Winnsboro, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Winnsboro is a city in and the parish seat of Franklin Parish
Franklin Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,263 people, 7,754 households, and 5,706 families residing in the parish. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 8,623 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...

, 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...

. As of July 2009, the estimated city population was 4,377. Louisiana Highway 15
Louisiana Highway 15
Louisiana Highway 15 is a state highway in Louisiana. It spans north/south for .-Route description:LA 15 begins as an exit from U.S. Route 167 just south of Lillie and heads due east towards Spearsville. From Spearsville, LA 15 turns to the southeast and shortly merges with LA 2 and LA 33 in...

 passes north-south through Winnsboro and extends northward to Rayville
Rayville, Louisiana
Rayville is a town in, the parish seat of, and the largest community in Richland Parish in northeastern Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,234 at the 2000 census. It is also home of Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center...

, the seat of neighboring Richland Parish.

Geography

Winnsboro is located at 32°9′48"N 91°43′24"W (32.163412, -91.723293).

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 city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.69%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
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 5,344 people, 1,977 households, and 1,310 families residing in the city. 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 1,314.7 people per square mile (508.2/km²). There were 2,144 housing units at an average density of 527.4 per square mile (203.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.97% White, 58.53% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% 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 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 1,977 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% 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, 27.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 76.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 67.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,590, and the median income for a family was $21,543. Males had a median income of $24,608 versus $15,663 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 city was $9,229. About 36.7% of families and 40.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 58.3% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

Franklin Parish was created on March 1, 1843, from portions of Ouachita
Ouachita
Ouachita may refer to:In geography:* Ouachita Mountains* Ouachita orogeny the geologic event that raised the Ouachita Mountains* Ouachita River* Ouachita Parish, Louisiana* Ouachita County, Arkansas* Ouachita National Forest...

, Catahoula
Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Catahoula Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Harrisonburg, located on the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. In 2000, the population of the parish was 10,920.-Prehistory:...

, and Madison
Madison Parish, Louisiana
-National protected areas:* Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S...

 parishes through the efforts of Senator
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...

 John Winn. The parish was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...

. Land for a centrally located parish seat, Winnsborough (later Winnsboro), was purchased in 1844. It was designated as the parish seat of government in 1846 and incorporated on March 18, 1902 during the administration of Governor William Wright Heard
William Wright Heard
William Wright Heard was the 32nd Governor of Louisiana from 1900 to 1904.-Early life:Heard was educated in a local school in Union Parish. In years to come, he remembered the challenges of educating children that rural residents met...

.

The village of Winnsboro was incorporated in 1902, and Captain William Phillip Powell was appointed to serve as the first mayor.

Early Winnsboro City records show that the telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...

 came to Winnsboro in 1905; electricity, in 1914; and water and sewer service, in 1923. In 1924, a volunteer fire department was formed. In 1938 a bond issue to build the present municipal building was approved, and the following year citizens agreed to the purchase of the Landis municipal park property. Most of the community's streets were hard surfaced after 1950.

Public schools

Winnsboro is served by the Franklin Parish School Board
Franklin Parish School Board
Franklin Parish School Board is a school district headquartered in Winnsboro, Louisiana, United States.The district serves Franklin Parish.The Franklin Parish superintendent is Neal Lane "Lanny" Johnson , a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, who served from 1976-1980...

. There are two schools
  • Franklin Parish High School
  • Winnsboro Elementary School

Higher Education

Louisiana Technical College's
Louisiana Technical College
Louisiana Technical College is an institute for professional technical education in the state of Louisiana, with campuses across the state. Louisiana Technical College has no affiliation to Louisiana Tech University.-History:...

 Northeast Louisiana Campus is located in Winnsboro.

The Princess Theatre

The Princess Theatre was established in 1925 by George Elam. Two years later, Elam moved his theatre into a building on Prairie Street, where it stands today. Leasing the building from Rowena Ramage, Elam worked to improve the building which was built in 1907. Silent movies
Silent Movies
Silent Movies are 13 solo guitar compositions by Marc Ribot released September 28, 2010 on Pi Recordings.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "For those interested in one of the more compelling and quietly provocative and graceful guitar records of 2010,...

 were shown on a screen while live piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 music brought the films to life. A few years later Elam bought records to play along with the movies. When sound was added to films in 1930 Elam installed a sound system
Sound reinforcement system
A sound reinforcement system is the combination of microphones, signal processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers that makes live or pre-recorded sounds louder and may also distribute those sounds to a larger or more distant audience...

 in the theatre.
In the early 1940s, Elam added on to the building, making it longer. In 1960, Elam sold the theatre to Jack Pope. Pope continued leasing the building from Ramage while keeping the Princess operating just as Elam had done. Competition from a multiple-screen movie theater led to the closing of the Princess Theatre in 1985.

In 1992, Rowena Ramage gave the Princess Theatre building to the city of Winnsboro. A Board of Directors was appointed to take care of the building. In 1993, the board announced renovation plans to begin immediately on the Princess Theatre.

