Webster Parish, Louisiana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Webster Parish, Louisiana | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Louisiana |
|
 Louisiana's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | information needed |
|---|---|
| Seat | Minden |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,593 km² (615 mi²) 1,542 km² (595 mi²) 51 km² (20 mi²), 3.23% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
41,831 27/km² |
| Website: www.wppj.org | |
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Minden, and as of 2000, the population was 41,831.
Since 1992, Webster Parish have been represented in the Louisiana House of Representatives by a member of the Doerge family. Democrat Everett Doerge, a retired educator and native of Minden, unseated the Republican incumbent Eugene S. Eason and held the seat until his death in 1998. His widow, Jean M. Doerge, also a former educator, a Democrat, and a native of Natchitoches Parish, won the special election as his successor. She has since been reelected twice without opposition.
From 1933 to 1980 the office of Webster Parish sheriff, the chief parish tax collector, was filled only by three Democrats from two political families. Oscar Henry Haynes, Sr., held the position from 1933-1952. His son, O.H. Haynes, Jr., served from 1964-1980. In between was their intraparty rival, John D. "J.D." Batton, who filled the post from 1952-1964.
[edit] Geography
The parish has a total area of 1,593 km² (615 mi²). 1,542 km² (595 mi²) of it is land and 51 km² (20 mi²) of it (3.23%) is water.
[edit] Major Highways
[edit] Adjacent parishes
- Lafayette County, Arkansas (north)
- Columbia County, Arkansas (northeast)
- Claiborne Parish (east)
- Bienville Parish (southeast)
- Bossier Parish (west)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 41,831 people, 16,501 households, and 11,567 families residing in the parish. The population density was 27/km² (70/mi²). There were 18,991 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (32/mi²). 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 out 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.
==Cities and towns==
