Enforcement Fire Department |
The Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s main office is located in the Parish Court House in Columbia and handles all of the criminal, civil and tax division operations, as well as police protection. There are 25 full-time deputies, with 11 cars providing 24-hour patrol throughout the parish. Caldwell Parish has five fire stations: one each in East Columbia, Columbia Heights, Columbia, Clarks and Kelly. There are approximately 50 volunteer firemen, most of whom have attended the LSU firefighting training course in Baton Rouge. There are 10 firetrucks. At the present there is no fire station in Grayson, but there will be one soon. The Town of Grayson has a $600,000 LCDBG for fire protection. The Columbia Eastside also has just been awarded a grant in the amount of $591,040 for up-grading fire protection on the east side of the Ouachita River. Fire protection is a major concern in rural areas and Caldwell Parish has made some huge strides in the last few years to provide our citizens with a greatly improved fire protection system. |
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The parish has two hospitals, eight clinics, eight doctors and two dentists. Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Columbia has 49 beds, while Citizenós Medical center boasts 40. The Columbia Heights Nursing Home provides 176 beds. In addition to the hospitals and clinics there are two home health services: Caldwell Home Health and Haven Home Health. Also there is the Caldwell Parish Health Unit. which is open Monday through Friday and offers the following services: Child Health Care and WIC, immunizations, physicals and doctor visits if needed, and WIC vouchers for eligible patients from birth to five years. The Columbia Mental Health Clinic provides counseling and chemotherapy programs. Also provided are hotline and intervention services sponsored by the Columbia/Winnsboro Mental Health Clinics Advisory Board. Med Express, which provides transportation anywhere approved by the welfare office is available through the Caldwell Parish Office of Family Support for those eligible. Ambulance service is provided by the Caldwell Parish Ambulance Service and offers emergency/ non-emergency transportation and care transportation. Appointments are necessary for non-emergency care. Also provided are educational programs within the medical field, such as CPR, Multi-media First Aid, etc. 911 service is not available at this time. |
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and Recreation |
Recreational facilities include: Caldwell Recreation Center, Riverton Lake Campgrounds, Cumptonós Marina, Columbia Park and Boat Dock, Lock and Dam Park and Boat Dock, Riverton Lake Boat Dock, Long Lake Boat Dock, and Brownville Park. Youth programs include a summer baseball program, scouting and 4-H programs. There are 5 baseball parks, 3 tennis courts, one swimming pool, a nine hole golf course and one Country Club. There are no theaters in the parish, but eight are available at Pecanland Mall in Monroe only 30 miles away. Historic buildings and other points of interest are a source of pride for residents and offer visitors a variety of things to see and do. Several plantation houses and churches provide a glimpse of 19th century culture. Some organized sports leagues are supported by millages. Caldwell Parish also has x public golf course and x community swimming pools. |
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Monroe, Louisiana is only 30 miles to the north with two regional shopping centers which have seen an explosion of retail activity in the past few years.
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Communications in the area include a daily newspaper, The Monroe News Star and two local weekly newspapers The Caldwell Watchman Progress and The News Journal. Metropolitan daily newspapers from Vicksburg, Ruston and Alexandria are also available in Caldwell Parish. There is one AM and one FM (KCTO) station in Columbia. Several other regional stations are available in Caldwell Parish. Television stations can be received from Monroe including three networks (ABC, CBS, ans NBC). Cable service is also available in the parish and provides up to 22 channels. |
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| Louisiana has a semitropical climate. Variations in daily temperature are determined by distance from the Gulf of Mexico and, to a lesser degree, by differences in elevation. The average annual temperature for the state as a whole is 67.4š. January is the coldest month averaging 50.7š, and July and August the warmest, averaging 82š. Caldwell Parish enjoys a complete seasonal cycle with pleasant spring and fall seasons. Winter months are usually mild with cold spells of short duration. Snowfall is less than 2" per year. The summer months are quite warm, with an average daily maximum temperature in July and August of 93 degrees. |
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The Caldwell Parish School System includes one senior high school, one junior high school and four elementary schools. There are several private schools in adjoining parishes to provide an alternative for students not attending public schools. All public schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary schools and the Louisiana Independent School Association. The ACT average score is 18.0 for the parishós schools. This is slightly below the regional average of 19.8 and national average of 20.6. Currently the percentages of graduating seniors attending college are 40.20% for the public schools. Annual cost in public funds to provide schooling is $2,732 per student, with a pupil-to teacher ratio of 16.51:1. Parish enrollment is approximately 1,866 students. |
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Vocational training is available at Delta-Ouachita Vocational-Technical Institute located in West Monroe, the Northeast Louisiana Vocational School, a state-funded facility in Monroe, and in the vocational program of the parish schools. Vocational training includes courses such as welding, auto mechanics, small engine repair, business, LPN nursing, machine shop, drafting and instrumentation. To assure that new and expanding businesses have a continuing pool of workers with the level of education and expertise necessary for their operations, the area’s colleges and universities, vocational/technical schools and high schools graduate trained and entry-level persons year round. Schools at all levels are augmenting their general education missions with programs explicitly connected with employment possibilities for their students. This is seen in secondary schools in career education curricula and programs such as adopt-a-school through which business contributes resources, curriculum guidance and, in some cases, instruction, counseling and the promise of jobs for graduates. Community colleges are increasing their industry-specific training and colleges and universities are developing partnerships with industry that involve human as well as technological development. |
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Education |
Within a two hour drive of Columbia are eight 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.
