Editing Beauregard Parish, Louisiana

{{short description|Parish in Louisiana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county          = Beauregard Parish
| state           = Louisiana
| type            = [[Louisiana parishes|Parish]]
| seal            =
| founded year    = 1913
| founded date    = January 1
| seat wl         = DeRidder
| largest city wl = DeRidder
| area_total_sq_mi= 1166
| area_land_sq_mi = 1157
| area_water_sq_mi= 8.5
| area percentage = 0.7
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 36549
| pop_est_as_of    = 
| population_est   = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone       = Central
| footnotes       =
| web             = http://www.beauparish.org
| named for       = [[P. G. T. Beauregard]]
| ex image        = BeauregardCourthouse.jpg
| ex image size   = 250
| ex image cap    = Beauregard Parish Courthouse in DeRidder
| district        = 4th
}}

'''Beauregard Parish''' ({{langx|fr|Paroisse de Beauregard}}) is a [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parish]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 36,549.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Beauregard_Parish,_Louisiana?g=0500000US22011|title=Census - Geography Profile: Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref> The [[County seat|parish seat]] and most populous municipality is [[DeRidder, Louisiana|DeRidder]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> The parish was formed on January 1, 1913.<ref name=McNeese/>

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

==History==

===Spanish and French rule===

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 known as the 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, King [[Louis XV]] of France secretly gave Louisiana to Spain in the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]]. From 1762 to 1800, the region was a part of [[Louisiana (New Spain)|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 until 1803. In this period, the only European settlers to the land that would become Beauregard Parish were a few individuals with Spanish land grants.<ref name="ReferenceA">[Claims to Land Between the Rio Hondo and Sabine Rivers in Louisiana. Communicated to the Senate January 31, 1825]</ref>

===Neutral Ground===

After the [[Louisiana Purchase]] by the [[United States]] in 1803, the region stretching from the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]] in the west to the [[Calcasieu River]] 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 (Louisiana)|Neutral Ground]] or the Sabine Free State. 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 Ferry, Louisiana|Burr's Ferry]] in [[Vernon Parish]], to prosper. The rest of the area was lawless, except for the occasional [[Military operation|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 3rd class homestead claims.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 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 (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine River]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/adamonis.htm |title=The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 |access-date=June 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715024227/http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/adamonis.htm |archive-date=July 15, 2009 }} -Treaty</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Calcasieurivermap.png|The '''Calcasieu River''' formed part of the eastern boundary of the Neutral Ground.
Image:Sabinefreestate.png|'''The Neutral Ground''', or [[Sabine Free State]]. Its western border was the [[Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine River]].
</gallery>

===Parish origin===
In 1804, the United States organized present-day Louisiana as the [[Territory of Orleans]]. In 1805 the territory was further divided into 12 counties. Opelousas County included the entire southwestern section of the state, and extending almost to the [[Mississippi River]] in the northeast. By 1807 the counties were reorganized into parishes. [[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|St. Landry]] was one of the original nineteen [[civil parishes]] established by the [[Louisiana Legislature]]. St. Landry was the largest parish in Louisiana, called the Imperial St. Landry Parish. For a short period after the fall of [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]] was not just the county seat but was the state capitol (until it was permanently moved to [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]). [[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu Parish]] was created March 24, 1840, from the western portion of Saint Landry Parish. Calcasieu Parish has since been divided into five smaller parishes. The original area of Calcasieu Parish was called Imperial Calcasieu Parish.

The bill to create Beauregard Parish out of the northern area of Imperial Calasieu Parish was passed in 1912 and took effect at the beginning of 1913.<ref name=McNeese>{{cite web |url=http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/FTBooks/gremillion-beauregard.htm |title=Beauregard Parish |website=library.mcneese.edu |publisher=McNeese State University |date=2008 |last=Gremillion |first=John Berton |access-date=September 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130075627/http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/Archive/FTBooks/gremillion-beauregard.htm |archive-date=January 30, 2015 }}</ref>  The Parish was named after [[P.G.T. Beauregard]], a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] general.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beauregardtourism.com/|title=Beauregard Tourist Commission - Travel information, Historical Landmarks, Travel Planner|website=Beauregard Tourist Commission|language=en|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref>

===Parish organization===
Although one faction wanted the town of Singer to be the parish seat, DeRidder was chosen by a majority of voters on October 15, 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 of the Peace|justice]] were appointed. However, on December 3, 1912, an election was held for the offices of [[county sheriff|sheriff]], [[clerk of court]], [[assessor (property)|assessor]], [[coroner]], superintendent of public education, police juror, justice of the peace, [[constable]], and members of the [[school board]] in each of the [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]] in the parish.

===Native Americans===
At least four [[tribe]]s lived in Beauregard Parish around the time it was founded. One was about six miles south of [[Sugartown, Louisiana|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, Louisiana|Merryville]], across the street from where Merryville High School now stands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mylouisianagenealogy.com/la-county-beauregard.html |title=Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Genealogical Records Information |access-date=July 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611183906/http://www.mylouisianagenealogy.com/la-county-beauregard.html |archive-date=June 11, 2010 }}</ref>

===The 1941 military build-up===
On November 28, 1941, a [[United Service Organizations]] was opened in DeRidder. (Of the more than 500 USO's opened during WW II, this was the first off-post USO to open in the U.S.) 89,000 soldiers visited the DeRidder USO; 15,000 took showers; and 27,000 viewed movies. The building was entered into the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on February 25, 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.library.beau.org/museum/uso.html |title=The First USO |access-date=October 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509071236/http://www.library.beau.org/museum/uso.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }}</ref>

August through September 1941 saw the locally stationed military engaged in the [[Louisiana Maneuvers]]—the largest military maneuver in United States history (with more than 500,000 soldiers training for war).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historynet.com/louisiana-maneuvers-1940-41.htm|title=Louisiana Maneuvers (1940-41) {{!}} HistoryNet|website=www.historynet.com|date=November 25, 2008 |language=en-US|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref> The rapid influx of so many military personnel created problems that stemmed, in part, from alcohol overconsumption. In response, residents of Beauregard Parish voted to become a [[dry county|dry parish]].

