Louisiana
Department of Economic Development

Natchitoches Parish Profile

1998
LOCATION (PARISH SEAT: Natchitoches)
Major Cities: Distance in Miles/Time:
Atlanta, GA 603/9.43
Dallas, TX 259/4.06
Houston, TX 243/4.29
New Orleans, LA 256/4.36
Note: Distance computed between major cities and parish seat.

POPULATION
  1997*** 1990 1980
Parish 37,896 36,689 39,863
Natchitoches 17,318 16,609 16,664
Campti 1,009 929 1,069
Clarence 591 577 612
Provencal 609 538 695
Natchez 465 434 527
Goldonna 429 417 526
Area Population** 323,731 337,359 340,403
*Census Designated Place
**Area includes parish and all contiguous parishes.
***Estimated July 1, 1997

LABOR FORCE
  Parish Area
Estimated labor force* 16,800 132,500
Manufacturing employment* 1,970 12,556
Unemployment rate* 7.0%  
*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
10 4 2 2

Number of Faculty:
Elem. Jr. High High Private
271 109 137 38

Number of Students:
Non-Graded K-8 9-12 Private
650 5,039 1,786 432

Vocational-Technical Schools
(within 1 hour commuting distance) Enrollment
1997
Narchitoches Technical Institute 848

Colleges/Universities
(within 1 hour commuting distance) Enrollment
Fall 1997
Northwestern State University-Natchitoches 8,873
Louisiana State University-Alexandria 2,409
Louisiana College-Pineville 852
Public Libraries: 1
Total Number of Volumes 134,273

CLIMATE
Annual Average Temperature: 63o
Monthly Average Temperature: January 51o
  July 82o
Annual Average Rainfall: 53.2 inches
Average Elevation: 130 feet
Area in Square Miles: 1,256.4 miles

TRANSPORTATION
Highways:
Interstate 49; U.S. 71, and 84
State 1, 6, 9, 117, 118, 119, 120, 153, 156, 479, 480, and 487

Railroads:
Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific

Motor freight : 7
Terminal Facilities are available within the parish.

Air service airport:
Nearest commercial airport:  Alexandria International Airport : Distance 57 miles*
Commercial airlines:
American Eagle
Atlantic Southeast (ASA)
Continental Express
Northwest Airlink
Average number flights per day 21
Number of Runways 2
Length of Runways 9,352 feet
  7,001 feet
Local airport:
Natchitoches Regional Airport : Distance 0 miles*
Number of Runways 2
Length of Runways 4,000 feet
  5,003 feet
* Note:Distance computed between parish seat and airport.

Waterways
Nearest Deepwater Channel  
Port Facilities Depth Distance to Port
Port of Lake Charles 40 feet 129 miles
Foreign Trade Zone: Yes  
Nearest Shallow Draft Channel  
Port Facilities Depth Distance to Port
Port of Alexandria 9 feet 55 miles
Port of Natchitoches 9 feet 0 miles
Foreign Trade Zone No  
Barge Terminals 0  

FINANCING RESOURCES
  Number Total Deposits ($000)
Banks 6 $263,767
  Number** Total Assets
Credit Unions 1 $4,016,430
* As of June 30, 1997
** Federally Insured

TAXES
Sales Taxes Rate
State 4%
Parish 2.5%
Municipal Range 3.5% - 4.0%
Parish Millage Rate (1998) 107.2
1997 State Sales Tax Collections $5,963,876

GOVERNMENT
  Type
Government		 Zoning
Regulations		 Fire
Insurance Rating
Natchitoches Mayor/Council Yes Class 3
Campti Mayor/Council No Class 8
Clarence Mayor/Alderman No Class 8
Provencal Mayor/Alderman No Class 7
Natchez Mayor/Alderman No Class 6
Goldonna Mayor/Alderman Yes Class 8

QUALITY OF LIFE
Recreational:
Ball Fields Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Bowling Alleys Parks
Cinemas Plantations
Country Clubs Shooting Ranges
Family Center Skating Rinks
Fishing Swimming Pools
Folk Festival Tennis Courts
Golf Courses Water Sports
Little Theater  

Medical:
  Number Beds
General and Specialty Hospitals 1 84
Nursing Homes: 3 344

Communications:
Newspapers: Number
Daily: 1
Weekly: 0
Semi-weekly: 0
Television Stations: 1
Cable: Yes
There are 5 channels available without cable.

Community Facilities:
Hotels/motels/bed & breakfast: 25
Total Rooms 452


UTILITIES AND SERVICES
Electricity:
Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.
Central Louisiana Electric Company
City of Natchitoches
Entergy
Valley Electric Membership Corporation (VEMCO)


Water:
  Supplier
Natchitoches City of Natchitoches
Campti City of Campti
Clarence Village of Clarence
Provencal Village of Provencal
Natchez Private
Goldonna Village of Goldonna

Natural Gas:
Louisiana Gas Services
Trans-Louisiana Gas Company

Sewer System:
  Supplier
Natchitoches City of Natchitoches
Campti City of Campti
Clarence Village of Clarence
Provencal Village of Provencal
Natchez Village of Natchez
Goldonna Septic Tanks

MAJOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
Name Product or
Service		 Number of
Employees		 Union
ConAgra Poultry Company Food Manufacturing 900 Yes
Martco Plywood Plant Plywood Manufacturing 520 No
Willamette Industries Kraft Lineboard, Oil 374 Yes
Wal-Mart Retail 370 No
Trus-Joist MacMillan Corporation Laminated Wood 220 No
Valley Electric Membership Company Utility 168 No
O.S. Johnson Dirt Contractor Dirt Contractor 1 No
Alliance Compressors Compressors 100 No
Ryan's Family Steakhouse Restaurant 70 No
Dobson Pulpwood, Inc. Wood 52 No
Lott Oil Company, Inc. Bulk Oil and Gas 40 No
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company Natural Gas Transmission 31 No
Southern Cotton Oil Company Cottonseed Products 30 Yes
Trans-Louisiana Gas Company Gas Utility 26 No
Natchitoches Times Newspaper Publishing 21 No
Acme Cement Products Cement Products 15 No

MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL OR OTHER EMPLOYERS
Name Product or
Service		 Number of
Employees
Natchitoches Parish School System Education 1,025
Northwestern State University Education 634
Natchitoches Parish Hospital Medical 425
City of Natchitoches Public/Municipal Govt. 250
Natchitoches Parish Police Jury Government 198


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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