Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana


Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,250. The parish seat is Jennings. Jefferson Davis Parish is named after the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, Jefferson Davis. It is located in southwestern Louisiana and forms a part of the Acadiana region.

History

Jefferson Davis Parish was one of the last parishes to be organized in the state of Louisiana. It was originally a part of Imperial Calcasieu Parish, which contributed to five other parishes as the population increased in the area. The bill creating Jefferson Davis Parish was passed by the state legislature in 1912 but did not take effect until 1913. Jefferson Davis Parish is part of the large, 22-parish Acadiana region of Louisiana, which is influenced by a large Francophone population. It was named after Jefferson Davis, a prominent planter and the President of the Confederate States of America.
[Image:JenningsOilUSGS1933.jpg|thumb|right|306px|The Jennings Oil Field in 1933]
The first oil in Louisiana was drilled in 1901 in Evangeline, Acadia Parish, by W. Scott Heywood, who in 1932 was elected to the Louisiana State Senate. The oil field was known as the Jennings Oil Field because Jennings was the nearest railroad stop to the oil field.
The parish was affected by Hurricane Rita in 2005, causing flooding and wind damage.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Jefferson Davis Parish comprises five incorporated towns including Elton, Fenton, Jennings, Lake Arthur, and Welsh. There are also many unincorporated areas that add to the interest and economic structure of the parish including Barnsdall, Buller, China, Coverdale, Edna, Fontenot, Foreman's Hall, Hathaway, Illinois Plant, Lacassine, Lauderdale, Panchoville, Pine Island, Raymond, Roanoke, Silverwood, Thornwell, Topsy, Verret, and Woodlawn. Interstate 10 runs east and west through the center of the parish, providing access to local markets. Additionally, the Union Pacific Railroad is centrally located within the parish and the Mermentau River, which connects to the Intracoastal Waterway and has a channel depth of nine feet, provides access to the Port of Mermentau. The Jennings Airport, with a runway length of, is capable of landing a small jet and is located next to Interstate 10. Jefferson Davis Parish also attracts sportsmen to the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge.

Adjacent parishes

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

  • Jennings,
  • Welsh

Communities

City

Towns

Village

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the parish had a population of 32,250, with 12,197 households and 8,149 families residing in the parish.
The median age was 38.9 years; 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the parish was 77.7% White, 16.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.
29.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 12,197 households in the parish, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.6% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 13,936 housing units, of which 12.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.3% were owner-occupied and 25.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.8%.

Education

operates the schools in the parish.
Jeff Davis Parish is served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette which has one school in the parish:
Jeff Davis Parish is served by one institution of higher education:

National Guard

C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in Jennings, Louisiana. This unit as part of the 256th IBCT deployed twice to Iraq in 2004—5 and 2010.

Notable people

Politics

For most of the 20th Century, Jeff Davis was a Democratic-leaning parish, voting Republican only in landslide elections such as 1972 [United States presidential election in Louisiana|1972] and 1984. However, like other Acadian parishes with large Cajun populations, Jeff Davis turned sharply right in the 21st century based on cultural issues and Democrats' discomfort with the oil and gas industry.