Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Parish in Louisiana, United States

Parish in Louisiana
Morehouse Parish
Parish
Parish of Morehouse
Paroisse de Morehouse (French)
The Morehouse Parish Courthouse (built 1914) is located in the center of downtown Bastrop.
The Morehouse Parish Courthouse (built 1914) is located in the center of downtown Bastrop.
Map of Louisiana highlighting Morehouse ParishMorehouse Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Coordinates: 32°49′N 91°48′W / 32.82°N 91.8°W / 32.82; -91.8
Country United States
State Louisiana
Founded1844
Named afterAbraham Morehouse
SeatBastrop
Largest cityBastrop
Area
 • Total
805 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Land794 sq mi (2,060 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (28 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
25,629
 • Density32.3/sq mi (12.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
The Morehouse Parish Assessor's Office is located behind the parish courthouse in Bastrop.

Morehouse Parish (French: Paroisse de Morehouse) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,629.[1] The parish seat is Bastrop.[2] The parish was formed in 1844.[3]

Morehouse Parish comprises the Bastrop, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe–Ruston–Bastrop, LA Combined Statistical Area.

History

Francois Bonaventure built a house on 2000~acre tract in 1775 in Bastrop, Louisiana.[4]

Morehouse Parish is named after Colonel Abraham Morehouse, who served in the Revolutionary War.[5][6][7]

Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, Morehouse County was a stronghold of the Ku Klux Klan.[8] During the trial for the 1922 Lynchings of Mer Rouge, Louisiana, many witnesses testified that county officials including Sheriff Fred Carpenter, his deputies, the district attorney, and the postmaster were Klan members. However, the grand jury, itself likely made up largely of Klan members, dismissed the case.[9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 806 square miles (2,090 km2), of which 795 square miles (2,060 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.4%) is water.[10]

Major highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

National protected areas

Communities

City

  • Bastrop (parish seat and largest municipality)

Villages

Unincorporated communities

  • Beekman
  • Bordenax
  • Counters Neck
  • Galion
  • Geddie
  • Gum Ridge
  • Haynes Landing
  • Humphreys
  • Jones
  • Laark
  • Log Cabin
  • Marcarco
  • McGinty
  • Naff
  • New Land Grove Landing
  • Oak Landing
  • Perryville
  • Point Pleasant
  • Robinson
  • Spyker
  • Stampley
  • Stevenson
  • Upland
  • Usarco
  • Vaughn
  • Wardville
  • Windsor

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,913—
186010,357164.7%
18709,387−9.4%
188014,20651.3%
189016,78618.2%
190016,634−0.9%
191018,78612.9%
192019,3112.8%
193023,68922.7%
194027,57116.4%
195032,03816.2%
196033,7095.2%
197032,463−3.7%
198034,8037.2%
199031,938−8.2%
200031,021−2.9%
201027,979−9.8%
202025,629−8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010[15]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the parish had a population of 25,629, 10,302 households, and 6,194 families. The median age was 42.8 years, 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older, for every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.[16]

49.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 50.8% lived in rural areas.[17]

There were 10,302 households in the parish, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.3% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]

There were 11,863 housing units, of which 13.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.7% were owner-occupied and 33.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.[16]

Racial and ethnic composition

Morehouse Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[18] Pop 1990[19] Pop 2000[20] Pop 2010[21] Pop 2020[22] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 20,611 18,528 17,215 14,251 12,220 59.22% 58.01% 55.49% 50.93% 47.68%
Black or African American alone (NH) 13,794 13,209 13,353 13,078 11,976 39.63% 41.36% 43.05% 46.74% 46.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 17 24 39 36 80 0.05% 0.08% 0.13% 0.13% 0.31%
Asian alone (NH) 36 41 57 98 89 0.10% 0.13% 0.18% 0.35% 0.35%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [23] x [24] 2 12 3 x x 0.01% 0.04% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 12 0 4 9 29 0.03% 0.00% 0.01% 0.03% 0.11%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [25] x [26] 121 240 851 x x 0.39% 0.86% 3.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 333 136 230 255 381 0.96% 0.43% 0.74% 0.91% 1.49%
Total 34,803 31,938 31,021 27,979 25,629 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

By the 2010 census, 27,979 people lived in the parish. 51.3% were White, 46.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% of some other race and 1.0% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).[15]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census[27], there were 31,021 people, 11,382 households, and 8,320 families living in the parish. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 12,711 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 55.76% White, 43.36% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[27]

In 2000, there were 11,382 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.10% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.40% of all households comprised individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.[27]

In the parish the population was spread out, with 27.50% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.10 males.[27]

The median income for a household in the parish was $25,124 in 2000, and the median income for a family was $31,358. Males had a median income of $31,385 versus $18,474 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,197. About 21.30% of families and 26.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.90% of those under age 18 and 23.80% of those age 65 or over.[27]

Law enforcement

Law enforcement agency
Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
AbbreviationMPSO
Jurisdictional structure
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersBastrop, Louisiana
Agency executive
Website
http://www.mpso.net/

The Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office (MPSO) is the primary law enforcement agency of Morehouse Parish. It falls under the authority of the Sheriff, who is the chief law enforcement officer of the parish. As of 2022[update] the sheriff of Morehouse Parish is Mike Tubbs.

