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Webster Parish, Louisiana

Coordinates: 32°42′N 93°20′W / 32.70°N 93.33°W / 32.70; -93.33
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For other uses, see Webster County.
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Webster
Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden (dedicated May 1, 1953) was a project of the contractor George A. Caldwell.
Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden (dedicated May 1, 1953) was a project of the contractor George A. Caldwell.
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
RegionNorth Louisiana
Founded1871
Named forDaniel Webster
Parish seat (and largest city)Minden
Area
 • Total
1,590 km2 (615 sq mi)
 • Land1,540 km2 (593 sq mi)
 • Water60 km2 (22 sq mi)
 • percentage9 km2 (3.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
36,967
 • RankLA: 29th
 • Density23/km2 (60/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district4th
WebsiteParish of Webster

Webster Parish (French: Paroisse de Webster) is a parish located in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat and largest city is Minden.[1]

As of the 2020 census, the Webster Parish population was 36,967.[2] Public officials who have long sought to increase the industrial potential of the parish, expressed concern over the decline. Jim Bonsall, the president of the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, cited the ending of the Haynesville Shale boom as the primary reason for the population losses. The parish has long depended on jobs in the petroleum and natural gas fields.[3]

The parish is named for 19th-century American statesman Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It was created on February 27, 1871[4] from lands formerly belonging to Bienville, Bossier, and Claiborne parishes. The parish centennial celebration was held in May 1971. Speakers included Police jury president Leland Garland Mims and Judge Enos McClendon of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court, who gave a biographical sketch of Daniel Webster. Many officials and parish employees dressed in period costume of the 1870s for the event.[5]

Webster Parish is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden CSA.

Among the first settlers in Webster Parish was Newett Drew, a native of Virginia, who about 1818 established a grist mill at the former Overton community near Minden. At this time the area was Natchitoches Parish and later Overton became the Parish Seat of Claiborne Parish in 1836 until it moved in 1848. His son, Richard Maxwell Drew was born in Overton and served as a district judge and state representative prior to his death in 1850 at the age of twenty-eight. R. M. Drew's descendants held judicial or legislative positions in Webster Parish as well, Richard Cleveland Drew, Harmon Caldwell Drew, R. Harmon Drew, Sr., and Harmon Drew, Jr.[6]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 615 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (3.5%) is water.[7]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties and parishes

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National protected areas

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Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188010,005—
189012,46624.6%
190015,12521.3%
191019,18626.8%
192024,70728.8%
193029,45819.2%
194033,67614.3%
195035,7046.0%
196039,70111.2%
197039,9390.6%
198043,6319.2%
199041,989−3.8%
200041,831−0.4%
201041,207−1.5%
202036,967−10.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010[12]
Webster Parish racial composition as of 2020[13]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 22,554 61.01%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 12,142 32.85%
Native American 136 0.37%
Asian 138 0.37%
Pacific Islander 12 0.03%
Other/Mixed 1,297 3.51%
Hispanic or Latino 688 1.86%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 36,967 people, 16,551 households, and 10,295 families residing in the parish.

As of the census[14] of 2010 there were 52,903 people, 20,500 households, and 12,589 families residing in the parish. The population density was 92 people per square mile (36 people/km2). There were 18,991 housing units at an average density of 32 units per square mile (12 units/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 65.51% White, 32.83% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,501 households, of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $28,408, and the median income for a family was $35,119. Males had a median income of $30,343 versus $20,907 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,203. About 15.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Law, government, and politics

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In 1996, the Webster Parish Police Jury approved a $1,849,000 bid to the firm Finney Co. of Shreveport for construction of a new parish library facility on Est and West Street in Minden.[15]

Webster Parish is generally competitive in most contested elections. The parish voted for Republican Barry Goldwater for president in 1964 and George Wallace in 1968, when the former governor of Alabama ran on the American Independent Party ticket. Richard Nixon won here in 1972, and Jimmy Carter of Georgia prevailed in 1976. In 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan won the parish by a nearly two-to-one margin over former Vice President Walter F. Mondale.[16]

In 2000, Governor George W. Bush of Texas won in Webster Parish with 9,420 votes (55.1 percent), compared to then Vice President Al Gore's 7,197 (42.1 percent). Patrick Buchanan of the Reform Party held 183 votes (1.1 percent).[17] In 2004, Bush again won the parish, having polled 11,070 votes (60 percent) to Democrat John Kerry's 6,833 (37 percent).[18]

