Beauregard Parish, Louisiana

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Beauregard Parish, Louisiana
Beauregard Parish Courthouse at DeRidder
Map of Louisiana highlighting Beauregard Parish
Location in the state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location in the U.S.
Founded January 1, 1913
Named for P.G.T. Beauregard
Seat DeRidder
Largest city DeRidder
 • Total 1,166 sq mi (3,020 km2)
 • Land 1,157 sq mi (2,997 km2)
 • Water 8.5 sq mi (22 km2), 0.7%
 • (2010) 35,654
 • Density 31/sq mi (12/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Beauregard Parish [p] (French: Paroisse de Beauregard) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 35,654.[1] The parish seat is DeRidder.[2] The parish was formed on January 1, 1913.[3]

Beauregard Parish comprises the DeRidder, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The governing body is by the police jury system.


Spanish and French Rule[edit]

Until 1762, the land that would eventually become Beauregard Parish was a part of the Spanish holdings in Louisiana, as, at that time, the border between Spain and France was acknowledged as the Rio Hondo (now Calcasieu) river, however the land between the Rio Hondo and the Sabine river was in some dispute as the French were beginning to occupy land on the west side of the Rio Hondo. In 1762, the king of France secretly gave Louisiana to Spain in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. From 1762 to until 1800, the region was a part of New Spain. In 1800, the secret Third Treaty of San Ildefonso transferred possession of Louisiana back to the French, although Spain continued to administer the land. In this period, the only European settlers to the land that would become Beauregard Parish were a few individuals with Spanish land grants.[4]

Neutral Ground[edit]

After the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in 1803, the region stretching from the Sabine River in the west to the Arroyo Hondo in the east was claimed by both Spain and the United States, leading to little law enforcement by either country. In order to avoid a war over the border, the two countries agreed that the land in contention would remain neutral and free of armed forces from either side. The area became known as the Neutral Ground or Free State of Sabine. During this period, the armies in the area—those of the United States and Spain—allowed the running of a ferry, enabling places such as Burr's Ferry in Vernon Parish, to prosper. The rest of the area was lawless—except for the occasional joint military venture to rid the area of "undesirables". However, even with the border dispute, several pioneers did settle the land during this period and were eventually given 2nd class homestead claims.[4] The Adams-Onís Treaty, signed in 1819 and ratified in 1821, recognized the U.S. claim, setting the final Louisiana western border at the Sabine River.[5]

Parish origin[edit]


The bill to create out of the northern area of Imperial Calasieu Parish Beauregard Parish was passed in 1912 and took effect at the beginning of 1913.[3] The Parish was named after P.G.T. Beauregard, a Confederate general and one of the designers of the Confederate Battle Flag.[6]

Parish organization[edit]

Although one faction wanted the town of Singer to be the parish seat, DeRidder was chosen by a majority of voters on 15 October 1912. (Today, the unincorporated community of Singer still exists and includes a post office, store, and school.) The parish was organized with a police jury as the governing body. Interim, county-wide police jury, judge and justice were appointed. However, on 3 December 1912, an election was held for the offices of sheriff, clerk of court, assessor, coroner, superintendent of public education, police juror, justice of the peace, constable, and members of the school board in each of the wards in the parish.

Native Americans[edit]

At least four tribes lived in Beauregard Parish around the time it was founded. One was about six miles south of Sugartown on Indian Branch, another was just north of the old W.B. Welborn home on Bundick Creek, another was along the mouth of Anacoco Creek and another at Merryville, across the street from where Merryville High School now stands.[7]

The 1941 military build-up[edit]



Law enforcement[edit]

The parish level police agency is the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office. The current Sheriff (2010) is Ricky Moses.


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,166 square miles (3,020 km2), of which 1,157 square miles (3,000 km2) is land and 8.5 square miles (22 km2) (0.7%) is water.[10]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties and parishes[edit]


Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 20,767
1930 14,569 −29.8%
1940 14,847 1.9%
1950 17,766 19.7%
1960 19,191 8.0%
1970 22,888 19.3%
1980 29,692 29.7%
1990 30,083 1.3%
2000 32,986 9.6%
2010 35,654 8.1%
Est. 2014 36,198 [11] 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 32,986 people, 12,104 households, and 9,078 families residing in the parish. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 14,501 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 84.25% White, 12.92% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,104 households, out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.00% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the parish, 27.50% of the population are under the age of 18; 8.60% aged from 18 to 24; 28.70% aged from 25 to 44; 23.30% aged from 45 to 64; and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $32,582, and the median income for a family was $37,886. Males had a median income of $35,268 versus $19,639 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,514. About 13.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.


Beauregard Parish School Board operates the parish public schools.[17]

National Guard[edit]

A Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in De Ridder, Louisiana. This unit deployed to Iraq twice as part of the 256th IBCT in 2004-5 and 2010.


Map of Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, with town labels



Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

National Register of Historic Places[edit]

There are 12 places listed on the National Register of Historic Places including the Beauregard Parish Courthouse, the Beauregard Parish Jail, the Beauregard Parish Training School, the DeRidder Commercial Historic District and the Burks House. See National Register of Historic Places listings in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana.

See also[edit]


  [p] - The name "Beauregard" is pronounced "bo-ruh-gard" with even emphasis on all syllables.

  1. ^ a b "Beauregard Parish, Louisiana". Retrieved November 24, 2012. 
  3. ^ a b Gremillion, John Berton (2008). "Beauregard Parish". McNeese State University. Retrieved September 3, 2014. 
  4. ^ a b [Claims to Land Between the Rio Hondo and Sabine Rivers in Louisiana. Communicated to the Senate January 31, 1825]
  5. ^ [1] -Treaty
  6. ^ [2] -Naming the parish
  7. ^
  8. ^ [3]
  9. ^ [4]
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2014. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014. 
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014. 
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014. 
  17. ^ [5] -School Board
  18. ^ Ragley isn't incorporated according to the State's official website for Beauregard Parish

External links[edit]


Coordinates: 30°39′N 93°20′W﻿ / ﻿30.65°N 93.34°W﻿ / 30.65; -93.34