Dry Prong, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Dry Prong is a village in central Grant Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. It is part of the Alexandria, Louisiana
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 421 at the 2000 census.
According to the web-based Encyclopedia Louisiana, a family moved to the region in the 1870s to build a sawmill. To power the mill, they built a water wheel
, only to discover that the creek over which they had built it went dry every summer: the creek was a "dry prong". The mill was soon rebuilt over a nearby creek which flowed all year, but the name stuck. The creek is now outside the city limits, on Hwy.123. John L. Landry is the current mayor of the village.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 421 people, 176 households, and 124 families residing in the village. The population density
was 315.8 inhabitants per square mile (122.2/km²). There were 195 housing units at an average density of 146.3 per square mile (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.25% White, 0.95% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.66% from other races
, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 2.61% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $43,214. Males had a median income of $36,944 versus $18,864 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $13,978. About 12.9% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Grant Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,698 people, 7,073 households, and 5,276 families residing in the parish. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 8,531 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, 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...
. It is part of the Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 421 at the 2000 census.
History
Dry Prong was incorporated as a village in 1945 with Clarence M. Fuller serving as the first mayor.According to the web-based Encyclopedia Louisiana, a family moved to the region in the 1870s to build a sawmill. To power the mill, they built a water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
, only to discover that the creek over which they had built it went dry every summer: the creek was a "dry prong". The mill was soon rebuilt over a nearby creek which flowed all year, but the name stuck. The creek is now outside the city limits, on Hwy.123. John L. Landry is the current mayor of the village.
Geography
Dry Prong is located at 31°34′44"N 92°31′46"W (31.578819, -92.529487).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 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
Major highways
U.S. Route 167U.S. Route 167U.S. Route 167 runs for 499 miles from Ash Flat, Arkansas at U.S. Route 62 to Abbeville, Louisiana at Louisiana Highway 14. It goes through the cities of Little Rock, Arkansas, Alexandria, Louisiana, and Lafayette, Louisiana....
Louisiana Highway 122
Louisiana Highway 123
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 421 people, 176 households, and 124 families residing in the village. 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 315.8 inhabitants per square mile (122.2/km²). There were 195 housing units at an average density of 146.3 per square mile (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.25% White, 0.95% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.66% 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 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 2.61% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% 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, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $43,214. Males had a median income of $36,944 versus $18,864 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 $13,978. About 12.9% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- W. K. BrownW. K. BrownWilliam K. Brown was from 1960 to 1972 a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Grant and Rapides parishes in Central Louisiana. His service corresponded with the administrations of Governors Jimmie Davis and John J...
, state representativeLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from 1960 to 1972, was reared in Dry Prong. - Billy ChandlerBilly ChandlerBilly Ray Chandler , is a retired businessman from Dry Prong in Grant Parish, who is a departing Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Prior to redistricting, Chandler's District 22 encompassed seventy-two precincts from Grant, La Salle, and parts of Winn and northern Rapides...
, current state representative from Grant, La SalleLa Salle Parish, LouisianaLa Salle Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of 2000, the population was 14,282. The parish seat is Jena.-Geography:The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, and WinnWinn Parish, LouisianaWinn Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Winnfield. In 2000, its population was 16,894.The parish has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
parishes