Jena, Louisiana

Geobox Town
name = Town of Jena
native_name =
other_name1 =
category = Town


image_caption =


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
symbol_type =
nickname =
motto =
country = United States
state = Louisiana
region = La Salle
region_type = Parish
area_imperial = 5.4
area_land_imperial = 5.4
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 31
lat_m = 41
lat_s = 24
lat_NS = N
long_d = 92
long_m = 07
long_s = 29
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 167
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 2971
population_density_imperial = 552.7
population_density_round = 1
government =
established_type =
established =
leader =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 71342
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 318
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Jena in Louisiana
map_locator = Louisiana
map1 = Map of USA LA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Louisiana in the United States
website =

Jena (pronunciation: IPAEng|ˈdʒiːnə) is a town in and the parish seat of La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States.GR|6 The population was 2,971 at the 2000 census.

In September 2007, Jena became the focus of national news stories in the United States for a racial controversy involving its school system and a group of students known as the Jena Six.

History

Jena was named for Jena, Germany, where French Emperor Napoleon I won the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in 1806.

Jena Six

Jena has gained international attention for supposedly being an example of the "new 'stealth' racism" and "reverse discrimination" in the United States [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/6685441.stm 'Stealth racism' stalks deep South] BBC, 24 May 2007] [cite web|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2083762,00.html|title=Racism goes on trial again in America's Deep South|accessdate=2007-05-20|author|The Observer] [ [http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/284511.html www.kansascity.com | 09/20/2007 | Lessons from Jena, La ] ] with focus through a National Public Radio prime time story on July 30. [cite web|title=Beating Charges Split La. Town Along Racial Lines|first=Wade|last=Goodwyn|publisher=NPR|date=2007-07-30|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12353776] The town was also featured in a BBC documentary, "This World: "Race hate in Louisiana".

Geography

Jena is located at coor dms|31|41|24|N|92|7|29|W|city (31.689993, -92.124781)GR|1 and has an elevation of convert|167|ft|1GR|3.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.9 km² (5.4 mi²), all land.

urrounding communities

*Midway
*Trout
*Nebo
*Webb Quarters
*Summerville
*Eden
*Goodpine
*Possum Point
*Belah
*Fellowship
*White Sulphur Springs
*Mackerel
*Rogers
*Searcy
*Whitehall
*Rhinehart

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,971 people, 1,135 households, and 749 families residing in the town. The population density was 552.7 people per square mile (213.2/km²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 235.2/sq mi (90.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.56% White, 12.02% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.

There were 1,135 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were 21 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $39,848. Males had a median income of $31,332 versus $18,317 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,761. About 9.9% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

*Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has built a convert|100000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. Supercenter on U.S. Route 84 West, a main east-west route between Interstate 49 and Natchez, Mississippi.
*Ace Hardware opened a new convert|28000|sqft|m2|abbr=on store in downtown Jena.
*Southern Heritage Bank opened its new two-story, convert|12000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. building.
*Homeland Federal Saving Bank from Columbia, Louisiana has opened a new branch in Jena.
*Arrows Industries opened a new expansion. They now employ over 100 people.
*Jena Town Hall has moved into the old Southern Heritage Bank building in downtown Jena.
*Dollar General has re-located to a larger facility across from McDonald's.
*GEO Group is currently expanding the former Wackenhut Corrections Facility to house detainees, costing $30 million dollars.

Education

The La Salle Parish School Board is also located in Jena.

The following schools serve Jena
* Jena High School, 9–12 (Jena)
* Jena Junior High School, 7 & 8 (Jena)
* Goodpine Middle School, 4–6 (Trout/Goodpine)
* Jena Elementary School, PreK - 3 (Jena)
* Fellowship Elementary School, Pre-K-8 (Belah)
* Nebo Elementary School, PreK-8 (Nebo)
* Temple Christian Academy, Private PreK-8 (Jena)

Infrastructure

Hospital Service District #2 of LaSalle Parish, also known as LaSalle General Hospital, is a 60-bed medical facility, with a 24 hour Emergency Department, a home health, a 101 bed nursing home, and physical therapy. The hospital is currently undertaking a $4 million dollar expansion project. [ [http://www.lasallegeneralhospital.com Home ] ]

Notable natives and residents

* George Reuben Trussell (1911-2008) served on the elected La Salle Parish Police Jury (county commission in other states) for more than a quarter century and as president of the body for fifteen years. [ [http://thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/OBITUARIES/80404039/1023&GID=0ep6T8wPz1aXNDV4m2tedWRD7vdIiu2QXq28lh/iIg0%3D George Reuben Trussell | thetowntalk.com | The Town Talk ] ]
* Mike Francis, former Louisiana Republican state chairman, was born in Jena.
* Ralph Weyland "Bo" Trussell (1948-1983), son of George Trussel, a former magazine journalist. [ [http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/OBITUARIES/80630045/1023 Lurline "Bannie" Trussell | thetowntalk.com | The Town Talk ] ]
* Speedy O. Long (1928-2006), a member of the popular Long political dynasty.

References

External links

* [http://www.lasallegeneralhospital.com LaSalle General Hospital]
* [http://www.lasallepsb.com LaSalle Parish School Board]
* [http://www.fws.gov/catahoula/ Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge]