Clinton, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Clinton is a town in and the parish seat of East Feliciana Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The town was named for New York
Governor DeWitt Clinton
. The population was 1,998 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
about Clinton. Union
General
Benjamin Grierson
occupied Clinton on June 7, 1863, a month before the fall of Vicksburg
, Mississippi
. Grierson found the town deserted, as Confederates had withdrawn ten miles to the north. According to the historian
John D. Winters
in The Civil War in Louisiana (1863), the Union "burned a railroad depot, a warehouse containing several hundred hides, a small supply of corn, a machine shop, a locomotive, a crude woolen mill, a cartridge factory, a supply of ammunition, and several barrels of Louisiana rum."
On September 5, 1864, Union General Albert L. Lee left from Baton Rouge to make another raid on Clinton and destroyed a tannery at nearby Greensburg
containing two thousand sides of leather. On March 5, 1865, with less than a month remaining in the war, Union General Francis J. Herron
moved from Baton Rouge3 toward Clinton and defeated a weak Confederate force. The Federal cavalry
pushed twenty miles north of Clinton to discourage remaining Confederate activity in the area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.72%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,998 people, 670 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density
was 729.0 people per square mile (281.5/km²). There were 771 housing units at an average density of 281.3 per square mile (108.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 40.74% White, 58.26% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 670 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples
living together, 26.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,016, and the median income for a family was $29,444. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,353. About 25.3% of families and 33.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under age 18 and 23.7% of those age 65 or over.
serves Clinton. Public schools within Clinton and serving Clinton include:
Silliman Institute
is the main private school in the area.
was filmed in and around Clinton.
The 1972 film, Sounder
was also filmed in and around Clinton, including locations in East Feliciana and St. Helena parishes.
The Long, Hot Summer
, a 1958 film directed by Martin Ritt, starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, and Orson Welles, was filmed in and around Clinton. The film is based on stories by William Faulkner
.
Some scenes not included in the 1991 picture JFK
were filmed in Clinton.
The HBO hit series True Blood
currently has a 5-year contract with the town.
East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
East Feliciana Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Clinton. In 2000, the population was 21,360.East Feliciana Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town was named for New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Governor DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
. The population was 1,998 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Baton Rouge metropolitan area
The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a sprawling area consisting of nine parishes in Louisiana, anchored by the city of Baton Rouge...
.
History
Several military engagements occurred during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
about Clinton. Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Benjamin Grierson
Benjamin Grierson
Benjamin Henry Grierson was a music teacher and then a career officer in the United States Army. He was a cavalry general in the volunteer Union Army during the American Civil War and later led troops in the American Old West...
occupied Clinton on June 7, 1863, a month before the fall of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. Grierson found the town deserted, as Confederates had withdrawn ten miles to the north. According to the historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
John D. Winters
John D. Winters
John David Winters was a historian at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, best known for his definitive and award-winning study, The Civil War in Louisiana, still in print, published in 1963 and released in paperback in 1991.-Background:Winters was born to John David Winters, Sr...
in The Civil War in Louisiana (1863), the Union "burned a railroad depot, a warehouse containing several hundred hides, a small supply of corn, a machine shop, a locomotive, a crude woolen mill, a cartridge factory, a supply of ammunition, and several barrels of Louisiana rum."
On September 5, 1864, Union General Albert L. Lee left from Baton Rouge to make another raid on Clinton and destroyed a tannery at nearby Greensburg
Greensburg, Louisiana
Greensburg is a town in and the parish seat of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 631 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greensburg is one of the oldest towns in Louisiana....
containing two thousand sides of leather. On March 5, 1865, with less than a month remaining in the war, Union General Francis J. Herron
Francis J. Herron
Francis Jay Herron , was a Union general during the American Civil War.-Biography:Francis J. Herron attended the Western University of Pennsylvania, but left at the age of sixteen without completing his degree to become a bank clerk. In 1855, he joined his three brothers in Dubuque, Iowa, where...
moved from Baton Rouge3 toward Clinton and defeated a weak Confederate force. The Federal cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
pushed twenty miles north of Clinton to discourage remaining Confederate activity in the area.
Geography
Clinton is located at 30°51′47"N 91°0′57"W (30.863050, -91.015789).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.72%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,998 people, 670 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 729.0 people per square mile (281.5/km²). There were 771 housing units at an average density of 281.3 per square mile (108.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 40.74% White, 58.26% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 670 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 26.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,016, and the median income for a family was $29,444. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $13,353. About 25.3% of families and 33.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under age 18 and 23.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
East Feliciana Parish School BoardEast Feliciana Parish School Board
East Feliciana Parish School Board is a school district headquartered in Clinton, Louisiana, United States. The district serves students in East Feliciana Parish.-High school:* East Feliciana High School...
serves Clinton. Public schools within Clinton and serving Clinton include:
- Clinton High School http://www.efpsb.k12.la.us/ClintonHigh.cfm
- Clinton Middle School
- Clinton Elementary School
Silliman Institute
Silliman Institute
-History:Silliman Institute was originally founded in 1852 as Silliman Collegiate Institute. It operated as an all girls college between the years of 1852 and 1866, even during the Civil War. Louisiana State University did not even remain open during this time...
is the main private school in the area.
Media
The 2005 film, The Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of Hazzard (film)
The Dukes of Hazzard is a 2005 comedy film based on the American television series of the same name. The film was directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and released on August 5, 2005 by Warner Bros. Pictures...
was filmed in and around Clinton.
The 1972 film, Sounder
Sounder (film)
Sounder is a 1972 film starring Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Carmen Mathews, Taj Mahal, Eric Hooks and Janet MacLachlan. It was adapted by Lonne Elder III and directed by Martin Ritt from the 1970 Newbery Medal-winning novel Sounder by William H...
was also filmed in and around Clinton, including locations in East Feliciana and St. Helena parishes.
The Long, Hot Summer
The Long, Hot Summer
The Long, Hot Summer is a 1958 film directed by Martin Ritt, starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury and Orson Welles...
, a 1958 film directed by Martin Ritt, starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, and Orson Welles, was filmed in and around Clinton. The film is based on stories by William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
.
Some scenes not included in the 1991 picture JFK
JFK (film)
JFK is a 1991 American film directed by Oliver Stone. It examines the events leading to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and alleged subsequent cover-up, through the eyes of former New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison .Garrison filed charges against New Orleans businessman Clay...
were filmed in Clinton.
The HBO hit series True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
currently has a 5-year contract with the town.
External links
- Muting The Call To Service - About volunteers in a school in Clinton