LaSalle Parish

LaSalle Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, United States, and is part of the Natchitoches micropolitan area. The parish seat is Jena, which is also the largest city in the parish, and is situated near the Ouachita River and the Catahoula Lake. LaSalle Parish is bordered by Catahoula Parish to the east, Grant Parish to the west, and Winn Parish to the northwest, and is near the Kisatchie National Forest and the Louisiana Highway 28.

Geography

LaSalle Parish is located in the central part of Louisiana, and its geography is characterized by rolling hills, forests, and waterways, including the Ouachita River, Catahoula Lake, and the Little River. The parish is also home to the Kisatchie National Forest, which offers opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as hiking, camping, and hunting, and is near the Alexandria and Pineville areas. The geography of the parish is similar to that of neighboring Catahoula Parish and Grant Parish, and is influenced by the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin. The parish is also near the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Reservation and the Marksville area.

History

LaSalle Parish was established on July 7, 1910, from part of Catahoula Parish, and was named after René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, a French explorer who played a significant role in the early history of Louisiana and the Mississippi River valley. The parish has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Caddo Confederacy and the Tunica and Biloxi tribes, and is near the Natchitoches and Cane River Creole National Historical Park areas. The parish was also influenced by the Louisiana Purchase and the American Civil War, and is home to the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Reservation.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population of LaSalle Parish was 14,892, with a population density of 22 people per square mile, and a median household income of $43,419, which is lower than the median household income of neighboring Grant Parish and Winn Parish. The parish has a diverse population, with a mix of European American, African American, and Native American residents, and is near the Alexandria and Pineville areas. The demographics of the parish are similar to those of neighboring Catahoula Parish and Natchitoches Parish, and are influenced by the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin.

Economy

The economy of LaSalle Parish is primarily based on agriculture, with major crops including soybeans, corn, and cotton, and is also influenced by the timber industry and the mining industry, with significant deposits of oil and natural gas in the parish. The parish is also home to several major employers, including the LaSalle Parish School Board and the Jena Hospital, and is near the Alexandria and Pineville areas. The economy of the parish is similar to that of neighboring Grant Parish and Winn Parish, and is influenced by the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin.

Education

The LaSalle Parish School Board is responsible for the education system in the parish, which includes several public schools, including Jena High School and LaSalle High School, and is also home to the Louisiana Technical College and the Northwestern State University Natchitoches campus. The education system in the parish is similar to that of neighboring Catahoula Parish and Natchitoches Parish, and is influenced by the Louisiana Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Government

The government of LaSalle Parish is headed by the LaSalle Parish Police Jury, which is responsible for overseeing the administration of the parish, and is also home to the LaSalle Parish Sheriff's Office and the Jena mayor-council government. The government of the parish is similar to that of neighboring Grant Parish and Winn Parish, and is influenced by the Louisiana State Legislature and the United States Congress. The parish is also part of the 5th congressional district and the Louisiana Senate 17th district. Category:Parishes in Louisiana