Bogalusa, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
 Great Southern Lumber Company in Bogalusa, 1930s | |
 Bogalusa boundary map | |
  Bogalusa, Louisiana  Bogalusa, Louisiana | |
| Coordinates:30°46′50″N89°51′50″W / 30.78056°N 89.86389°W /30.78056; -89.86389[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Washington |
| Incorporated | July 4, 1914 |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.55 sq mi (24.74 km2) |
| • Land | 9.51 sq mi (24.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.050 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| Elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,659 |
| • Density | 1,121.4/sq mi (432.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 70427[3] |
| Area code | 985 |
| FIPS code | 22-08150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403888[1] |
| Website | http://www.bogalusa.org |
Bogalusa (/ˌboʊɡəˈluːsə/BOH-gə-LOO-sə) is a city inWashington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,232 at the2010 census. In the2020 census the city reported a population of 10,659. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the largerNew Orleans–Metairie–Slidell combined statistical area.
The name of the city derives from theChoctaw language termbogue lusa, which translates intoEnglish as "dark water"[4] or "smoky water".[5] Located in an area of pine forests, in the early 20th century, this industrial city was developed as acompany town, to provide worker housing and services in association with aGreat Southern Lumber Companysawmill.[6] In the late 1930s, this operation was replaced withpaper mills and chemical operations.
Incorporated in 1914, Bogalusa is one of the youngest towns in Louisiana. It was founded byFrank Henry Goodyear andCharles Waterhouse Goodyear, lumber barons ofBuffalo, New York. In the early 1900s, the brothers bought hundreds of thousands ofacres of virginLongleaf pine forests in southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi for the timber and further their strategy to build railroad spurs to bring the wood to market. In 1902, they chartered theGreat Southern Lumber Company (1908–38) and built the firstsawmill in what became Bogalusa, a company town built to support the mill. The sawmill was the largest in the world at the time.[7][8] The Goodyear interests built the city of Bogalusa to house workers and supervisors, and associated infrastructure. They also built theGreat Northern New Orleans Railroad to New Orleans to transport their lumber and products to market.[9]
The city, designed by architectRathbone DeBuys[10] of New Orleans and built from the ground up in less than a year, had several hotels, schools, a hospital, aYMCA andYWCA, churches of all faiths, and houses for the mill workers. The town was laid out with the "Mill Town" on the south side and "Commercial Town" on the north side, altogether there were four quadrants with racially segregated neighborhoods defined by the railroad running north–south and Bogue Lusa Creek running east–west. It was called the "Magic City" in praise of its rapid construction.[11] The manager of Great Southern Lumber Company wasWilliam H. Sullivan.[12] As sawmill manager, he acted as town boss when the city was built. After Bogalusa was incorporated as a city on July 4, 1914, Sullivan was elected as mayor by white voters (blacks had been disenfranchised), and repeatedly re-elected, serving until his death on June 26, 1929.[13]
The Great Southern Lumber Company's sprawling sawmill produced up to a millionboard feet (2400 m3) of lumber each day. With the virgin pine forest cleared, the sawmill closed in 1938 during theGreat Depression. An attempt to keep the sawmill open with California redwood proved too costly, and the mill was closed. It was replaced by the Bogalusa Paper Company (a subsidiary of Great Southern). In 1937 Bogalusa Paper Company merged with Gaylord Container Corporation; a chemical plant also run by Gaylord was built next to the mill.Crown-Zellerbach acquired Gaylord's operations in 1955. The paper mill and chemical operations continued to anchor the city's economy.
