Oakdale, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Oakdale is a small city
in Allen Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 8,137 at the 2000 census.
Oakdale was founded as "Dunnsville" by William T. Dunn. The Leatherwood Museum, which contains the history
of Allen Parish, reopened in a renovated facility on September 27, 2008.
, the city has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.3 km²), of which 5.1 square miles (13.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²) (1.17%) is water.
Oakdale's closest neighbor in Allen Parish is Elizabeth
, located just west of Oakdale.
of 2000, there were 8,137 people, 2,246 households, and 1,525 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,603.6 people per square mile (619.7/km²). There were 2,512 housing units at an average density of 495.1 per square mile (191.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.07% White, 34.94% African American, 0.57% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.22% of the population.
There were 2,246 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples
living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 157.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 179.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,826, and the median income for a family was $28,506. Males had a median income of $32,179 versus $16,039 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,288. About 21.7% of families and 23.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.
s, former Lieutenant Governors
Coleman Lindsey
and Bill Dodd and former state Treasurer
Mary Evelyn Parker
, have roots in Oakdale.
, a minimum security prison for male inmates, which include former WorldCom
CEO Bernard Ebbers
who is serving a 25-year sentence for his involvement in the accounting scandal that toppled that company. The prison also was home to former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards
who served over eight years of a ten-year sentence for his involvement in a 2000 riverboat gambling racketeering case. Other notable inmates who once served time at the prison include former Governor Don Siegelman
of Alabama
, who was serving a seven-year sentence but has been released pending appeal, and Andrew Fastow
, the former Chief Financial Officer for Enron Corporation, who is serving six years. Former Louisiana Insurance
Commissioner James H. "Jim" Brown also served time in the facility. Former New Orleans city councilman Oliver Thomas
, currently serving a 37-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to accepting bribes, is now serving the duration of his sentence at the Oakdale complex.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Allen Parish
Allen Parish, Louisiana
Allen Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Oberlin. As of the 2000 census, the population was 25,440. Allen Parish is in southwestern Louisiana, southwest of Alexandria....
, 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 8,137 at the 2000 census.
Oakdale was founded as "Dunnsville" by William T. Dunn. The Leatherwood Museum, which contains the history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of Allen Parish, reopened in a renovated facility on September 27, 2008.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.3 km²), of which 5.1 square miles (13.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²) (1.17%) is water.
Oakdale's closest neighbor in Allen Parish is Elizabeth
Elizabeth, Louisiana
Elizabeth is a town in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 574 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elizabeth is located at ....
, located just west of Oakdale.
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 8,137 people, 2,246 households, and 1,525 families residing in the city. 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 1,603.6 people per square mile (619.7/km²). There were 2,512 housing units at an average density of 495.1 per square mile (191.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.07% White, 34.94% African American, 0.57% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% 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 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.22% of the population.
There were 2,246 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% 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, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 157.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 179.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,826, and the median income for a family was $28,506. Males had a median income of $32,179 versus $16,039 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 city was $10,288. About 21.7% of families and 23.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
Three former Louisiana politicianPolitician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s, former Lieutenant Governors
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
The Office of Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current Lieutenant Governor is Jay Dardenne, a Republican...
Coleman Lindsey
Coleman Lindsey
Isaac Coleman Lindsey, known as Coleman Lindsey , was a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate, a district judge, and from 1939 to 1940, the lieutenant governor under Governor Earl Kemp Long....
and Bill Dodd and former state Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
Mary Evelyn Parker
Mary Evelyn Parker
Mary Evelyn Dickerson Parker is a former Democratic state treasurer of Louisiana, having served from 1968-1987. She was the first woman to have held the position. Prior to her tenure as treasurer, she held several appointed positions in state government...
, have roots in Oakdale.
Federal prison
Oakdale is home to the Oakdale Federal Correctional ComplexFederal Correctional Complex, Oakdale
The Federal Correctional Complex, Oakdale is a complex with two United States federal prisons located near Oakdale, Louisiana. Oakdale has a Federal Detention Center and a Federal Correctional Institution.-Notable inmates:-External links:*...
, a minimum security prison for male inmates, which include former WorldCom
MCI Inc.
MCI, Inc. is an American telecommunications subsidiary of Verizon Communications that is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia...
CEO Bernard Ebbers
Bernard Ebbers
Bernard John "Bernie" Ebbers is a Canadian-born businessman. He co-founded the telecommunications company WorldCom and is a former chief executive officer of that company....
who is serving a 25-year sentence for his involvement in the accounting scandal that toppled that company. The prison also was home to former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards
Edwin Edwards
Edwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
who served over eight years of a ten-year sentence for his involvement in a 2000 riverboat gambling racketeering case. Other notable inmates who once served time at the prison include former Governor Don Siegelman
Don Siegelman
Don Eugene Siegelman is an American Democratic Party politician who held numerous offices in Alabama. He was the 51st Governor of Alabama for one term from 1999 to 2003...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, who was serving a seven-year sentence but has been released pending appeal, and Andrew Fastow
Andrew Fastow
Andrew Stuart Fastow was the chief financial officer of Enron Corporation that was based in Houston, Texas until the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission opened an investigation into his and the company's conduct in 2001...
, the former Chief Financial Officer for Enron Corporation, who is serving six years. Former Louisiana Insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
Commissioner James H. "Jim" Brown also served time in the facility. Former New Orleans city councilman Oliver Thomas
Oliver Thomas
For the Texas businessman and World War II POW, see Oliver C. Thomas.Oliver M. Thomas, Jr. , is a Democratic politician from New Orleans. He served on the New Orleans City Council from 1994 to 2007...
, currently serving a 37-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to accepting bribes, is now serving the duration of his sentence at the Oakdale complex.