Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,250. The parish seat is Jennings. Jefferson Davis Parish is named after the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, Jefferson Davis. It is located in southwestern Louisiana and forms a part of the Acadiana region.
History
Jefferson Davis Parish was one of the last parishes to be organized in the state of Louisiana. It was originally a part of Imperial Calcasieu Parish, which contributed to five other parishes as the population increased in the area. The bill creating Jefferson Davis Parish was passed by the state legislature in 1912 but did not take effect until 1913. Jefferson Davis Parish is part of the large, 22-parish Acadiana region of Louisiana, which is influenced by a large Francophone population. It was named after Jefferson Davis, a prominent planter and the President of the Confederate States of America.
The first oil in Louisiana was drilled in 1901 in Evangeline, Acadia Parish, by W. Scott Heywood, who in 1932 was elected to the Louisiana State Senate. The oil field was known as the Jennings Oil Field because Jennings was the nearest railroad stop to the oil field.
The parish was affected by Hurricane Rita in 2005, causing flooding and wind damage.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 660 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 651 square miles (1,690 km2) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) (1.1%) is water.
Jefferson Davis Parish comprises five incorporated towns including Elton, Fenton, Jennings, Lake Arthur, and Welsh. There are also many unincorporated areas that add to the interest and economic structure of the parish including Barnsdall, Buller, China, Coverdale, Edna, Fontenot, Foreman's Hall, Hathaway, Illinois Plant, Lacassine, Lauderdale, Panchoville, Pine Island, Raymond, Roanoke, Silverwood, Thornwell, Topsy, Verret, and Woodlawn. Interstate 10 runs east and west through the center of the parish, providing access to local markets. Additionally, the Union Pacific Railroad is centrally located within the parish and the Mermentau River, which connects to the Intracoastal Waterway and has a channel depth of nine feet, provides access to the Port of Mermentau. The Jennings Airport, with a runway length of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), is capable of landing a small jet and is located next to Interstate 10. Jefferson Davis Parish also attracts sportsmen to the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge.
Adjacent parishes
Allen Parish (north)
Evangeline Parish (northeast)
Acadia Parish (east)
Vermilion Parish (southeast)
Cameron Parish (south)
Calcasieu Parish (west)
Beauregard Parish (northwest)
Transportation
Major highways
Airports
Jennings, (3R7)
Welsh
Communities
City
Jennings (parish seat and largest municipality)
Towns
Elton
Lake Arthur
Welsh
Village
Fenton
Unincorporated areas
Census-designated places
Lacassine
Roanoke
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,250 people, 11,726 households, and 8,149 families residing in the parish.
Education
Jefferson Davis Parish Public Schools operates the schools in the parish.
Elton Elementary School (Grades PK-5) (Elton)
Elton High School (Grades 6–12) (Elton)
Fenton Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Fenton)
Hathaway High School (Grades K-12) (Jennings)
Jennings Elementary School (Grades 3–6) (Jennings)
Jennings High School (Grades 7–12) (Jennings)
Lacassine High School (Grades K-12) (Lacassine)
Lake Arthur Elementary School (Grades PK-6) (Lake Arthur)
Lake Arthur High School (Grades 7–12) (Lake Arthur)
James Ward Elementary School (Grades PK-2) (Jennings)
Welsh Elementary School (Grades PK-5) (Welsh)
Welsh High School (Grades 8–12) (Welsh)
Welsh-Roanoke Jr. High School (Grades 6–8) (Roanoke)
Jeff Davis Parish is served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette which has one school in the parish:
Our Lady Immaculate (Grades PK-8) (Jennings)
Jeff Davis Parish is served by one institution of higher education:
It is in the service area of Sowela Technical Community College. The Morgan Smith campus is located in Jennings.
National Guard
C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in Jennings, Louisiana. This unit as part of the 256th IBCT deployed twice to Iraq in 2004—5 and 2010.
Notable people
A.C. Clemons (1921–1992), former Louisiana state senator from 1960 to 1972
Al Woods (born 1987), former American football player of the NFL
Thomas A. "Tom" Greene (born 1948), former Louisiana state senator from 1992 to 2000
Travis Etienne (born 1999), current American football player for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL
Trevor Etienne (born 2004), current American football player for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL
Cleve Francis (born 1945), country music singer, songwriter, and cardiologist
Monte Ledbetter (born 1943), former American football player in the NFL
Eugene John Hebert (1923–1990), priest and Jesuit missionary who famously disappeared in Sri Lanka in 1990 during the Sri Lankan civil war
Canray Fontenot (1922–1995), American Creole musician
Lance Guidry (born 1971), American football coach
Charles Mann (born 1944), singer and swamp pop performer and member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
Jack Doland (1928–1991), former Louisiana state senator and head football coach, athletic director, and president of McNeese State University
Chancy Croft (1937–2022), former Democratic politician from Alaska
Avalon Daggett (1907–2002), filmmaker and philanthropist
June James (1962–1990), former American football player in the NFL and CFL
Pat Rapp (born 1967), former professional baseball player
Guy Sockrider (1921–2011), former Louisiana state senator
Donald Ellsworth Walter (born 1936), former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Phillip Walker (1937–2010), musician
Troy Romero, former Louisiana State Representative from the 37th district
Politics
For most of the 20th Century, Jeff Davis was a Democratic-leaning parish, voting Republican only in landslide elections such as 1972 and 1984. However, like other Acadian parishes with large Cajun populations, Jeff Davis turned sharply right in the 21st century based on cultural issues and Democrats' discomfort with the oil and gas industry.
See also
Jeff Davis 8 string of unsolved murders
National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana
References
External links
Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office
Jefferson Davis Parish Economic Development & Tourist Commission
Geology
Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002, Lake Charles 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2003, Crowley 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Hydrology
Water Resources of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana United States Geological Survey.
