Bossier Parish, Louisiana

Bossier Parish (/ˈboʊʒər/ BOH-zhər; French: Paroisse de Bossier) is a parish located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,979.[1] The parish seat is Benton.[2] The principal city is Bossier City, which is located east of the Red River and across from the larger city of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The parish was formed in 1843 from the western portion of Claiborne Parish.[3][4]

Bossier Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Bossier
Renovated Bossier Parish Courthouse in Benton
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
RegionNorth Louisiana
FoundedFebruary 24, 1843
Named forPierre Bossier
Parish seatBenton
Largest cityBossier City
Area
 • Total2,250 km2 (867 sq mi)
 • Land2,200 km2 (840 sq mi)
 • Water70 km2 (27 sq mi)
 • percentage8 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total116,979
 • Estimate 
(2019)
127,039
 • RankLA: 12th
 • Density52/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district4th
WebsiteOfficial website

Bossier Parish is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Lake Bistineau and Lake Bistineau State Park are included in parts of Bossier and neighboring Webster and Bienville parishes. Loggy Bayou flows south from Lake Bistineau in southern Bossier Parish, traverses western Bienville Parish, and in Red River Parish joins the Red River.

History
Arnold-Tidwell House near the Cypress Lake recreational area is one of three antebellum homes still standing in Bossier Parish.[5]
Willis Knighton Hospital in Bossier City serves much of northern Bossier Parish.
Swimmers at Cypress Lake on a cloudy summer day

Bossier Parish is named for Pierre Bossier, an ethnic French, 19th-century Louisiana state senator and U.S. representative from Natchitoches Parish.

Bossier Parish was spared fighting on its soil during the American Civil War. In July 1861, at the start of the war, the Bossier Parish Police Jury appropriated $35,000 for the benefit of Confederate volunteers and their family members left behind, an amount then considered generous.[6]

After the war, whites used violence and intimidation to maintain dominance over the newly emancipated freedmen. From the end of Reconstruction into the 20th century, violence increased as conservative white Democrats struggled to maintain power over the state. In this period, Bossier Parish had 26 lynchings of African Americans by whites, part of racial terrorism. This was the fifth-highest total of any parish in Louisiana, tied with the total in Iberia Parish in the South of the state.[7] Overall, parishes in northwest Louisiana had the highest rates of lynchings.

Law, government, and politics

Bossier Parish is governed by a 12-member elected body, the Bossier Parish Police Jury (equivalent to county commission in other states). Members are elected from single-member districts. Eddy Shell, a prominent Bossier City educator, was repeatedly re-elected, serving on the police jury from 1992 until his death in 2008.

The current members of the police jury are :

  • District 1 - Hank Meachum
  • District 2 - Glenn Benton
  • District 3 - Wanda Bennett
  • District 4 - Douglas (Sonny) Cook
  • District 5 - Barry Butler
  • District 6 - Rick Avery
  • District 7 - Jimmy Cochran
  • District 8 - J. Brad Cummings
  • District 9 - William R. Altimus
  • District 10 - Jerome Darby
  • District 11 - Wayne Hammack
  • District 12 - Paul M. "Mac" Plummer[8]

Since the late 20th century, the white majority of the parish has shifted from the Democratic to the Republican Party, as have most conservative whites in Louisiana and other Southern states. Before this, the state was a one-party state dominated by the Democratic Party, in the period after the turn of the century when most blacks were disenfranchised in Louisiana.

Bossier Parish has since reliably supported Republican candidatese in most contested US presidential elections. Since 1952, George Wallace, the former governor of Alabama who ran in 1968 on the American Independent Party ticket, is the only non-Republican to have carried Bossier Parish.[9][10]

In 2008, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona won in Bossier Parish with 32,713 votes (71.4 percent) over the Democrat Barack H. Obama of Illinois, who polled 12,703 votes (27.8 percent).[11] In 2012, Mitt Romney polled 34,988 votes (72 percent) in Bossier Parish, or 2,275 more ballots than McCain drew in 2008. President Obama trailed in Bossier Parish with 12,956 votes (26.7 percent), or 253 more votes than he had received in 2008.[12]