In 2008, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona carried Webster Parish with 11,417 votes (62.5 percent), compared to Barack Obama's 6,610 (36.2 percent).[19] Four years later in 2012, Republican Mitt Romney led in the parish with 11,400 votes (61.9 percent), 17 fewer ballots than McCain had received. In 2012, President Obama polled 6,802 votes (36.9 percent), 192 more than his 2008 tabulation.[20]

The last Democrat hence to have won in Webster Parish at the presidential level was Bill Clinton in 1996, who received 9,688 (55.3 percent), compared to Republican Robert Dole's 6,153 ballots (35.1 percent). Ross Perot, founder of the Reform Party, held 1,324 votes (7.6 percent). In that same election, the Democrat Mary Landrieu carried Webster Parish in her successful U.S. Senate race against Republican Woody Jenkins, 8,459 (51.3 percent) to 8,020 (48.7 percent).[21]

United States presidential election results for Webster Parish, Louisiana[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,965 67.66% 5,053 31.18% 187 1.15%
2020 11,830 64.94% 6,172 33.88% 214 1.17%
2016 11,542 63.61% 6,260 34.50% 343 1.89%
2012 11,400 61.90% 6,802 36.94% 214 1.16%
2008 11,417 62.49% 6,610 36.18% 243 1.33%
2004 11,070 60.00% 6,833 37.04% 546 2.96%
2000 9,420 55.12% 7,197 42.11% 473 2.77%
1996 6,153 35.13% 9,688 55.31% 1,676 9.57%
1992 6,640 36.36% 8,380 45.88% 3,244 17.76%
1988 10,204 57.31% 7,434 41.75% 167 0.94%
1984 12,055 64.54% 6,509 34.85% 113 0.61%
1980 8,865 50.24% 8,568 48.55% 214 1.21%
1976 7,550 50.28% 7,286 48.52% 181 1.21%
1972 8,829 71.50% 2,859 23.15% 661 5.35%
1968 2,496 17.81% 2,871 20.49% 8,646 61.70%
1964 8,177 82.33% 1,755 17.67% 0 0.00%
1960 3,139 40.94% 1,273 16.60% 3,255 42.45%
1956 3,280 48.72% 2,352 34.93% 1,101 16.35%
1952 3,442 43.10% 4,544 56.90% 0 0.00%
1948 455 8.60% 1,933 36.53% 2,903 54.87%
1944 899 19.74% 3,655 80.26% 0 0.00%
1940 332 8.07% 3,777 91.83% 4 0.10%
1936 301 9.69% 2,799 90.12% 6 0.19%
1932 73 2.36% 3,020 97.64% 0 0.00%
1928 356 19.93% 1,430 80.07% 0 0.00%
1924 52 5.03% 929 89.93% 52 5.03%
1920 112 9.99% 1,009 90.01% 0 0.00%
1916 6 0.57% 1,040 99.24% 2 0.19%
1912 9 1.09% 696 83.96% 124 14.96%

Education

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The elected Webster Parish School Board operates local public schools.

It is in the service area of Bossier Parish Community College.[23]

National Guard

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The 39th MP Company of the 773rd MP Battalion and the 1083rd Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion reside at Camp Minden west of Minden, formerly the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. Both of these battalions are part of the 139TH RSG (Regional Support Group).

Notable people

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See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Webster Parish, Louisiana.
  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Webster Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Bruce Franklin (May 23, 2017). "Webster Parish's population declines for sixth year". Minden Press-Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  4. ^ Calhoun, Milburn; McGovern, Bernie (April 29, 2008). Louisiana Almanac (18 ed.). Pelican Publishing. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-58980-543-9.
  5. ^ "Webster Centennial Officially Opened," Minden Press-Herald, May 3, 1971, p. 1.
  6. ^ "Drew Family". mindenmemories.org. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ "Library bid approved", Minden Profess-Herald, March 12, 1996, p 1.
  16. ^ Marilyn Miller, "Webster follows trend", Minden Press-Herald, November 7, 1984, p. 1
  17. ^ "Webster Parish election returns, November 7, 2000". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  18. ^ "Webster Parish election returns, November 2, 2004". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  19. ^ "Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  20. ^ "Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  21. ^ "Webster Parish election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  23. ^ "Our Colleges". Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges. Retrieved June 3, 2021.

32°42′N 93°20′W / 32.70°N 93.33°W / 32.70; -93.33

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