Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

Geography The parish has a total area of 1,639 km² (633 mi²). 1,581 km² (611 mi²) of it is land and 57 km² (22 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.50% water.

Demographics As of 2000, there are 147,250 people, 55,216 households, and 38,319 families residing in the parish. The population density is 93/km² (241/mi²). There are 60,154 housing units at an average density of 38 persons/km² (98 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the parish is 64.48% White, 33.63% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 55,216 households out of which 34.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% are married couples living together, 17.90% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 30.60% are non-families. 25.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.30% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.58 and the average family size is 3.12.

In the parish the population is spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 89.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.50 males.

The median income for a household in the parish is $32,047, and the median income for a family is $40,206. Males have a median income of $31,616 versus $23,139 for females. The per capita income for the parish is $17,084. 20.70% of the population and 15.80% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 29.70% are under the age of 18 and 15.80% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Brownsville-Bawcomville
• Claiborne
• Monroe
• Richwood
• Sterlington
• Swartz
• West Monroe