Marksville, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Marksville is a city in and the parish seat of Avoyelles Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 5,537 at the 2000 census. Louisiana's first land-based casino
, Paragon Casino Resort, opened in Marksville in June 1994. It is run by the Tunica-Biloxi
tribe.
During the American Civil War
, Marksville late in 1862 hosted Confederate
soldiers from Texas
who, in the words of the historian
John D. Winters
, "built wooden huts to shelter themselves from the icy winds and rain. At night, after the usual camp routines, the men amused themselves around their campfires with practical jokes and group singing or sat listening to the music of a regimental band. Some of the soldiers often gathered under an arbor of boughs to dance jigs, reels, and doubles to the music of several fiddles. On the opposite side of the camp, another arbor seved as a church. There at night with the area lighted by pine knots, men listened to the exhortations and prayers of the preacher and sang favorite hymns."
Marksville came under Union control in 1863 as part of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's Red River campaign
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of it is land and 0.24% is water.
of 2000, there were 5,537 people, 2,036 households, and 1,400 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,358.0 people per square mile (524.0/km²). There were 2,198 housing units at an average density of 539.1 per square mile (208.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.98% White, 48.59% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.11% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 2,036 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples
living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,750, and the median income for a family was $25,681. Males had a median income of $24,896 versus $15,865 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,546. About 32.0% of families and 34.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.1% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
. It operates 2 schools within the city of Marksville. The school board website is http://www.avoyellespsb.com/.
Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Avoyelles is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Marksville. In 2000, its population was 41,481. The parish is named for the Avoyel Indian tribe.-History:...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,537 at the 2000 census. Louisiana's first land-based casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, Paragon Casino Resort, opened in Marksville in June 1994. It is run by the Tunica-Biloxi
Tunica-Biloxi
The modern Tunica-Biloxi tribe live in Mississippi and east central Louisiana. The modern tribe is composed of descendants of Tunica, Biloxi , Ofo , Avoyel , and Muskogean Choctaw. They speak mostly English and French...
tribe.
History
Marksville is named after Marc Eliche, who established a trading post after his wagon broke down in this area. He was a Jewish Italian trader, believe to be from Venice, whose Italian name was recorded by a Spanish priest as Marco Litche, and as Marc Eliche by French priests after his trading post was established about 1794. Marksville was noted on Louisiana maps as of 1809. He later donated land that became the Courthouse Square that is still the center of Marksville today. Marksville has a strong Creole and Cajun population whence they have many families that have been there since it was incorporated , a few of these families are Sylvan , Trahan , Malveaux and Zachary. Louisiana Creole and Louisiana French is spoken in this town .During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Marksville late in 1862 hosted Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldiers from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
who, in the words of the historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
John D. Winters
John D. Winters
John David Winters was a historian at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, best known for his definitive and award-winning study, The Civil War in Louisiana, still in print, published in 1963 and released in paperback in 1991.-Background:Winters was born to John David Winters, Sr...
, "built wooden huts to shelter themselves from the icy winds and rain. At night, after the usual camp routines, the men amused themselves around their campfires with practical jokes and group singing or sat listening to the music of a regimental band. Some of the soldiers often gathered under an arbor of boughs to dance jigs, reels, and doubles to the music of several fiddles. On the opposite side of the camp, another arbor seved as a church. There at night with the area lighted by pine knots, men listened to the exhortations and prayers of the preacher and sang favorite hymns."
Marksville came under Union control in 1863 as part of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's Red River campaign
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
.
Geography
Marksville is located at 31°7′36"N 92°3′58"W (31.126595, -92.066073).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 city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of it is land and 0.24% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,537 people, 2,036 households, and 1,400 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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 1,358.0 people per square mile (524.0/km²). There were 2,198 housing units at an average density of 539.1 per square mile (208.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.98% White, 48.59% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.11% 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 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 2,036 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,750, and the median income for a family was $25,681. Males had a median income of $24,896 versus $15,865 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 city was $11,546. About 32.0% of families and 34.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.1% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
All primary public schools are run by the Avoyelles Parish School BoardAvoyelles Parish School Board
Avoyelles Parish School Board is a school district headquartered in Marksville, Louisiana, United States.The district serves Avoyelles Parish.-High schools:Zoned* Avoyelles High School * Bunkie High School...
. It operates 2 schools within the city of Marksville. The school board website is http://www.avoyellespsb.com/.
Notable people
- D'Antony Batiste- Former University of Louisiana at LafayetteUniversity of Louisiana at LafayetteThe University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
football player; National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player, 2008 - Sam Bass, a Canadian Carpenter who through an act of kindness daringly mailed a letter on behalf of the kidnapped Free Man of Color, Solomon Northrup. The letter helped free Northrup after 12 years of slavery from 1842 to 1854. Northrup's written story in book form was well well read on a national scale before the Civil War. Bass was an ancestor of Claude Hudson below. (see http://avoyelles.com/Avoyelleans/list.html)
- Aaron BroussardAaron BroussardAaron F. Broussard was the president, a combined municipal-parish position, of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana from 2003 to 2010. A Democrat, Broussard is known nationally for appearances he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina....
