East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

East Feliciana Parish (French: Paroisse de Feliciana Est, Spanish: Parroquia de East Feliciana) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,267.[1] The parish seat is Clinton.[2]

East Feliciana Parish
Parish
Parish of East Feliciana
East Feliciana Parish Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°51′N 91°03′W
Country United States
State Louisiana
Founded1824
Named forMarie Felice de Gálvez
SeatClinton
Largest townJackson
Area
 • Total456 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Land453 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Water2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,267
 • Estimate 
(2018)
19,305
 • Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts5th, 6th
Websitewww.eastfelicianaclerk.org

Established when Feliciana Parish was divided in 1824, both East and West Feliciana parishes are part of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. They are also considered part of the Florida Parishes, at one time part of Spain's West Florida colony.

History

The parish was part of Feliciana Parish, which was founded and named in 1810 by Spanish rulers, who then controlled the territory. Feliciana is derived from a Spanish rendering of the French name "Felicité", which means happiness. The Spanish governor named it in honor of his wife, Marie Felicité.[3]

After the United States annexed this territory, population continued to increase. It had been developed for sugar cane plantations and business was thriving. In 1824, the state legislature divided the parish into East Feliciana Parish and West Feliciana Parish, so that residents would have easier access to their parish seats.

The Louisiana State Insane Asylum was the first state institution in the parish, established near the town of Jackson in 1847. It was greatly enlarged and improved under the administration of Dr. John Welch Jones, who was appointed as superintendent in 1874, during the Reconstruction era. The bi-racial legislators in power at the time made commitments to public education and state welfare institutions. The facility was later called East Louisiana State Hospital.

The Margaret Dixon Correctional Institute is located in Jackson, as well. It opened in 1976 and is named for the crusading managing editor of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (now called The Advocate). She had argued for the decentralization of the massive Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, in neighboring West Feliciana Parish.


Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 456 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 453 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent parishes and counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18308,247—
184011,89344.2%
185013,59814.3%
186014,6978.1%
187013,499−8.2%
188015,13212.1%
189017,90318.3%
190020,44314.2%
191020,055−1.9%
192017,487−12.8%
193017,449−0.2%
194018,0393.4%
195019,1336.1%
196020,1985.6%
197017,657−12.6%
198019,0157.7%
199019,2111.0%
200021,36011.2%
201020,267−5.1%
2018 (est.)19,305[5]−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,267 people living in the parish. 53.2% were White, 44.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

At the 2000 census,[10] there were 21,360 people, 6,699 households, and 5,030 families living in the parish. The population density was 47 per square mile (18 per km2). There were 7,915 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7 per km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 51.79% White, 47.08% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,699 households, of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 18.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.26.

25.70% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.40 males.

The median household income was $31,631, and the median family income was $37,278. Males had a median income of $31,804 versus $20,243 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,428. About 18.30% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 21.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury is the governing body of the parish and consists of nine representatives elected by district.

East Louisiana State Hospital, currently referred to as Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System is located in Jackson. Its main building is considered to be one of the largest and most significant Greek Revival buildings in Louisiana, it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The institution was one of the first mental hospitals in the South.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections operates the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson.[11]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 57.7% 6,064 40.7% 4,280 1.6% 165
2016 55.5% 5,569 42.2% 4,235 2.4% 238
2012 52.9% 5,397 45.5% 4,648 1.6% 164
2008 54.6% 5,432 44.1% 4,383 1.3% 132
2004 54.6% 5,021 44.5% 4,091 1.0% 89
2000 50.0% 4,051 47.8% 3,870 2.2% 178
1996 35.1% 2,949 56.1% 4,714 8.8% 738
1992 35.6% 2,813 51.8% 4,093 12.5% 989
1988 48.0% 3,527 49.8% 3,659 2.2% 163
1984 49.6% 4,166 49.1% 4,122 1.4% 113
1980 38.6% 2,650 58.7% 4,033 2.8% 190
1976 31.3% 1,668 65.5% 3,485 3.2% 170
1972 49.0% 1,992 39.4% 1,603 11.6% 472
1968 11.2% 457 34.4% 1,409 54.4% 2,225
1964 79.6% 1,900 20.4% 486
1960 16.2% 313 24.7% 475 59.1% 1,139
1956 37.5% 912 53.6% 1,304 9.0% 219
1952 46.2% 876 53.8% 1,019
1948 10.3% 127 21.6% 267 68.1% 840
1944 20.2% 220 79.8% 869
1940 13.4% 164 86.6% 1,059
1936 8.8% 102 91.2% 1,057
1932 5.2% 65 94.8% 1,178
1928 20.5% 160 79.5% 622
1924 4.7% 25 95.3% 504
1920 5.4% 30 94.6% 529
1916 4.1% 21 95.7% 489 0.2% 1
1912 0.2% 1 95.9% 422 3.9% 17

Education

East Feliciana Parish School Board operates public schools in the parish. Elementary schools include Jackson Elementary School, Slaughter Elementary School, and Clinton Elementary School. Upper public schools include East Feliciana Middle and Highschool.

Silliman Institute in Clinton was established in the late 1960s as a directed response to federal courts ordering the desegregation of the East Feliciana public school system.

Some students in the parish attend Wilkinson County Christian Academy in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.[13]

Communities
Map of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Demajo, J. "History of East Feliciana". Feliciana Tourism. East Feliciana Tourist Commission. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. "Dixon Correctional Institute Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine." Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Retrieved on August 29, 2010.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  13. "About the School" ( Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine). Wilkinson County Christian Academy. Retrieved on April 15, 2015.
  14. "The most influential US conservatives 2007: 61-80". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  15. "Thomas Jackson, Sr (1757-1844) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  16. "John D. Travis Obituary". The Baton Rouge Advocate. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.

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