Jonesboro, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Jonesboro is a town in and the parish seat of Jackson Parish
in the northern portion of the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. The population was 3,914 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
, the town has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,914 people, 1,602 households, and 1,012 families residing in the town. The population density
was 806.6 people per square mile (311.6/km²). There were 1,852 housing units at an average density of 381.7 per square mile (147.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 54.01% White, 45.02% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
There were 1,602 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples
living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,734, and the median income for a family was $28,048. Males had a median income of $29,071 versus $18,143 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,869. About 28.7% of families and 32.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.2% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
held annually—beginning on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day and continuing throughout December.
Jonesboro also has a "Sunshine Festival" with antique cars and tractors, food,and games.
. SR 4 joins Highway 167 at Jonesboro, and it is in the southwestern portion of Jackson Parish.
serves the town.
Zoned schools include:
Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
in the northern portion of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 3,914 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Ruston micropolitan area
The Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area is a micropolitan area in north central Louisiana that covers two parishes - Lincoln and Jackson. As of the 2000 census, the μSA had a population of 57,906 .-Cities:*Ruston * Grambling, Louisiana The Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area is a micropolitan...
.
Geography
Jonesboro is located at 32°14′23"N 92°42′41"W (32.239611, -92.711501). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.82%) 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 3,914 people, 1,602 households, and 1,012 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 806.6 people per square mile (311.6/km²). There were 1,852 housing units at an average density of 381.7 per square mile (147.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 54.01% White, 45.02% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% 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 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
There were 1,602 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% 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, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,734, and the median income for a family was $28,048. Males had a median income of $29,071 versus $18,143 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 $12,869. About 28.7% of families and 32.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.2% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Jonesboro is the home of "Christmas Wonderland in the Pines", a local festivalFestival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
held annually—beginning on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day and continuing throughout December.
Jonesboro also has a "Sunshine Festival" with antique cars and tractors, food,and games.
Transportation
It is on U.S. Highway 167, twenty-four miles south of RustonRuston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
. SR 4 joins Highway 167 at Jonesboro, and it is in the southwestern portion of Jackson Parish.
Notable natives and residents
- Rodney AlexanderRodney AlexanderRodney McKinnie Alexander is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district covers twenty-two parishes in roughly the northeast quadrant of the state...
, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative, born in Jonesboro, resides in nearby QuitmanQuitman, LouisianaQuitman is a village in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 168. Quitman is south of Ruston on U.S. Highway 167, and north of Jonesboro, the parish seat of Jackson Parish...
.
- H. Welborn AyresH. Welborn AyresHarrison Welborn Ayres was a 20th century judge of the Louisiana Second Judicial District Court, based in Jonesboro, and the state Second Circuit Court of Appeal, anchored in Shreveport....
, former judge of the Second Judicial District based in Jonesboro
- David T. CaldwellDavid T. CaldwellDavid T. Caldwell was a Second Judicial District Court judge based in Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish in north Louisiana. He was initially appointed to his position on January 31, 1970, by Governor John J. McKeithen to succeed Judge P.E. Brown, who had reached the mandatory retirement age...
, judge of the Second Judicial District from 1970–1982
- James Houston "Jimmie" DavisJimmie DavisJames Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
, who is buried there, was a Louisiana governor and writer of the song "You Are My SunshineYou Are My Sunshine"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by...
".
- James R. FanninJames R. FanninJames Roy Fannin , known as Jim Fannin, is the Democratic chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He is a former educator and active businessman in Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish in north Louisiana, In 2003, Fannin was elected to represent House...
, state representativeLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from Jackson Parish since 2003
- Charles Henry Garrett, D.V.M. (1934–2010), as a Republican member of the Jackson Parish Police Jury from 1988–2008, Garrett worked to construct the Jackson Parish Community Center, Health Unit, and the Veterans Memorial Park. A graduate of Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
and Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Garrett practiced veterinary medicineVeterinary medicineVeterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
in his native Jonesboro. He served on the Governor Jimmie Davis Tabernacle Board.
- E.L. "Bubba" Henry, former SpeakerSpeaker (politics)The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Louisiana House of RepresentativesLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
, resident of Baton Rouge
- James P. PopeJames P. PopeJames Pinckney Pope was a mayor of Boise, Idaho, and a United States Senator from Idaho.Pope graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1906 and from the law department of the University of Chicago in 1909...
, former U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and former mayor of BoiseBoise, IdahoBoise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
.
- Bob ReeseBob ReeseBobby Lynn Reese, known as Bob Reese , was a home builder, architectural designer, portrait painter, and businessman in Natchitoches, Louisiana, who was a co-chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Republican Party from 1968–2004, during an era in which Democrats dominated his region of the state,...
, Louisiana Republican political activist
- Joseph TabarletJoseph TabarletJoseph Odell Tabarlet, I , was a businessman, public administrator and civic leader who served one full and three partial terms as the mayor of Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish in north Louisiana.-Background:...
, mayor of Jonesboro, 1938–1942; 1948-1951
- Neil Thomas (1892–1963), sheriff of Jackson Parish from 1928–1948; state parole director under the second Jimmie Davis administration, originally a barberBarberA barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
in Jonesboro; father-in-law of Bob Reese
- Dustin Barnes, television news reporter, FOX 16 News, Little Rock, Ark.
Education
Jackson Parish School BoardJackson Parish School Board
Jackson Parish School Board is a school district headquartered in Jonesboro, Louisiana, United States.The district serves Jackson Parish.-PreK-12 schools:* Quitman High School * Weston High School -9-12 schools:...
serves the town.
Zoned schools include:
- Southside Elementary School
- Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School
- Jonesboro-Hodge High SchoolJonesboro-Hodge High SchoolJonesboro-Hodge High School is a high school located in North Central Louisiana. It is located in Jonesboro in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. The school mascot is the Tiger, named after LSU. The colors are scarlet and royal blue...