Mount Lebanon, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Mount Lebanon is a town in Bienville Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 73 at the 2000 census.
. Its pioneers
were Baptists from South Carolina
who quickly established a church and school
. The school became Mount Lebanon University in 1853, but closed during the Civil War
to serve as a high school
and a Confederate
hospital
. After the war the school reopened. After years of struggling, it was consolidated in 1906 through the Louisiana Baptist Convention
into Louisiana College
in Pineville
in Rapides Parish
in Central Louisiana
.
The Mount Lebanon Baptist Church was organized in 1837, and the Louisiana Baptist Convention
was established there in 1848. One of the Baptist organizers in Mount Lebanon was pastor George Washington Baines
, maternal great-grandfather of future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
. The church building is still in use. The sanctuary is separated down the middle, men would sit on one side of the divide, women on the other. There is a balcony where the slaves were seated.
There are eight houses in the town that are on the National Register of Historic Places
, including a building once used as a stagecoach
stop and hotel
.
After the railroad was built through Gibsland
, three miles north, Mount Lebanon began to decline in population and economic opportunity. The post office was decommissioned in the 1950s.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 73 people, 34 households, and 21 families residing in the town. The population density
was 18.1 people per square mile (7.0/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 10.9 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.71% White and 23.29% African American.
There were 34 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 35.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,250, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $30,417 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,219. There were 10.5% of families and 13.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.
Links to web pages containing cemetery listings for the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
, 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 73 at the 2000 census.
History
Mount Lebanon was probably the first permanent settlement in what is now Bienville ParishBienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
. Its pioneers
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
were Baptists from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
who quickly established a church and school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. The school became Mount Lebanon University in 1853, but closed during the 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...
to serve as a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and a 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...
hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. After the war the school reopened. After years of struggling, it was consolidated in 1906 through the Louisiana Baptist Convention
Louisiana Baptist Convention
The Louisiana Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist churches in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Convention is composed of approximately 1,595 member congregations representing 869,490 members ....
into Louisiana College
Louisiana College
Louisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms...
in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
in Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish, Louisiana
-Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:...
in Central Louisiana
Central Louisiana
Central Louisiana , also known as the Crossroads region, is the part of Louisiana that includes the following parishes: Allen Parish, Beauregard Parish, Catahoula Parish, Concordia Parish, Grant Parish, La Salle Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Rapides Parish, Sabine Parish and Vernon Parish.The five...
.
The Mount Lebanon Baptist Church was organized in 1837, and the Louisiana Baptist Convention
Louisiana Baptist Convention
The Louisiana Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist churches in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Convention is composed of approximately 1,595 member congregations representing 869,490 members ....
was established there in 1848. One of the Baptist organizers in Mount Lebanon was pastor George Washington Baines
George Washington Baines
George Washington Baines, Sr. , a maternal great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson , was a Baptist clergyman in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas who served briefly as natural science professor and President of Baylor University at its first location in Independence in Washington...
, maternal great-grandfather of future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. The church building is still in use. The sanctuary is separated down the middle, men would sit on one side of the divide, women on the other. There is a balcony where the slaves were seated.
There are eight houses in the town that are on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, including a building once used as a stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
stop and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
.
After the railroad was built through Gibsland
Gibsland, Louisiana
Gibsland is a town in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. Conveniently near Interstate 20 and less than an hour from both Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana, Gibsland offers small town living with access to urban amenities...
, three miles north, Mount Lebanon began to decline in population and economic opportunity. The post office was decommissioned in the 1950s.
Geography
Mount Lebanon is located at 32°30′42"N 93°2′29"W (32.511680, -93.041382).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 town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
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 73 people, 34 households, and 21 families residing in the town. 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 18.1 people per square mile (7.0/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 10.9 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.71% White and 23.29% African American.
There were 34 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% 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, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 35.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,250, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $30,417 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 town was $18,219. There were 10.5% of families and 13.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.
Notable natives and residents
- Claybrook CottinghamClaybrook CottinghamClaybrook C. Cottingham was an educator who served as president of both Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville and the public institution, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana....
, president of Mount Lebanon University from 1905–1906; president of Louisiana CollegeLouisiana CollegeLouisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms...
from 1910–1941, and president of Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
from 1941 until his death in 1949, lived in Mount Lebanon from 1902-1906.
- Martha Risdon "Mattie" Levins (1902–1998) a long-time educator at William G. Stewart Elementary SchoolWilliam G. Stewart Elementary SchoolWilliam G. Stewart Elementary School is a defunct elementary school, which formerly served the western portion of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, with public school pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The institution was located at 215 North Middle...
in MindenMinden, LouisianaMinden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
in Webster Parish, was born in Mount Lebanon.
External links
Links to web pages containing cemetery listings for the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
- ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/bienville/cemeteries/mtleban1.txt
- ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/bienville/cemeteries/mtleban2.txt