LaSalle Parish, Louisiana


LaSalle Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,890. The parish seat is Jena. The parish was created in 1910 from the western section of Catahoula Parish and named for René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,282 people, 5,291 households, and 3,798 families residing in the parish. The population density was 23 people per square mile. There were 6,273 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile. The racial makeup of the parish was 86.13% White, 12.20% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,291 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the parish the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $28,189, and the median income for a family was $36,197. Males had a median income of $27,431 versus $19,697 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,033. About 14.90% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 18.90% of those age 65 or over.

National Guard

The 1087TH Transportation Company of the 165TH CSS Battalion of the 139TH RSG resides in Jena, Louisiana.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

LaSalle Parish has been staunchly Republican since 1956, except in 1968 when it voted strongly for American Independent nominee George Wallace. Prior to that, it had been heavily Democratic, and no Democratic nominee since 1956 besides Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton has come within ten points of winning the parish.