Bienville Parish, Louisiana


Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, the population was 12,981. The parish seat and most populous municipality is Arcadia.
The highest natural point in Louisiana, a hill known as Mt. Driskill, in elevation, is located in north central Bienville Parish. The mountain is located on private land with public access by walking trail. It is named for James Christopher Driskill, a 19th-century landowner. Nearby is Jordan Mountain, with an elevation of.
WWW bienvilleparish.org

History

In the 1830s, Ruben Drake moved his family from South Carolina to what he named Mount Lebanon, the first permanent settlement in the parish. As the Drakes were devout Baptists, they established a church and school, which evolved into Mount Lebanon University, the forerunner of Louisiana Christian University in Pineville in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.
Bonnie and Clyde were shot dead in Bienville Parish on May 23, 1934.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The highest natural point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain, is located in Bienville Parish. Driskill Mountain is south of Arcadia at Latitude 32 degree, 25 minutes North; Longitude 92 degree 54 minutes West.

Interstates

Adjacent parishes

Communities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 12,981 people in the parish, the median age was 43.9 years, 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18, 21.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older, and for every 100 females there were 91.3 males and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.2 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the parish was 53.5% White, 40.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,459 households in the parish, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.6% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,816 housing units, of which 19.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.7% were owner-occupied and 27.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone 9,3218,9358,6077,8506,90156.88%55.92%54.64%54.69%53.16%
Black or African American alone 6,8366,9296,8606,0485,27341.72%43.36%43.55%42.14%40.62%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 21213948610.13%0.13%0.25%0.33%0.47%
Asian alone 25122434210.15%0.08%0.15%0.24%0.16%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx005xx0.00%0.00%0.04%
Other race alone 8121100.05%0.01%0.01%0.01%0.08%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx71165499xx0.45%1.15%3.84%
Hispanic or Latino 176811492072111.07%0.51%0.95%1.44%1.63%
Total16,38715,97915,75214,35312,981 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 15,752 people, 6,108 households, and 4,214 families residing in the parish. The population density was. There were 7,830 housing units at an average density of.
In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 54.92% White, 43.78% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
At the 2000 census, there were 6,108 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% 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 3.09.
A tabulated 27.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% were 18 to 24, 24.60% were 25 to 44, 22.50% were 45 to 64, and 17.60% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $23,663, and the median income for a family was $30,241. Males had a median income of $28,022 versus $18,682 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,471. About 21.80% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Bienville Parish School Board operates area public schools.

Notable people