| Communities | Economy | History / Markers | Local Government |
| Location / Geography | Media | Parks and Recreation | Schools and Libraries |
| Parish Map | Top of page | ||
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Unincorporated areas of interest in the parish include Brewton's Mill, Chester, Cold Water, Couley, Colgrade, Crews, Currey, Flat Creek, Gaar's Mill, Gansville, Hickory Valley, Hudson, Jordan Mill, Joyce, Moore, Packton, Mt. Zion, Pine Ridge, Ringwood, St. Maurice, Sardis, Tannehill, Union Hill and Wheeling. |
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Kisatchie National Forest - Catahoula Ranger District Kisatchie National Forest - Winn Ranger District Northwest Louisiana Fish and Game Preserve |
Red River Saline Bayou Saline Lake |
Caledonia Tison Long St. Maurice |
History | |
| Prehistory |
Indians of the Pascagoula and Choctaw tribes as well as bands of the Tunicas had found that the rivers and forests of this parish were very pleasant and profitable hunting and fishing grounds. Many years before this country was actually surveyed, French settlers had founded colonies on Red River and Saline Bayou. St. Maurice, a small community in the southwest corner of the parish was one of the earliest French settlements and in time became an important boat landing on the Red River. |
| 1763 |
The Coochie Brake, a rock escarpment about five miles west of Atlanta in Winn Parish, was the site of a Spanish fort between 1763 and 1801 and may have been a warehouse of silver mined in Mexico and shipped overland by mule to the Mississippi River. |
| 1803 |
The Natchez Trace, the oldest road in Louisiana, was in continuous use by white men and its route through the parish provided the main springboard for permanent settlement and growth. These English speaking settlers were attracted by the hunting and fishing, but also by the excellent pasture lands for hogs and cattle. This was a much traveled route across the southern part of the United States and was the vital connecting link in the commerce between the eastern part of the eastern states and Texas and Mexico. Waves of migration from the southeastern part of the United States along this great midland route began in 1803, the year of the Louisiana Purchase, and reached its high peak in the 1830s and 1840s |
| 1805 |
When the Territory of Orleans is divided into counties the present-day Winn Parish is part of Natchitoches County. |
| 1826 |
Maurice Plantation on the Red River in Winn Parish, is built on the site of an original land grant to Ignatio Sequin by Denis Fort. Owned by William Prothro family, 1846-1856. Purchased by Dr. David H Boullt in 1856. Later owned by E.W. Teddlie family it is restored in 1871. |
| 1851 |
Winn Parish was officially created by the state legislature in 1851 from lands originally belonging to the bordering parishes of Rapides, Natchitoches and Catahoula. Official organization was completed in 1852. In 1869 Winn Parish gave up part of its original area for the formation of a new southern neighbor, Grant Parish. Winnfield, the parish seat since its organization is located in the geographical center of the parish. Some debate still continues about the naming of the parish. Was it named after Richard O. Winn, the representative who sponsored the legislation to establish the parish or was it named after Winnfield Scott, a hero of the war with Mexico? Original documents show that the original legislation named the new parish Dugdemona after the river that traverses its borders. |
| 1861 |
When the state seceded from the Union in 1861, Winn Parish briefly seceded from Louisiana and became ³the Free State of Winn.² During the Civil War the parish was the site of some minor skirmishes. Confederate forces defeated a Union detachment sent to destroy the salt works in the area. After the war bandits roamed the Natchez Trace that ran through the parish. Among the worst were the West and Kimbrill Clan whose membership briefly included Frank and Jesse James. Several of these gangs were captured or wiped out by government troops in the parish. |
| 1900 |
Beginning around 1900, Winn Parish attracted many lumber companies, creating towns and logging camp communities. Although the virgin timber was depleted about 20 years later, a program of reforestation was quickly begun. The growing, manufacturing and marketing of timber, in all its forms, is still one of the principal occupations in the parish. The year 1900 was also the beginning of a new era for the agricultural interests of Winn Parish. In that year the Arkansas Southern Railroad was built from Ruston to Winnfield, being attracted by the increasing importance of lumber interests. Shortly afterward the Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad was constructed from Minden to Winnfield, helping to establish it as a railway center. |
| 1928 |
Winn Parish has been the home of many men who have figured prominently in political affairs in both state and nation. In 1928, Huey P. Long, a native son, was elected governor of the state and the political spotlight was thrown on this north Louisiana parish. O. K. Allen and Earl K. Long are two other state governors who came from Winn Parish. |
| 1930 |
Oil was discovered in the parish in the early 1930s, and with it a huge salt dome five miles west of Winnfield. These industries also provided an incentive for growth. |
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The Winn Parish School System includes three rural high schools (grades K-12) at Atlanta, Calvin and Dodson, as well as a primary school (grades K-8) at Sikes. In Winnfield itself, the public schools are separated according to grade including a kindergarten, primary school (grades 1-3) intermediate school (grades 4 & 5), middle school (grades 6-8) and Winnfield Senior High School (grades 9-12). All public schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary schools and the Louisiana Independent School Association. Currently the percentages of graduating seniors attending college are 50.54%. Annual cost in public funds to provide schooling is $2,864 per student, with a pupil-to teacher ratio of 16.33:1. |
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| Vocational training is available at the Huey P. Long Memorial Trade School, a state-funded facility in Winnfield. It offers training to anyone 16 years of age or older with a desire to learn saleable skills. The self-paced instructional programs that average from 9 to 24 months include air conditioning-refrigeration, automotive technician, carpentry, account clerk, information processor secretarial, stenographic, practical nursing and welding. Special programs are provided for the development of basic academic and employability skills. | |
Education |
Within two hourËs drive of Winnfield are eleven colleges or universities. Five of these offer doctoral degrees in the arts, sciences, engineering, medical and legal fields. These universities are nationally and internationally recognized as sponsoring extensive research activities. Louisiana State University -Shreveport 100 miles Louisiana State University -Alexandria 50 miles Grambling University 50 miles Louisiana Tech 48 miles Northwestern State University 30 miles Centenary College 100 miles Baptist Christian College 100 miles LSU Medical Center-Shreveport 100 miles Southern Univ.-Shreveport/Bossier 100 miles Bossier Parish Community College 100 miles Northeastern State University 60 miles |
| Winn Parish enjoys an excellent parish-supported public library system. The library headquarters is located in Winnfield, with a head librarian and a staff of eight. Volumes in the library total in excess of 75,000, with approximately 395 new additions per month. The facilities offer reading and reference materials for all ages. Branches are located in Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson and Sikes |
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Education |
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Director - Mary Doherty 205 W. Main St. Winnfield, LA 71483-2718 Email - wnlibl@coes.latech.edu 4 Branches - Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson, Sikes American Library Directory 1999-2000, R. R. Bowker |
