Bastrop, Louisiana

Geobox City
name = City of Bastrop
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = City


image_size =
image_caption =


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
symbol_type =
nickname =
motto = The City of Pride, Spirit and Progress
country = United States
state = Louisiana
region = Morehouse
region_type = Parish
area_imperial = 8.4
area_land_imperial = 8.4
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 32
lat_m = 46
lat_s = 40
lat_NS = N
long_d = 91
long_m = 54
long_s = 54
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 167
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 12988
population_density_imperial = 1543.9
population_density_round = 1
government =
established_type =
established =
leader =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 71220
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 318
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_size =
map_caption = Location of Bastrop in Louisiana
map_locator = Louisiana
map1 = Map of USA LA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Louisiana in the United States
website =

Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States.GR|6 The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

Bastrop is located at coor dms|32|46|40|N|91|54|54|W|city (32.777855, -91.914944)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 12,988 people, 4,723 households, and 3,301 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,543.9 people per square mile (596.3/km²). There were 5,292 housing units at an average density of 629.1/sq mi (243.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.67% White, 64.50% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 4,723 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 28.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,418, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $30,477 versus $15,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,769. About 29.6% of families and 35.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under age 18 and 30.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Bastrop is governed by a mayor and board of alderman. The present mayor is Clarence Hawkins, the first African-American to serve in the top municipal position in Bastrop history. J.D. DeBlieux, who spent his later years in the Bastrop area, was perhaps the first white politician in Louisiana to support the civil rights agenda.

The Bastrop City Hall and Police Station were designed by native son Hugh G. Parker (1934-2007), who overcame childhood polio to become a significant architect in Louisiana.

Bastrop and Morehouse Parish are represented in the Louisiana House of Representatives by a Republican, the retired farmer Sam Little, who won his seat in the November 17, 2007, general election by a margin of only nine votes over the Bastrop dentist, Buddy M. Quinn.

Education

There are two branches of the [http://www.morehouse.lib.la.us Morehouse Parish Public Library System] in Bastop, the main branch of the Parish Library System and the Dunbar branch.

Notable people

* Mable John, Motown Records singer, was born in Bastrop.
* Ronnie Coleman, professional bodybuilder.
* Bill Dickey, Major League Baseball player.
* Sam Little, member of Louisiana House of Representatives
* Hugh G. Parker, Jr. (1934-2007), architect
* Shane Reynolds, Major League Baseball player.
* Talance Sawyer, was also born in Bastrop and later played for the Minnesota Vikings.
* John Wesley Ryles, Country singer was born in Bastrop in 1950.
* Twelve Gauge Valentine, a band, is from Bastrop.
* Stump Edington (1969), Major League Baseball player that died in Bastrop.
* Ed Head (1980), Major League Baseball player that died in Bastrop.

References

External links

* [http://www.bastropenterprise.com/ Bastrop Daily Enterprise]