Ringgold, Louisiana

Town of Ringgold
Town
Newly established Ringgold branch of the Bienville Parish Library
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Bienville
Elevation	279 ft (85 m)
Coordinates	32°19′35″N 93°17′01″W
Area	2.3 sq mi (6 km2)
- land	2.3 sq mi (6 km2)
- water	0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0%
Population	1,660 (2000)
Density	715.3 / sq mi (276.2 / km2)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code	318
Location of Ringgold in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States

Ringgold Town Hall

A glimpse of downtown Ringgold

Ringgold School Complex

Defunct Ringgold Clinic, begun by Dr. V. W. Fletcher (1893-1960) and later operated by physicians Eichelberger and Bell, is still located across from the site of the former Conger Funeral Home in Ringgold.

Ringgold corporate limits sign

The First Baptist Church of Ringgold at the entrance to Mill Street downtown

First United Methodist Church in Ringgold

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Ringgold

Ringgold is a town in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,660 at the 2000 census. Ringgold is named for United States Army Major Samuel Ringgold, the hero of the battle of Palo Alto near Brownsville, Texas, in the Mexican-American War. Ringgold, the son of a U.S. representative from Maryland, was known for his particularly effective use of artillery. He was also the first American casualty of the Mexican War.

Loggy Bayou, which links Lake Bistineau with the Red River, flows through Bienville Parish west of Ringgold.

Geography

Ringgold is located at 32°19′35″N 93°17′1″W (32.326475, -93.283588).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,660 people, 636 households, and 410 families residing in the town. The population density was 715.3 people per square mile (276.3/km²). There were 749 housing units at an average density of 322.8 per square mile (124.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 43.92% White, 55.30% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.06% Asian, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 636 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 26.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 77.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $15,326, and the median income for a family was $21,563. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,817. About 36.5% of families and 38.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.9% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and residents

• Sue Woodard Huckaby (1943–2008), first wife of former U.S. Representative Jerry Huckaby, was a Ringgold native who formerly taught elementary school there. A Realtor in Virginia, she ranked tenth among two million Realtors nationally.
• Stephen A. Caldwell, educator, principal at Ringgold High School, 1911-1914.
• Barbara Colley, romance and mystery novelist from New Orleans, was born in Ringgold in 1947.
• Garnie W. McGinty, Louisiana historian, was born near Ringgold in 1900.
• Duvall Cortez Wimberly, born in Ringgold, was president of the organization American Ex-Prisoners of War.