Caddo Parish encyclopedia topics

Law and government

Shreveport is the home to the district courthouse. Caddo Parish comprises the 1st Judicial District. The courthouse is located in downtown Shreveport and contains both civil and criminal courts. The current elected judges are Leon L. Emanuel, John Mosely, Jeanette Garrett, Ramona Emanuel, John Joyce, Roy L. Brun, Scott J. Crichton, Fred Sexton, Monty Wyche, Robert P. Waddell, Michael Pitman.

The Clerk of Court is Gary Loftin.

Geography

The parish has a total area of 937 square miles (2,427 km²), of which, 882 square miles (2,284 km²) of it is land and 55 square miles (142 km²) of it (5.86%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent parishes/counties

Miller County, Arkansas (north)
Lafayette County, Arkansas (northeast)
Bossier Parish (east)
Red River Parish (southeast)
De Soto Parish (south)
Panola County, Texas (southwest)
Harrison County & Marion County, Texas (west)
Cass County, Texas (northwest)

National protected area

Red River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 252,161 people, 97,974 households, and 64,956 families residing in the parish. The population density was 286 people per square mile (110/km²). There were 108,296 housing units at an average density of 123 per square mile (47/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 52.91% White, 44.61% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 97,974 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.20% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% 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 3.11.

In the parish the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.90 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $31,467, and the median income for a family was $38,872. Males had a median income of $31,664 versus $22,074 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $17,839. About 17.10% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.80% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Notable natives and residents

Joe Ferguson, football star.
James Burton, legendary guitarist.
Terry Bradshaw, football star.
Van Cliburn, winner of the 1958 Tchaikovsky competition, lived in Shreveport. He later left the area.