List of parishes in Louisiana
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The U.S. state of Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes in the same way that 48 of the other states of the United States are divided into counties (Alaska is divided into boroughs and census areas).
Forty-one parishes are governed by a council called the Police Jury. The other twenty-three have various other forms of government, including: president-council, council-manager, parish commission, and consolidated parish/city.
Louisiana was formed from French and Spanish colonies, which were both officially Roman Catholic. Local government was based upon parishes, as the local ecclesiastical division. Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Territorial Legislative Council divided the Territory of Orleans (the predecessor of Louisiana state) into twelve counties. The borders of these counties were poorly defined, but they roughly coincided with the colonial parishes, and hence used the same names.[1]
On March 31, 1807, the territorial legislature divided the state into 19 parishes, without getting rid of the old counties (which continued to exist until 1845).[2]
In 1811, a constitutional convention was held to prepare for Louisiana's admission into the Union.[3] This organized the state into seven judicial districts, each consisting of groups of parishes. In 1816, the first official map of the state used the term, as did the 1845 constitution. Since then, the official term for Louisiana's primary civil divisions has been parishes.
[edit] Listing
| Parish |
FIPS Code [4] |
Parish seat [5] |
Established [5] |
Origin |
Population [5] |
Area [5] |
Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Parish | 001 | Crowley | 1886 | from part of St. Landry Parish. | 58,861 | 1,703 sq mi (4,411 km2) |
 |
| Allen Parish | 003 | Oberlin | 1912 | from part of Calcasieu Parish. | 25,440 | 1,983 sq mi (5,136 km2) |
 |
| Ascension Parish | 005 | Donaldsonville | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 76,627 | 784 sq mi (2,031 km2) |
 |
| Assumption Parish | 007 | Napoleonville | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 23,388 | 944 sq mi (2,445 km2) |
 |
| Avoyelles Parish | 009 | Marksville | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 41,481 | 2,242 sq mi (5,807 km2) |
 |
| Beauregard Parish | 011 | DeRidder | 1912 | from part of Calcasieu Parish. | 32,986 | 3,020 sq mi (7,822 km2) |
 |
| Bienville Parish | 013 | Arcadia | 1848 | from part of Claiborne Parish. | 15,752 | 2,128 sq mi (5,511 km2) |
 |
| Bossier Parish | 015 | Benton | 1843 | from part Claiborne Parish. | 98,310 | 2,245 sq mi (5,815 km2) |
 |
| Caddo Parish | 017 | Shreveport | 1838 | from part of Natchitoches Parish. | 252,161 | 2,427 sq mi (6,286 km2) |
 |
| Calcasieu Parish | 019 | Lake Charles | 1840 | from part of St. Landry Parish. | 183,577 | 2,834 sq mi (7,340 km2) |
 |
| Caldwell Parish | 021 | Columbia | 1838 | from part of Catahoula Parish and Ouachita Parish. | 10,560 | 1,400 sq mi (3,626 km2) |
 |
| Cameron Parish | 023 | Cameron | 1870 | from parts of Calcasieu Parish and Vermilion Parish. | 9,991 | 5,003 sq mi (12,958 km2) |
 |
| Catahoula Parish | 025 | Harrisonburg | 1808 | from parts of Ouachita Parish and Rapides Parish. | 10,920 | 1,915 sq mi (4,960 km2) |
 |
| Claiborne Parish | 027 | Homer | 1828 | from part of Natchitoches Parish. | 16,851 | 1,988 sq mi (5,149 km2) |
 |
| Concordia Parish | 029 | Vidalia | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 20,247 | 1,939 sq mi (5,022 km2) |
 |
| De Soto Parish | 031 | Mansfield | 1843 | from parts of Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. | 25,494 | 2,317 sq mi (6,001 km2) |
 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 033 | Baton Rouge | 1810 | from West Florida territory. | 412,852 | 1,219 sq mi (3,157 km2) |
 |
| East Carroll Parish | 035 | Lake Providence | 1877 | when Carroll Parish was divided. | 9,421 | 1,144 sq mi (2,963 km2) |
 |
| East Feliciana Parish | 037 | Clinton | 1824 | when Feliciana Parish was divided. | 21,360 | 1,180 sq mi (3,056 km2) |
 |
| Evangeline Parish | 039 | Ville Platte | 1910 | from part of St. Landry Parish. | 35,434 | 1,760 sq mi (4,558 km2) |
 |
| Franklin Parish | 041 | Winnsboro | 1843 | from parts of Carroll Parish, Catahoula Parish, Madison Parish and Ouachita Parish | 21,263 | 1,646 sq mi (4,263 km2) |
 |