Northeast Louisiana University 30 miles Grambling University 60 miles Louisiana Tech 60 miles Louisiana State University -Shreveport 120 miles Centenary College 120 miles LSU Medical Center-Shreveport 120 miles Southern University-Shreveport/Bossier 120 miles |
| Although it is one of Louisiana's youngest institutions of higher learning (established in 1931), Northeast Louisiana University has grown rapidly into one of the South's premier universities. It typifies Louisianaós dedication to excellence in Higher Education. Some Facts: € Is the largest university in North Louisiana and the fourth largest public university in Louisiana, enrolling more than 10,000 students each year from every parish in Louisiana, more than 40 other states and 50 other countries. € Has a $340 million annual impact on the area's economy. € Its Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology have been ranked among the top two percent of more than 1,800 degree programs re- viewed by the state's Board of Regents. € NLU has the state's only School of Communication. Its programs have been ranked by the Board of Regents as being the best in North Louisiana, and among the top three in the state. NLU has the only photo-journalism program in the state. NLU is the only university in the state to offer degrees in Radio/Television/Film Management, Production, Performance, Film-making, and Broadcast News plus an Associate degree in Radio/Television/Film. € NLU has the first School of Construction in the nation to be accredited, the Computer Science program was the first in North Louisiana and one of the first 48 programs in the nation to earn accreditation, the Agricultural Aviation program is the first of its kind in the nation, the first undergraduate and graduate programs in Criminal Justice in the state, its Master's degree program in Substance Abuse Counseling is the only such program in Louisiana, the first Gerontology program and graduate-level Certificate in Gerontology in the state (one of only three). € Research and Service located at NLU: The Northeast Louisiana Regional Archaeologist of the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, The Office of State Director of Louisiana Small Business Development Center, The Regional Tumor Registry, The Cancer Research Center, The Museum of Zoology is ranked in the top five in the nation. The fishes collection is one of the largest and most complete collections in the nation. The Herbarium is the largest in the state and one of the fastest growing in the nation. € Research and services are provided through such programs as the Small Business Development Center the Center for Business and Economic Research, the Behavioral Economic Research Laboratory, the Human Performance Laboratory, the Marriage and Family Counseling Center, the Center for Professional Development, the Center for Research in Education, the Climatic Research Center, the Coal Lab, Continuing Education, the Soil-Plant Analysis Lab, the University Theatre, the Drug Information Center, the Institute of Gerontology, the NLU Concerts Association, the Dental Hygiene Clinic, the Senior Community Service Project, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Speech and Hearing Clinic, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Technical Services Center. |
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| ocated in Ruston only an hour from Columbia, Louisiana Tech was founded in 1894 and is the oldest university in North Louisiana. Associate, undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, Education, Engineering, Human Ecology, and Life Sciences. An international program offers classes in Italy and Mexico. The 10,000 plus students represent every parish in Louisiana, every state in America and 49 countries and give Tech the highest graduation rate in the state. The campus and the university are a source of pride, excitement and culture for all residents of Lincoln Parish. Techós value to the community goes way beyond its educational services. Area hospitals draw upon the international reputation of its Bio-Med Center. Research in other engineering disciplines works hand-in-hand with area businesses. The university offers a variety of facilities for use by convention groups. The university Concert Association brings outstanding entertainment to the parish every year. |
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| Founded by Charles P. Adams in 1901, Grambling State University is a multi-purpose, state-supported, coeducational institution The degree granting academic units include the Colleges of Liberal Arts, Science & Technology, Education, and Business; the Schools of Nursing and Social Work; and the Division of Graduate Studies. Preliminary training is available for medicine, law and dentistry. Non-credit continuing education programs serve the citizens of Grambling and North Louisiana. New Emphasis in Grambling Stateós Graduate School curriculum has been placed on the Ed.D. in Developmental Education, a unique offering in Louisiana. With an enrollment of Approximately 6000+, the University is small enough to provide its students with individual attention and concern, and large enough to offer them choices from a wide spectrum of curricular experiences. The guiding principles of the University embrace the motto that ³Everybody is Somebody²
