Lecompte, Louisiana

Lecompte calls itself "The Pie Capital of Louisiana".

Lea's Lunchroom is a popular restaurant in Lecompte.

Red River Bank in Lecompte

Bayou Boeuf in Lecompte

Lecompte (/ləˈkaʊnt/) is a town in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Alexandria, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,366 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Lecompte is located at 31°5′28″N 92°24′1″W (31.091135, -92.400397).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), all of it land.

It is most famous for Lea's Lunchroom 1, a restaurant specializing in pie. Since 2002, the town has hosted an annual pie festival 2.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 71
• Louisiana Highway 112
• Louisiana Highway 457

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	1,058		—
1920	1,034		−2.3%
1930	1,247		20.6%
1940	1,311		5.1%
1950	1,443		10.1%
1960	1,485		2.9%
1970	1,518		2.2%
1980	1,661		9.4%
1990	1,592		−4.2%
2000	1,366		−14.2%
2010	1,227		−10.2%
2015 (est.)	1,189		−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,366 people, 516 households, and 330 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,344.8 people per square mile (517.1/km²). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 576.9 per square mile (221.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 24.96% White, 74.30% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 516 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the town, the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,708, and the median income for a family was $23,897. Males had a median income of $22,361 versus $15,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,210. About 32.9% of families and 35.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 32.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

The town of Lecompte, Louisiana, was named after a famous race horse owned by the Wells family who lived on a plantation south of the town. The horse's name was LeComte. He won races at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. During the days of the Lecompte High School, the yearbook was named The LeComte with a picture of the horse on the first page. When the railroad painted a sign on the side of the train depot years ago, a "p" was added to the name and it has been Lecompte ever since.

LeComte, the horse, was bought by an Englishman for an undisclosed large sum after winning a race, and died during the voyage back to England by catching cold and receiving poor care from the ship's crew.

Notable people

Shreveport attorney Jackson B. Davis, who served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1956–1980, was born near Lecompte. One of Davis's state Senate colleagues, Cecil R. Blair of Rapides Parish, who served from 1960–1964 and 1966–1976, resided and operated a business in Lecompte.

State Representative Richmond C. Hathorn, in office from 1936 to 1940, resided in Lecompte.

The historian Sue Eakin, known for her editing of Twelve Years a Slave, was reared in the area and graduated from Lecompte High School.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway, a resident of nearby Forest Hill, was born in Lecompte in 1943.

Coushatta businessman and philanthropis Edgar Cason, formerly resided in Lecompte.

Jam Downs, the retiring district attorney of the 9th Judicial District Court in Alexandria, resides with his wife, Maureen, in a restored farmhouse in Lecompte.

See also

• James Madison Wells, 20th Governor of Louisiana