Bienville Parish, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
| Parish of Bienville Paroisse de Bienville (French) | |
 The new Bienville Parish Courthouse building in Arcadia is located to the north ofInterstate 20. | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofLouisiana | |
 Louisiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Louisiana |
| Region | North Louisiana |
| Founded | March 14, 1848; 177 years ago (1848-03-14) |
| Named after | Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville |
| Parish seat | Arcadia |
| Largest municipality | Bienville (area) Arcadia (population) |
| Incorporated municipalities | 10 (total)
|
| Area | |
• Total | 822 sq mi (2,130 km2) |
| • Land | 811 sq mi (2,100 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (28 km2) |
| • percentage | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,981 |
| • Density | 16.0/sq mi (6.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 318 |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | Bienville Parish Government |
Bienville Parish (French:Paroisse de Bienville,pronounced[paʁwasdəbjɛ̃vil]) is aparish located in the northwestern portion of theU.S. state ofLouisiana. At the2020 census, the population was 12,981.[1] Theparish seat and most populous municipality isArcadia.[2]
The highest natural point in Louisiana, a hill known asMt. Driskill, 535 feet (163 m) in elevation, is located in north central Bienville Parish. The mountain is located on private land with public access by walking trail. It is named for James Christopher Driskill, a 19th-century landowner. Nearby is Jordan Mountain, with an elevation of 493 feet (150 m).
In the 1830s, Ruben Drake moved his family fromSouth Carolina to what he named Mount Lebanon, the first permanent settlement in the parish. As the Drakes were devoutBaptists, they established a church and school, which evolved into Mount Lebanon University, the forerunner ofLouisiana Christian University inPineville inRapides Parish inCentral Louisiana.[3]
Bonnie and Clyde were shot dead in Bienville Parish on May 23, 1934.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 822 square miles (2,130 km2), of which 811 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4] The highest natural point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain (535 ft), is located in Bienville Parish. Driskill Mountain is 11 miles (18 km) south of Arcadia at Latitude 32 degree, 25 minutes North; Longitude 92 degree 54 minutes West.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5,539 | — | |
| 1860 | 11,000 | 98.6% | |
| 1870 | 10,636 | −3.3% | |
| 1880 | 10,442 | −1.8% | |
| 1890 | 14,108 | 35.1% | |
| 1900 | 17,588 | 24.7% | |
| 1910 | 21,776 | 23.8% | |
| 1920 | 20,977 | −3.7% | |
| 1930 | 23,789 | 13.4% | |
| 1940 | 23,933 | 0.6% | |
| 1950 | 19,105 | −20.2% | |
| 1960 | 16,726 | −12.5% | |
| 1970 | 16,024 | −4.2% | |
| 1980 | 16,387 | 2.3% | |
| 1990 | 15,979 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 15,752 | −1.4% | |
| 2010 | 14,353 | −8.9% | |
| 2020 | 12,981 | −9.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] | |||
As of the2020 census, there were 12,981 people in the parish, the median age was 43.9 years, 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18, 21.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older, and for every 100 females there were 91.3 males and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.2 males age 18 and over.[9]
The racial makeup of the parish was 53.5%White, 40.9%Black or African American, 0.5%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[10]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]
There were 5,459 households in the parish, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.6% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]
There were 6,816 housing units, of which 19.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.7% were owner-occupied and 27.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.[9]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 9,321 | 8,935 | 8,607 | 7,850 | 6,901 | 56.88% | 55.92% | 54.64% | 54.69% | 53.16% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,836 | 6,929 | 6,860 | 6,048 | 5,273 | 41.72% | 43.36% | 43.55% | 42.14% | 40.62% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 21 | 21 | 39 | 48 | 61 | 0.13% | 0.13% | 0.25% | 0.33% | 0.47% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 25 | 12 | 24 | 34 | 21 | 0.15% | 0.08% | 0.15% | 0.24% | 0.16% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[17] | x[18] | 0 | 0 | 5 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[19] | x[20] | 71 | 165 | 499 | x | x | 0.45% | 1.15% | 3.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 176 | 81 | 149 | 207 | 211 | 1.07% | 0.51% | 0.95% | 1.44% | 1.63% |
| Total | 16,387 | 15,979 | 15,752 | 14,353 | 12,981 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the 2000 census, there were 15,752 people, 6,108 households, and 4,214 families residing in the parish.[21] The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 7,830 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2).
In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 54.92%White, 43.78%Black orAfrican American, 0.27%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.32% fromother races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
At the 2000 census, there were 6,108 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
A tabulated 27.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% were 18 to 24, 24.60% were 25 to 44, 22.50% were 45 to 64, and 17.60% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $23,663, and the median income for a family was $30,241. Males had a median income of $28,022 versus $18,682 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,471. About 21.80% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 8 | 0.80% | 822 | 81.79% | 175 | 17.41% |
| 1916 | 20 | 1.59% | 1,229 | 98.01% | 5 | 0.40% |
| 1920 | 257 | 15.08% | 1,419 | 83.27% | 28 | 1.64% |
| 1924 | 67 | 7.94% | 774 | 91.71% | 3 | 0.36% |
| 1928 | 367 | 22.00% | 1,301 | 78.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 41 | 1.51% | 2,671 | 98.45% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1936 | 213 | 7.59% | 2,593 | 92.38% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1940 | 362 | 11.15% | 2,883 | 88.82% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1944 | 705 | 28.13% | 1,801 | 71.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 191 | 6.42% | 421 | 14.14% | 2,365 | 79.44% |
| 1952 | 1,986 | 53.10% | 1,754 | 46.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,515 | 48.87% | 815 | 26.29% | 770 | 24.84% |
| 1960 | 1,230 | 34.67% | 625 | 17.62% | 1,693 | 47.72% |
| 1964 | 3,740 | 81.39% | 855 | 18.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 941 | 15.24% | 1,768 | 28.63% | 3,466 | 56.13% |
| 1972 | 3,384 | 58.99% | 1,890 | 32.94% | 463 | 8.07% |
| 1976 | 2,499 | 41.57% | 3,402 | 56.60% | 110 | 1.83% |
| 1980 | 3,508 | 45.15% | 4,123 | 53.06% | 139 | 1.79% |
| 1984 | 4,587 | 55.76% | 3,530 | 42.91% | 109 | 1.33% |
| 1988 | 3,680 | 48.83% | 3,705 | 49.16% | 152 | 2.02% |
| 1992 | 2,412 | 32.45% | 3,899 | 52.46% | 1,121 | 15.08% |
| 1996 | 2,402 | 32.53% | 4,335 | 58.71% | 647 | 8.76% |
| 2000 | 3,269 | 46.66% | 3,413 | 48.72% | 324 | 4.62% |
| 2004 | 3,612 | 50.47% | 3,399 | 47.49% | 146 | 2.04% |
| 2008 | 3,776 | 50.82% | 3,589 | 48.30% | 65 | 0.87% |
| 2012 | 3,641 | 50.55% | 3,490 | 48.45% | 72 | 1.00% |
| 2016 | 3,756 | 53.62% | 3,129 | 44.67% | 120 | 1.71% |
| 2020 | 3,891 | 55.19% | 3,067 | 43.50% | 92 | 1.30% |
| 2024 | 3,660 | 58.50% | 2,531 | 40.46% | 65 | 1.04% |
TheBienville Parish School Board operates areapublic schools.
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Places adjacent to Bienville Parish, Louisiana | |
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Municipalities and communities ofBienville Parish, Louisiana,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
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