At its peak in 1960, the city had more than 21,000 residents. In 1985 Crown-Zellerbach was split up but the timber industry continued.[14]
In 1919 workers went on strike, triggering the largest labor strife at the town'sGreat Southern Lumber Company, the largest sawmill in the world. Company owners supported a white militia group and brought in Black strikebreakers, increasing racial tension. Events culminated in theBogalusa sawmill killings which saw four union men killed. On August 31, 1919, Black veteranLucius McCarty was accused of assaulting a white woman and a mob of some 1,500 people seized McCarty and shot him more than 1,000 times. The mob then dragged his corpse behind a car through the black neighborhoods before burning his body in a bonfire.[15][16]
Industrial workers of both races arrived in the company town for employment from the early 20th century onwards. Following their return fromWorld War II,African-American veterans faced significant challenges due to racial discrimination and violence inLouisiana and the broader South. They contended with the enduring legacy ofJim Crow laws, state-enforcedsegregation, and systemicdisenfranchisement and political exclusion, issues that had persisted since the turn of the 20th century.[17]
During thecivil rights era, African-American employees atCrown Zellerbach in Bogalusa campaigned for equal employment opportunities, including access to all job positions and advancements into supervisory roles. This push for equality met resistance from white coworkers. Additionally, the African-American community advocated for the integration of public facilities in Bogalusa, particularly following the enactment of theCivil Rights Act of 1964, facing opposition from segments of the local population.[18]
The struggle against racial discrimination extended beyond black workers challenging the industrial class system. LocalKu Klux Klan members exerted their influence by intimidating civil rights activists. The situation escalated in 1964 with the passage of theCivil Rights Act, as whites intensified their opposition.Lou Major, publisher ofBogalusa Daily News, became a notable target, experiencing a cross burning in his yard by the Klan, a stark manifestation of the Klan's efforts to silence advocates for equality and justice.[19]
Determined to fight for their rights,Bob Hicks,Charles Sims,A.Z. Young, and others had taken leadership of the (all-black)Bogalusa Civic and Voters' League. On February 21, 1965, with the help of three activists from theDeacons for Defense and Justice based inJonesboro, Louisiana, they founded the first affiliated chapter of that African-American self-defense organization. Other leaders of the Deacons were Bert Wyre, Aurilus “Reeves” Perkins, Sam Bonds, Fletcher Anderson, and others.[20] They mobilized many war veterans within the black community to provide armed security to civil rights activists and their families.[21][22] Expecting a violent summer, the State Police established an office in Bogalusa in February 1965.[21]
As explained by Seth Hague,
...the community came to embrace the militant rhetoric of the Jonesboro Deacons. Many violent conflicts ensued under this ideology and culminated in a climactic summer in 1965. Consequently, the black workers’ militancy threatened not only the power of the middle class blacks, but also the political and economic hegemony of the white power structure in Bogalusa. Except for a few noteworthy courtroom "victories" versus Crown-Zellerbach, threatening the power structure was virtually the struggle's only effect as the white power structure subsumed the militancy and rhetoric of the revolutionary Bogalusans."[21]
Two of the most notable murders of African Americans that took place in Bogalusa during the civil rights era wereOneal Moore, who was killed in 1965,[23] the first black deputy sheriff hired for the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, andClarence Triggs, who was killed in 1966.[24]
With changes in the lumber industry, through the late 20th century, after 1960, a steady decline in industrial operations, jobs, and associated population of the town occurred. By 2015, the population was estimated at slightly less than 12,000,[25] more than 40% below the high in 1960. These conditions have made it more difficult for remaining residents.
In 1995, a railroadtank car imploded atGaylord Chemical Corporation, releasingnitrogen tetroxide and forcing the evacuation of about 3,000 people within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius. Residents say "the sky turned orange" as a result. Emergency rooms filled with about 4,000 people who complained of burning eyes, skin, and lungs. Dozens oflawsuits were filed against Gaylord Chemical and were finally settled in May 2005, with compensation checks issued to around 20,000 people affected by the accident.
On August 29, 2005,Hurricane Katrina hit the city with winds of about 110 mph (175 km/h), downing numerous trees and power lines. Many buildings in Bogalusa were damaged from falling trees, and several were destroyed. Most of the houses, businesses, and other buildings suffered roof damage from the storm's ferocious winds. Some outlying areas of the city were without power for more than a month.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.6 km2), of which 9.5 square miles (24.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2) (0.52%) is covered by water.
According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Bogalusa has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Bogalusa was 107 °F (41.7 °C) on June 20, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was 4 °F (−15.6 °C) on January 12, 1962.[26]
