Choudrant, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Choudrant is a village in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
, United States. The population was 582 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
Former U.S. Representative Jerry Huckaby
has retired to Choudrant.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.8 mi2, all land.
.
A Pilgrim's Pride
poultry
hatchery in Choudrant was marked for closure early in 2009, along with other company operations in nearby Arcadia
in Bienville Parish, Athens
in Claiborne Parish
, and Farmerville
in Union Parish
. The closures cost this part of North Louisiana some 1,300 jobs. Several weeks later, however, Pilgrim's Pride accepted an $80 million offer from Foster Farms
of California
to purchase the operations. In addition, to the 1,300 direct jobs in Farmerville, the purchase spares the small farms of some three hundred independent growers. Foster Farms put up $40 million and the State of Louisiana a matching $40 million. Foster Farms will further invest $10 million in capital improvements at the Farmerville plant, to be matched by the state, in an agreement announced by Governor Bobby Jindal
.
Fire protection in the Village is provided by the Choudrant Volunteer Fire Department.
was 318.9 per square mile (123.5/km²). There were 257 housing units at an average density of 140.8 per square mile (54.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.92% White, 6.53% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.03% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 234 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% are non-families. 24.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,321, and the median income for a family was $42,656. Males had a median income of $30,855 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,726. About 4.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those 65 and older.
Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Lincoln Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Ruston. In 2004, its population was estimated to be 42,382...
, United States. The population was 582 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Ruston micropolitan area
The Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area is a micropolitan area in north central Louisiana that covers two parishes - Lincoln and Jackson. As of the 2000 census, the μSA had a population of 57,906 .-Cities:*Ruston * Grambling, Louisiana The Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area is a micropolitan...
.
Former U.S. Representative Jerry Huckaby
Jerry Huckaby
Thomas Jerald Huckaby, usually known as Jerry Huckaby , is a retired businessman who served as a Democratic U.S. representative from the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana between 1977 and 1993...
has retired to Choudrant.
Geography
Choudrant is located at 32°31′49"N 92°30′45"W (32.530269, -92.512405).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 1.8 mi2, all land.
Economy
As a village, Choudrant has limited business opportunity. There are several "home grown" businesses within the village limits. Some of the more notable are Parnell's Station, Ken's Mini Mart, Spiller's Service Station, Morrison's Building Supply, Choudrant Appliance, and Doody's Diner. The most prominent of local businesses is Community Trust Bank, originally founded as the Bank of Choudrant. It has since grown to become one of the largest banks in both Lincoln Parish and the neighboring Ouachita Parish. Despite its growth though, the FDIC still recognizes the original Choudrant branch as its home office. Community Trust also sponsored the Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston until 2005, whence sponsorship was taken up by Squire Creek Country ClubSquire Creek Country Club
The Squire Creek Country Club is a private, members-only country club located in Choudrant, Louisiana, just 5 miles northeast of Ruston. Squire Creek features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio. The course has been ranked as number one in the state of Louisiana four times,...
.
A Pilgrim's Pride
Pilgrim's Pride
Pilgrim's Corp., previously Pilgrim's Pride , is a former U.S.-owned company with its U.S. headquarters relocated to Greeley, Colorado. As a subsidiary of the Brazilian food giant, JBS, it is the largest chicken producer in the United States and Puerto Rico and the second-largest chicken producer...
poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
hatchery in Choudrant was marked for closure early in 2009, along with other company operations in nearby Arcadia
Arcadia, Louisiana
Arcadia is a town in and the parish seat of Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,041 at the 2000 census....
in Bienville Parish, Athens
Athens, Louisiana
Athens is a village in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 262 at the 2000 census.The Pilgrim's Pride poultry hatchery in Athens was designated for closure early in 2009, along with other company businesses in nearby Arcadia in Bienville Parish, Choudrant in Lincoln...
in Claiborne Parish
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Claiborne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Homer and as of 2000, the population is 16,851.-History:The parish is named for the first Louisiana governor, William C. C. Claiborne....
, and Farmerville
Farmerville, Louisiana
Farmerville is a town in and the parish seat of Union Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,808 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Union Parish
Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....
. The closures cost this part of North Louisiana some 1,300 jobs. Several weeks later, however, Pilgrim's Pride accepted an $80 million offer from Foster Farms
Foster Farms
Foster Farms may refer to:* Foster Farms , based in Livingston, California* Foster Farms Dairy, based in Modesto, California...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to purchase the operations. In addition, to the 1,300 direct jobs in Farmerville, the purchase spares the small farms of some three hundred independent growers. Foster Farms put up $40 million and the State of Louisiana a matching $40 million. Foster Farms will further invest $10 million in capital improvements at the Farmerville plant, to be matched by the state, in an agreement announced by Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
.
Government
Choudrant is served by four elected officials—a mayor and three village aldermen. Other public employees include a town clerk and a small police force. For many years, Choudrant was served by only one law enforcement officer, its police chief, but the force has grown in recent years adding additional officers and a canine unit. The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office also provides law enforcement services as needed.Fire protection in the Village is provided by the Choudrant Volunteer Fire Department.
Education
Choudrant is located within the fifth district of the Lincoln Parish School System. There are two schools within the Choudrant district—Choudrant Elementary and Choudrant High. The elementary school services between 400 and 450 students in grades K-6 while the high school contains approximately 350 students in grade levels 7-12. Both schools are well known as having high academic achievement under the state's school improvement plan and No Child Left Behind. One sore point for the community is the fact that both school facilities are falling into decline. The high school was rebuilt in 1937 after a fire and has had no substantive renovations or updates since that time. Choudrant Elementary was similarly rebuilt and expanded after a fire in the 1970s, but the student population has outgrown its walls. However, attempts to renovate the high school and rebuild the elementary school were halted in 2007 when citizens of the school district voted by a 2-1 majority against passage of a bond issue to fund such changes.Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 582 people, 234 households, and 167 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 318.9 per square mile (123.5/km²). There were 257 housing units at an average density of 140.8 per square mile (54.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.92% White, 6.53% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.03% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 234 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% are non-families. 24.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,321, and the median income for a family was $42,656. Males had a median income of $30,855 versus $25,000 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 $15,726. About 4.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those 65 and older.