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Louisiana Parishes
Louisiana is divided into sixty-four parishes. On March 31, 1807, the territorial legislature divided the state into 19 parishes, without getting rid of the old counties (which continued to exist until 1845). In 1811, a constitutional convention organized the state into seven judicial districts, each consisting of groups of parishes. In 1816, the first official map of the state used the term, as did the 1845 constitution. Since then, the official term has been parishes.Caldwell Parish, Louisiana
Caldwell Parish Education, Geography, and History
Caldwell Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 10,132, making it the fifth-least populous parish in Louisiana. Caldwell parish was founded in 1838. The parish seat is Columbia. The parish is named in honor of the locally prominent Caldwell family.
Etymology - Origin of Caldwell Parish Name
The parish was named in honor of the locally prominent Caldwell family.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Caldwell County History
Caldwell Parish was created on March 6, 1838, from Catahoula and Ouachita Parishes and the parish was named in honor of the locally prominent Caldwell family. The Parish seat is Columbia. Most residents live in the country even beyond the three rural communities in the parish.
On March 30, 1838, Caldwell Parish was divided into 5 wards at a meeting of the Justices of the Peace, who were
James Gray, Jacob Humble, Fleming Noble, Thomas Rutland, and James Woolridge, with the
assistance of Judge William P. Snow. On May 22, 1838, Columbia, settled about 1823 after years as a Ouachita River
landing, was named the parish seat by the first Police Jury whose members were John Ewing, James Gray, James
Woolridge and Judge Snow. A court was set up to be presided over by
Judge Henry W. Boyce and to be held at the home of Fleming Noble until a courthouse was built. The first courthouse,
a log structure, was completed and opened in 1838. The land was donated by Henry Hyman, Richard King, James McCoy,
and Fleming Noble. In 1848 the log courthouse was replaced by a brick
building, which was rebuilt in 1894. The third courthouse was demolished in
1937 to make way for a new one. The present courthouse was completed and
dedicated in 1938. There has never been a fire at the Caldwell Parish
courthouse and it still holds records from the beginning of the parish to
the present.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 541 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 529 square miles (1,370 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.1%) is water.
Caldwell parish is located in north Louisiana. The Ouachita River winds through near the center of this parish.
Neighboring Parishes
Bordering parishes and counties are as follows:
- North: Ouachita Parish
- Northeast: Richland Parish
- East: Franklin Parish
- Southeast: Catahoula Parish
- South: La Salle Parish
- Southwest: Winn Parish
- Northwest: Jackson Parish
Education
The Caldwell Parish School Board serves the parish. There are three elementary schools Columbia Elementary, Central Elementary, and Grayson Elementary in the parish, one Jr high, Caldwell Parish Jr High, and one high school, Caldwell Parish High School, located between Columbia and Grayson.
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