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Parish in Louisiana, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Allen Parish (French: Paroisse d'Allen) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,750.[1] The parish seat is Oberlin and the largest city is Oakdale.[2] Allen Parish is in southwestern Louisiana, southwest of Alexandria.
Allen Parish | |
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![]() Allen Parish Courthouse in Oberlin (near sunset) | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana | |
![]() Louisiana's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 30.66°N 92.83°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1912 |
Named for | Henry Watkins Allen |
Seat | Oberlin |
Largest city | Oakdale |
Area | |
• Total | 766 sq mi (1,980 km2) |
• Land | 762 sq mi (1,970 km2) |
• Water | 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) 0.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,750 |
• Density | 30/sq mi (11/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area code | |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | www |
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 to the southwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 766 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 762 square miles (1,970 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3]
Allen Parish is bordered on the east by Evangeline Parish, on the south by Jefferson Davis Parish, and on the west by Beauregard Parish. Rapides Parish and 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 "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.[4]
Ecoregionally, Allen Parish primarily lies within the 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 Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies (34a). The Calcasieu river forms the primary boundary between the piney woods and prairie regions of the parish.[5]
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Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 15,146 | 66.58% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,016 | 17.65% |
Native American | 525 | 2.31% |
Asian | 183 | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander | 7 | 0.03% |
Other/Mixed | 980 | 4.31% |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,893 | 8.32% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,750 people, 7,925 households, and 5,566 families residing in the parish.
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 25,440 people, 8,102 households, and 5,930 families residing in the parish. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 9,157 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 71.90% White, 24.60% Black or African American, 1.72% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 6.22% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home, while 4.68% speak Spanish.[13]
There were 8,102 households, out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were 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.
Allen Parish had 303 employer establishments in 2021, with a total employment of 3,513.[14] Allen Parish's gross domestic product in 2022 was $898,617.[15]
Lumber production is a strong industry in the parish, particularly in the area of Oakdale.[16]
The Coushatta Casino Resort, owned and operated by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, is located in Kinder and employs about 2,600 people.[17]
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."[18] The primary crops are rice and soybeans.[18]
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.[19]
Allen Parish is the origin of several notable musicians: blues singer 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.[20]
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.[21]
Allen was a strongly Democratic parish in Presidential and Congressional elections; the last Republican to win a majority in the parish before 2000 was Richard Nixon in 1972. Starting in 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.
Allen is part of Louisiana's 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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 7,574 | 77.21% | 2,108 | 21.49% | 128 | 1.30% |
2016 | 6,867 | 74.28% | 2,106 | 22.78% | 272 | 2.94% |
2012 | 6,495 | 69.79% | 2,617 | 28.12% | 195 | 2.10% |
2008 | 6,333 | 66.90% | 2,891 | 30.54% | 243 | 2.57% |
2004 | 5,140 | 56.33% | 3,791 | 41.55% | 193 | 2.12% |
2000 | 4,035 | 48.66% | 3,914 | 47.20% | 343 | 4.14% |
1996 | 2,589 | 29.27% | 4,930 | 55.74% | 1,325 | 14.98% |
1992 | 3,069 | 30.64% | 5,626 | 56.16% | 1,322 | 13.20% |
1988 | 3,674 | 40.87% | 5,204 | 57.89% | 111 | 1.23% |
1984 | 4,474 | 47.69% | 4,842 | 51.61% | 66 | 0.70% |
1980 | 3,328 | 34.80% | 6,057 | 63.33% | 179 | 1.87% |
1976 | 2,080 | 27.11% | 5,373 | 70.02% | 220 | 2.87% |
1972 | 3,581 | 59.41% | 2,029 | 33.66% | 418 | 6.93% |
1968 | 1,004 | 13.83% | 2,026 | 27.91% | 4,229 | 58.26% |
1964 | 2,704 | 41.66% | 3,787 | 58.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,676 | 26.97% | 3,719 | 59.84% | 820 | 13.19% |
1956 | 2,469 | 50.46% | 2,284 | 46.68% | 140 | 2.86% |
1952 | 1,461 | 28.02% | 3,754 | 71.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 241 | 7.49% | 1,996 | 62.01% | 982 | 30.51% |
1944 | 336 | 13.22% | 2,205 | 86.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 277 | 9.65% | 2,592 | 90.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 324 | 12.80% | 2,207 | 87.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 130 | 5.89% | 2,075 | 93.93% | 4 | 0.18% |
1928 | 725 | 35.66% | 1,308 | 64.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 410 | 28.83% | 1,012 | 71.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
1920 | 242 | 19.36% | 1,008 | 80.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 81 | 10.24% | 708 | 89.51% | 2 | 0.25% |
Residents are zoned to Allen Parish Schools[23]
There is a private school, Oberlin Covenant School, in Oberlin. As of 1992[update] it was the parish's sole private school.[24]
It is in the service area of Sowela Technical Community College.[25]
Allen Parish's newspapers are The Oakdale Journal and The Kinder Courier News, owned by Louisiana State Newspapers, Inc.[26][27]
Allen Parish is home to one FM radio station, KKST-FM, an urban contemporary station in Oakdale.[28] Oakdale listeners receive signals from Alexandria and Lafayette stations, while those in Kinder tend to receive from Lafayette and Lake Charles.[29]
For television, Oakdale is served by Alexandria stations KATC (ABC and CW), and KALB (NBC, CBS, and CW).[30] Kinder and Oberlin primarily receive Lake Charles station KPLC (NBC and CW).[31][32]
Transportation in Allen Parish relies on highways and parish roads. The nearest long-distance bus stations are in Alexandria, Opelousas, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.
US 165 runs North–South. The other major highways, which are US 190, LA 10, and LA 26, run East–West.
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.