = 43926
density_sq_mi = 66
density_km2 = 25
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web =
named for = President George Washington

Washington Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its parish seat is Franklinton. In 2000, its population was 43,926.

History

Washington Parish was formed in 1819 by splitting off from St. Tammany Parish. Franklinton became the parish seat on February 10, 1821. Washington Parish is the most northeasterly of what are called the "Florida Parishes", for it was prior to 1821 a legal part of Spanish West Florida.

There are two articles about the history of Washington Parish:
* [http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/washington/history/history1.txt "Washington Parish, Louisiana" by Janice M. Berfield, 1968]
* [http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/washington/history/wphistory.txt "History of Washington Parish" by Hon. Prentiss B. Carter]

There is also a book which is online, [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcclendon/Bogalusa/Bogalusa%20Story/ "Bogalusa Story" by C. W. Goodyear] .

Law and government

The [http://www.wpgov.org/ Washington Parish Government] is a Home Rule Charter or “President-Council” form of Government. Its current President is Richard N. Thomas, Jr.

Geography

The parish has a total area of 676 square miles (1,751 km²), of which, 670 square miles (1,734 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (17 km²) of it (0.95%) is water.

Major highways

*
*
*
*

Adjacent counties and parishes

*Pike County, Mississippi (northwest)
*Walthall County, Mississippi (north)
*Marion County, Mississippi (northeast)
*Pearl River County, Mississippi (east)
*St. Tammany Parish (south)
*Tangipahoa Parish (west)

National protected area

* Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Economy

Washington Parish is currently known for its agriculture (especially watermelons), as well as its timber and paper industry.

In 1906, The Great Southern Lumber Company started a sawmill in Bogalusa. It was the first to introduce reforestation in order to sustain the timber industry locally. It later started a paper mill and other related businesses in the area.

The Great Southern Lumber Company was bought several times and is now called [http://www.templeinland.com/ Temple-Inland Corporation] which is the largest employer in the parish.

Demographics

USCensusPop
title=
1790=
1800=
1810=
1820=
1830=
1840=
1850=
1860=
1870=
1880=
1890=
1900= 9628
1910= 18886
1920= 24164
1930= 29904
1940= 34443
1950= 38371
1960= 44015
1970= 41987
1980= 44207
1990= 43185
2000= 43926
estimate= 44750
estyear= 2006
estref= [cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22117.html|title=Washington Parish Quickfacts|author=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-02-02]
footnote=Washington Parish Census Data [cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Louisiana Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|author=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-02-02] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 43,926 people, 16,467 households, and 11,642 families residing in the parish. The population density was 66 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 19,106 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 67.42% White, 31.53% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,467 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.30% were married couples living together, 17.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the parish the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $24,264, and the median income for a family was $29,480. Males had a median income of $27,964 versus $17,709 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,915. About 19.40% of families and 24.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.20% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities towns, and places

Education

Students outside of the city of Bogalusa attend Washington Parish School System.

Students within the city of Bogalusa attend Bogalusa City Schools.

[http://www.sullivan.tec.la.us/ Louisiana Technical College - Sullivan Campus] is located in Bogalusa.

Notable natives and residents

* B.B. "Benny" Rayburn, Jr. (1944-2006), served as a Washington Parish sheriff.
* B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr. (1916-2008), lawmaker.

Corrections

Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections operates the B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center in an unincorporated section of Washington Parish. [" [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/view.php?cat=7&id=47 B.B. Rayburn Corr. Center] ." "Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections". Accessed September 14, 2008.]

ee also

References

* [ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/washingt/history/history1.txt "Washington Parish, Louisiana" by Janice M. Berfield, 1968]
* [ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/washingt/history/wphistory.txt "History of Washington Parish" by Hon. Prentiss B. Carter]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcclendon/Bogalusa/Bogalusa%20Story/ "Bogalusa Story" by C. W. Goodyear]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcclendon/Bogalusa/ Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana: History, Links, Maps, and Photos]
* [http://www.edailynews.info/ Bogalusa Daily News]

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/WashingtonHumaneSociety/ Washington Parish Humane Society]
* [http://www.freefair.com/ Washington Parish Free Fair]
* [http://www.wpsb.org/ Washington Parish School System]
* [http://www.wpsoweb.com/ Washington Parish Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.washingtonparishtourism.com/ Washington Parish Tourism Bureau]
* [http://www.wedf.com/ Washington Economic Development Foundation]
* [http://www.varnadostoremuseum.org/ D. A. Varnado Store Museum]
* [http://www.edailynews.info/ Bogalusa Daily News]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcclendon/Bogalusa/Bogalusa%20Story/ "Bogalusa Story" by C. W. Goodyear]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/louisiana/ Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana, a National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary]
* [http://washingtonparishlouisiana.wikispaces.com/History Article by Robert Higgs LAGenWeb Washington Parish History Washington Parish Louisiana Wikispace]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcclendon/Bogalusa/ Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana: History, Links, Maps, and Photos]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcclendon/Bogalusa/Katrina/index.html#Photos Some Photos of Hurricane Katrina Damage]