Editing List of parishes in Louisiana

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Parishes of Louisiana
| alt_name           =  
| map                = {{Louisiana Parish Labelled Map|width=300}}
| category           = [[:Category:Second-level administrative divisions by country|Second-level]] [[administrative division]]
| territory          = [[State of Louisiana]]
| start_date         =
| current_number     = 64 Parishes
| number_date        =
| population_range   =  Greatest: 453,022 ([[East Baton Rouge Parish]])<br/>Least: 3,844 ([[Tensas Parish]])<br/>Average: 71,840
| area_range         =  Largest: {{Convert|2429|sqmi}} ([[Plaquemines Parish]])<br/>Smallest: {{Convert|203|sqmi}} ([[West Baton Rouge Parish]])<br/>Average: {{Convert|781|sqmi}}
| government         = [[County government|Parish government]]
| subdivision        = cities, Towns, [[Census designated place]], [[Unincorporated area]]
}}
{{Politics of Louisiana}}

The [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]] is divided into 64 parishes ({{Langx|fr|paroisses}}; {{Langx|es|parroquias}}), making it the only state besides [[Alaska]] to call its primary subdivisions something other than "counties."{{efn|[[Alaska]] is divided into [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|boroughs and census areas]].}} Louisiana's usage of the term "parish" for a geographic region or local government dates back to the [[Louisiana (New France)|French colonial]] and [[Louisiana (New Spain)|Spanish colonial periods]] and is connected to [[parish|ecclesiastical parishes]].

Thirty-eight [[Parish (administrative division)|parishes]] are governed by a council called a [[police jury]]. The remaining 26 have various other forms of government, including: council-president, [[Council–manager government|council-manager]], parish commission, and [[consolidated city-county|consolidated parish/city]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lpgov.org/page/ParishGovStructure|title=Parish Government Structure - Police Jury Association of Louisiana|publisher= Police Jury Association of LA|access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref>

==History==
[[Louisiana]] was formed from French and Spanish colonies, which were both officially [[Roman Catholic]]. Local colonial government was based upon [[parish]]es, as the local ecclesiastical division.

Following the [[Louisiana Purchase]], the territorial legislative council in April 1805 divided the [[Territory of Orleans]] (the predecessor of Louisiana state) into [[#Territorial counties|12 counties]]. The borders of these counties were poorly defined, but largely coincided with the colonial ecclesiastical parishes.<ref name=chronologies/><ref name="Bryansite">{{cite web|url=http://www.bryansite.com/countyLA.htm|title=Bryansite - Louisiana parishes|last=Tabor|first=B.}}</ref>

On March 31, 1807, the territorial legislature created 19 parishes without abolishing any of the old counties (which term continued to exist until 1845). In 1811, a constitutional convention was held to prepare for Louisiana's admission into the [[United States|Union]].<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Louisiana/_Texts/LHQ/1/4/Admission_to_the_Union*.html The Admission of Louisiana into the Union]</ref> This 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 ''parish'', as did the 1845 constitution. Since then, the official term for Louisiana's primary civil divisions has been ''parishes''.

The 19 original parishes were joined by Catahoula Parish in 1808. In 1810 [[Florida Parishes|four additional parishes]] were created from the formerly [[Spanish West Florida]] territory—these are part of what is now referred to as the [[Florida Parishes]].

By April 1812, [[Attakapas County, Orleans Territory|Attakapas Parish]] became St. Martin Parish and St. Mary Parish. On April 30, the state was admitted to the Union with 25 parishes.

By 1820, Washington Parish was added, and [[Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|Feliciana Parish]] split into West and East in 1824. The next year, [[Jefferson Parish, Louisiana| Jefferson Parish]] was carved from Orleans Parish. By 1830, Claiborne Parish was created, and the old [[Warren Parish, Louisiana|Warren Parish]] was mostly absorbed into Ouachita Parish, only to return as [[Carroll Parish, Louisiana|Carroll Parish]] a few years later.

In 1838, Caddo Parish was created from Natchitoches, as were Madison and Caldwell parishes in the east. In 1839, Union Parish was formed from Ouachita, and Calcasieu was formed from St. Landry in 1840.