| Climate data for Bogalusa, Louisiana, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–2008 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 91 (33) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 107 (42) | 105 (41) | 104 (40) | 101 (38) | 95 (35) | 89 (32) | 86 (30) | 107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.9 (24.4) | 79.0 (26.1) | 83.8 (28.8) | 87.3 (30.7) | 92.2 (33.4) | 95.8 (35.4) | 97.5 (36.4) | 96.8 (36.0) | 94.8 (34.9) | 89.8 (32.1) | 83.5 (28.6) | 79.2 (26.2) | 98.5 (36.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61.3 (16.3) | 65.8 (18.8) | 72.1 (22.3) | 78.9 (26.1) | 85.4 (29.7) | 90.5 (32.5) | 92.4 (33.6) | 92.0 (33.3) | 88.8 (31.6) | 81.0 (27.2) | 70.8 (21.6) | 63.9 (17.7) | 78.6 (25.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 50.0 (10.0) | 54.1 (12.3) | 60.2 (15.7) | 66.9 (19.4) | 74.3 (23.5) | 80.3 (26.8) | 82.3 (27.9) | 82.0 (27.8) | 78.2 (25.7) | 68.8 (20.4) | 58.4 (14.7) | 52.4 (11.3) | 67.3 (19.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 38.7 (3.7) | 42.4 (5.8) | 48.3 (9.1) | 54.8 (12.7) | 63.2 (17.3) | 70.1 (21.2) | 72.1 (22.3) | 71.9 (22.2) | 67.7 (19.8) | 56.7 (13.7) | 45.9 (7.7) | 40.9 (4.9) | 56.1 (13.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 38.9 (3.8) | 50.4 (10.2) | 60.0 (15.6) | 66.9 (19.4) | 65.7 (18.7) | 53.9 (12.2) | 38.8 (3.8) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 18.6 (−7.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) | 12 (−11) | 20 (−7) | 31 (−1) | 42 (6) | 48 (9) | 57 (14) | 56 (13) | 40 (4) | 27 (−3) | 21 (−6) | 6 (−14) | 4 (−16) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 6.14 (156) | 4.64 (118) | 5.14 (131) | 4.38 (111) | 4.51 (115) | 7.76 (197) | 6.35 (161) | 5.83 (148) | 4.72 (120) | 5.33 (135) | 4.15 (105) | 4.93 (125) | 63.88 (1,622) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.9 | 8.0 | 9.4 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 12.6 | 13.7 | 10.2 | 9.0 | 6.9 | 8.2 | 9.1 | 113.3 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA[27] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima 1971–2000)[28] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 8,245 | — | |
| 1930 | 14,029 | 70.2% | |
| 1940 | 14,604 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 17,798 | 21.9% | |
| 1960 | 21,423 | 20.4% | |
| 1970 | 18,412 | −14.1% | |
| 1980 | 16,976 | −7.8% | |
| 1990 | 14,280 | −15.9% | |
| 2000 | 13,365 | −6.4% | |
| 2010 | 12,232 | −8.5% | |
| 2020 | 10,659 | −12.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 10,367 | [29] | −2.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[30] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,410 | 41.37% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,398 | 50.64% |
| Native American | 23 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 68 | 0.64% |
| Other/Mixed | 356 | 3.34% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 404 | 3.79% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 10,659 people, 4,874 households, and 2,923 families residing in the city.
With a crime rate of 53 per one thousand residents, Bogalusa's crime rate is higher than Louisiana's average crime rate.[32]However, the violent crimes have suddenly been disappeared in last 2 years due to effective policing. In 2023, there were only four and one of those was a vehicular homicide. In 2024, there has been just one. Violent incidents involving guns and knives are also down: There were 96 in 2022, the first year the BPD tracked that stat, and 41 in 2023, while in 2024 there have been mere two incidents only, according to Bogalusa Police Department.[33]
Bogalusa's economy has been linked tolumbering and its byproducts since the city's founding by theGreat Southern Lumber Company chartered in 1902 by theGoodyears ofBuffalo, New York.[7] The sawmill was, for many years, the largest in the world. A paper mill was added in 1918.[34] By 1938, the Goodyear family's mill had clear cut all the virgin longleaf yellow pine within hundreds of miles of Bogalusa and after an unprofitable effort to import redwood from California, their sawmill operations at the Great Southern Lumber Company also ended. Bogalusa's industry then shifted to paper milling as Goodyear's sawmill passed ontoGaylord Container Corporation which was then bought byCrown Zellerbach in 1955. By the mid 1960s the mill was producing some 1300 tons of paper daily with four machines.[35] Georgia Pacific acquired the mill in 1986. Its brown paper successor owned the Bogalusa mill until 2002 when Gaylord was acquired byTemple-Inland Corporation, the area's largest employer.
The spill-over of industrial products into thePearl River in August 2011 resulted in Federal fines of over one million dollars. The following year, 2012, Temple-Inland was acquired byInternational Paper headquartered inMemphis, TN and the mill came under new ownership.[36] The Bogalusa mill still operates as acorrugated fiberboard plant making boxes and shipping containers. As of 2019 the plant remains the city's largest employer with 425 people.[37] However production is much less than the 1960s with only two machines now in operation.[35]
The city charter designates a mayor and a council of seven members, five of whom are elected from the respective districts and two are elected at-large, all serving four-year terms.[43]
Bogalusa is home to the205th Engineer Battalion of the LouisianaArmy National Guard, which is part of the225th Engineer Brigade headquartered inPineville, Louisiana, at theLouisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville.[44]
In January 2025,Louisiana State Police announced the arrest of city mayorTyrin Truong, who is facing charges of transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, unauthorized use of a moveable, and soliciting for prostitutes.[45][46]
Bogalusa operates its own public school system,Bogalusa City Schools, consisting of sevenelementary schools, onejunior high and onehigh school. As of 2020 there are over 3600 students enrolled and almost 230 teachers working for the district.[47]
Northshore Technical Community College is located in Bogalusa. In 1930, it was the first trade school established in the state of Louisiana, and it is now a fully accredited community college.
The local weekly newspaper is theBogalusa Daily News.[48][49] The city was home to oneradio station,WBOX 920 AM & 92.9 FM[50]
Bogalusa is located at the juncture of Louisiana Highways
10 running east–west and
21 running north–south. Bogalusa connects toBush, Louisiana
There is no passenger rail to Bogalusa but theBogalusa Bayou Railroad (BBAY) serves Bogalusa's International Paper plant connecting it northward with theCanadian National line inMississippi.[51]
The Bogalusa Airport, officially named theGeorge R. Carr Memorial Air Field[52][53] is owned by the city. It is located north of the city.[54]
The Police Department employs 35 officers and 12 reserves.[47]
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