Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

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




founded year = 1808
founded date =
seat wl = Harrisonburg
largest city wl = Jonesville
area_total_sq_mi = 739
area_total_km2 = 1915
area_land_sq_mi = 704
area_land_km2 = 1822
area_water_sq_mi = 36
area_water_km2 = 93
area percentage = 4.84%
census yr = 2000
pop = 10920
density_sq_mi = 16
density_km2 = 6
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web =
named for = Tensas word for "big, clear lake"

Catahoula Parish ( _fr. Paroisse de Catahoula) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Harrisonburg, located on the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. In 2000, the population of the parish was 10,920.

History

Catahoula Parish lays claim to having the Catahoula Leopard breed of dog named after it. Also, Col. James "Jim" Bowie of Alamo fame and brother Rezin Bowie, both of Louisiana, owned the Catahoula breed. [ [http://www.thebreedsofdogs.com/CATAHOULA_LEOPARD_DOG.htm The Breeds of Dogs:Catahoula Leopard Dog] .] [ [http://crackercatahoulas.com/his.html Cracker Catahoulas] ] During the early 1900s, Teddy Roosevelt used the Catahoula when hunting. [ [http://www.moloss.com/001/breed/c/c011/ Molosser World: Catahoula Bulldog] ] Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long had an interest in the breed and collected them. [ [http://crackercatahoulas.com/his.html Cracker Catahoulas] ]

Geography

The parish has a total area of 739 square miles (1,915 km²), of which, 704 square miles (1,822 km²) of it is land and 36 square miles (93 km²) of it (4.84%) is water. It is bordered by the Ouachita River on the east.

Major highways

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Adjacent parishes

*Franklin Parish (north)
*Tensas Parish (northeast)
*Concordia Parish (east)
*Avoyelles Parish (south)
*La Salle Parish (west)
*Caldwell Parish (northwest)

National protected area

* Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 10,920 people, 4,082 households, and 2,992 families residing in the parish. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 5,351 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 71.78% White, 27.12% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,082 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.USCensusPop
title=
1790=
1800=
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1900= 16351
1910= 10415
1920= 11074
1930= 12451
1940= 14618
1950= 11834
1960= 11421
1970= 11769
1980= 12287
1990= 11065
2000= 10920
estimate= 10567
estyear= 2006
estref= [cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22025.html|title=Catahoula Parish Quickfacts|author=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-02-02]
footnote=Catahoula 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] In the parish the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $22,528, and the median income for a family was $27,206. Males had a median income of $26,181 versus $18,427 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,608. About 22.60% of families and 28.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.80% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities and towns

*Harrisonburg
*Jonesville
*Sicily Island

Unincorporated areas

*Enterprise
*Larto

Education

Catahoula Parish School Board operates local public schools.

Notable natives and residents

*Dan Richey, politician.
*David I. Patten, politician.
*J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert, politician.
*Chris Shivers, two-time (2000, 2003) PBR World Champion bull rider.

ee also

* "USS Catahoula Parish" (LST-528)

References