- Jefferson ParishJefferson Parish, LouisianaJefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
politician impacted by the Political effects of Hurricane KatrinaPolitical effects of Hurricane KatrinaCommentators have discussed the likely effects of the disaster on a wide range of political issues.-Political controversies and electoral consequences:Political disputes have arisen over several issues:-Issues relating to the cause of the damage to New Orleans:...
. - Adolph Valery Coco, attorney general of state of Louisiana, 1916
- F.O. "Potch" DidierF.O. "Potch" DidierFabius Odell Didier, Jr., known as Potch Didier , was a flamboyant Democratic sheriff of Avoyelles Parish in south Central Louisiana, who served from 1960-1980. In 1970, Didier was tried, convicted and served a seven-day sentence in his own jail for malfeasance in office.Nevertheless, the newspaper...
- SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Avoyelles Parish (1956–1980); once spent seven days in his own jail after conviction of malfeasance in officeMalfeasance in officeMalfeasance in office, or official misconduct, is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Malfeasance in office is often grounds for a for cause removal of an elected official by statute or recall election.An exact...
during a political feud. He successfully campaigned for re-election from his own jail. - Edwin EdwardsEdwin EdwardsEdwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
- Four-term Governor of Louisiana - Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards - US SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1972 - Eleanor Gremillion - Witness of the "Day it Rained Fish in Marksville" when fish fell from the skyRaining animalsRaining animals is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which flightless animals "rain" from the sky. Such occurrences have been reported from many countries throughout history. One hypothesis offered to explain this phenomenon is that strong winds traveling over water sometimes pick up creatures...
in 1947 - H. Claude HudsonH. Claude HudsonH. Claude Hudson was a prominent businessman and advocate for civil rights, best known for helping to found the Broadway Federal Savings and Loan Association in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
, civil rights activist and founder of Broadway Federal Savings and LoanBroadway Federal BankThe Broadway Federal Bank is a community bank founded in 1946 and based in Los Angeles. As of 2010, it owned and operated five branches.- History :... - John E. LaBorde - Mayor of Marksville (1994–1998); founder and owner of Panaroma Foods, Inc.
- Raymond LaBordeRaymond LabordeRaymond Julian Laborde, I , is a department store owner and a retired Democratic politician in his native Marksville, the seat of Avoyelles Parish in south Central Louisiana. He was the mayor of Marksville from 1958–1970 and thereafter served five terms from 1972–1992 in the Louisiana House of...
- Mayor of Marksville (1958–1970), state representative (1972–1992), Edwin Edwards' commissioner of administration (1992–1996) - Alvan LaFargueAlvan LafargueAlvan Henry Lafargue, Sr. , was a Louisiana physician, politician, and civic leader. His medical practice exceeded fifty years...
(1883–1962), physician and mayor of SulphurSulphur, LouisianaSulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is a suburb of Lake Charles, and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Louisiana, from 1926–1932, was born in Marksville. Lafargue's paternal grandfather in 1843 founded the still-published Marksville Weekly News. - Arnaud LaFargue, Louisiana superintendent of education, 1890s
- Chad LavalaisChad LavalaisChad Douglas Lavalais is an American football free-agent who played two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons. Although a former starter, he was released by the Atlanta Falcons on September 1, 2006 after mediocre performance and poor pre-season conditioning.-High School and College:Lavalais lettered in...
- Former LSULouisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and NFL football player. - Billy J. Morris - Swamp Pop/R&B/Soul 1999 Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
- Tommy Neck - LSU and NFL football player from the 1960s
- John H. OvertonJohn H. OvertonJohn Holmes Overton was an attorney and Democratic United States representative and U.S. senator from Louisiana...
(1875–1948) - U.S. Senator, native of Marksville - Gaston Porterie, former Attorney General of the State of Louisiana
- Charles Addison Riddle IIICharles Addison Riddle IIICharles Addison Riddle III [ is a Louisiana lawyer and Democratic politician. Riddle was elected to the 28th District of the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1992, and served through 2003.-Legislative career:...
, District Attorney, since 2003; former State Representative, 1992-2003. Son of Charles Addison Riddle, Jr., former District Attorney, and grandson of Charles Riddle, state representative from 1932-1940. Riddle wrote the play, "Marc's Place" celebrating the 200th birthday of Marksville, which was performed in October 2009. - Victor L. Roy, co-founder of 4-H in Louisiana in 1908, also served as Supt. of Education in both Avoyelles and Lafayette Parishes at the same time, and later as president of Normal College in Natchitoches.
- Joseph TabarletJoseph TabarletJoseph Odell Tabarlet, I , was a businessman, public administrator and civic leader who served one full and three partial terms as the mayor of Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish in north Louisiana.-Background:...
- former mayor of JonesboroJonesboro, LouisianaJonesboro is a town in and the parish seat of Jackson Parish in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 3,914 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Louisiana, was born in Marksville. - Little WalterLittle WalterLittle Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
Jacobs - BluesBluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician. 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
National Guard
1020th Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in Marksville.Small communities in the area
- Brouillette
- Fifth Ward
- Moncla
- Spring Bayou
- Tunica-Biloxi Indian ReservationTunica-BiloxiThe modern Tunica-Biloxi tribe live in Mississippi and east central Louisiana. The modern tribe is composed of descendants of Tunica, Biloxi , Ofo , Avoyel , and Muskogean Choctaw. They speak mostly English and French...