View source for Allen Parish, Louisiana

{{short description|Parish in Louisiana, United States}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Alan Parrish (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Allen Parish
| state              = Louisiana
| type               = [[Louisiana parishes|Parish]]
| seal               = Seal of Allen Parish, Louisiana.png
| founded year       = 1912
| founded date       =
| seat wl            = Oberlin
| largest city wl    = Oakdale
| area_total_sq_mi   = 766
| area_land_sq_mi    = 762
| area_water_sq_mi   = 4.1
| area percentage    = 0.5
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_total   = 22750
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_est     = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone          = Central
| footnotes          =
| web                =https://www.allenparish.com
| named for          = [[Henry Watkins Allen]]
| ex image           = Courthouse of Allen Parish, Louisiana.jpg
| ex image cap       = Allen Parish [[Courthouse]] in Oberlin (near sunset)
| district           = 4th
|logo=Logo of Allen Parish, Louisiana.png|coordinates={{coord|display=inline,title}}|area codes={{hlist|[[Area code 318|318]]|[[Area code 337|337]]}}}}

'''Allen Parish''' ({{langx|fr|Paroisse d'Allen}}) is a [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parish]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 22,750.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Allen Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Allen_Parish,_Louisiana?g=0500000US22003|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref> The [[parish seat]] is [[Oberlin, Louisiana|Oberlin]] and the largest city is [[Oakdale, Louisiana|Oakdale]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Allen Parish is in southwestern Louisiana, southwest of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

Allen Parish is named for former [[Confederate States Army]] general and [[Governor of Louisiana]] [[Henry Watkins Allen]]. It was separated in 1912 from the larger [[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu Parish]] to the southwest.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the parish has a total area of {{convert|766|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|762|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.1|sqmi}} (0.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 20, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928155956/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt |archive-date=September 28, 2013 }}</ref>

Allen Parish is bordered on the east by [[Evangeline Parish, Louisiana|Evangeline Parish]], on the south by [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis Parish]], and on the west by [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard Parish]]. [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides Parish]] and [[Vernon Parish, Louisiana|Vernon Parish]] both border Allen Parish on the north. Allen Parish may be considered to belong to either the [[Southwest Louisiana]] region or to [[Central Louisiana]]. It is bordered on the east by [[Acadiana]] (Evangeline Parish). Part of Allen Parish, west of the [[Calcasieu River]], lies within the historical [[Neutral Ground (Louisiana)|"No Man's Land"]] or Neutral Ground of disputed territory between the US and Spain.

The geologic composition of Allen Parish, like most of Louisiana, is clay and mud.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stoeser |first=Douglas B. |last2=Green |first2=Gregory N. |display-authors=1 |date=2005 |title=Geology of Louisiana, USA |url=https://databasin.org/datasets/4604cd9ca898488fb124444982ebc57c/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Data Basin}}</ref>

Ecoregionally, Allen Parish primarily lies within the [[Piney Woods|South Central Plains]] (USGS ecoregion 35), particularly the [[Flatwoods]] (ecoregion 35f), but also a bit of the Southern Tertiary Uplands (35e) in the northwestern corner of the parish. The southeastern corner of the parish, is in the Western [[Gulf Coastal Plain]] (ecoregion 34), specifically the Northern [[Western Gulf coastal grasslands|Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies]] (34a). The Calcasieu river forms the primary boundary between the piney woods and prairie regions of the parish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daigle |first=Jerry J. |last2=Griffith |first2=Glenn E. |last3=Omernik |first3=James M. |last4=Faulkner |first4=Patricia L. |last5=McCulloh |first5=Richard P. |last6=Handley |first6=Lawrence R. |last7=Smith |first7=Latimore M. |last8=Chapman |first8=Shannen S. |date=2006 |title=Ecoregions of Louisiana |url=https://gaftp.epa.gov/EPADataCommons/ORD/Ecoregions/la/la_map.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930235752/https://gaftp.epa.gov/EPADataCommons/ORD/Ecoregions/la/la_map.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref>

