Sarepta, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Sarepta is a town
in Webster Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 925 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Minden
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Sarepta was named for the town's first church's benefactor, Sarepta Carter. Local history tells that Mrs. Carter donated a Bible
to the community church on the premise that it be named for her. Years later the church split, and the original name became Old Sarepta. The new congregation became New Sarepta.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 925 people, 369 households, and 271 families residing in the town. The population density
was 576.1 people per square mile (221.8/km²). There were 411 housing units at an average density of 256.0 per square mile (98.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.65% White, 2.05% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.86% from other races
, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.
There were 369 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $39,083. Males had a median income of $31,776 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,945. About 5.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
, 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 population was 925 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Sarepta was named for the town's first church's benefactor, Sarepta Carter. Local history tells that Mrs. Carter donated a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
to the community church on the premise that it be named for her. Years later the church split, and the original name became Old Sarepta. The new congregation became New Sarepta.
Geography
Sarepta is located at 32°53′51"N 93°26′58"W (32.897373, -93.449382).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 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), all of it land.
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 925 people, 369 households, and 271 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 576.1 people per square mile (221.8/km²). There were 411 housing units at an average density of 256.0 per square mile (98.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.65% White, 2.05% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.86% 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 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.
There were 369 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $39,083. Males had a median income of $31,776 versus $21,250 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 $14,945. About 5.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Sarepta has a 6th-8th grade school, North Webster Jr. High School, located at 6041 Hwy 2. The school's mascot is the Charger. The colors are purple, silver, and black. Formerly Sarepta High School, North Webster Jr. High School was formed during consolidation in 2011. The school serves as the junior high school for the entire north end of Webster Parish. Students that previosly attended Sarepta School in grades K-5 and 9-12 now attend school at various other facilities in north Webster Parish.Notable people
- Trace AdkinsTrace AdkinsTracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
, country music singer - James W. Carraway (1923–2008) was a ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
long affiliated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationBilly Graham Evangelistic AssociationThe Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...
. He had his own radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and televisionTelevisionTelevision is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
ministry. Carraway was originally a railroad engineer and was hence called the "Singing Engineer". He was BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
. Carraway was the maternal grandfather of Trace Adkins, whose mother is the former Peggy Carraway. - John Ardis CawthonJohn Ardis CawthonJohn Ardis Cawthon was an educator and regional historian from Ruston in Lincoln Parish in north Louisiana, who was affiliated with Louisiana Tech University from 1939–1940, 1948, and from January 12, 1954, until retirement on May 31, 1972...
, education professor and regional historian at 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...
taught at Sarepta High School from 1935-1939. - Johnathan S. Cheshire, a 19th century Sarepta physicianPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
featured in Rupert PeytonRupert PeytonRupert Rudolph Peyton was an anti-Long member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish, having served at-large for a single four-year term from 1932-1936...
's "A Webster Parish Country Doctor's Record" of the North Louisiana Historical Association Journal, Summer 1979. Cheshire was Peyton's maternal grandfather.
- Morris W. McClary (1917–1988), in 1973 succeeded Leland G. MimsLeland G. MimsLeland Garland Mims was a Minden, Louisiana, businessman and civic leader who served as a member of the Webster Parish Police Jury from 1953–1976 and as president of the body from 1956-1973...
as president of the Webster Parish Police Jury. He served until his retirement from the jury in 1976.