Five parishes were created in 1843: Bossier, DeSoto, Franklin, Sabine, and Tensas. Morehouse Parish and Vermilion Parish were formed from Ouachita and Lafayette parishes, respectively, in 1844. The next year, Jackson Parish was formed, the old county units were abandoned, and the units were officially referred to as "parishes". In 1848, Bienville Parish was formed from Claiborne Parish. In 1852, Winn Parish was formed, while parishes further south added and lost land.

In 1853, Lafourche Interior Parish was renamed to Lafourche Parish. During [[Reconstruction Era|Reconstruction]], state government created a number of new parishes, with the first being Iberia and Richland parishes. Plans for creating a parish like Iberia from St. Martin and St. Mary parishes had dated from the 1840s. (A surveying error in Iberia's creation broke [[St. Martin Parish]] into two non-contiguous parts, making it and [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts]] as the only county-level units with their own [[exclaves]].) Tangipahoa and Grant parishes followed in 1869. In 1870, the fifth Reconstruction parish, Cameron, was created, which was followed by the sixth, seventh, and eighth parishes (Red River, Vernon, and Webster, respectively) in 1871. The ninth parish to be formed under Radical Republican rule was Lincoln, named after the late president and formed in 1873. In 1877, the old parish of Carroll divided into East and West Carroll parishes, which are unofficially called the tenth and eleventh Reconstruction parishes, as the project ended that year.

No new parishes were formed until 1886, when Acadia Parish was formed from St. Landry. Again, no new parishes were formed, this time until 1908, when the western half of Catahoula parish became LaSalle parish.

In 1910, the parish count rose to 61 with the creation of Evangeline Parish, and the 62nd, 63rd, and 64th parishes (Allen, Beauregard, and Jefferson Davis) were created from areas of Calcasieu Parish. There were several minor boundary changes afterward, the most substantial being the division of [[Lake Pontchartrain]] among Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, and St. Charles Parishes in 1979.

