West Monroe, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
 Cottonport Historic District (2010) | |
 Location of West Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. | |
.svg) Location of Louisiana in the United States | |
| Coordinates:32°30′05″N92°08′31″W / 32.50139°N 92.14194°W /32.50139; -92.14194 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Ouachita |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Staci Albritton Mitchell[citation needed] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.31 sq mi (21.53 km2) |
| • Land | 8.03 sq mi (20.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2) |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,103 |
| • Density | 1,632.6/sq mi (630.35/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Postal codes | 71291, 71292 |
| Area code | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-80955 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405712[2] |
| Website | [1] |
West Monroe is the second largest city inOuachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the2020 United States census, its population was 13,103. It is situated on theOuachita River, across from the neighboring city ofMonroe. The two cities are often referred to as theTwin Cities of northeast Louisiana.
Originally laid out in 1837 asByron by John Campbell at the foot of the ferry landing to Monroe, the town floundered and Campbell went bankrupt. The area was bought by Christopher Dabbs, a doctor from Virginia who submitted the plans forCotton Port in 1854; it officially was recognized in 1859.
It too languished until the arrival of theVicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway and the construction of the bridge over the Ouachita River. Cotton Port boomed as a river port and rail depot.[3]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km2), of which 7.7 square miles (20.0 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2) (3.14%) is water.
West Monroe is a separate municipality fromMonroe.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 447 | — | |
| 1900 | 775 | 73.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,127 | 45.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,240 | 98.8% | |
| 1930 | 6,566 | 193.1% | |
| 1940 | 8,560 | 30.4% | |
| 1950 | 10,302 | 20.4% | |
| 1960 | 15,215 | 47.7% | |
| 1970 | 14,868 | −2.3% | |
| 1980 | 14,993 | 0.8% | |
| 1990 | 14,096 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 13,250 | −6.0% | |
| 2010 | 13,065 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 13,103 | 0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[4] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7,082 | 54.05% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,607 | 35.16% |
| Native American | 27 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 116 | 0.89% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 521 | 3.98% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 744 | 5.68% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.
West Monroe is part of theMonroeMetropolitan Statistical Area.
The current mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell, who has served since 2018.
A 2013 "Community Impressions" report complimented the green spaces, including theKiroli and Restoration parks, and Antique Alley as important assets to the West Monroe community.According to long-term MayorDave Norris, the study confirms "the value of many of the projects we've focused on to enhance quality of life."[6] The report identifies situations in need of improvement, many of which have already been addressed, including insufficient or inaccurate signage to area attractions, brown water and the need to renovate certain wells, limited shopping opportunities for clothing, traffic problems on Thomas Road, and the failure to promote the popular phenomenon created from the West Monroe-basedA&Erealitytelevision series,Duck Dynasty.[6] The consultants declared West Monroe and the general area west of the Ouachita River overall as "a clean, vibrant, growing friendly area ... [with] a small town atmosphere and yet ... many of the amenities and features of a [larger] city."[6]
1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.
Ouachita Parish School System is the area school district.[7]
West Monroe is the second most populous city of the Monroe media market for radio.
West Monroe is part of the Monroemedia market for television.
Municipalities and communities ofOuachita Parish, Louisiana,United States | ||
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
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