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Ferriday, Louisiana

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File:Ferridaykdundy.jpg

Ferriday is a town in Concordia Parish in northeastern Louisiana, United States. The population, which is three-fourths African American, was 3,723 at the 2000 census.

Ferriday claims to have produced more famous people per square mile than any other American small town. This statement intrigued author Elaine Dundy who probed that phenomenon while profiling both celebrities and townsfolk in her book, Ferriday, Louisiana, published by E. P. Dutton in 1991.[1]

Ferriday played a role in the promotion of blues music through the Haney's Big House lounge in the African American community. Almost every Delta Blues Musician played at Haney's. The Delta Music Museum in the downtown historic district is open daily to visitors, many of whom come from out-of-state. It is located next to the restored Arcade Theater. The museum contains exhibits on Ferriday natives, some of whom were blues, rock, pop, and country musicians.

Ferriday is represented by churches of several major denominations, including a large Pentecostal congregation south of town on LA 15 as well as Baptist, Assembly of God, and Presbyterian, and Catholic.

Ferriday welcoming sign on LA 15
Downtown Ferriday on August 1, 2008
Downtown green space in Ferriday across from Delta Music Museum

Geography

Ferriday is located at 31°37′50″N 91°33′24″W / 31.63056°N 91.55667°W / 31.63056; -91.55667 (31.630539, -91.556749).Template:GR It is 5 miles and 8 miles from the famous oxbow lakes of Concordia, and St. John, famous for recreation and professional Bass fishing.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), all being land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,723 people, 1,350 households, and 918 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,220.7 people per square mile (855.6/km²). There were 1,498 housing units at an average density of 893.5 per square mile (344.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 24.09% White, 74.89% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 1,350 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 76.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $14,732, and the median income for a family was $18,636. Males had a median income of $23,654 versus $16,725 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,767. About 40.7% of families and 47.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 70.2% of those under age 18 and 25.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Concordia Parish School Board serves Ferriday. Ferriday High School is a light-colored brick structure off LA 15. Its sports teams are known as The Trojans. To the right rear of the high school is the Concordia Parish Library.

In a middle-class residential area of north Ferriday on Jerry Lee Lewis Avenue is the private Huntington High School, first established for all grades in 1970, with the arrival of school desegregation to the remaining segregated districts. The Huntington sports teams are known as the Hounds. Former State Representative Bryant Hammett graduated from Huntington in 1974. Former Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater was a graduate of the founding class. Publisher Sam Hanna was among its first directors. Huntington is now closed and no longer operates.


Notable people

References

  1. ^ Dundy, Elaine. Ferriday, Louisiana.
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