West Monroe, Louisiana
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West Monroe is a city in
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Ouachita Parish ( French: ''Paroisse d'Ouachita'') is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,368. The parish seat is Monroe. The parish was formed in 1807. Ouachita Parish ...
, United States. It is situated on the
Ouachita River The Ouachita River ( ) is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana. It is the 25th-longest river in the United States ( ...
, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the
Twin Cities Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...
of northeast Louisiana. Its population was 13,065 at the 2010 census and it is part of the Monroe
Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
. The mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell.


History

Originally laid out in 1837 as Byron by John Campbell at the foot of the ferry landing to Monroe, the town floundered and Campbell went bankrupt. The area was bought by Christopher Dabbs, a doctor from
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
who submitted the plans for Cotton Port in 1854; it was officially recognized in 1859. It too languished until the arrival of the
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway The Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway (May 1, 1901, to December 31, 1926) was chartered as the Vicksburg, Shreveport, & Texas Railroad Company with an east and west division on April 28, 1853, to be a link, via a transfer boat, between Vic ...
and the construction of the bridge over the Ouachita River. Cotton Port boomed as a river port and rail depot.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km), of which 7.7 square miles (20.0 km) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km) (3.14%) is water. West Monroe is a separate municipality from Monroe.


Demographics


2020 census

As of the
2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.


2000 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 13,250 people, 5,734 households, and 3,457 families residing in the city. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 1,717.2 people per square mile (662.7/km). There were 6,312 housing units at an average density of 818.1 per square mile (315.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 61.9%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 33.6%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.4% Native American, 0.8%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.05%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 0.48% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.00% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 3.5% of the population. There were 5,734 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $27,522, and the median income for a family was $35,348. Males had a median income of $28,231 versus $22,533 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the city was $16,803. About 15.6% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 36.1% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.


Government

The current mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell, who has served since 2018. A 2013 "Community Impressions" report complimented the green spaces, including the Kiroli and Restoration parks, and Antique Alley as important assets to the West Monroe community. According to long-term Mayor Dave Norris, the study confirms "the value of many of the projects we've focused on to enhance quality of life." The report identifies situations in need of improvement, many of which have already been addressed, including insufficient or inaccurate signage to area attractions, brown water and the need to renovate certain wells, limited shopping opportunities for clothing, traffic problems on Thomas Road, and the failure to promote the popular phenomenon created from the West Monroe-based A&E
reality Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, r ...
television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
, ''
Duck Dynasty ''Duck Dynasty'' is an American reality television series that aired on A&E from 2012 to 2017. The series portrays the lives of the Robertson family, who became successful from their family-operated business, Duck Commander. The West Monroe, ...
''. The consultants declared West Monroe and the general area west of the Ouachita River overall as "a clean, vibrant, growing friendly area ...
ith The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany. Geography Location The Ith is immediatel ...
a small town atmosphere and yet ... many of the amenities and features of a argercity."


National Guard

1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.


Notable people

*Evelyn Blackmon,
Realtor A real estate agent or real estate broker is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agen ...
and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 15 from 1984 to 1988 *
Donnie Copeland Donnie Ray Copeland (born March 16, 1961) is an American pastor and politician. He is the pastor of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. From 2015 through 2017, he served one term as a Republican member of the Arkans ...
, former West Monroe
Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement
assistant pastor and Republican member of the
Arkansas House of Representatives The Arkansas State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the ...
, 2015 to 2017 *
Clarence Faulk Clarence Eugene Faulk, Jr. (January 9, 1909 – March 5, 2010), was an American journalist who published from 1931 to 1962 the ''Ruston Daily Leader'', the daily newspaper in Ruston in north Louisiana. Through the ownership of KRUS-AM radi ...
, publisher, broadcaster, businessman in Ruston, born in West Monroe in 1909 *
William C. Feazel William Crosson Feazel (June 10, 1895 - March 16, 1965) was a United States Senator from Louisiana. Born near Farmerville, Louisiana, Farmerville in Union Parish, he attended the public schools and engaged as an independent oil and gas producer. ...
,
oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated ...
man, interim U.S. Senator in 1948, and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1932 to 1936 *
Bruce Fowler Bruce Lambourne Fowler (born July 10, 1947) is an American trombonist and composer. He played trombone on many Frank Zappa records, as well as with Captain Beefheart and in the Fowler Brothers Band. He composes and arranges music for movies, ...
, opera singer *
Andy Griggs Andrew Tyler Griggs (born January 31 1973) 1973) is an American country music artist. He has released three albums for RCA Records Nashville ('' You Won't Ever Be Lonely'', '' Freedom'', and ''This I Gotta See'') and a fourth ('' The Good Life'' ...
, country singer *
Kevin Gordon Kevin Sysu Gordon (born 26 December 1989) is a former Philippines international rugby league footballer. A New South Wales Country and Prime Minister's XIII representative, he played as a er and for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Ru ...
, Americana singer/songwriter *
James D. Halsell James Donald Halsell Jr. (born September 29, 1956) is a retired United States Air Force officer, a former NASA astronaut. The veteran of five Space Shuttle missions pled guilty in 2021 to two counts of manslaughter and two counts of assault ...
,
astronaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...
; space shuttle pilot *
Dixon Hearne Dixon Hearne (born 1948) is an American educator and writer of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He has published an education text (''Teaching Second-Language Learning with Learning Disabilities''), four short story collections: ''Delta Flats: S ...
, author *
Alton Hardy Howard Alton Hardy Howard (March 28, 1925 – October 29, 2006) was a businessman, author, and a gospel songwriter from West Monroe in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Background Howard was the sixth of seven children born in the Rocky Bra ...
, co-founder of
Howard Brothers Discount Stores Howard Brothers Discount Stores (informally known as Howard Brothers and Howard's) was a chain of discount stores in the Southeastern United States. The chain was founded in 1959 by Alton Hardy Howard and W. L. "Jack" Howard, a five-term mayor ...
; gospel songwriter and author *
Bradie James Bradie Gene James (born January 17, 1981) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. He played college football at LSU Tigers football, Louisiana State University. ...
, NFL linebacker for the
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...
who played football at
Louisiana State University Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
, Wossman High School, before transferring to
West Monroe High School West Monroe High School is a high school in West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. It is administered by the Ouachita Parish School Board. WMHS is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's mascot is The R ...
*
Rickey Minor Rickey Minor is an American bass player, music director, composer and music producer. He was the musical director and bandleader on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' from 2010 to 2014, taking over after Kevin Eubanks left. Minor worked as mus ...
, music director, composer and music producer. Born in Monroe. * William Wiley Norris, III (1936-2016), city, district, and circuit court judge *
Webb Pierce Michael Webb Pierce (August 8, 1921 – February 24, 1991) was an American honky-tonk vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of the 1950s, one of the most popular of the genre, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the ...
,
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amass ...
member *
Cassidy Riley Cassidy James Riley (born November 21, 1976), also known as Kassidy James, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his work with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and WWE. Career Early years (1995–2002) O'Reilly became interest ...
, professional wrestler for
WWE World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
and TNA *
Phil Robertson Phil Alexander Robertson (born April 24, 1946) is an American professional hunter, businessman (Duck Commander company), and reality television star on the popular television series ''Duck Dynasty''. He is also featured on the television show ' ...
, Duck Dynasty star and founder of
Duck Commander Duck Commander is an American hunting and outdoor recreation company in West Monroe, Louisiana. Founded by Phil Robertson, a football quarterback at Louisiana Tech University, he developed and patented the company's namesake duck call the ''Duc ...
*
Kay Robertson Marsha Kay Carroway Robertson (born December 21, 1947) is an American television personality, best known for her appearances on the A&E reality series ''Duck Dynasty''. Robertson is the wife of entrepreneur and ''Duck Dynasty'' co-star Phil Rob ...
, Duck Dynasty star *
Sadie Robertson Sadie Carroway Robertson Huff (born June 11, 1997) is an American actress and businesswoman. She rose to fame on the A&E reality television show ''Duck Dynasty. S''he is a prominent Christian media personality and host of ''WHOA, That's Good P ...
, Duck Dynasty star * Si Robertson, Duck Dynasty star *
Willie Robertson Willie Jess Robertson (born April 22, 1972) is an American TV personality, businessman, author and news contributor. He is best known for his appearances on the reality TV series ''Duck Dynasty'' on A&E, and is the current CEO of the company D ...
, Duck Dynasty star *
Jase Robertson Jason Silas "Jase" Robertson (born August 16, 1969) is an American television personality, businessman, and professional duck hunter best known for his work on the A&E reality television show ''Duck Dynasty''. He is the COO of Duck Commander, ...
, Duck Dynasty star *
Korie Robertson Korie Howard RobertsonGenzlinger, Neil (October 7, 2012 ''New York Times''. Retrieved May 28, 2013 (born October 24, 1973) is a reality television star on the A&E show ''Duck Dynasty''. Robertson is the daughter of John and Chrys Howard, and ...
, Duck Dynasty star *
Bill Russell William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most V ...
, professional
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player,
center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
for
Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
, five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and twelve-time All-Star *
Mike Walsworth Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...
, 1st State Senator from West Monroe * Andrew Whitworth, NFL offensive tackle for the
Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The Rams play ...
who played football at
Louisiana State University Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
and West Monroe High School


References


External links


City of West Monroe

Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau

West Monroe history
{{authority control Cities in Louisiana Cities in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Cities in North Louisiana Louisiana populated places on the Ouachita River