Sibley, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Sibley is a town
in south Webster Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 1,098 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Minden
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The former Sibley High School, now known as Lakeside Junior and Senior High School, is located south of town off Louisiana Highway 7. The Sibley Town Hall was relocated to a portion of the former Sibley High School campus.
Just north of Sibley is Calloway Corners Bed and Breakfast, refurbished in 1991 by Jeanne Woods, formerly of San Diego
, California
. Woods turned her business into a vacation destination through Harlequin Enterprises, which produces popular romance novels. Woods said that she chose the white house that had been abandoned in Sibley because "I love this part of the country. The people have great charm. They are so friendly and easy to know. It's so different. People care about people here; they're not caught up in the rush of life." Calloway Corners is featured on the front of several books penned by romance novelists Katherine Burton
, Sandra Canfield, Tracy Hughes, and Penny Richards. Woods even got the state of Louisiana and the Webster Parish Police Jury to designate Calloway Corners as a "town" on signs on Highway 7.
Several miles south of Sibley is the community of Yellow Pine, which began as a sawmill of the Long Bell Company. There was a comissary at Yellow Pine of the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad. The mill employed both white and African American
laborers. There were private residences and hotels in Yellow Pine, which was consoldiated in 1921 with Sibley.The American artist Ben Earl Looney
was born and reared in Yellow Pine but graduated from Minden High School
before launching a career which took him to many parts of the United States.
Sibley is the home of several churches, including First Baptist
, First United Methodist, Missionary Baptist, and the Independent Baptist
congregation, Baptist Tabernacle, founded by the late evangelist Jimmy G. Tharpe
. In 2010, Baptist Tabernacle began constructing a new sanctuary adjacent to the existing one. Lane Memorial Cemetery is adjacent to the Methodist Church.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (3.49%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,098 people, 412 households, and 315 families residing in the town. The population density
was 284.0 people per square mile (109.5/km²). There were 457 housing units at an average density of 118.2 per square mile (45.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.95% White, 23.59% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.
There were 412 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples
living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,816, and the median income for a family was $34,479. Males had a median income of $34,750 versus $17,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,749. About 14.4% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 22.1% 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 south 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 1,098 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.
The former Sibley High School, now known as Lakeside Junior and Senior High School, is located south of town off Louisiana Highway 7. The Sibley Town Hall was relocated to a portion of the former Sibley High School campus.
Just north of Sibley is Calloway Corners Bed and Breakfast, refurbished in 1991 by Jeanne Woods, formerly of San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Woods turned her business into a vacation destination through Harlequin Enterprises, which produces popular romance novels. Woods said that she chose the white house that had been abandoned in Sibley because "I love this part of the country. The people have great charm. They are so friendly and easy to know. It's so different. People care about people here; they're not caught up in the rush of life." Calloway Corners is featured on the front of several books penned by romance novelists Katherine Burton
Katherine Burton
Katherine Burton was an American Roman Catholic convert who became renowned in her post-conversion years as a religious biographer...
, Sandra Canfield, Tracy Hughes, and Penny Richards. Woods even got the state of Louisiana and the Webster Parish Police Jury to designate Calloway Corners as a "town" on signs on Highway 7.
Several miles south of Sibley is the community of Yellow Pine, which began as a sawmill of the Long Bell Company. There was a comissary at Yellow Pine of the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad. The mill employed both white and African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
laborers. There were private residences and hotels in Yellow Pine, which was consoldiated in 1921 with Sibley.The American artist Ben Earl Looney
Ben Earl Looney
Ben Earl Looney was a Louisiana artist and author known for his Water Colors of Dixie and Cajun Country, pen and ink sketches of Acadiana....
was born and reared in Yellow Pine but graduated from Minden High School
Minden High School (Minden, Louisiana)
Minden High School is the public secondary educational institution in Minden, a small city of 13,000 and the seat of Webster Parish located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana...
before launching a career which took him to many parts of the United States.
Sibley is the home of several churches, including First Baptist
Baptist
Baptists 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...
, First United Methodist, Missionary Baptist, and the Independent Baptist
Independent Baptist
Independent Baptist churches are Christian churches generally holding to conservative Baptist beliefs. They are characterized by being independent from the authority of denominations or similar bodies. Members of such churches comprised three percent of the United States adult population according...
congregation, Baptist Tabernacle, founded by the late evangelist Jimmy G. Tharpe
Jimmy G. Tharpe
Jimmy Gid Tharpe, Sr. , was an Independent Baptist clergyman in Shreveport, Louisiana, who founded the unaccredited theologically conservative Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary, originally established in 1973 as Baptist Christian University...
. In 2010, Baptist Tabernacle began constructing a new sanctuary adjacent to the existing one. Lane Memorial Cemetery is adjacent to the Methodist Church.
Geography
Sibley is located at 32°32′27"N 93°17′36"W (32.540704, -93.293208).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 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (3.49%) 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 1,098 people, 412 households, and 315 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 284.0 people per square mile (109.5/km²). There were 457 housing units at an average density of 118.2 per square mile (45.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.95% White, 23.59% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.18% 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 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.
There were 412 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% 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, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,816, and the median income for a family was $34,479. Males had a median income of $34,750 versus $17,750 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 $13,749. About 14.4% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.