==Listing==
{{Countytabletop
| region_title = Parish
| fips_ref = <ref name="FIPS">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/ar.html |title=EPA County FIPS Code Listing |work=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=February 23, 2008}}</ref>
| region_seat_width =
| region_seat_title = Parish Seat
| region_seat_ref = <ref name="NACO">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-counties-total.html 
|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties in Louisiana: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (CO-EST2019-ANNRES-22) |author=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. |access-date=May 12, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327080648/https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-counties-total.html |archive-date=March 27, 2020 }}</ref>
| data2_title = {{abbr|Est.|Established}}
| data2_width=
| data2_ref = <ref name="NACO"/>
| data3_title = Origin
| data4_title = Etymology
| data4_ref = <ref>[http://www.oph.dhh.state.la.us/php/default.html Louisiana Dept. of Public Health Parish Profiles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051117221722/http://www.oph.dhh.state.la.us/php/default.html |date=November 17, 2005 }}</ref>
| population_ref = <ref name="2024CensusEstimate"> {{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/LA/PST045219 
|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Louisiana |author=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. |access-date=March 15, 2025 }}</ref>
| area_ref = <ref name="NACO"/>
}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Acadia |N=22 |Num=001 |Seat=Crowley |Data2=1886 |Data3=from part of St. Landry Parish. |Data4=From [[Acadian French]]. Named for the [[Acadians]] who settled the area.|Population=56604|Area=658}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Allen |N=22 |Num=003 |Seat=Oberlin  |Data2=1912 |Data3=from part of Calcasieu Parish. |Data4=[[Henry Watkins Allen]], the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] governor of [[Louisiana]]|Population=22501|Area=766}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Ascension |N=22 |Num=005 |Seat=Donaldsonville |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Named for the [[Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church (Louisiana)|Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church]] in [[Donaldsonville, Louisiana]], which was named after the [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension of Jesus into Heaven]]|Population=133534|Area=303}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Assumption |N=22 |Num=007 |Seat=Napoleonville |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Named for [[Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Plattenville, Louisiana)|Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary]] in [[Plattenville, Louisiana|Plattenville]], the oldest in the state, which was named after the [[Assumption of Mary|Assumption of the Virgin Mary]]|Population=20050|Area=364}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Avoyelles |N=22 |Num=009 |Seat=Marksville |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=The [[Avoyel]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] people|Population=38373|Area=866}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Beauregard |N=22 |Num=011 |Seat=DeRidder |Data2=1912 |Data3=from part of Calcasieu Parish. |Data4=[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] general [[P. G. T. Beauregard]]|Population=36695|Area=1166}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Bienville |N=22 |Num=013 |Seat=Arcadia |Data2=1848 |Data3=from part of Claiborne Parish. |Data4=Named after the founder of the city of [[New Orleans]], [[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville]]|Population=12412|Area=822}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Bossier |N=22 |Num=015 |Seat=Benton
 |Data2=1843 |Data3=from part of Claiborne Parish. |Data4=U.S. Representative [[Pierre Bossier]]|Population=131102|Area=867}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Caddo |N=22 |Num=017 |Seat=Shreveport |Data2=1838 |Data3=from part of Natchitoches Parish. |Data4= Named for the [[Caddo]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] people|Population=224893|Area=937}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Calcasieu |N=22 |Num=019 |Seat=Lake Charles |Data2=1840 |Data3=from part of St. Landry Parish. |Data4=After the French form of the [[Atakapa language|Atakapa]] name {{lang|aqp|Katkōsh Yōk}}, meaning 'Crying Eagle', an [[Atakapa]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] leader|Population=206861|Area=1094}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Caldwell |N=22 |Num=021 |Seat=Columbia |Data2=1838 |Data3=from part of Catahoula Parish and Ouachita Parish. |Data4=Named for the Caldwell family, which owned a large plantation and remains politically active in the state.|Population=9393|Area=541}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Cameron |N=22 |Num=023 |Seat=Cameron |Data2=1870 |Data3=from parts of Calcasieu Parish and Vermilion Parish. |Data4=U.S. Secretary of War [[Simon Cameron]]|Population=4678|Area=1932}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Catahoula |N=22 |Num=025 |Seat=Harrisonburg |Data2=1808 |Data3=from parts of Ouachita Parish and Rapides Parish. |Data4=[[Catahoula Lake]], formerly within the parish's boundaries and named from a [[Taensa language|Taensa]]/[[Natchez language|Natchez]] word meaning ''big, clear lake''|Population=8280|Area=739}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Claiborne |N=22 |Num=027 |Seat=Homer |Data2=1828 |Data3=from part of Natchitoches Parish. |Data4=[[Governor of Louisiana]] [[William C. C. Claiborne]]|Population=13537|Area=768}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Concordia |N=22 |Num=029 |Seat=Vidalia |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Name is of uncertain origin; may be from an early land grant called ''New Concordia'', from the "concord" reached by local authorities over a mutual surrender of slaves or for a mansion called Concord which was owned by Spanish governor [[Manuel Gayoso de Lemos]] and located in [[ Natchez, Mississippi ]]|Population=17797|Area=749}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=DeSoto |N=22 |Num=031 |Seat=Mansfield |Data2=1843 |Data3=from