The New Llano Cooperative Colony was founded in 1917 when Job Harriman relocated, with other commune members of the Llano del Rio colony, to 20,000 acres of cut-over land two miles south of Leesville. The location chosen was the Gulf Lumber Company sawmill town named Stables. The mill had burned in 1913 and again in 1916. After the sawmill burned the second time it was not rebuilt because the stumpage reserves were depleted. The land, was sold on contract to the Cooperative Colony. The colony attempted to achieve self-sufficiency, through community ownership of a newspaper, broom factory, sawmill, ice plant, and sheet metal factory. There was also a school, infirmary, hospital, and recreational facilities. The colony closed in 1937.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,415 people, 925 households, and 640 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,488.0 people per square mile. There were 1,037 housing units at an average density of 1,068.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 46.09% White, 40.29% African American, 0.83% Native American, 3.77% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 4.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.57% of the population. There were 925 households out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couplesliving together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.11. In the town, the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $35,417, and the median income for a family was $34,271. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $20,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,902. About 13.5% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