The Sheriff's Office operates the following facilities:

  • Headquarters - The headquarters building is located at 351 South Franklin Street in Bastrop.
  • Morehouse Parish Jail - The Morehouse Parish Jail is located at 250 East Walnut Street in Bastrop. The jail presently houses approximately 70 inmates and employs 20 full-time and part-time Corrections Officers.[28]
  • Morehouse Parish Detention Center - The Morehouse Parish Detention Center is located at 6444 Patey Road in Collinston. The Detention Center presently houses approximately 272 inmates and employs 33 corrections officers.[28]

Since the formation of the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office, one deputy has been killed in the line of duty.[29]

Politics

In 1975, Edwards Barham, a farmer and businessman from Oak Ridge in Morehouse Parish, became the first Republican elected to the Louisiana State Senate since the era of Reconstruction. Barham won his seat by eighty-nine votes.[30] He was unseated after a single term in office in 1979 by the Democrat David 'Bo' Ginn of Bastrop.

In the 2012 U.S. presidential election, Morehouse Parish cast 6,591 votes (52.3 percent) for Republican nominee Mitt Romney. U.S. President Barack Obama trailed with 5,888 ballots (46.7 percent).[31] In 2008, Republican John McCain prevailed in Morehouse Parish with 7,258 votes (55 percent) to Barack Obama's 5,792 ballots (43.9 percent).[32]

United States presidential election results for Morehouse Parish, Louisiana[33]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1912 8 1.74% 411 89.15% 42 9.11%
1916 3 0.53% 564 99.30% 1 0.18%
1920 38 5.76% 622 94.24% 0 0.00%
1924 141 19.50% 582 80.50% 0 0.00%
1928 340 28.81% 840 71.19% 0 0.00%
1932 83 3.96% 2,014 96.04% 0 0.00%
1936 172 6.40% 2,514 93.53% 2 0.07%
1940 222 8.41% 2,417 91.59% 0 0.00%
1944 478 20.45% 1,859 79.55% 0 0.00%
1948 242 8.60% 1,177 41.83% 1,395 49.57%
1952 2,567 46.06% 3,006 53.94% 0 0.00%
1956 1,850 35.70% 1,512 29.18% 1,820 35.12%
1960 2,551 53.37% 1,085 22.70% 1,144 23.93%
1964 6,222 87.47% 891 12.53% 0 0.00%
1968 1,772 19.82% 1,793 20.05% 5,377 60.13%
1972 5,770 66.94% 2,355 27.32% 495 5.74%
1976 5,418 55.90% 4,017 41.45% 257 2.65%
1980 7,254 58.51% 4,856 39.17% 287 2.32%
1984 8,585 62.73% 4,829 35.29% 271 1.98%
1988 7,335 60.42% 4,496 37.03% 309 2.55%
1992 5,364 39.84% 6,013 44.66% 2,086 15.49%
1996 5,193 41.57% 6,160 49.31% 1,140 9.13%
2000 6,641 53.90% 5,289 42.93% 391 3.17%
2004 7,471 57.60% 5,336 41.14% 164 1.26%
2008 7,258 54.98% 5,792 43.88% 150 1.14%
2012 6,591 52.25% 5,888 46.68% 135 1.07%
2016 6,502 54.86% 5,155 43.49% 195 1.65%
2020 6,510 56.25% 4,946 42.73% 118 1.02%
2024 5,961 59.04% 4,008 39.69% 128 1.27%

Education

Morehouse Parish School Board operates local public schools.

National Guard

The 1023rd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 528th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in Bastrop.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Morehouse Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Morehouse Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ^ [1] Point Pleasant, in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
  5. ^ [2] City of Bastrop history
  6. ^ [3] Historical synopsis of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana from the 1930s.
  7. ^ [4] The Bloody End of Andrew Young Morhouse
  8. ^ Ingram, Alton (July 10, 1961). "The Twentieth Century KU Klux Klan in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana". LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. doi:10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.8260.
  9. ^ Ruiz, Jim (1998). The black hood of the Ku Klux Klan. Lanham, Md.: Austin & Winfield Publishers. ISBN 1-57292-043-2. OCLC 37155115.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  15. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  18. ^ "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)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-38.
  20. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Morehouse Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morehouse Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morehouse Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  24. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  25. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  26. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  27. ^ a b c d e "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  28. ^ a b "Morehouse Parish Correctional Division". Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  29. ^ Officer Down Memorial Page
  30. ^ "Lake Charles American Press Archives, Dec 16, 1975, p. 24". NewspaperArchive.com. December 16, 1975. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  31. ^ "Louisiana general election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  32. ^ "Louisiana general election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  33. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

32°49′N 91°48′W / 32.82°N 91.80°W / 32.82; -91.80

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