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Allen Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Oberlin and As of 2000, the population was 25,440. Allen Parish is in southwestern Louisiana, southwest of Alexandria. it is named for former Confederate States Army general and Governor of Louisiana Henry Watkins Allen.
Former Superintendent of Education William J. "Bill" Dodd (1909-1991) taught at Oakdale High School in Allen Parish in the late 1930s. There, he met his wife, the former Verone Ford (1917-2005), who was a student in his class. Another of Dodd's students was future Louisiana Treasurer Mary Evelyn Dickerson Parker. Allen Parish elected Dodd to the state legislature in 1940. From that point forward, he was a major player in Louisiana politics.
William J. "Bill" Dodd, Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics, Baton Rogue: Claitor's Publishing, 1991
Geography
The parish has a total area of 1,983 km² (766 mi²). 1,980 km² (764 mi²) of it is land and 3 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.15%) is water.
Adjacent parishes
- Vernon Parish (northwest)
- Rapides Parish (northeast)
- Evangeline Parish (east)
- Jefferson Davis Parish (south)
- Beauregard Parish (west)
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 25,440 people, 8,102 households, and 5,930 families residing in the parish. The population density was 13/km² (33/mi²). There were 9,157 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (12/mi²). The racial makeup of the parish was 71.90% White, 24.60% Black or African American, 1.72% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,102 households out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% 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 3.12.
In the parish the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 126.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.50 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $27,777, and the median income for a family was $33,920. Males had a median income of $32,371 versus $17,154 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,101. About 17.90% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.60% of those under age 18 and 21.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities, towns, and villages
"Allen Parish, Louisiana"