===Waterways===
* Bundick Creek
* [[Calcasieu River]]
* [[Ouiski Chitto Creek]]
* Six Mile Creek
* Ten Mile Creek

=== Protected area ===

* [[West Bay Wildlife Management Area]]

=== Climate ===
{{Climate chart|Allen Parish, Louisiana|39.2|59.2|6.42|43.3|63.4|4.66|49.7|70.2|4.09|56.0|76.7|5.10|63.7|83.3|5.12|69.8|88.5|5.75|71.9|90.3|5.57|71.5|91.1|5.08|66.9|86.9|5.06|56.5|78.6|4.58|47.1|68.6|4.81|41.5|61.3|5.51|units=imperial|source=[https://www.weather.gov/lch/OBEL1-92 National Weather Service]}}

=== Adjacent parishes ===
* [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides Parish]] (northeast)
* [[Vernon Parish, Louisiana|Vernon Parish]] (northwest)
* [[Evangeline Parish, Louisiana|Evangeline Parish]] (east)
* [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis Parish]] (south)
* [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard Parish]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1920 = 18382
| 1930 = 15261
| 1940 = 17540
| 1950 = 18835
| 1960 = 19867
| 1970 = 20794
| 1980 = 21390
| 1990 = 21226
| 2000 = 25440
| 2010 = 25764
| 2020 = 22750
| estyear = 
| estimate = 
| estref = 
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 20, 2014 }}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22003.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607015658/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22003.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Allen Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 15 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 20/12-20/20)|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_laABC-02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-2/cp-2-20-1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|pages=15–38}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Allen Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US22003&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Allen Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US22003&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Allen Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US22003&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|16,618
|15,824
|17,329
|18,276
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15,146
|77.69%
|74.55%
|68.12%
|70.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |66.58%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|4,308
|4,402
|6,175
|5,957
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,016
|20.14%
|20.74%
|24.27%
|23.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.65%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|234
|284
|436
|603
|style='background: #ffffe6; |525
|1.09%
|1.34%
|1.71%
|2.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.31%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|20
|38
|142
|176
|style='background: #ffffe6; |183
|0.09%
|0.18%
|0.56%
|0.68%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.80%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|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
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|x
|x
|0.01%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|12
|7
|9
|31
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61
|0.06%
|0.03%
|0.04%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|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>
|200
|374
|style='background: #ffffe6; |919
|x
|x
|0.79%
|1.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.04%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|198
|671
|1,146
|342
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,893
|0.93%
|3.16%
|4.50%
|1.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.32%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''21,390'''
|'''21,226'''
|'''25,440'''
|'''25,764'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''22,750 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
 
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 22,750 people, 7,925 households, and 5,566 families residing in the parish.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 25,440 people, 8,102 households, and 5,930 families residing in the parish. The [[population density]] was {{convert|33|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 9,157 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the parish was 71.90% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 24.60% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.72% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.57% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.24% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.96% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 6.22% reported speaking [[French language|French]] or [[Cajun French]] at home, while 4.68% speak [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=22&county_id=3&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r|title=Language Map Data Center|website=apps.mla.org}}</ref>

There were 8,102 households, out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 126.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.50 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $27,777, and the median income for a family was $33,920. Males had a median income of $32,371 versus $17,154 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the parish was $13,101. About 17.90% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.60% of those under age 18 and 21.50% of those age 65 or over.

The most populated city as of the 2000 census was [[Oakdale, LA]].