In 2011, Bossier Parish elected a Republican, Julian C. Whittington, as sheriff to succeed the long-term Larry Deen. He was a Democrat and later changed his registration to the Republican Party.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 69.7% 38,074 28.7% 15,662 1.7% 919
2016 71.2% 35,474 25.4% 12,641 3.5% 1,733
2012 72.1% 34,988 26.7% 12,956 1.3% 618
2008 71.4% 32,713 27.7% 12,703 0.9% 419
2004 70.3% 30,040 28.8% 12,317 0.8% 348
2000 64.7% 23,224 33.2% 11,933 2.1% 758
1996 47.6% 16,852 43.8% 15,504 8.6% 3,026
1992 47.6% 15,628 34.5% 11,313 17.9% 5,860
1988 69.2% 20,807 30.0% 9,035 0.8% 243
1984 76.0% 22,638 23.5% 7,006 0.5% 138
1980 62.7% 16,515 35.6% 9,377 1.7% 447
1976 59.2% 12,132 39.4% 8,062 1.4% 293
1972 78.6% 12,856 17.8% 2,914 3.6% 580
1968 23.7% 3,745 17.6% 2,782 58.6% 9,249
1964 83.5% 9,822 16.5% 1,937
1960 39.3% 3,429 25.2% 2,198 35.5% 3,093
1956 49.0% 3,107 30.8% 1,954 20.2% 1,284
1952 57.8% 3,677 42.2% 2,683
1948 8.7% 338 29.6% 1,147 61.7% 2,391
1944 20.4% 622 79.6% 2,430 0.0% 1
1940 8.2% 275 91.2% 3,045 0.6% 20
1936 8.9% 193 91.0% 1,975 0.1% 2
1932 2.5% 56 97.5% 2,191
1928 15.9% 225 84.1% 1,187
1924 5.8% 48 91.4% 751 2.8% 23
1920 5.7% 44 94.3% 731
1916 1.3% 9 98.7% 675
1912 1.2% 6 87.7% 427 11.1% 54

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 867 square miles (2,250 km2), of which 840 square miles (2,200 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (3.1%) is water.[14] Four miles east of Bossier City is Barksdale Air Force Base.

Major highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18506,962—
186011,34863.0%
187012,67511.7%
188016,04226.6%
189020,33026.7%
190024,15318.8%
191021,738−10.0%
192022,2662.4%
193028,38827.5%
194033,16216.8%
195040,13921.0%
196057,62243.6%
197064,51912.0%
198080,72125.1%
199086,0886.6%
200098,31014.2%
2010116,97919.0%
2019 (est.)127,039[15]8.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2019[1]

As of the census of 2010, there were 116,979 people, 62,000 households, and 37,500 families residing in the parish. The population density was 142 people per square mile (45/km2). There were 49,000 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 70.66% White, 18.52% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. 8.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 46,020 households, out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $39,203, and the median income for a family was $45,542. Males had a median income of $32,305 versus $23,287 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $18,119. About 10.60% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

National Guard

The 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion is headquartered in Bossier City. This unit was deployed to Iraq in 2008. Also located in Bossier City is the 156TH Army Band which deployed as part of the 256th Infantry Brigade in 2010 to Iraq.

Education

Bossier Parish School Board operates public schools in the parish.

Communities
Map of Bossier Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people
  • Bossier Parish Library in Benton
  • Bossier Parish's Sheriff's Department in Benton
  • Bossier Parish School Board office in Benton

See also

References
  1. "Bossier Parish, Louisiana". quickfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Stinson, Louise. "Bossier City History". www.bossiercity.org. City of Bossier City. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  4. Anonymous. "About Bossier Parish". www.bossierparishla.gov. Bossier Parish. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  5. Arnold-Tidwell House, Historical marker, Bossier Parish, Louisiana
  6. John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1963, ISBN 0-8071-0834-0, p. 38
  7. Lynching in America, Third Edition: Supplement by County Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, p. 6, Equal Justice Initiative, Mobile, AL, 2017
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. David Leip's Presidential election Atlas (Louisiana electoral maps
  10. Geographie Electorale
  11. "Bossier Parish presidential election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  12. "Bossier Parish presidential election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  14. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  15. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  18. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  20. "Kay McMahan, "Bossier Parish, LA, Towns"". usgwarchives.net. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  21. "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2012" (PDF). legis.state.la.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  22. "My Hometown: Plain Dealing, Louisiana". oocities.org. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  23. "Dewey E. Burchett, Jr". The Shreveport Times. November 22, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  24. "Roy Burrell". house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  25. "Notes for Harvey Locke Carey". familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  26. "Curry, Robert H." The Political Graveyard. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  27. "Col. E. S. Dortch Dies at Atlanta: Bossier Veteran Who Fought Under Stonewall Jackson Succumbs". The Shreveport Times through findagrave.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  28. "Not Guilty" (PDF). cowboysforchrist.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  29. "List of Louisiana Wrongful Convictions Overturned since 1966, November 23, 2003". Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  30. "About Ryan". rayangatti.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  31. "Slaughter, Germany to be honored: Tech duo will be enshrined into the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions". Ruston Daily Leader. July 2, 2016. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  32. "Mike Johnson State Representative". mikejohnsonlouisiana.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  33. ""John A. W. Lowry of Bossier Parish, Louisiana" in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana". Chicago and Nashville, Tennessee: Southern Publishing Company. 1890. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  34. "William Washington Vance". findagrave.com based on Baton Rouge newspaper clipping. February 17, 1900. Retrieved March 27, 2015.

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