Town of ARCADIA

Arcadia is the seat of Bienville Parish, but was not its first seat of government. The legislative act that created the parish in 1848 stipulated that the courthouse should be located in the center of the parish. An 80 acre tract of land was purchased at the United States Land Office for that purpose. The community, which was called Sparta, was doomed from the start because of its location. It was located on a deep patch of sand, the water nearby was contaminated and mosquitoes were a perpetual menace. It was located far from any navigable water and the farmland was the poorest in the parish. When the railroads were built through the parish they were far from Sparta.

Another legislative act in 1892 forced an election to decide the fate of the parish seat. After two ballots Arcadia was selected. Although the election was not contested groups of men from different communities conspired to seize the parish records. On a dark night in January of 1983 the men of Arcadia made the first move and stole the Bienville Parish Courthouse.

Equidistant on the railroad from Monroe and Shreveport, Arcadia was an excellent choice for distribution and marketing for the parish. It had been on area mail routes since the mid-1830s. Its location today on Interstate 20 and U. S. Highway 80 has helped it thrive.

The first settlers came to the area in the late 1840s. By 1853 the first store was opened and the post office that was established was christened Arcadia after a mountainous region of Greece. When the railroad finally came through in 1883 the town became a trade center for cotton growing and ginning as well as cotton-oil manufacturing and lumber, Since then oil and natural gas, dairying and poultry raising and other industries have been established there.

On May 23, 1934 an event occurred that put Arcadia on the front page of newspapers across the nation. Clyde Barrow and his woman companion Bonnie Parker were killed by six law officers in a carefully laid trap. They had been on the trail of the outlaws for six months, over ten thousand miles, numerous hold ups and at least twelve murders.

Type of Government: Mayor and Bd. of Alderman (5) Lawrason Act
Police: 6 officers.
Fire Department: 25 vol.
Fire Rating: 6 in city.
Health Care: Bienville General Hospital
Hotels: 2 (51 rooms)
Recreation and Culture: Bonnie and Clyde Trade Days, Arcadia Depot Museum.