== Economy ==
Allen Parish had 303 employer establishments in 2021, with a total employment of 3,513.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Allen Parish, Louisiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/allenparishlouisiana/PST045223 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |language=en}}</ref> Allen Parish's [[gross domestic product]] in 2022 was $898,617.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=January 1, 2001 |title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Allen Parish, LA |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL22003 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref>

Lumber production is a strong industry in the parish, particularly in the area of Oakdale.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Allen Parish |url=https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/parishes/allen |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=LSU AgCenter |language=en}}</ref>

The Coushatta Casino Resort, owned and operated by the [[Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana]], is located in Kinder and employs about 2,600 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Coushatta Casino Resort |url=https://www.coushattacasinoresort.com/about-us/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Coushatta Casino Resort}}</ref>

According to the Kinder Chamber of Commerce, "the gaming and hospitality industries, along with a plywood manufacturing facility, three prison facilities and a natural gas relay facility are the major private sector employers in the parish."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Economic Development |url=http://kinderchamber.org/economic-development/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Kinder Chamber of Commerce |language=en}}</ref> The primary crops are rice and soybeans.<ref name=":0" />

== Arts and culture ==
The [[Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana]]'s territory is bounded within Allen and Jefferson Davis parishes, and the tribe maintains traditional creative expressions such as music, dance, and fiber arts. An annual [[powwow]] celebrating these arts takes place at the Coushatta Casino Resort near Kinder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coushatta Powwow |url=https://www.coushattapowwow.com/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Coushatta Powwow}}</ref>

Allen Parish is the origin of several notable musicians: [[blues]] singer [[Roy Brown (blues musician)|Roy Brown]], and [[zydeco]] musicians [[Preston Frank]] and his son [[Keith Frank]].

The Allen Parish Tourism Commission operates the Allen Parish Cultural Center near Kinder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allen Parish Cultural Center |url=https://www.allenparish.com/things-to-do/allen-parish-cultural-center/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Allen Parish |language=en-US}}</ref>

On September 27, 2008, the Allen Parish Tourist Commission opened Leatherwood Museum in Oakdale in a two-story house which served during the early 20th century as a hospital where women waited on the second-floor balcony to deliver their babies. The museum focuses on the [[history]] of [[agriculture]] and [[timber]].<ref name="museum">{{Cite web |last=Sumrall |first=Bill |date=September 27, 2008 |title=A step into past: Museum showcases history of Allen Parish |url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080927/NEWS01/809270365&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL |website=The Town Talk}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref>

==Politics==
Allen was a strongly Democratic parish in [[President of the United States|Presidential]] and [[United States Congress|Congressional]] elections; the last Republican to win a majority in the parish before 2000 was [[Richard Nixon]] in [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]. Starting in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]], when [[George W. Bush]] narrowly won the parish, Allen has become a Republican stronghold; [[John McCain]] won nearly two-thirds of the parish's vote in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]].

Allen is part of Louisiana's [[Louisiana's 4th congressional district|4th]] congressional district, held by Republican [[Mike Johnson]]. In the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] Allen is part of the 32nd district, held by Republican R. DeWitt Carrier. In the [[Louisiana Senate]] Allen is part of the 28th district, held by Republican Heather Cloud.

{{PresHead|place=Allen Parish, Louisiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|81|708|2|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|242|1,008|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|410|1,012|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|725|1,308|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|130|2,075|4|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|324|2,207|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|277|2,592|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|336|2,205|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|241|1,996|982|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,461|3,754|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,469|2,284|140|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,676|3,719|820|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,704|3,787|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,004|2,026|4,229|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,581|2,029|418|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,080|5,373|220|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,328|6,057|179|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|4,474|4,842|66|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,674|5,204|111|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,069|5,626|1,322|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,589|4,930|1,325|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,035|3,914|343|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,140|3,791|193|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,333|2,891|243|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,495|2,617|195|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,867|2,106|272|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,574|2,108|128|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,003|1,661|87|Louisiana}}
{{PresFoot}}

==Education==
Residents are zoned to [[Allen Parish Schools]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allen.k12.la.us/|title=Allen Parish School Board - Home|first=Allen Parish School|last=Board|website=www.allen.k12.la.us}}</ref>