parts of Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. |Data4=Spanish explorer [[Hernando de Soto]]|Population=27274|Area=895}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=East Baton Rouge |N=22 |Num=033 |Seat=Baton Rouge |Data2=1810 |Data3=from West Florida territory. |Data4=French ''bâton rouge'' meaning ''red stick''. A red stake was used by local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] to mark the boundaries between tribal territories|Population=453022|Area=471}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=East Carroll |N=22 |Num=035 |Seat=Lake Providence |Data2=1877 |Data3=when Carroll Parish was divided. |Data4=[[Charles Carroll of Carrollton]], the last surviving signer of the [[U.S. Declaration of Independence]]|Population=6892|Area=442}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=East Feliciana |N=22 |Num=037 |Seat=Clinton |Data2=1824 |Data3=when Feliciana Parish was divided. |Data4=Felicite de Gálvez, the wife of [[Bernardo de Gálvez]], a Spanish governor of [[Louisiana (New Spain)]]|Population=19112|Area=456}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Evangeline |N=22 |Num=039 |Seat=Ville Platte |Data2=1910 |Data3=from part of St. Landry Parish. |Data4=[[Acadians|Acadian]] heroine of the poem "[[Evangeline]]" by [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]|Population=31745|Area=680}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Franklin |N=22 |Num=041 |Seat=Winnsboro |Data2=1843 |Data3=from parts of Carroll Parish, Catahoula Parish, Madison Parish and Ouachita Parish |Data4=Founding Father [[Benjamin Franklin]]|Population=19107|Area=636}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Grant |N=22 |Num=043 |Seat=Colfax |Data2=1869 |Data3=from parts of Rapides Parish and Winn Parish. |Data4=U.S. President [[Ulysses S. Grant]]|Population=22109|Area=664}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Iberia |N=22 |Num=045 |Seat=New Iberia |Data2=1868 |Data3=from parts of St. Martin Parish and St. Mary Parish. |Data4=Named by Spanish settlers in honor of the [[Iberian Peninsula]]|Population=67540|Area=1031}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Iberville |N=22 |Num=047 |Seat=Plaquemine |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Explorer [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]], the brother of [[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville]]|Population=29766|Area=653}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Jackson |N=22 |Num=049 |Seat=Jonesboro |Data2=1845 |Data3=from parts of Claiborne Parish, Ouachita Parish and Union Parish |Data4=U.S. President [[Andrew Jackson]]|Population=14797|Area=580}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Jefferson |N=22 |Num=051 |Seat=Gretna |Data2=1825 |Data3=from part of Orleans Parish |Data4=Founding Father [[Thomas Jefferson]]|Population=427253|Area=642}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Jefferson Davis |N=22 |Num=053 |Seat=Jennings |Data2=1912 |Data3=from part of Calcasieu Parish. |Data4=[[Jefferson Davis]], president of the [[Confederate States of America]]|Population=31436|Area=659}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Lafayette |N=22 |Num=055 |Seat=Lafayette |Data2=1823 |Data3=from part of St. Martin Parish. |Data4=French-born [[American Revolutionary War]] hero, the [[Marquis de Lafayette]]|Population=254241|Area=270}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Lafourche |N=22 |Num=057 |Seat=Thibodaux |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. Was named Interior Parish until 1812 and Lafourche Interior Parish until 1853. |Data4=French phrase ''la fourche'' or in English, ''the fork''; Bayou Lafourche, or Fork Bayou, is a fork of the [[Mississippi River]]|Population=95342|Area=1472}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=LaSalle |N=22 |Num=059 |Seat=Jena |Data2=1910 |Data3=from west half of Catahoula Parish. |Data4=Explorer [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]]|Population=14702|Area=663}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Lincoln |N=22 |Num=061 |Seat=Ruston |Data2=1873 |Data3=from parts of Bienville Parish, Claiborne Parish, Jackson Parish and Union Parish. |Data4= U.S. President [[Abraham Lincoln]]|Population=48243|Area=472}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Livingston |N=22 |Num=063 |Seat=Livingston |Data2=1832 |Data3=from part of St. Helena Parish. |Data4=U.S. Secretary of State [[Edward Livingston]], brother of [[Robert R. Livingston (chancellor)|Robert R. Livingston]] who negotiated the [[Louisiana Purchase]]|Population=152886|Area=703}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Madison |N=22 |Num=065 |Seat=Tallulah |Data2=1838 |Data3=from Concordia Parish. |Data4=U.S. President [[James Madison]]|Population=9093|Area=651}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Morehouse |N=22 |Num=067 |Seat=Bastrop |Data2=1844 |Data3=from parts of Carroll Parish and Ouachita Parish. |Data4=Abraham Morehouse, who led the first settlers into the region |Population=23787|Area=805}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Natchitoches |N=22 |Num=069 |Seat=Natchitoches |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=The [[Natchitoches people|Natchitoches]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] people|Population=35982|Area=1299}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Orleans |N=22 |Num=071 |Seat=New Orleans |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. Today coterminous with the City of New Orleans. |Data4=Named after [[Philippe II, Duke of Orléans|Philippe]], [[Duke of Orléans]], the [[regent]] of France|Population=362701|Area=350}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Ouachita |N=22 |Num=073 |Seat=Monroe |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=The [[Ouachita people|Ouachita]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] people
|Population=157874|Area=633}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Plaquemines |N=22 |Num=075 |Seat=Pointe à la Hache |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=A word meaning ''[[persimmon]]s'' created from the [[Louisiana Creole]] and the [[Atakapa]] language|Population=22289|Area=2429}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Pointe Coupee |N=22 |Num=077 |Seat=New Roads |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=French phrase ''la pointe coupée'' or in English, ''the cut-off point'', which refers to a bend in the [[Mississippi River]] |Population=19845|Area=591}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Rapides |N=22 |Num=079 |Seat=Alexandria |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Named for local river rapids (French:'' rapides'')|Population=125899|Area=1362}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Red River |N=22 |Num=081 |Seat=Coushatta |Data2=1871 |Data3=from parts of Bienville Parish, Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. |Data4=Named for the [[Red River of the South|Red River]], which is part of the [[Mississippi River]] [[drainage basin|watershed]]|Population=7238|Area=402}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Richland |N=22 |Num=083 |Seat=Rayville |Data2=1868 |Data3=from parts of Carroll Parish, Franklin Parish, Morehouse Parish and Ouachita Parish. |Data4=Named for its ''rich land''|Population=19643|Area=564}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Sabine |N=22 |Num=085 |Seat=Many |Data2=1843 |Data3=from parts of Caddo Parish and Natchitoches Parish. |Data4=Named for the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]] and the so-called [[Sabine Free State]]|Population=21746|Area=1012}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Bernard |N=22 |Num=087 |Seat=Chalmette |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=[[Bernard of Clairvaux|Saint Bernard]], [[patron saint]] of [[Bernardo de Gálvez]], the Spanish governor who granted land to the [[Canary Islands|Canary Islanders]] settling the area in 1778 |Population=44783|Area=1794}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Charles |N=22 |Num=089 |Seat=Hahnville |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=[[Charles Borromeo|Saint Charles]]|Population=50400|Area=410}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Helena |N=22 |Num=091 |Seat=Greensburg |Data2=1810 |Data3=from West Florida territory. |Data4=Saint [[Helena (empress)|Helena]]|Population=10857|Area=409}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. James |N=22 |Num=093 |Seat=Convent |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Saint [[James the Great]]|Population=19110|Area=258}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. John the Baptist |N=22 |Num=095 |Seat=Edgard |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Saint [[John the Baptist]]|Population=39694|Area=348}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Landry |N=22 |Num=097 |Seat=Opelousas |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Saint [[Landry of Paris]]|Population=80869|Area=939}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Martin |N=22 |Num=099 |Seat=St. Martinville |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. |Data4=Saint [[Martin of Tours]]|Population=51218|Area=817}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Mary |N=22 |Num=101 |Seat=Franklin |Data2=1811 |Data3=from part of St. Martin Parish. |Data4=Saint [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]]|Population=46799|Area=612}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=St. Tammany |N=22 |Num=103 |Seat=Covington |Data2=1810 |Data3=from West Florida territory. |Data4=Legendary Indian Chief [[Tamanend]].|Population=277615|Area=1124}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Tangipahoa |N=22 |Num=105 |Seat=Amite City |Data2=1869 |Data3=from parts of Livingston Parish, St. Helena Parish, St. Tammany Parish and Washington Parish. |Data4=Comes from an [[Acolapissa]] word meaning ''ear of corn'' or ''those who gather corn''|Population=139823|Area=823}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Tensas |N=22 |Num=107 |Seat=St. Joseph |Data2=1843 |Data3=from part of Concordia Parish. |Data4=The [[Taensa]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] people.
|Population=3844|Area=641}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Terrebonne |N=22 |Num=109 |Seat=Houma |Data2=1822 |Data3=from part of Lafourche Interior Parish. |Data4=French phrase ''terre bonne'' or in English, "good earth"|Population=103864|Area=2080}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Union |N=22 |Num=111 |Seat=Farmerville |Data2=1839 |Data3=from part of Ouachita Parish. |Data4=Named for the union of states which make up the U.S.|Population=20617|Area=905}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Vermilion |N=22 |Num=113 |Seat=Abbeville |Data2=1844 |Data3=from part of Lafayette Parish. |Data4=Both the [[Vermilion River (Louisiana)|Vermilion River]] and [[Vermilion Bay (Louisiana)|Vermilion Bay]]|Population=57641|Area=1538}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Vernon |N=22 |Num=115 |Seat=Leesville |Data2=1871 |Data3=from parts of Natchitoches Parish, Rapides Parish and Sabine Parish. |Data4=[[Mount Vernon]], the home of [[George Washington]], the first U.S. President|Population=45819|Area=1341}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Washington |N=22 |Num=117 |Seat=Franklinton |Data2=1819 |Data3=from part of St. Tammany Parish. |Data4=U.S. President [[George Washington]]|Population=45090|Area=676}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Webster |N=22 |Num=119 |Seat=Minden |Data2=1871 |Data3=from parts of Bienville Parish, Bossier Parish and Claiborne Parish. |Data4=U.S. Secretary of State [[Daniel Webster]]|Population=35184|Area=615}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=West Baton Rouge |N=22 |Num=121 |Seat=Port Allen |Data2=1807 |Data3=One of the original 19 parishes. Was named Baton Rouge Parish until 1812. |Data4=French phrase ''bâton rouge'' meaning ''red stick''. A red stick was used by local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] to mark the boundaries between tribal territories|Population=28425|Area=203}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=West Carroll |N=22 |Num=123 |Seat=Oak Grove |Data2=1877 |Data3=when Carroll Parish was divided. |Data4=[[Charles Carroll of Carrollton]], the last surviving signer of the [[U.S. Declaration of Independence]]|Population=9254|Area=360}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=West Feliciana |N=22 |Num=125 |Seat=St. Francisville |Data2=1824 |Data3=when Feliciana Parish was divided. |Data4=Felicite de Gálvez, the wife of [[Bernardo de Gálvez]], a Spanish governor of [[Louisiana (New Spain)]]|Population=15155|Area=426}}

{{Countyrow| Type=Parish| Name=Winn |N=22 |Num=127 |Seat=Winnfield |Data2=1852 |Data3=from parts of Catahoula Parish, Natchitoches Parish and Rapides Parish. |Data4=Louisiana state legislator Walter Winn|Population=13405|Area=957}}

|}

==Former parishes==
* [[Attakapas County, Orleans Territory|Attakapas Parish]] existed from 1807 to 1811.<ref name=chronologies/>
* [[Biloxi Parish, Louisiana|Biloxi Parish]] formed in 1811 from West Florida territory. It was eliminated in 1812 when it was transferred to the Mississippi Territory.<ref name="Bryansite"/>
* [[Carroll Parish, Louisiana|Carroll Parish]] formed in 1838 from part of Ouachita Parish. In 1877, it was divided into East Carroll Parish and West Carroll Parish.<ref name="Bryansite"/>
* [[Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|Feliciana Parish]] formed in 1810 from West Florida territory. In 1824, it was divided into East Feliciana Parish and West Feliciana Parish.<ref name="Bryansite"/>
* [[Pascagoula Parish, Louisiana|Pascagoula Parish]] formed in 1811 from West Florida territory. It was eliminated in 1812 when it was transferred to the Mississippi Territory.<ref name="Bryansite"/>
* [[Warren Parish, Louisiana|Warren Parish]] formed in 1811 from part of Concordia Parish, and merged into Concordia Parish and Ouachita Parish in 1814.<ref name="Bryansite"/>

== Territorial counties ==
On April 10, 1805, the [[Orleans Territory|Territorial Council]] enacted a map dividing the territory into 12 counties based upon ecclesiastical districts established under [[Spanish Louisiana|Spanish rule]]. In 1807, the Territorial Council revised the 12-county system to create 19 civil parishes.<ref name=chronologies>{{Cite web |date=2009 |editor1-last=John H. |editor1-first=Long |editor2-last=Tuck Sinko |editor2-first=Peggy |title=Louisiana: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/LA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=The Newberry Library}}</ref>

The original twelve counties defined by the Territorial Legislative Council in 1805 were:<ref name=chronologies/>
* Acadia County – Parishes of St. James and the Ascension (also known as the First and Second Acadian Coasts). In 1807, divided into [[Ascension Parish, Louisiana|Ascension]] and [[St. James Parish, Louisiana|St. James]] parishes.
* [[Attakapas County, Orleans Territory|Attakapas County]] – Parish of St. Martin. In 1807, renamed Attakapas Parish. In 1811, it was subdivided into [[St. Martin Parish, Louisiana|St. Martin]] and [[St. Mary Parish, Louisiana|St. Mary]] parishes.
* [[Concordia Parish, Louisiana|Concordia County]] – The only portion not part of preexisting ecclesiastical district. In 1807, renamed Concordia Parish.
* [[German Coast, Orleans Territory|German Coast County]] – Parishes of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist (also known as the First and Second German Coasts). In 1807, divided into [[St. Charles Parish, Louisiana|St. Charles]] and [[St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana|St. John the Baptist]] parishes.
* [[Iberville Parish, Louisiana|Iberville County]] – Parish of St. Gabriel and part Parish of St. Bernard. In 1807, renamed Iberville Parish.
* Lafourche County – Parish of Assumption. In 1807, divided into [[Assumption Parish, Louisiana|Assumption]] and [[Lafourche Parish, Louisiana|Lafourche Interior]] parishes.
* [[Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana|Natchitoches County]] – Parish of St. Francis. In 1807, renamed Natchitoches Parish.
* Opelousas County – Parish of St. Landry. In 1807, renamed [[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|St. Landry Parish]].
* Orleans County – All territory on both sides of the "Mississippi from [[La Balize, Louisiana|the Balize]] to the beginning of the parishes of St. Bernard and St. Louis." In 1807, divided into [[Orleans Parish, Louisiana|Orleans]], [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard]], and [[Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana|Plaquemines]] parishes.
* [[Ouachita Parish, Louisiana|Ouachita County]] – The Ouachita settlements. In 1807, renamed Ouachita Parish.
* Pointe Coupée County – The Parish of St. Francis. In 1807, divided into [[West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] and [[Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana|Pointe Coupée]] parishes.
* Rapides County – The settlements of Rapides, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Bayou Boeuf, Bayou Robert, and other settlements in the region. In 1807, divided into [[Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana|Avoyelles]] and [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides]] parishes.

On December 7, 1810, [[William C. C. Claiborne]], governor of the Orleans Territory, annexed the short-lived [[Republic of West Florida]] to the United States and Louisiana as Feliciana County. On December 22, 1810, the county west of the [[Pearl River]] was organized in four civil parishes: [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|East Baton Rouge]], [[Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|Feliciana]], [[St. Helena Parish, Louisiana|St. Helena]], and [[St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|St. Tammany]]. Later, in 1824, Feliciana Parish was divided into [[East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|East Feliciana]] and [[West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|West Feliciana]] parishes.<ref name=chronologies/>

==Fictional parishes==
<!-- ''[[A Gathering of Old Men|A Gathering Of Old Men]]'': St. Raphael Parish. -->
* In the novels ''[[Little Altars Everywhere]]'', ''[[Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood]]'', and Ya-Yas in Bloom, author [[Rebecca Wells]] created the fictional '''Garnet Parish'''.
* The movie ''[[Steel Magnolias]]'' was said to take place in the fictional '''Chinquapin Parish''', likely a suburban parish of [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]]. However, the movie was shot in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], and involved several elements of culture indicative of the town and parish of the same name. For example, the annual [[Christmas]] Festival of Lights in Natchitoches is shown, as are [[Cajun]] dance styles with a distinctive country-Cajun band. (Natchitoches is in the [[Central Louisiana|Crossroads]] region of Louisiana, where southern Louisiana's predominantly [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], [[Cajun]] culture meets the primarily [[Protestant]], [[English American|Anglo]] culture of northern Louisiana.)
* Part of [[Walter Jon Williams]]' novel ''[[The Rift (Williams novel)|The Rift]]'' is set in the fictional '''Spottswood Parish'''.
* ''[[The Southern Vampire Mysteries]]'' series of novels written by [[Charlaine Harris]] and HBO's ''[[True Blood]]'', which is based on the novels, take place in the fictional northwestern Louisiana '''Renard Parish'''.
* In the movie ''[[In the Electric Mist]]'', Deputy Jason J. Bayard was from the fictional '''St. Clare Parish'''.
* In the [[DC Comics]] Universe, '''Belle Reve Parish''' is a parish in Louisiana that contains the Bell Reve Penitentiary.
* In the movie ''[[The Green Mile (film)|The Green Mile]]'', a fictional parish named '''Trapingus Parish''' is featured in the movie. The film was actually shot in [[Tennessee]].
* In the Cinemax TV series ''[[Banshee (TV series)|Banshee]]'', Chayton Littlestone is seen fighting in the fictional '''Sang Tholis Parish''', which is said to be in New Orleans. "Sang" is the French word for "blood", but could also be a dialect for "sans", without. "Tholis" is not a French word. In reality, the city of New Orleans is located entirely in [[Orleans Parish]]. 
* In the movie ''[[Doctor Detroit]]'', protagonist Clifford Skridlow (played by [[Dan Aykroyd]]) appears in a Detroit court as a stereotypical (based on "Atticus Finch" in ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'') Southern attorney from '''Bay Saint Louis Parish'''.
* In the 2017 video game ''[[Resident Evil 7: Biohazard]]'', the vast majority of the game takes place in the fictional '''Dulvey Parish''', somewhere on the coast.
* The "Faster, Baby!" DLC for ''[[Mafia III]]'', also a 2017 video game, takes place in '''Sinclair Parish''' just west of the fictional city of 'New Bordeaux', a fictional version of New Orleans set in 1968.
* In the 1973 [[James Bond]] film ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'', Sheriff J.W. Pepper ([[Clifton James]]) of '''Pontrain Parish''' is featured as a supporting character. The parish name is likely derived from the real [[Lake Pontchartrain]]. 
* In Season 2 of ''[[Designated Survivor (TV series)|Designated Survivor]]'' a flu outbreak originates in '''South Carroll Parish'''.
* The television series ''[[Queen Sugar]]'' is set in '''St. Josephine Parish''', which borders [[Orleans Parish]] and is where the titular family; the Bordelon's, reside.
* The 2006 sequel movie ''[[Road House 2]]'' is set in the coastal '''Tyree Parish'''.
* The 2011 crime thriller film ''[[Catch .44]]'' takes place in '''Civil Parish''', with one of the antagonists stealing a parish sheriff deputy's uniform. 
* The 2013 action thriller ''[[Homefront (2013 film)|Homefront]]'' takes place in the fictional '''Labranche Parish''', possibly named after or inspired by the real [[LaBranche Plantation Dependency]].
* The 2014 supernatural horror film ''[[Jessabelle]]'' is set in the fictional '''Feliciana Parish''', a genericised version of [[West Feliciana Parish]].
* In the [[DC Universe (streaming service)|DC Universe]] series ''[[Swamp Thing (2019 TV series)|Swamp Thing]]'', the primary setting is '''Montrivelle Parish'''. The [[county seat]] of the parish is the also fictional city of Marais.
* In the 1972 movie ''[[Buck and the Preacher]]'' starring [[Sidney Poitier]], [[Harry Belafonte]] and [[Ruby Dee]], the members of the rescued wagon train were former slaves from the fictional '''St. Ann Parish'''.

== See also ==
* [[List of United States counties and county equivalents]]

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web |last1=writer |first1=Statf |author-link1= |collaboration= |df= |year=2022 |location= |title=LOUISIANA PARISH GOVERNMENT OVERVIEW |url=https://ce.naco.org//app/profiles/CountyGov/CountyGov_22000.pdf |url-access= |format= |department= |website=ce.naco.org |type= |language= |edition= |agency=National Association of Counties (NACo) |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |ref= }}

== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Louisiana parishes}}
{{Louisiana}}
{{U.S. Counties}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parishes In Louisiana}}
[[Category:Louisiana parishes| ]]
[[Category:Lists of counties of the United States by state|Louisiana]]
[[Category:Louisiana geography-related lists]]