East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

History

The parish was part of Feliciana Parish, which was founded in 1810 and then divided, in 1824, into East Feliciana Parish and West Feliciana Parish. Feliciana is derived from a Spanish rendering of the French word "Felicité" which means happiness. The Louisiana State Insane Asylum was established near Jackson, Louisiana, in 1847. It was greatly enlarged and improved under the administration of Dr. John Welch Jones, who was appointed as superintendent in 1874. The institution was later called East Louisiana State Hospital.

The Margaret Dixon Correctional Institute is located in Jackson, as well. It opened in 1976 and is named for the crusading managing editor of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, who argued for the decentralization of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, in neighboring West Feliciana Parish.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 456 square miles (1,180 km²), of which 453 square miles (1,170 km²) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent parishes and counties

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,267 people residing in the parish. 53.2% were White, 44.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

At the 2000 census, there were 21,360 people, 6,699 households, and 5,030 families residing in the parish. The population density was 47 per square mile (18/km²). There were 7,915 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 51.79% White, 47.08% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,699 households of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 18.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.26.

25.70% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 116.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.40 males.

The median household income was $31,631, and the median family income was $37,278. Males had a median income of $31,804 versus $20,243 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,428. About 18.30% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 21.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury is the governing body of the parish and consists of nine representatives elected by district.

East Louisiana State Hospital, currently referred to as Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System (ELMHS)is located in Jackson. Its main building is considered to be one of the largest and most significant Greek Revival buildings in Louisiana, it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The institution was one of the first mental hospitals in the South.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections operates the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson.

Education

East Feliciana Parish School Board operates public schools in the parish.

Silliman Institute in Clinton was established in the late 1960s after federal courts ordered the desegregation of the East Feliciana public school system.

Some students in the parish attend Wilkinson County Christian Academy in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Notable people