| Grant Parish | 043 | Colfax | 1869 | from parts of Rapides Parish and Winn Parish. | 18,698 | 1,721 sq mi (4,457 km2) |
 |
| Iberia Parish | 045 | New Iberia | 1868 | from parts of St. Martin Parish and St. Mary Parish. | 73,266 | 2,670 sq mi (6,915 km2) |
 |
| Iberville Parish | 047 | Plaquemine | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 33,320 | 1,691 sq mi (4,380 km2) |
 |
| Jackson Parish | 049 | Jonesboro | 1845 | from parts of Claiborne Parish, Ouachita Parish and Union Parish | 15,397 | 1,503 sq mi (3,893 km2) |
 |
| Jefferson Parish | 051 | Gretna | 1825 | from part of Orleans Parish | 455,466 | 1,664 sq mi (4,310 km2) |
 |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 053 | Jennings | 1912 | from part of Calcasieu Parish. | 31,435 | 1,706 sq mi (4,419 km2) |
 |
| Lafayette Parish | 055 | Lafayette | 1823 | from part of St. Martin Parish. | 190,503 | 700 sq mi (1,813 km2) |
 |
| Lafourche Parish | 057 | Thibodaux | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. Was named Interior Parish until 1812 and Lafourche Interior Parish until 1853. | 89,974 | 3,813 sq mi (9,876 km2) |
 |
| La Salle Parish | 059 | Jena | 1908 | from part of Catahoula Parish. | 14,282 | 1,716 sq mi (4,444 km2) |
 |
| Lincoln Parish | 061 | Ruston | 1873 | from parts of Bienville Parish, Claiborne Parish, Jackson Parish and Union Parish. | 42,509 | 1,223 sq mi (3,168 km2) |
 |
| Livingston Parish | 063 | Livingston | 1832 | from part of St. Helena Parish. | 91,814 | 1,820 sq mi (4,714 km2) |
 |
| Madison Parish | 065 | Tallulah | 1838 | from Concordia Parish. | 13,728 | 1,685 sq mi (4,364 km2) |
 |
| Morehouse Parish | 067 | Bastrop | 1844 | from parts of Carroll Parish and Ouachita Parish. | 31,021 | 2,085 sq mi (5,400 km2) |
 |
| Natchitoches Parish | 069 | Natchitoches | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 39,080 | 3,365 sq mi (8,715 km2) |
 |
| Orleans Parish | 071 | New Orleans | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. Today coterminous with the City of New Orleans. | 484,674 | 907 sq mi (2,349 km2) |
 |
| Ouachita Parish | 073 | Monroe | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 147,250 | 1,639 sq mi (4,245 km2) |
 |
| Plaquemines Parish | 075 | Pointe a la Hache | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 26,757 | 6,290 sq mi (16,291 km2) |
 |
| Pointe Coupee Parish | 077 | New Roads | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 22,763 | 1,530 sq mi (3,963 km2) |
 |
| Rapides Parish | 079 | Alexandria | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 126,337 | 3,527 sq mi (9,135 km2) |
 |
| Red River Parish | 081 | Coushatta | 1871 | from parts of Bienville Parish, Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. | 9,622 | 1,041 sq mi (2,696 km2) |
 |
| Richland Parish | 083 | Rayville | 1868 | from parts of Carroll Parish, Franklin Parish, Morehouse Parish and Ouachita Parish. | 20,981 | 1,462 sq mi (3,787 km2) |
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| Sabine Parish | 085 | Many | 1843 | from parts of Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. | 23,459 | 2,620 sq mi (6,786 km2) |
 |
| Saint Bernard Parish | 087 | Chalmette | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 67,229 | 4,646 sq mi (12,033 km2) |
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| Saint Charles Parish | 089 | Hahnville | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 48,072 | 1,062 sq mi (2,751 km2) |
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| Saint Helena Parish | 091 | Greensburg | 1810 | from West Florida territory. | 10,525 | 1,060 sq mi (2,745 km2) |
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| Saint James Parish | 093 | Convent | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 21,216 | 668 sq mi (1,730 km2) |
 |
| Saint John the Baptist Parish | 095 | Edgard | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 43,044 | 901 sq mi (2,334 km2) |
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| Saint Landry Parish | 097 | Opelousas | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 87,700 | 2,432 sq mi (6,299 km2) |
 |
| Saint Martin Parish | 099 | Saint Martinville | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. | 48,583 | 2,115 sq mi (5,478 km2) |
 |
| Saint Mary Parish | 101 | Franklin | 1811 | from part of St. Martin County. | 53,500 | 1,585 sq mi (4,105 km2) |
 |
| Saint Tammany Parish | 103 | Covington | 1810 | from West Florida territory. | 191,268 | 2,911 sq mi (7,539 km2) |