There is a private school, Oberlin Covenant School, in [[Oberlin, Louisiana|Oberlin]]. {{As of|1992}} it was the parish's sole private school.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oberlin Covenant School is different in many ways|newspaper=[[The Kinder Courier News]]|place=[[Kinder, Louisiana]]|date=April 23, 1992|volume=27|issue=18|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/145693696/ 1] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/145693728/ 11]}}</ref>

It is in the service area of [[Sowela Technical Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lctcs.edu/our-colleges|title=Our Colleges|publisher=[[Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges]]|accessdate=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

== Media ==
Allen Parish's newspapers are ''[[The Oakdale Journal]]'' and ''[[The Kinder Courier News]]'', owned by [[Louisiana State Newspapers|Louisiana State Newspapers, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2020 |title=Oakdale Journal |url=https://www.lapress.com/marketplace/business_4000141225.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Louisiana Press Association |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2020 |title=The Kinder Courier News |url=https://www.lapress.com/marketplace/business_4000141767.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Louisiana Press Association |language=en}}</ref>

Allen Parish is home to one FM radio station, [[KKST-FM]], an [[Urban contemporary music|urban contemporary]] station in Oakdale.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2020 |title=Radio Member Directory |url=https://broadcasters.org/radio-member-directory/ |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Louisiana Association of Broadcasters |language=en-US}}</ref> Oakdale listeners receive signals from Alexandria and [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] stations, while those in Kinder tend to receive from Lafayette and [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio Stations in Oakdale, Louisiana. |url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=oakdale,+louisiana&x=22&y=12 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=radio-locator.com}}</ref>

For television, Oakdale is served by [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] stations [[KATC (TV)|KATC]] ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and [[The CW|CW]]), and [[KALB-TV|KALB]] ([[NBC]], [[CBS]], and CW).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oakdale TV Channels - 71463 TV Antenna |url=https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/free-tv-channels-oakdale-la-71463 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Channel Master |language=en}}</ref> Kinder and Oberlin primarily receive Lake Charles station [[KPLC]] (NBC and CW).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinder TV Channels - 70648 TV Antenna |url=https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/free-tv-channels-kinder-la-70648 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Channel Master |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oberlin TV Channels - 70655 TV Antenna |url=https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/free-tv-channels-oberlin-la-70655 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |website=Channel Master |language=en}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
Transportation in Allen Parish relies on highways and parish roads. The nearest long-distance bus stations are in Alexandria, Opelousas, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.

[[U.S. Route 165|US 165]] runs North⁠–South. The other major highways, which are [[U.S. Route 190|US 190]], [[Louisiana Highway 10|LA 10]], and [[Louisiana Highway 26|LA 26]], run East⁠–West.

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 165.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 165]]
* [[Image:US 190.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 190]]
* [[Image:Louisiana 10 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 10]]
* [[Image:Louisiana 26 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 26]]

==National Guard==
Detachment 1, B Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion of the [[256TH IBCT]] resided in [[Oakdale, Louisiana]]. This unit deployed twice to [[Iraq]] in 2004-5 and 2010. Armory was closed, elements moved to Camp Beauregard.

== Communities ==

[[Image:Map of Allen Parish Louisiana With Municipal Labels.PNG|thumb|Map of Allen Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels]]

=== City ===
* [[Oakdale, Louisiana|Oakdale]] (largest municipality)

=== Towns ===
* [[Kinder, Louisiana|Kinder]]
* [[Oberlin, Louisiana|Oberlin]] (parish seat)

=== Village ===
* [[Elizabeth, Louisiana|Elizabeth]]
* [[Reeves, Louisiana|Reeves]]