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| Caldwell Parish enjoys an excellent parish-supported public library system. The library is located in Columbia, with a head librarian and a staff of six. Volumes in the library total in excess of 40,000, with approximately 120 new additions per month. The facilities offer reading and reference materials, such as periodicals, films and audio materials for all ages. The library offers summer reading programs and pre-school activities. A bookmobile serves outlaying communities in the parish on a regular basis. Grambling University and Louisiana Tech are located within an hour of Columbia. The large collections at the university libraries are available to parish residents. |
| Caldwell Parish is located in x Louisiana, approximately x air miles x of New Orleans. Caldwell is bordered on the north by x and x Parishes, on the east by xs and x Parishes, on the south by x and x Parishes, and on the West by x and x Parishes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highways |
From Caldwell Parish, a manufacturer can realistically expect third-day truckload service to major markets in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Within this 31-state area are 69 percent of the nationós population and 70 percent of its manufacturing plants. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This road is on the Federal Aid Primary program (FAP, 50ft. ROW with 24 ft. paved surface). To the north of Caldwell Parish this highway connects with I-20 in Monroe. It moves north through Bastrop into Arkansas toward Pine Bluff. To the south it connects the parish with Alexandria and I-10 in the southern part of the state. This highway is well used and maintained for commercial traffic toward I-20 and the southern part of the state. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This road is on the Federal Aid Secondary program (FAS, 50ft. ROW with 24 ft. paved surface). It winds through Columbia in the central portion of the parish toward the eastern and western borders of the state. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This road is on the Federal Aid Secondary program (FAS, 50ft. ROW with 24 ft. paved surface). Cuts diagonally through the parish from the west where it intersects with U. S. Highway 167, to the southeast where it intersects with U. S. Highway 84. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caldwell Parish is served by the Union Pacific Railroad. The tracks run north-south through the central portion of the parish. The Union Pacific Railroad, with 23,300 miles of trackage in a 19-state area, serves many of Americaós most important agricultural, industrial and distribution centers in the western two-thirds of the U. S. Rail rates in Louisiana for many commodities tend to be lower than those in the other states because of the competition from barge carriers. All lines handle a significant volume of containers, TOFC and carload traffic between Louisiana and most of mid-America. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Facilities |
Caldwell Parish and Columbia have a long tradition of being a river port. Packet boats or steamers plied the Ouachita river during the cotton boom of the early 1880s and their usefulness rose again during the late part of the century until railroads and highways began to appear in the area. Today Caldwell has a new port which can contribute significantly to the parishós economic potential. Cargo can be delivered by barge from Louisiana to all of mid-America via the 19,000 mile Mississippi River System. Louisiana also sits at the center of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway system that rims the northern Gulf of Mexico. Further, the state itself has 4,500 miles of navigable waterways served by 25 harbor and terminal districts, many of which can issue low-interest industrial revenue bonds to finance manufacturing and storage facilities. Also through the state there is a port construction and priority program that may assist in funding port facilities. |
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| Louisianaós lower Mississippi corridor is the leading port area in the world with a total annual tonnage of over 345 million tons. The port area stretches 230 miles inland on both banks of the river with more than 110,000 acres of large, affordable deepwater sites with barge and ship access. There are several campus-type industrial parks suitable for warehouse/distribution operations, offices, sales/service facilities and light manufacturing/assembly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caldwell Parish Airport, with a 3,500 foot paved, lighted runway, accommodates business jets. It is located just two miles from the downtown area of the city. The runway is lighted for night flying, fuel, storage and maintenance are available on premises. Monroe Regional Airport serves Northwest Louisiana with 4 airlines. It is only 30 miles from Ruston and accessible via U. S. Highway 165. Commercial carriers include American Eagle, Delta, LóExpress and Northwest Airlink. One of the two runways is 7,500 feet long, while the other is 5,000. Repair facilities and fuel are available. Sixty-eight Louisiana cities have hard-surfaced public airports, most with night landing capability. Another 250 private airports can accommodate light aircraft. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Delivery |
Nationwide passenger and parcel service are provided by Greyhound Bus Lines. United Parcel Service and Federal Express are available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carriers |
The following freight carriers service the area: SAIA Motor Freight Line, Roadway Express, Red Ball, Consolidated, Jones Truck Lines and Yellow Freight Lines.
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