Bastropis a city inMorehouse Parish,Louisiana,United States. It is theparish seatof Morehouse Parish.[4]The population was 9,691 at the2020 census,[3]down from 11,365 in2010.The population of Bastrop is 76 percentAfrican American.[3]It is included in theMonroeMetropolitan Statistical Areaand is part of the Monroe–RustonCombined Statistical Area.
Bastrop, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s): Strop City,Little Monroe | |
| Motto(s): The City of Spirit, Pride, and Progress | |
 | |
  Bastrop  Bastrop  Bastrop | |
| Coordinates:32°45′22″N91°52′20″W/ 32.75611°N 91.87222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Morehouse |
| City Charter | 1852 |
| Founded by | Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop |
| Named for | Baron de Bastrop |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor and Board of Aldermen/City Council |
| • Mayor | Betty Alford-Olive |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.56 sq mi (22.17 km2) |
| • Land | 8.56 sq mi (22.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 9,691 |
| • Density | 1,132.39/sq mi (437.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6(CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5(CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 71220 |
| Area code | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-04685 |
| GNISfeature ID | 1629913[2] |
| Website | www |
History
editBastrop was founded byFelipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop,a Dutch businessman accused as anembezzler.He had fled to the then Spanish colony ofLouisianato escape prosecution and became involved in various land deals. InNew Spain,he falsely claimed to be a nobleman. He received a large grant of land, provided that he could settle 450 families on it over the next several years. However, he was unable to do this, and so lost the grant. Afterwards, he moved toTexas,where he claimed to oppose the sale of Louisiana to the United States and became a minor government official. He proved instrumental inMoses Austin's plan (and later, that of his son,Stephen F. Austin) to bring American colonists to what was then northernMexico.
Bastrop formally incorporated in 1857, and is the commercial and industrial center ofMorehouse Parish.In the 19th century, it was notable as the western edge of the great North Louisiana swamp, but more favorable terrain resulted in the antebellum rail line connecting toMonroe,further to the south.
Bastrop was aConfederatestronghold during theAmerican Civil Waruntil January 1865, when 3,000 cavalrymen led byColonelEmbury D. Osbandof the3rd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment,embarked fromMemphis, Tennessee,for northeastern Louisiana.[5]
During theGreat Mississippi Flood of 1927,Bastrop was the site of a relief camp for refugees. DuringWorld War II,it was the site of a Germanprisoner-of-warcamp.
Bastrop is the parish seat of Morehouse Parish and is within an area marketed to tourists as the Sportsman's Paradise Region of Louisiana. It is a Main Street Community and has received Transportation Enhancement funding for improvements in its historic district.[6]
Celebrations and concerts are held in the historic downtown at the restored 1914 Morehouse Parish Courthouse and Rose Theater. Bastrop is home to the Snyder Museum and Creative Arts Center, housed in the circa 1929 home of a local family. Volunteers lead heritage appreciation tours for children and interpret the history of the parish using local artifacts.[6]
Geography
editBastrop is located in western Morehouse Parish, at the crossroads ofU.S. Highway 425andU.S. Highway 165(Madison Avenue).