=== Unincorporated communities ===

{{div col}}
* [[Bond, Louisiana|Bond]]
* [[Canton, Louisiana|Canton]]
* [[Cherry Grove, Louisiana|Cherry Grove]]
* [[Elder, Louisiana|Elder]]
* [[Grant, Louisiana|Grant]]
* [[Lauderdale, Louisiana|Lauderdale]]
* [[LeBlanc, Louisiana (Allen Parish)|LeBlanc]]
* [[Mittie, Louisiana|Mittie]]
* [[Soileau, Louisiana|Soileau]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
* [[Roy Brown (blues musician)|Roy Brown]] (1925–1981), [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer, songwriter, and musician
* [[Bill Dodd|William J. "Bill" Dodd]] (1909–1991), [[Louisiana]] [[lieutenant governor]] from 1948 to 1952 and Louisiana state representative from 1940 to 1948
* [[Faye Emerson]] (1917–1983), film and stage actress and television interviewer
* [[Beau Jocque]] (1953–1999), Louisiana French Creole [[zydeco]] musician and songwriter
* [[Herb Metoyer]] (1935–2015), singer, songwriter, novelist and former [[U.S. Army]] officer
* [[J.B. Fuselier]] (1901–1976), [[Cajun]] musician
* [[John McNeese]] (1843–1914), first superintendent of schools of [[Calcasieu Parish|Imperial Calcasieu Parish]] and namesake of [[McNeese State University]]
* [[Douglas B. Fournet]] (1943–1968), [[posthumous award|posthumous]] recipient of the [[Medal of Honor]] during the [[Vietnam War]]
* [[Joe N. Ballard]] (born 1942), former [[U.S. Army]] [[lieutenant general]] and first African-American to serve as [[Chief of Engineers]]
* [[Cloves Campbell Sr.]] (1931–2004), politician and newspaper operator; first African-American to serve as a member of the [[Arizona Senate]]
*[[Preston Frank]] (born 1947), zydeco accordionist and band leader
*[[Keith Frank]] (born 1972), zydeco accordionist and band leader
*[[Hoyle Granger]] (born 1944), former [[American football]] player in the [[NFL]]. Member of the [[Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame]] and [[Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame]]
* [[Gilbert Franklin Hennigan]] (1883–1960), Louisiana state senator from 1944 to 1956.
* [[Ollie Shepard]] (1909–1960), blues pianist, vocalist, and songwriter
* [[Dorothy Sue Hill]] (born 1939), rancher and retired educator. Former [[Louisiana]] state representative for the 32nd District.
* [[Leroy Johnson (Medal of Honor)|Leroy Johnson]] (1919–1944), posthumous recipient of the [[Medal of Honor]] during [[World War II]]
* [[E. Holman Jones]] (1926–2014), [[United States Navy]] veteran of [[World War II]] and Louisiana state representative from 1968 to 1972
* [[Coleman Lindsey]] (1892–1968), Louisiana state senator from 1924 to 1928 and 1932–1939. [[Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana]] from 1939 to 1940
* [[Mary Evelyn Parker]] (1920–2015), first female [[Treasurer of Louisiana]] from 1968 to 1987
* [[R.C. Slocum]] (born 1944), former head football coach at [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]]
* [[Blake Trahan]] (born 1993), former professional baseball shortstop with the [[Cincinnati Reds]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Allen Parish, Louisiana]]
{{Portal|United States}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.allenparish.com/ }}
* [http://allenparishso.org/ Allen Parish Sheriff's Office]

Geology
* Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628132034/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Lake%20Charles%20100K.pdf ''Lake Charles 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle.''] Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
* Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2003, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628125032/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Crowley%20100K.pdf ''Crowley 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle.''] Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
* Snead, J., P. V. Heinrich, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002a, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628125214/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Ville%20Platte%20100K.pdf ''Ville Platte 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle.''] Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
* Snead, J., P. V. Heinrich, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002b, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628130422/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/DeRidder%20100K.pdf ''De Ridder 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle.''] Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Allen Parish, Louisiana
|North     = [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides Parish]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Evangeline Parish, Louisiana|Evangeline Parish]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis Parish]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard Parish]]
|Northwest = [[Vernon Parish, Louisiana|Vernon Parish]]
}}

{{Allen Parish, Louisiana}}
{{Louisiana parishes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Allen Parish, Louisiana| ]]
[[Category:Louisiana parishes]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[Category:Parishes in Central Louisiana]]