East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

East Feliciana Parish (French: Paroisse de Feliciana Est, Spanish: Parroquia de Feliciana Oriental) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, the population was 19,531.[1] The parish seat is Clinton.[2]

East Feliciana Parish
Parish
East Feliciana Parish Courthouse
East Feliciana Parish Courthouse
Map of Louisiana highlighting East Feliciana Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting 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
 (2020)
 • Total19,531
 • Density43/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 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 Spaniards who then controlled the territory. The Spanish governor, Bernardo de Gálvez, 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent parishes and counties

Communities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202019,531−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010[11]
East Feliciana Parish racial composition as of 2020[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 11,411 58.4%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 7,108 36.38%
Native American 60 0.31%
Asian 46 0.24%
Pacific Islander 9 0.05%
Other/Mixed 514 2.63%
Hispanic or Latino 391 2.0%

At the 2019 American Community Survey, there were 19,371 people living in the parish, down from 20,267 at the 2010 United States census. The 2019 census-estimated population comprised 6,959 households living in 8,487 housing units spread throughout the parish. There were 1,595 businesses operating in East Feliciana.[13] By the 2020 United States census, there were 19,539 people, 6,959 households, and 4,777 families residing in the parish.

In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the parish was the following: 53.2% were White, 44.9% Black and African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races; 1.0% were Hispanic or Latin American of any race. At the 2019 census-estimates, 54.5% were non-Hispanic white, 43.6% Black and African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% some other race, and 0.9% multiracial. Hispanics and Latin Americans of any race made up 1.7% of the total population.[13] During the 2020 census, the parish's race and ethnic composition was 58.3% non-Hispanic white, 36.38% Black and African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.63% other or multiracial, and 2.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[12]

As of 2019-2021's census estimates, approximately 40% of the population was employed in the parish, and the home-ownership rate was 80.5%. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $139,300, and median gross rent was $647. Residents had a median household income of $51,803; males earned a median income of $61,105 versus $32,243 for females.[13] At the 2000 United States census, 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. An estimated 23.3% of the parish lived at or below the poverty line in 2019, up from 23% at the 2000 U.S. census.

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the Southern Baptist Convention was the parish's largest Christian denomination, Christianity being the largest religion as part of the Bible Belt.[14] Southern Baptists were spread out in 16 congregations and numbered 5,248; following, United Methodists numbered 1,636. Roman Catholicism had 250 adherents.

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 High school. Some students in the parish attend Wilkinson County Christian Academy in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.[15]

The parish is in the service area of Baton Rouge Community College.[16]

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.

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.[17]

United States presidential election results for East Felicina Parish, Louisiana[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,064 57.70% 4,280 40.73% 165 1.57%
2016 5,569 55.46% 4,235 42.17% 238 2.37%
2012 5,397 52.87% 4,648 45.53% 164 1.61%
2008 5,432 54.61% 4,383 44.06% 132 1.33%
2004 5,021 54.57% 4,091 44.46% 89 0.97%
2000 4,051 50.02% 3,870 47.78% 178 2.20%
1996 2,949 35.10% 4,714 56.11% 738 8.78%
1992 2,813 35.63% 4,093 51.84% 989 12.53%
1988 3,527 47.99% 3,659 49.79% 163 2.22%
1984 4,166 49.59% 4,122 49.07% 113 1.35%
1980 2,650 38.56% 4,033 58.68% 190 2.76%
1976 1,668 31.34% 3,485 65.47% 170 3.19%
1972 1,992 48.98% 1,603 39.41% 472 11.61%
1968 457 11.17% 1,409 34.44% 2,225 54.39%
1964 1,900 79.63% 486 20.37% 0 0.00%
1960 313 16.76% 415 22.23% 1,139 61.01%
1956 912 37.45% 1,304 53.55% 219 8.99%
1952 876 46.23% 1,019 53.77% 0 0.00%
1948 127 10.29% 267 21.64% 840 68.07%
1944 220 20.20% 869 79.80% 0 0.00%
1940 164 13.41% 1,059 86.59% 0 0.00%
1936 102 8.80% 1,057 91.20% 0 0.00%
1932 65 5.23% 1,178 94.77% 0 0.00%
1928 160 20.46% 622 79.54% 0 0.00%
1924 25 4.73% 504 95.27% 0 0.00%
1920 30 5.37% 529 94.63% 0 0.00%
1916 21 4.11% 489 95.69% 1 0.20%
1912 1 0.23% 422 95.91% 17 3.86%

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "QuickFacts: East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Demajo, J. "History of East Feliciana". Feliciana Tourism. East Feliciana Tourist Commission. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  4. Sayre, Katherine. "Louisiana's 170-year-old mental hospital is 'quickly deteriorating' with more than 600 patients inside". NOLA.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  5. "About DPS&C". Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. "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 August 20, 2014.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  13. "Geography Profile: East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  14. "Maps and data files for 2020 | U.S. Religion Census | Religious Statistics & Demographics". www.usreligioncensus.org. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  15. "About the School" ( Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine). Wilkinson County Christian Academy. Retrieved on April 15, 2015.
  16. "Our Colleges". Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  17. "Dixon Correctional Institute Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine." Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Retrieved on August 29, 2010.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  19. "The most influential US conservatives 2007: 61-80". The Daily Telegraph. London. October 30, 2007. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  20. "John D. Travis Obituary". The Baton Rouge Advocate. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.

30.85°N 91.05°W / 30.85; -91.05

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