According to theUnited States Census Bureau,Bastrop has a total area of 8.59 square miles (22.2 km2), all of it land.[1]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Bastrop, Louisiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–1900, 1921–1925, 1935–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
87 (31) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
101 (38) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
107 (42) |
110 (43) |
100 (38) |
89 (32) |
89 (32) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.8 (12.1) |
58.2 (14.6) |
66.9 (19.4) |
74.3 (23.5) |
81.0 (27.2) |
88.0 (31.1) |
90.6 (32.6) |
90.6 (32.6) |
86.3 (30.2) |
76.2 (24.6) |
64.4 (18.0) |
56.2 (13.4) |
73.9 (23.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 43.8 (6.6) |
47.5 (8.6) |
55.2 (12.9) |
62.9 (17.2) |
71.0 (21.7) |
78.4 (25.8) |
81.1 (27.3) |
80.5 (26.9) |
75.2 (24.0) |
64.2 (17.9) |
53.3 (11.8) |
46.2 (7.9) |
63.3 (17.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.9 (1.1) |
36.8 (2.7) |
43.6 (6.4) |
51.5 (10.8) |
61.0 (16.1) |
68.7 (20.4) |
71.5 (21.9) |
70.3 (21.3) |
64.1 (17.8) |
52.3 (11.3) |
42.1 (5.6) |
36.3 (2.4) |
52.7 (11.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) |
−12 (−24) |
15 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
39 (4) |
48 (9) |
54 (12) |
51 (11) |
37 (3) |
21 (−6) |
18 (−8) |
3 (−16) |
−12 (−24) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 5.72 (145) |
4.91 (125) |
4.94 (125) |
6.14 (156) |
5.21 (132) |
4.13 (105) |
4.58 (116) |
4.68 (119) |
3.41 (87) |
5.11 (130) |
4.37 (111) |
5.19 (132) |
58.39 (1,483) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.3 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 7.3 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 95.8 |
| Source:NOAA[7][8] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 481 | — | |
| 1870 | 521 | 8.3% | |
| 1880 | 822 | 57.8% | |
| 1900 | 787 | — | |
| 1910 | 854 | 8.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,216 | 42.4% | |
| 1930 | 5,121 | 321.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,626 | 29.4% | |
| 1950 | 12,769 | 92.7% | |
| 1960 | 15,193 | 19.0% | |
| 1970 | 14,713 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 15,527 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 13,916 | −10.4% | |
| 2000 | 12,988 | −6.7% | |
| 2010 | 11,365 | −12.5% | |
| 2020 | 9,691 | −14.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,928 | 19.9% |
| Black or African American | 7,345 | 75.8% |
| Native American | 24 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 29 | 0.3% |
| Other/Mixed | 365 | 3.8% |
| HispanicorLatino | 97 | 1.0% |
As of the2020 United States Census,there were 9,691 people, 3,834 households, and 2,273 families residing in the city.
Economy
editIn 2008,International Paper Company,the largest area employer, ceased operations of its Bastrop mill.[10][11][12]
In 2009, poultry processorPilgrim's Prideclosed multiple facilities in the area, which impacted the economy of Bastrop.[13]DG Foods opened a poultry processing plant at Bastrop in 2011.[citation needed]
In 2015, a wood pellet facility opened in Bastrop, employing 64 people.[14][15]
The 1023rd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 528th Engineer Battalion of the225th Engineer Brigadeis located in Bastrop.
Arts and culture
edit
A branch of the Morehouse Parish Public Library System is located in Bastrop.[16]
Government
editBastrop is governed by a mayor, Betty Alford-Olive, and a city council, which includes:[17][18]
- Angela Moore, District A
- Charles Bradford, District B
- James Green, District C
- Darry Green, District D
- Howard Loche, District E
Education
edit
Public schools
editPublic schools located in Bastrop are operated by theMorehouse Parish School Board,and include:[19]
- Bastrop High School
- Beekman Charter School
- Morehouse Elementary School
- Morehouse Magnet School
Private schools
editPrairie View Academy is a private school in Bastrop serving kindergarten to grade 12.[20]
Postsecondary schools
editLouisiana Delta Community Collegehas a campus in Bastrop.[21]
Bastrop High School prayer controversy
editIn 2011, graduating senior Damon Fowler objected toprayerat the Bastrop High School graduation exercises, claiming a looming violation of theFirst Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.[22]TheAmerican Civil Liberties Unionof Louisiana asked the school not to include a prayer in the May 20 graduation.[22]At the Thursday night rehearsal for the graduation, senior Sarah Barlow included a prayer that explicitly mentionedJesus Christ,and during the graduation, student Laci Mattice led people in theLord's Prayerbefore a moment of silence. The school says that Mattice was told not to include a prayer.[22]Fowler stated that after his objections became public he was ostracized by other students.[23]
Media
edit
Bastrop and Morehouse Parish were until 2019 served by a daily newspaper, theBastrop Daily Enterprise,which ceased operations because of financial and readership issues.
Notable people
edit- Ronnie Coleman,professional bodybuilder
- Bill Dickey,Major League BaseballHall of Fame catcher for the New York Yankees
- Denzel Devall,college football player
- Michael Echols,member of theLouisiana House of Representatives
- Stump Edington,Major League Baseballplayer who died in Bastrop
- David 'Bo' Ginn,state senator from Morehouse Parish from 1980 to 1988
- Luther E. Hall,governor of Louisiana
- Stacey Hawkins,United States Air Forcemajor general
- Ed Head,Major League Baseballplayer who died in Bastrop
- Mable John,Motown Recordssinger born in Bastrop
- Jim Looney,NFLplayer
- Bob Love,NBAbasketball player
- Calvin Natt,National Basketball Associationplayer who was born in Monroe, but attended Bastrop High School, later NLU and was an NBA All-Star with the Denver Nuggets
- Kenny Natt,National Basketball Associationyounger brother of Kenny Natt, drafted byIndiana Pacersin 1980
- Willie Parker,NFL and WFL player
- Rueben Randle,LSU Tigers football,wide receiver, led Bastrop High School to a state championship, was drafted by theNew York Giantsin 2012
- Shane Reynolds,Major League Baseballplayer[24]
- John Wesley Ryles,country music singer, born in Bastrop in 1950
- Talance Sawyer,played for the Minnesota Vikings; born in Bastrop
- Dylan Scott,country music singer-songwriter
- Pat Williams,NFL player (Minnesota Vikings); born in Bastrop
- Hulon B. Whittington,Medal of Honor recipient
References
edit- ^ab"2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Louisiana".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 26,2023.
- ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bastrop, Louisiana
- ^abcd"P1. Race – Bastrop city, Louisiana: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)".U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 26,2023.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon July 4, 2012.Retrieved2011-06-07.
- ^John D. Winters,The Civil War in Louisiana,Baton Rouge:Louisiana State University Press,1963,ISBN0-8071-0834-0,pp. 413–414
- ^ab"Preserve America | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation".www.achp.gov.RetrievedOctober 28,2021.
- ^"NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedOctober 18,2023.
- ^"Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedOctober 18,2023.
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^Greg Hilburn,"Jindal visits region"ArchivedAugust 16, 2014, at theWayback Machine,The Monroe News-Star,December 13, 2008
- ^Greg Hilburn,"Bastrop mill closes; 550 lose jobs"ArchivedAugust 16, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Monroe News Star,November 22, 2008, p. 1
- ^Greg Hilburn,"Jindal: Bastrop is a top priority: State will do all it can to prop up community"ArchivedAugust 16, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Monroe News Star,November 25, 2008
- ^"Greg Hilburn and Robbie Evans," Pilgrim's Pride decision a bombshell: Sites closing in Arcadia, Athens, Choudrant, Farmerville ".Shreveport Times.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2014.RetrievedMarch 1,2009.
- ^"News & Updates | Drax BioMassDrax BioMass".Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2014.Retrieved2014-01-28.
- ^http://www.thepineywoods.com/PelletsJan13.html/[permanent dead link]
- ^"Bastrop Main Branch".Morehouse Parish Library.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"Meet the Mayor".City of Bastrop.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"City Council".City of Bastrop.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"Home".Morehouse Parish School Board.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"Prairie View Academy".Prairie View Academy.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"Bastrop".Louisiana Delta Community College.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^abcSouthwell, Zack (May 21, 2011)."Prayer sparks controversy in Bastrop".The Star.Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2011.RetrievedMay 21,2011.
- ^Lebo, Lauri (May 20, 2011)."Student Says He's Ostracized for Objecting to Graduation Prayer".Religion Dispatches.RetrievedMay 20,2011.
- ^"Shane Reynolds Stats".Baseball Almanac.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
External links
edit