Jena, Louisiana

The town of Jena is the parish seat of La Salle Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. The population was 2,971 at the 2000 census.

Jena and La Salle Parish have been heavily Republican since a two-party system took root in Louisiana. The town is 85 percent white, an unusual high white composition in Louisiana. In the 2003 gubernatorial race, however, La Salle Parish voted heavily for the Democratic Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, rather than the young Republican challenger Bobby Jindal, an Indian American now a U.S. Representative from Metairie in Jefferson Parish. Blanco received 2,974 votes (61 percent) to Jindal's 1,917 ballots (39 percent).

U.S. Representative Speedy O. Long (1928-2006), a Democrat, practiced law in Jena prior to his congressional service (1965-1973). He was later the La Salle Parish district attorney from 1973-1985. Long twice lost bids for governor and once for insurance commissioner. He was a state senator from 1956-1964.

Geography

Jena is located at 31°41′24″N 92°7′29″W (31.689993, -92.124781)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.9 km² (5.4 mi²), all land.

Surrounding Communities

• Midway
• Trout
• Nebo
• Webb Quarters
• Summerville
• Eden
• Goodpine
• Possum Point
• Belah
• Fellowship
• White Sulpher Springs
• Mackeral
• Rogers

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 2,971 people, 1,135 households, and 749 families residing in the town. The population density was 213.2/km² (552.7/mi²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 90.7/km² (235.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.56% White, 12.02% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.

There were 1,135 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $39,848. Males had a median income of $31,332 versus $18,317 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,761. About 9.9% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

Famous residents

• Jason Hatcher was born and raised in Jena, Louisiana. He plays Defensive End for the Dallas Cowboys.

Business Development

• Wal-Mart Stores, INC is building a new 100,000 sq ft Supercenter on US HWY 84 West.
• Ace Hardware has built a new 28,000 sq ft store in downtown Jena.
• Southern Heritage Bank has opened its new 2-story 12,000 sq ft building. It will be the home of all its banking operations.
• Homeland Federal Saving Bank from Columbia, Louisiana has opened a new branch in Jena.
• Arrows Industries has opened a new expansion. They now employ over 100 people.
• Jena Town Hall has moved into the old Southern Heritage Bank building.
• Dollar General will be building a new larger building across McDonald's.
• McCartney Oil Company is building a full-service gas station across from the new Supercenter Wal-Mart

Education

The LaSalle Parish School Board is also located in Jena. The LaSalle Parish School Board System has 9 schools, 4 of which are in Jena.

• Jena High School, 9 - 12
• Jena Jr High School, 7 & 8
• Goodpine Middle School, 4 - 6
• Jena Elementary School, Pre K - 3
• Fellowship Elementary School, Pre-K - 8
• Nebo Elementary School, Pre-K - 8

Racial tensions

Photograph of tree outside Jena High School

Racial tensions surfaced in Jena on September 1, 2006, when hangman's nooses were discovered in a tree on the high school campus. Despite the school head recommending the noose-hangers be expelled, the board overruled him and the three white student perpetrators were suspended from school for three days, what some called a mere "slap on the wrist". On November 30, an arson fire destroyed the main academic building at the school. On December 4, a fight broke out on campus, after which six African-American students were arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. Law enforcement officers told the Alexandria Daily Town Talk they have found no links between the noose incident, the arson fire, and subsequent fights.

The six accused of attempted second-degree murder are black and were fighting a white student after a week of intimidation by white students, including the one who was assaulted..

On June 26, the first day of trial for Bell, one of the defendants, the prosecutor agreed to reduce the charges for Bell to aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second degree battery. As of june 26 there is no word as to whether the charges of the other 5 (for which the trial date is later) will be reduced.

Hence, the town has gained international notoriety as an example of the alleged "new 'stealth' racism" that lives on in America.

External links

• Town of Jena
• 'Stealth racism' stalks deep South
• LaSalle General Hospital
• LaSalle Parish School Board
• Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge