Named for Rich fertile land Founded 1868 Unemployment rate 8.9% (Apr 2015) | Seat Rayville Congressional district 5th Area 1,463 km² Population 20,857 (2013) Largest city Rayville | |
Rivers Boeuf River, Bayou Macon, Big Creek | ||
Richland Parish (French: Paroisse de Richland) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,725. The parish seat is Rayville. The parish was founded in 1868.
Contents
- Map of Richland Parish LA USA
- History
- Geography
- Major highways
- Adjacent parishes
- Demographics
- Education
- Towns
- Village
- Census designated place
- Notable people
- References
Map of Richland Parish, LA, USA
History
Richland Parish is home to the first parishwide public library in the State of Louisiana. The library was built in 1925 by the Lambda Kappa Club of Rayville. R.R. Rhymes donated the original building in memory of his wife, Nonnie Roark Rhymes. In 2008, Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Bibb Ingram, a granddaughter to Nonnie Rhymes, as a member of the Louisiana State Library Board.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 559 square miles (1,450 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (1.0%) is water.
Major highways
Adjacent parishes
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,981 people, 7,490 households, and 5,482 families residing in the parish. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 8,335 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 60.96% White, 38.01% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,490 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the parish the population was spread out with 27.30% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.30 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $23,668, and the median income for a family was $29,075. Males had a median income of $28,471 versus $18,587 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,479. About 23.10% of families and 27.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.50% of those under age 18 and 20.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools in Richland Parish are operated by the Richland Parish School Board.