 |
| Tangipahoa Parish | 105 | Amite | 1868 | from parts of Livingston Parish, St. Helena Parish, St. Tammany Parish and Washington Parish. | 100,588 | 2,132 sq mi (5,522 km2) |
 |
| Tensas Parish | 107 | Saint Joseph | 1843 | from part of Concordia Parish. | 6,618 | 1,661 sq mi (4,302 km2) |
 |
| Terrebonne Parish | 109 | Houma | 1822 | from part of Lafourche Parish. | 104,503 | 5,387 sq mi (13,952 km2) |
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| Union Parish | 111 | Farmerville | 1839 | from part of Ouachita Parish. | 22,803 | 2,345 sq mi (6,074 km2) |
 |
| Vermilion Parish | 113 | Abbeville | 1844 | from part of Lafayette Parish. | 53,807 | 3,984 sq mi (10,319 km2) |
 |
| Vernon Parish | 115 | Leesville | 1871 | from parts of Natchitoches Parish, Rapides Parish and Sabine Parish. | 52,531 | 3,474 sq mi (8,998 km2) |
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| Washington Parish | 117 | Franklinton | 1819 | from part of St. Tammany Parish. | 43,926 | 1,751 sq mi (4,535 km2) |
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| Webster Parish | 119 | Minden | 1871 | from parts of Bienville Parish, Bossier Parish and Claiborne Parish. | 41,831 | 1,593 sq mi (4,126 km2) |
 |
| West Baton Rouge Parish | 121 | Port Allen | 1807 | One of the original 19 parishes. Was named Baton Rouge Parish until 1812. | 21,601 | 527 sq mi (1,365 km2) |
 |
| West Carroll Parish | 123 | Oak Grove | 1877 | when Carroll Parish was divided. | 12,314 | 933 sq mi (2,416 km2) |
 |
| West Feliciana Parish | 125 | Saint Francisville | 1824 | when Feliciana Parish was divided. | 15,111 | 1,051 sq mi (2,722 km2) |
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| Winn Parish | 127 | Winnfield | 1852 | from parts of Catahoula Parish, Natchitoches Parish and Rapides Parish. | 16,894 | 2,478 sq mi (6,418 km2) |
 |
[edit] Defunct parishes
- Biloxi Parish formed in 1811 from West Florida territory. It was eliminated in 1812 when part of the former West Florida area was transferred to Mississippi Territory.[1]
- Carroll Parish formed in 1838 from part of Ouachita Parish. In 1877, it was divided into East Carroll Parish and West Carroll Parish.[1]
- Feliciana Parish formed in 1810 from West Florida territory. In 1824, it was divided in 1824 into East Feliciana Parish and West Feliciana Parish.[1]
- Pascagoula Parish formed in 1811 from West Florida territory. It was eliminated in 1812 when part of the former West Florida area was transferred to Mississippi Territory.[1]
- Warren Parish formed in 1811 from part of Concordia Parish, and merged into Concordia Parish and Ouachita Parish in 1814.[1]
[edit] Counties
The thirteen counties defined by the Territorial Legislative Council in 1803 were:
- Acadia County
- Attakapas County
- Concordia County
- German Coast County
- Iberville County
- Lafourche County
- Natchitoches County
- Opelousas County
- Orleans County
- Ouachita County
- Pointe Coupee County
- Rapides County
In addition, Feliciana County was established in 1810 from West Florida territory.
[edit] Fictional parishes
- In the novels Little Altars Everywhere, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and Ya-Yas in Bloom, author Rebecca Wells created the fictional "Garnet Parish".
- The movie Steel Magnolias was said to take place in the fictional "Chinquapin Parish".
- Part of Walter Jon Williams' novel The Rift is set in the fictional Spottswood Parish.
- HBO's True Blood takes place in the fictional "Renard Parish"
- In the movie In the Electric Mist, Deputy Jason J. Bayard was from the fictional "St. Clare Parish".
[edit] References
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&statecode=la. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. - Counties, parish seats, areas, names and date of formation of current parishes
- "Louisiana County Formation Maps". http://www.segenealogy.com/louisiana/la_maps/la_cf.htm. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. - Formation dates and origin of parishes
- ^ a b c d e f Bryansite - Louisiana parishes
- ^ Louisiana Timeline - 1807
- ^ The Admission of Louisiana into the Union
- ^ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/ar.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ a b c d National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&state.cfm&statecode=la. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.
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