Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

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Jefferson Davis Parish (Template:Langx) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,250.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The parish seat is Jennings.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Jefferson Davis Parish is named after the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, Jefferson Davis. It is located in southwestern Louisiana and forms a part of the Acadiana region.

History

Jefferson Davis Parish was one of the last parishes to be organized in the state of Louisiana. It was originally a part of Imperial Calcasieu Parish, which contributed to five other parishes as the population increased in the area. The bill creating Jefferson Davis Parish was passed by the state legislature in 1912 but did not take effect until 1913.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jefferson Davis Parish is part of the large, 22-parish Acadiana region of Louisiana, which is influenced by a large Francophone population. It was named after Jefferson Davis, a prominent planter and the President of the Confederate States of America.

The Jennings Oil Field in 1933

The first oil in Louisiana was drilled in 1901 in Evangeline, Acadia Parish, by W. Scott Heywood, who in 1932 was elected to the Louisiana State Senate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The oil field was known as the Jennings Oil Field because Jennings was the nearest railroad stop to the oil field.

The parish was affected by Hurricane Rita in 2005, causing flooding and wind damage.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Jefferson Davis Parish comprises five incorporated towns including Elton, Fenton, Jennings, Lake Arthur, and Welsh. There are also many unincorporated areas that add to the interest and economic structure of the parish including Barnsdall, Buller, China, Coverdale, Edna, Fontenot, Foreman's Hall, Hathaway, Illinois Plant, Lacassine, Lauderdale, Panchoville, Pine Island, Raymond, Roanoke, Silverwood, Thornwell, Topsy, Verret, and Woodlawn. Interstate 10 runs east and west through the center of the parish, providing access to local markets. Additionally, the Union Pacific Railroad is centrally located within the parish and the Mermentau River, which connects to the Intracoastal Waterway and has a channel depth of nine feet, provides access to the Port of Mermentau. The Jennings Airport, with a runway length of Template:Convert, is capable of landing a small jet and is located next to Interstate 10. Jefferson Davis Parish also attracts sportsmen to the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge.

Adjacent parishes

Transportation

Major highways

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Airports

  • Jennings, (3R7)
  • Welsh

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Communities

Map of Jefferson Davis Parish, with municipal labels

City

  • Jennings (parish seat and largest municipality)

Towns

Village

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 25,562 24,591 25,138 24,835 24,855 79.46% 80.04% 79.97% 78.61% 77.07%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6,061 5,809 5,571 5,450 5,130 18.84% 18.91% 17.72% 17.25% 15.91%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 34 57 113 146 147 0.11% 0.19% 0.36% 0.46% 0.46%
Asian alone (NH) 25 44 61 62 100 0.08% 0.14% 0.19% 0.20% 0.31%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> 3 3 4 x x 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 3 20 7 28 118 0.01% 0.07% 0.02% 0.09% 0.37%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> 230 532 1,162 x x 0.73% 1.68% 3.60%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 483 201 312 538 734 1.50% 0.65% 0.99% 1.70% 2.28%
Total 32,168 30,722 31,435 31,594 32,250 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,250 people, 11,726 households, and 8,149 families residing in the parish.

Education

Jefferson Davis Parish Public Schools operates the schools in the parish.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

  • Elton Elementary School (Grades PK-5) (Elton)
  • Elton High School (Grades 6–12) (Elton)
  • Fenton Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Fenton)
  • Hathaway High School (Grades K-12) (Jennings)
  • Jennings Elementary School (Grades 3–6) (Jennings)
  • Jennings High School (Grades 7–12) (Jennings)
  • Lacassine High School (Grades K-12) (Lacassine)
  • Lake Arthur Elementary School (Grades PK-6) (Lake Arthur)
  • Lake Arthur High School (Grades 7–12) (Lake Arthur)
  • James Ward Elementary School (Grades PK-2) (Jennings)
  • Welsh Elementary School (Grades PK-5) (Welsh)
  • Welsh High School (Grades 8–12) (Welsh)
  • Welsh-Roanoke Jr. High School (Grades 6–8) (Roanoke)

Jeff Davis Parish is served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette which has one school in the parish:

  • Our Lady Immaculate (Grades PK-8) (Jennings)

Jeff Davis Parish is served by one institution of higher education:

National Guard

C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in Jennings, Louisiana. This unit as part of the 256th IBCT deployed twice to Iraq in 2004—5 and 2010.

Notable people

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFootFor most of the 20th Century, Jeff Davis was a Democratic-leaning parish, voting Republican only in landslide elections such as 1972 and 1984. However, like other Acadian parishes with large Cajun populations, Jeff Davis turned sharply right in the 21st century based on cultural issues and Democrats' discomfort with the oil and gas industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

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References

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Geology

Hydrology

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