Elton, Louisiana

Elton, Louisiana
Town
Location of Elton in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°28′51″N 92°41′47″W
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Jefferson Davis
Government
• Mayor	Roger D. "Tony" Laughlin (D)
Area
• Total	1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2)
• Land	1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	49 ft (15 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,128
• Estimate  (2019)	1,141
• Density	686.94/sq mi (265.24/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	337
FIPS code	22-23620

Elton is a town in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,128 at the 2010 census, down from 1,261 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The wife of pioneer settler J. M. Henderson is said to have chosen the name "Elton" for her home town from a book in which she read of an English town named Elton. That was probably the town on the northwest coast of England in County Durham near Middlesbrough. Elton, Louisiana, was incorporated as a village in 1911.

Geography

Elton is in northeast Jefferson Davis Parish and is bordered to the north by Allen Parish. U.S. Route 190 passes through the town, leading east 16 miles (26 km) to Eunice and west 9 miles (14 km) to Kinder. Jennings, the Jefferson Davis Parish seat, is 26 miles (42 km) to the south of Elton via Louisiana Highway 26.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Elton has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	995		—
1930	742		−25.4%
1940	901		21.4%
1950	1,434		59.2%
1960	1,595		11.2%
1970	1,598		0.2%
1980	1,450		−9.3%
1990	1,277		−11.9%
2000	1,261		−1.3%
2010	1,128		−10.5%
2019 (est.)	1,141		1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,261 people, 489 households, and 342 families residing in the town. The population density was 765.1 people per square mile (295.1/km²). There were 574 housing units at an average density of 348.3 per square mile (134.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.83% White, 39.10% African American, 2.06% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 489 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,384, and the median income for a family was $28,359. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $16,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,713. About 26.6% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.8% of those under age 18 and 23.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Jefferson Davis Parish Public Schools operates public schools in Elton. Schools serving Elton, within Elton, include Elton Elementary School (PK-6) and Elton High School (6-12).

Jefferson Davis Parish Library operates the Elton Branch at 813 Main Street.

Notable People

• Al Woods- American football player for the Seattle Seahawks
• Leo Thomas - The Bull