Louisiana
Department of Economic Development
Bienville Parish Profile

1998

LOCATION (PARISH SEAT: Arcadia)
Major Cities: Distance in Miles/Time:
Atlanta, GA 554/8.42
Dallas, TX 240/3.52
Houston, TX 298/5.24
New Orleans, LA 338/5.22
Note: Distance computed between major cities and parish seat.

POPULATION
  1997*** 1990 1980
Parish 15,707 15,979 16,387
Arcadia 3,131 3,079 3,403
Ringgold 1,940 1,856 1,655
Gibsland 1,274 1,224 1,354
Lucky 359 342 370
Castor 249 196 195
Jamestown 174 148 131
Area Population** 292,074 281,256 2
*Census Designated Place
**Area includes parish and all contiguous parishes.
***E stimated July 1, 1997

LABOR FORCE
  Parish Area
Estimated labor force* 5,160 127,660
Manufacturing employment* 896 14,418
Unemployment rate* 14.9%  
*1997
Louisiana is a right to work state.

EDUCATION
Number of Schools:
Elem. Jr. High High Private
K-6 7-8 9-12 K-12
3 0 6 0

Number of Faculty:
Elem. Jr. High High Private
69 0 142 0

Number of Students:
Non-Graded K-8 9-12 Private
277 2,054 742 0

Vocational-Technical Schools
(within 1 hour commuting distance) Enrollment
1997
Shreveport-Bossier Regional Technical Institute 1,094
Northwest Louisiana Technical Institute 903
Ruston Technical Institute 573

Colleges/Universities
(within 1 hour commuting distance) Enrollment
Fall 1997
University of Louisiana at Monroe 10,945
Louisiana Tech University-Ruston 9,500
Grambling State University-Grambling 5,864 
Bossier Parish Community College-Bossier 3,818
Louisiana State University-Shreveport 4,259
Southern University-Shreveport 1,342
Centenary College-Shreveport 968
Louisiana College-Pineville 852
Public Libraries: 2
Total Number of Volumes 159,237

CLIMATE
Annual Average Temperature: 66o
Monthly Average Temperature: January 51o
  July 81o
Annual Average Rainfall: 66.13 inches
Average Elevation: 360
Area in Square Miles: 810.7 miles

TRANSPORTATION
Highways:
Interstate 20; U.S. 80
State 4, 7, 9,150, 154, 501, 747, 754, and 792

Railroads:
Illinois Central
Kansas City Southern
Midsouth Rail
North Louisiana and Gulf

Motor freight : 7
Terminal Facilities are not available within the parish.

Air service airport:
Nearest Commercial Airport: Monroe Regional Airport: Distance 51 miles*
Commercial airlines:
Northwest Airlink
USAir express
Delta Airlines
Continental Express
Average number flights per day 29
Number of Runways 3
Length of Runways 7,500 feet
  5,000 feet
  5,001 feet
Local airport:
Arcadia Bienville Airport : Distance 0 miles*
Number of Runways 1
Length of Runways 3,000 feet
* Note:Distance computed between parish seat and airport.

Waterways
Port Facilities Channel  
Port Facilities Depth Distance to Port
Port of Lake Charles 40 feet 200 miles
Foreign Trade Zone: Yes  
Nearest Shallow Draft Channel  
Port Facilities Depth Distance to Port
Madison Parish Port 9 feet 106 miles
Foreign Trade Zone No  
Barge Terminals 0  

FINANCING RESOURCES
  Number Total Deposits ($000)
Banks 4 $111,237
  Number Total Assets
Credit Unions 0 0
* As of June 30, 1997
** Federally Insured

TAXES
Sales Taxes Rate
State 4%
Parish 3%
Municipal Range 4% - 5%
Parish Millage Rate (1998) 76.9
1995 State Sales Tax Collections $1,015,088

GOVERNMENT
  Type
Government		 Zoning
Regulations		 Fire
Insurance Rating
Arcadia Mayor/Alderman Yes Class 6
Ringgold Mayor/Council Yes Class 6
Gibsland Mayor/Alderman No Class 6
Lucky Mayor/Alderman Yes Class 9
Castor Mayor/Alderman No Class 8
Jamestown Mayor/Alderman No Class 6

QUALITY OF LIFE
Recreational:
Antebellum Homes Parks
Country Club Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days
Fishing Water Sports
Golf Courses Driskill Mountain
Hunting Swimming Pools
Slab Town festival Tennis Courts
Museums Depot Museum

Medical:
  Number Beds
General and Specialty Hospitals 1 30
Nursing Homes: 3 400

Communications:
Newspapers: Number
Daily: 0
Weekly: 2
Semi-weekly: 0
Television Stations: 0
Cable: Yes
There are 4 channels available without cable.

Community Facilities:
Hotels/motels/bed & breakfast: 4
Total Rooms 90


UTILITIES AND SERVICES
Electricity:
Bossier Rural Electric Membership Cooperative
Claiborne Electric Cooperative
Entergy


Water:
  Supplier
Arcadia Town of Arcadia
Ringgold Town of Ringgold
Gibsland Town of Gibsland
Lucky Village of Lucky
Castor Village of Castor
Jamestown Ground Wells

Natural Gas:
Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company (ARKLA)
LA Gas Service

Sewer System:
  Supplier
Arcadia Town of Arcadia
Ringgold Town of Ringgold
Gibsland Town of Gibsland
Lucky Septic Tank
Castor Village of Castor
Jamestown Septic Tank

MAJOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
Name Product or
Service		 Number of
Employees		 Union
Randall Farms Poultry Processing 700 Yes
Willamette Industries Plywood Sheeting 220 No
Stone Container Corporation High Density Bags 150 Yes
Haynes International, Inc. Speciality Pipes 150 No
Omega Container Ammunition Containers 50 No

MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL OR OTHER EMPLOYERS
Name Product or
Service		 Number of
Employees
Bienville Parish School System Education 439

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
P. O. Box 94185
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9185
Telephone: (225) 342-5361 FAX: (225) 342-5349

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Phone: (318) 632-2022
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