Walker, Louisiana

History

The area now known as Walker was founded by Michael Milton, a veteran of the War of 1812, and his wife, Martha, in 1853. The Miltons were a pioneering family from North Carolina that settled an area in Alabama, before clearing 400 acres in the piney woods east of the Amite River and Denham Springs The Federal government recognized the growth of the settlement and opened a post officer as Milton Old Field in 1856. Michael Milton was appointed as postmaster in 1858. In 1890 the post office was renamed after Dr. William Elliott Walker, M.D., a legislator from nearby Springfield, who had, also, served as a Lt. Col. in the Confederate States of America.

Walker became a city in 2011 by proclamation of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

Geography

Walker is located at 30°29′22″N 90°51′46″W (30.489423, -90.862872). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.8 square miles (14.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Walker is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The 2010 Census noted the population of Walker is 6,138 - up 28% over the past decade. Walker officially became a city. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,801 people, 1,758 households, and 1,320 families residing in the town. The population density was 834.8 people per square mile (322.4/km²). There were 1,905 housing units at an average density of 331.2 per square mile (127.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.34% White, 12.37% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 1,758 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,298, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $32,907 versus $21,775 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,056. About 5.9% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 20.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Mayor - Jimmy Watson

Police Chief - Marliam Lee

Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Jason Ard

Education

Walker is within the Livingston Parish Public Schools system.

The Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center in Walker is named for Sally Clausen, former Louisiana commissioner of education, and her brother, Thomas G. Clausen, state education superintendent from 1984 to 1988.

Walker is served by:

Notable people