Goldonna, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Goldonna is a village in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Natchitoches
Micropolitan Statistical Area. South of Goldonna along Louisiana Highway 156, one may access Saline Bayou
, popular for blackwater canoeing
.
The village is the birthplace of the American romance author Patricia Maxwell
, also known as Jennifer Blake, who resides in Quitman
in Jackson Parish
. Riley J. Wilson
, a former U.S. representative who opposed Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
, was born in Goldonna.
The mayor
of Goldonna is Verna Martin Bedgood, a Democrat
. The police chief is Huey Kenneth Martin, an Independent. The three aldermen are Rodney Lynn Bedgood, a Democrat, and Ben and Daniel Dupree, both Republicans
. All were elected in 2006 and unopposed in 2010.
The Goldonna Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten
through grade 8. Pupils come from as far away as the village of Ashland
to the west, where the defunct Ashland High School
, closed in 1981.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 11 square miles (28.5 km²), all land.
was 41.5 inhabitants per square mile (16.0/km²). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 17.4 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.47% White, 0.66% Native American, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.
There were 163 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $32,656. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $12,207. About 20.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over.
Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Natchitoches Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Natchitoches. As of 2000, the population was 39,080. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community...
, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
Micropolitan Statistical Area. South of Goldonna along Louisiana Highway 156, one may access Saline Bayou
Saline Bayou
Saline Bayou is a tributary of the Red River in Louisiana in the United States. In 1986 it became the first blackwater river in the American South to have been designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System...
, popular for blackwater canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
.
The village is the birthplace of the American romance author Patricia Maxwell
Patricia Maxwell
Patricia Maxwell, née Patricia Anne Ponder is a best-selling American author of over fifty novels. A member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and the Affaire de Coeur Romance Hall of Fame, Maxwell has received numerous awards for her writing...
, also known as Jennifer Blake, who resides in Quitman
Quitman, Louisiana
Quitman is a village in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 168. Quitman is south of Ruston on U.S. Highway 167, and north of Jonesboro, the parish seat of Jackson Parish...
in Jackson Parish
Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
. Riley J. Wilson
Riley J. Wilson
Riley Joseph Wilson was a Louisiana educator, attorney, and legislator in the first half of the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century. A Democrat, Wilson served in the United States House of Representatives from 1915 until 1937...
, a former U.S. representative who opposed Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
, was born in Goldonna.
The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Goldonna is Verna Martin Bedgood, a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The police chief is Huey Kenneth Martin, an Independent. The three aldermen are Rodney Lynn Bedgood, a Democrat, and Ben and Daniel Dupree, both Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. All were elected in 2006 and unopposed in 2010.
The Goldonna Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through grade 8. Pupils come from as far away as the village of Ashland
Ashland, Louisiana
Ashland is a village located in the northernmost portion of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was incorporated in 1963. A few residences and a convenience store to the north spill over into neighboring Bienville Parish. The population was 291 at the 2000 census...
to the west, where the defunct Ashland High School
Ashland High School (Ashland, Louisiana)
Ashland High School was a rural public kindergarten-grade 12 primary and secondary educational institution located in the village of Ashland in northern Natchitoches Parish from 1907 until its closing in 1981.-Background:...
, closed in 1981.
Geography
Goldonna is located at 32°1′14"N 92°54′44"W (32.020577, -92.912127).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 11 square miles (28.5 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 457 people, 163 households, and 131 families residing in the village. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 41.5 inhabitants per square mile (16.0/km²). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 17.4 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.47% White, 0.66% Native American, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.
There were 163 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $32,656. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $12,207. About 20.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over.