kids encyclopedia robot

Washington Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Washington Parish, Louisiana
Parish of Washington
Bogalusa City Hall
Bogalusa City Hall
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Louisiana
Region Florida Parishes
Founded 1819
Named for George Washington
Parish seat Franklinton
Largest city Bogalusa
Area
 • Total 1,750 km2 (676 sq mi)
 • Land 1,700 km2 (670 sq mi)
 • Water 17 km2 (6.4 sq mi)
 • percentage 2 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 47,168
 • Estimate 
(2018)
46,582
 • Rank LA: 24th
 • Density 26.940/km2 (69.78/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 985
Congressional district 5th
Website Washington Parish, Louisiana

Washington Parish (French: Paroisse de Washington) is a parish located in the interior southeast corner of the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. As of the 2010 census, the population was 47,168. Its parish seat is Franklinton. Its largest city is Bogalusa. The parish was founded in 1819.

Washington Parish comprises the Bogalusa, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the New Orleans-Metairie-Hammond, LA-MS Combined Statistical Area.

History

Washington Parish was formed in 1819 by splitting off from St. Tammany Parish. Franklinton became the parish seat on February 10, 1821.

Washington Parish is the most northeasterly of what are called the Florida Parishes, for it was a legal part of Spanish West Florida prior to 1810.

There are at least two articles about the history of Washington Parish:

There is also a book which is online: Bogalusa Story, by C. W. Goodyear

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 676 square miles (1,750 km2), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km2) (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties and parishes

Major highways

  • Louisiana 10.svg Louisiana Highway 10
  • Louisiana 16.svg Louisiana Highway 16
  • Louisiana 21.svg Louisiana Highway 21
  • Louisiana 25.svg Louisiana Highway 25

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 2,517
1830 2,286 −9.2%
1840 2,649 15.9%
1850 3,408 28.7%
1860 4,708 38.1%
1870 3,330 −29.3%
1880 5,190 55.9%
1890 6,700 29.1%
1900 9,628 43.7%
1910 18,886 96.2%
1920 24,164 27.9%
1930 29,904 23.8%
1940 34,443 15.2%
1950 38,371 11.4%
1960 44,015 14.7%
1970 41,987 −4.6%
1980 44,207 5.3%
1990 43,185 −2.3%
2000 43,926 1.7%
2010 47,168 7.4%
2018 (est.) 46,582 −1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Washington Parish racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 29,588 65.08%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 12,758 28.06%
Native American 134 0.29%
Asian 161 0.35%
Other/Mixed 1,412 3.11%
Hispanic or Latino 1,410 3.1%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 45,463 people, 17,613 households, and 11,924 families residing in the parish.

National Guard

Bogalusa is home to the headquarters of the 205th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade. Franklinton is the home of the 843rd Engineer Company.

Communities

Map of Washington Parish Louisiana With Municipal Labels
Map of Washington Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

Economy

Washington Parish is currently known for its agriculture, particularly watermelons. Through much of the 20th century, its economy was based on its timber and paper industry.

In 1906, The Great Southern Lumber Company, founded by the Goodyear brothers from New York, purchased huge tracts of forest and established a sawmill in Bogalusa to harvest the local virgin pine forests. This company was the first to introduce reforestation in order to sustain the timber industry locally. Taken over by Crown Zellerbach, it later started a paper mill and chemical businesses in the area.

The local business passed through several hands as the lumber and related industries restructured through the late 20th century. In the 21st century, Temple-Inland Corporation is the largest employer in the parish.

Education

Students residing outside of Ward 4 attend Washington Parish School System. Students within Ward 4 attend Bogalusa City Schools.

Northshore Technical Community College is located in Bogalusa.

Notable people

  • Henry "Tank" Powell (born 1945), state representative from Tangipahoa Parish from 1996 to 2008; member of the Louisiana Board of Pardons since 2008
  • Weldon Russell (born 1946), former state representative for Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes; born in Washington Parish
  • Malinda Brumfield White (born 1967), state representative for Washington and St. Tammany parishes, effective 2016
  • Katherine Haik (born 2000), from Franklinton, named Miss Teen USA 2015 at the age of fifteen

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Parroquia de Washington para niños

kids search engine
Washington Parish, Louisiana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.