West Monroe, Louisiana

West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana. Its population was 13,065 at the 2010 census and it is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area. The mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell.

"West Monroe" redirects here. For the community in Michigan, see West Monroe, Michigan. For the town in New York, see West Monroe, New York.

West Monroe, Louisiana
City
Cottonport Historic District in West Monroe
Cottonport Historic District in West Monroe
Location of West Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
Location of West Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 32°30′39″N 92°08′24″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishOuachita
Government
 • MayorStaci Albritton Mitchell
Area
[1]
 • Total8.31 sq mi (21.53 km2)
 • Land8.03 sq mi (20.79 km2)
 • Water0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation
82 ft (25 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,103
 • Density1,632.57/sq mi (630.35/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
FIPS code22-80955
Website

History

Originally laid out in 1837 as Byron by John Campbell at the foot of the ferry landing to Monroe, the town floundered and Campbell went bankrupt. The area was bought by Christopher Dabbs, a doctor from Virginia who submitted the plans for Cotton Port in 1854; it was officially recognized in 1859. It too languished until the arrival of the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway and the construction of the bridge over the Ouachita River. Cotton Port boomed as a river port and rail depot.[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km2), of which 7.7 square miles (20.0 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2) (3.14%) is water.

West Monroe is a separate municipality from Monroe.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890447—
190077573.4%
19101,12745.4%
19202,24098.8%
19306,566193.1%
19408,56030.4%
195010,30220.4%
196015,21547.7%
197014,868−2.3%
198014,9930.8%
199014,096−6.0%
200013,250−6.0%
201013,065−1.4%
202013,1030.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]
West Monroe City Hall
West Monroe racial composition as of 2020[4]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 7,082 54.05%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 4,607 35.16%
Native American 27 0.21%
Asian 116 0.89%
Pacific Islander 6 0.05%
Other/Mixed 521 3.98%
Hispanic or Latino 744 5.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.

Government

The current mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell, who has served since 2018.

A 2013 "Community Impressions" report complimented the green spaces, including the Kiroli and Restoration parks, and Antique Alley as important assets to the West Monroe community. According to long-term Mayor Dave Norris, the study confirms "the value of many of the projects we've focused on to enhance quality of life."[5] The report identifies situations in need of improvement, many of which have already been addressed, including insufficient or inaccurate signage to area attractions, brown water and the need to renovate certain wells, limited shopping opportunities for clothing, traffic problems on Thomas Road, and the failure to promote the popular phenomenon created from the West Monroe-based A&E reality television series, Duck Dynasty.[5] The consultants declared West Monroe and the general area west of the Ouachita River overall as "a clean, vibrant, growing friendly area ... [with] a small town atmosphere and yet ... many of the amenities and features of a [larger] city."[5]

National Guard

1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.

Notable people

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. "Antique Alley".
  3. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  4. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  5. "Greg Hilburn, "Consultants: 'West Monroe clean, vibrant, growing'"". Monroe News-Star. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  6. "Former state representative Blackmon dead at 89", Monroe News-Star, May 22, 2014
  7. "Donnie Copeland's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
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