The Governor's Arts Award program in May 2002 carried the following statement.

Franklin Parish Catfish Festival

This annual “Spring Party” started as a Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...

 initiative twenty years ago and now draws some twenty thousand to Winnsboro each year. The festival offers an opportunity for local groups and organizations to raise funds for their various endeavors, as well as showcase their products to the crowds that attend. The festival is held the second Saturday in April unless Easter falls on that particular week-end and then it would be scheduled on the first Saturday. This is the largest one-day festival in Louisiana.

Economy

The economic base of Winnsboro consists of companies in the apparel, boat manufacturing, bottling and food products industries, aviation, healthcare, agriculture and agricultural related industries. There is a large grain elevator
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...

.

Notable people

  • Fred Carter, Jr.
    Fred Carter, Jr.
    Fred Carter, Jr. was an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer.- Early career :Carter was raised in the delta country in Winnsboro, the seat of Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Carter grew up with the heavy musical influences of jazz, country & western, hymns, and blues...

     - Rock and roll
    Rock and roll
    Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

    guitarist
    Guitarist
    A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

     and singer
  • Noble Ellington
    Noble Ellington
    Noble Edward Ellington, II , is a wealthy cotton merchant from Winnsboro, the seat of Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana, who is a freshman, and as of December 17, 2010, a Republican, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 20...

     - state representative and state senator
    State Senator
    A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...

  • Allen "Puddler" Harris
    Allen "Puddler" Harris
    Allen W. "Puddler" Harris is a rock and roll and country musician who played piano in the original Ricky Nelson Band in Hollywood, California, and the last Jimmie Davis band in Louisiana...

     - Rock and roll
    Rock and roll
    Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

     and Country music
    Country music
    Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

     pianist
    Pianist
    A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

  • T. H. Harris
    T. H. Harris
    Thomas H Harris was the dominant figure in Louisiana public education in the first half of the 20th century through his role as the state school superintendent from 1908-1940.-Early years and education:...

     - state education superintendent
  • L.D. Knox - perennial political candidate who legally changed his name to "None of the Above" Knox
  • Anthony McFarland
    Anthony McFarland
    Anthony Darelle "Booger" McFarland is an American football player who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University.McFarland has also played for the Indianapolis Colts...

     - professional football
    American football
    American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

     player
  • John Moffitt
    John Moffitt
    John Moffitt is an American long jumper. His breakthrough came in 2004 when he became NCAA indoor and outdoor champion, improved his personal best by 45 centimeters and won the silver medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics behind countryfellow Dwight Phillips...

     - 2004 Olympic
    Olympic Games
    The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

     silver medalist
  • L.D. "Buddy" Napper
    L.D. "Buddy" Napper
    Laurice Dean Napper, known as L.D. "Buddy" Napper , is an attorney and civic figure in Ruston, Louisiana, who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1952-1964....

     - state representative
  • Morgan D. Peoples
    Morgan D. Peoples
    Morgan Dewey Peoples was a historian who coauthored with Michael L. Kurtz the definitive biography of the late Louisiana Governor Earl Kemp Long. Peoples was a member of the Louisiana Tech University at Ruston history department faculty from 1965 until his retirement in 1985...

     - 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...

     who specialized in the Long
    Earl Long
    Earl Kemp Long was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Louisiana for three non-consecutive terms. Long termed himself the "last of the red hot poppas" of politics, referring to his stump-speaking skills...

     political dynasty
  • Woody Sauldsberry
    Woody Sauldsberry
    Woodrow "Woody" Sauldsberry Jr. was an American National Basketball Association player.Sauldsberry was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana and graduated from Compton Union High School where he was the star of his basketball team and then went on to attend Texas Southern University...

     - NBA
    National Basketball Association
    The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

     player
  • Chet D. Traylor
    Chet D. Traylor
    Chet D. Traylor is a retired associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from Monroe, Louisiana, who was defeated in the Republican primary election on August 28, 2010, for the U.S. Senate seat held since 2005 by the incumbent David Vitter of New Orleans...

     - Associate Justice
    Associate Justice
    Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...

     on the Louisiana Supreme Court
    Louisiana Supreme Court
    The Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....

  • R.B. Walden - director of Louisiana Department of Hospitals
  • Calvin A. H. Waller - Lieutenant General
    Lieutenant General (United States)
    In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...

    , United States Army
    United States Army
    The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

     -- Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Operation Desert Storm
  • Sammy White
    Sammy White (American football)
    Sammy White is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL.After attending Grambling State University, White played all ten seasons of his professional career as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, winning the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of...

     - professional football
    American football
    American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

     player
  • Lantz Womack
    Lantz Womack
    Lantz Womack was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives who served mostly Franklin Parish, from 1958, when he won a special election caused by the death of a freshman member, until his retirement in 1976...

     - state representative

National Guard

921st Engineer Company (Horizontal) part of the 528th Engineer Battalion which belongs to the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in Winnsboro.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK