Cotton Valley, Louisiana

Cotton Valley is a town in central Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,010 at the 2010 census.

History

Mayoral history

Cotton Valley was established in the mid-19th century, and incorporated in 1944 when J. B. Roby, a Democrat, became its first mayor.<ref>Minden Herald, April 14, 1944, p. 1</ref> In 1946, Roby was succeeded by A. C. Borland,<ref>"Borland Re-elected in Cotton Valley", Minden Herald, April 12, 1956, p. 1</ref> who served a total of 22 years. An insurance agent, Borland did not seek reelection in 1968 and was succeeded by E. M. Hollingsworth.<ref>Minden Press-Herald, June 27, 1968, p. 1</ref> Borland was credited with the building of the Cotton Valley city hall, recreation center and municipal park.<ref>Minden Press-Herald, January 27, 1987, p. 3</ref> Keith Chanler {Republican} was elected mayor in 2000 and again in 2004 and chose not to run in 2008. Comerdis Phillips was elected mayor in 2008<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Joseph Alexander became mayor in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Marlon Pope Special Learning Center

Cotton Valley was the home of the former Marlon Pope Special Learning Center,<ref>"Learning center to bear Pope name", Minden Press-Herald, December 16, 1986, p. 1</ref> named for Chester Marlon Pope, a civic leader and Republican member of the Webster Parish School Board.<ref>"Marlon Pope dies", Minden Press-Herald, January 25, 1987, p. 1</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.

Demographics

File:Cotton Valley Wildcats sign IMG 3557.JPG

Cotton Valley water tower highlights the high school's "Wildcats"

File:Revised Calumet Industries photo, Cotton Valley, LA IMG 3539.JPG

Calumet Industries, formerly Cotton Valley Oil Company, located off U.S. Highway 371 in Cotton Valley

Cotton Valley racial composition as of 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	380	48.28%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	362	46.0%
Native American	15	1.91%
Other/Mixed	18	2.29%
Hispanic or Latino	12	1.52%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 787 people, 444 households, and 289 families residing in the town.

Arts and culture

A public library replaced the former facility in the old office of Dr. John Pugh, a long-time Cotton Valley physician, who began his practice in 1902.<ref>Minden Herald, September 24, 1948, p. 1</ref>

Notable people

• Ken Beck, defensive tackle in the NFL Green Bay Packers;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> born in Minden
• Roger Carr, former National Football League wide receiver who played for various teams.
• The Cox Family consists of Cotton Valley natives noted for their Bluegrass music.

External links

• Town of Cotton Valley