Caldwell Parish
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 541 square miles (1,400 km), of which 529 square miles (1,370 km) is land and 11 square miles (28 km) (2.1%) is water.
Major highways
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Adjacent parishes
- Jackson Parish (northwest)
- Ouachita Parish (north)
- Richland Parish (northeast)
- Franklin Parish (east)
- Catahoula Parish (southeast)
- La Salle Parish (south)
- Winn Parish (southwest)
Communities
Town
- Columbia (parish seat)
Villages
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,017 | — | |
| 1850 | 2,815 | 39.6% | |
| 1860 | 4,833 | 71.7% | |
| 1870 | 4,820 | −0.3% | |
| 1880 | 5,767 | 19.6% | |
| 1890 | 5,814 | 0.8% | |
| 1900 | 6,917 | 19.0% | |
| 1910 | 8,593 | 24.2% | |
| 1920 | 9,514 | 10.7% | |
| 1930 | 10,430 | 9.6% | |
| 1940 | 12,046 | 15.5% | |
| 1950 | 10,293 | −14.6% | |
| 1960 | 9,004 | −12.5% | |
| 1970 | 9,354 | 3.9% | |
| 1980 | 10,761 | 15.0% | |
| 1990 | 9,810 | −8.8% | |
| 2000 | 10,560 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,132 | −4.1% | |
| 2020 | 9,645 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7,551 | 78.29% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,528 | 15.84% |
| Native American | 19 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 42 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 281 | 2.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 221 | 2.29% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,645 people, 3,665 households, and 2,534 families residing in the parish. As of the census of 2000, there were 10,560 people, 3,941 households, and 2,817 families residing in the parish. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km). There were 5,035 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km).
In 2000, the racial makeup of the parish was 80.43% White, 17.90% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2020, its racial makeup was 78.29% non-Hispanic white, 15.84% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.445 Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.91% multiracial or other, and 2.29% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Law enforcement
The Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency of the parish.
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 3,976 | 83.49% | 745 | 15.64% | 41 | 0.86% |
| 2016 | 3,822 | 81.46% | 788 | 16.79% | 82 | 1.75% |
| 2012 | 3,640 | 77.18% | 1,016 | 21.54% | 60 | 1.27% |
| 2008 | 3,696 | 75.54% | 1,118 | 22.85% | 79 | 1.61% |
| 2004 | 3,308 | 69.61% | 1,384 | 29.12% | 60 | 1.26% |
| 2000 | 2,817 | 65.09% | 1,359 | 31.40% | 152 | 3.51% |
| 1996 | 1,842 | 40.40% | 2,117 | 46.44% | 600 | 13.16% |
| 1992 | 1,752 | 37.40% | 2,061 | 44.00% | 871 | 18.60% |
| 1988 | 2,997 | 65.74% | 1,423 | 31.21% | 139 | 3.05% |
| 1984 | 3,341 | 69.33% | 1,348 | 27.97% | 130 | 2.70% |
| 1980 | 2,653 | 57.91% | 1,786 | 38.99% | 142 | 3.10% |
| 1976 | 1,890 | 49.66% | 1,830 | 48.08% | 86 | 2.26% |
| 1972 | 2,306 | 76.99% | 508 | 16.96% | 181 | 6.04% |
| 1968 | 490 | 13.19% | 973 | 26.19% | 2,252 | 60.62% |
| 1964 | 2,534 | 80.62% | 609 | 19.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 716 | 35.08% | 694 | 34.00% | 631 | 30.92% |
| 1956 | 587 | 35.17% | 468 | 28.04% | 614 | 36.79% |
| 1952 | 961 | 45.27% | 1,162 | 54.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 151 | 8.64% | 777 | 44.45% | 820 | 46.91% |
| 1944 | 505 | 30.66% | 1,142 | 69.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 318 | 16.01% | 1,668 | 83.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 235 | 14.63% | 1,371 | 85.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 86 | 5.58% | 1,448 | 93.96% | 7 | 0.45% |
| 1928 | 288 | 26.42% | 802 | 73.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 77 | 14.72% | 442 | 84.51% | 4 | 0.76% |
| 1920 | 128 | 19.19% | 539 | 80.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 20 | 3.47% | 554 | 96.01% | 3 | 0.52% |
| 1912 | 18 | 3.57% | 366 | 72.62% | 120 | 23.81% |
Notable people
- Buddy Caldwell, Louisiana State Attorney General, 2008–2016
- Graves B. Erskine, Marine Corps General Officer (4-Star)
- Garland Gregory, LA Tech Football
- Pam Kelly, recipient of the Wade Trophy
- John J. McKeithen, Governor of Louisiana (1964–1972)
- W. Fox McKeithen, Louisiana House of Representatives (1984–1988)
- Clay Parker, LSU baseball pitcher and football punter (1981-1985)
- Neil Riser, Louisiana State Senator elected in 2007
- Chet D. Traylor, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1997–2009
Gallery
-
Martin Homeplace Museum outside Columbia -
The Caldwell Parish Library is located behind the courthouse in Columbia -
Caldwell Parish High School -
Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Columbia -
Long Lake in Caldwell Parish; a landowner builds a pier with slide and diving board.