==Law enforcement==
The parish level police agency is the '''Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office'''. The current Sheriff (2020)is Mark V. Herford

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the parish has a total area of {{convert|1166|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1157|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.5|sqmi}} (0.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928155956/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 20, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 171.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 171]]
* [[Image:US 190.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 190]]
* [[Image:Louisiana 12 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 12]]
* [[Image:Louisiana 26 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 26]]
* [[Image:Louisiana 27 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 27]]

===Adjacent counties and parishes===
* [[Vernon Parish, Louisiana|Vernon Parish]] (north)
* [[Allen Parish, Louisiana|Allen Parish]] (east)
* [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis Parish]] (southeast)
* [[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu Parish]] (south)
* [[Newton County, Texas|Newton County]], [[Texas]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 20767
|1930= 14569
|1940= 14847
|1950= 17766
|1960= 19191
|1970= 22888
|1980= 29692
|1990= 30083
|2000= 32986
|2010= 35654
|2020= 36549
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22011.html|title=Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|publisher=quickfacts.census.gov|access-date=November 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607015751/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22011.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Beauregard Parish racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US22011&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 29,039
| 79.45%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,082
| 11.17%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 273
| 0.75%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 222
| 0.61%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 27
| 0.07%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 1,635
| 4.47%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 1,271
| 3.48%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 36,549 people, 13,520 households, and 9,219 families residing in the parish.

==Education==
[[Beauregard Parish School Board]] operates the parish public schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://louisiana.schooltree.org/district/Beauregard-Parish-School-Board-005491.html|title=Find Schools in the USA and Canada|website=louisiana.schooltree.org|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref>

It is in the service area of [[Sowela Technical Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lctcs.edu/our-colleges|title=Our Colleges|publisher=[[Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges]]|accessdate=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

==National Guard==
The [[156th Infantry Regiment (United States)|A Company, 3-156th Infantry Battalion]] is based in [[De Ridder, Louisiana|De Ridder]]. This unit deployed to [[Iraq]] twice as part of the [[256th IBCT]], in 2004-5 and 2010.

== Communities ==

[[Image:Map of Beauregard Parish Louisiana With Municipal Labels.PNG|thumb|250px|Map of Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, with town labels]]

=== City ===
* [[DeRidder, Louisiana|DeRidder]] (parish seat and largest municipality)

=== Town ===
* [[Merryville, Louisiana|Merryville]]

=== Unincorporated areas ===

==== Census-designated places ====
* [[Longville, Louisiana|Longville]]
* [[Oretta, Louisiana|Oretta]]
* [[Singer, Louisiana|Singer]]
* [[Sugartown, Louisiana|Sugartown]]

==== Unincorporated communities ====
* [[Dry Creek, Louisiana|Dry Creek]]
* [[Graybow, Louisiana|Graybow]]
* [[Junction, Louisiana|Junction]]
* [[Ragley, Louisiana|Ragley]]<ref>Ragley isn't incorporated according to the State's official website for [http://www.louisiana.gov/Government/Parish_Beauregard/ Beauregard Parish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722033520/http://louisiana.gov/Government/Parish_Beauregard/ |date=July 22, 2012 }}</ref>
*[[Wye, Louisiana|Wye]]

==National Register of Historic Places==
There are 12 places listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Louisiana|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 (Merryville, Louisiana)|Burks House]]. See [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana]].

==Politics==
Beauregard Parish was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold at the time of its founding, and it remained so until the 1950s, when it became a swing Parish. In 1984 it supported [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ronald Reagan]] and has remained in the Republican column since. From 2004 onward through 2024, every presidential election has broken the previous record for the strongest Republican performance in Parish history.

{{PresHead|place=Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|13,504|2,192|178|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,575|2,542|240|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|12,238|2,393|447|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|11,112|2,828|285|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,718|3,071|285|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,470|3,666|145|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,862|3,958|385|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,526|4,925|2,048|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,119|5,037|2,395|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,466|4,704|114|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7,353|4,199|96|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|5,250|5,556|253|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,196|5,322|268|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,955|1,728|456|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,615|1,569|4,048|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,349|3,049|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,432|2,903|630|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,711|2,276|159|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|789|996|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|449|1,653|1,371|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|759|2,226|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|528|2,677|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|549|2,181|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|146|2,319|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|468|1,513|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|235|1,191|1|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|202|1,146|14|Louisiana}}
{{PresFoot|1916|Democratic|59|968|2|Louisiana}}

==See also==
* [[Louisiana (New France)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.beauparish.org Beauregard Parish]
* [http://beauregardparishsheriff.org/ Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office]
Geology
* Snead, J., P. V. Heinrich, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628130422/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/DeRidder%20100K.pdf ''De Ridder 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle.''] Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Beauregard Parish, Louisiana
|North     = [[Vernon Parish, Louisiana|Vernon Parish]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Allen Parish, Louisiana|Allen Parish]]
|Southeast = [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis Parish]]
|South     = [[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu Parish]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Newton County, Texas]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Beauregard Parish, Louisiana}}
{{Louisiana parishes}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|30.65|-93.34|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-LA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Beauregard Parish, Louisiana| ]]
[[Category:Louisiana parishes]]
[[Category:Military facilities on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the United States]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1913]]
[[Category:Parishes in Central Louisiana]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana]]