| 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 Antonia, Bagdad, Bentley, Breezy Hill, Faircloth, Fairfield, Fairmont, Farmland, Fishville, Hargis, Howcott, Iatt, Kadesh, Kateland, Lincecum, Lutes, McNeely, Mudville, New Verda, Nugent, Oak Grove, Prospect, Raven Camp, Rochelle, Rock Hill, Sand Spur, Selma, Simms, Stay, Summerfield, The Rock, Thompson Ferry, Veneer, Williana and Zion. |
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History | |
| 1542 |
The recorded history of central Louisiana begins with its exploration by the Spaniard Hernando Desoto in 1542. He is said to have captured and held Indian hostages in the area to gain food for his impoverished band of explorers. He probably died in May of that year near Ferriday in Concordia Parish. |
| 1700 |
Bienville, who established New Orleans and St. Denis, who started a settlement at Natchitoches were the next European explorers in the area about 1700. |
| 1805 |
When the Territory of Orleans is divided into counties the present-day Grant Parish is divided between Natchitoches County and Rapides County |
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1812 |
Following the Louisiana Purchase and statehood in 1812, there was a mass influx of Americans of Anglo-Saxon Heritage from Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. Land grants along the river were in great demand and the western part of the parish grew first. Since the early history of the parish, the chief factors influencing its growth have been its streams, waterways, pine forests, and its strategic location at the "crossroads of Louisiana." Early industries in Grant Parish were tobacco, indigo, cotton and sugar, with markets in Montgomery and Pineville. While cotton was the most successful crop, it declined in world markets during the mid-1800s. |
| 1864 |
The Civil War was devastating to the economy of the area, leaving it depleted of men, crops, capital, domestic animals and buildings. Federal forces moved through the area in the Spring of 1864 in attempt to capture the state capital which had been moved to Shreveport after the fall of New Orleans. |
| 1869 |
In 1869 Winn Parish gave up part of its original area for the formation of a new southern neighbor, Grant Parish. The parish, formed from portions of Winn Parish on the north and Rapides Parish on the south, bears the name of the general and president, Ulysses S. Grant. After the end of Reconstruction the Bourbonist government created a need for organizations among farmers. The first farmer's union was established in Montgomery and soon spread throughout north and central Louisiana. |
| 1890 |
Beginning around 1890, Grant Parish attracted many lumber companies, creating towns and logging camp communities. The St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad was built through the parish in that year through the influence of Jay Gould and his interest in the potential of the forests. The growing, manufacturing and marketing of timber, in all its forms, is still one of the principal occupations in the parish. |
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Lake Nantachie Little River Red River |
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The Grant Parish School System includes two senior high schools (grades 9-12), one high school (K-12), two junior high schools (7-8) and three elementary schools (K-6). All public and private schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary schools and the Louisiana Independent School Association. Annual cost in public funds to provide schooling is $2,668 per student, with a pupil-to teacher ratio of 17.17:1. |
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There are three state-funded vocational-technical schools in the area located in nearby parishes. Training is available at the Huey P. Long Memorial Trade School in Winnfield and its branch in Jena (LaSalle Parish), Alexandria Regional Technical Institute and Natchitoches Technical Institute. Vocational training includes 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 an hour and a half drive of x are eleven major 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. Among these institutions are those receiving national recognition for their schools of law, medicine and engineering as well as fine arts curriculum. Louisiana State University -Shreveport 100 miles Grambling University 100 miles Louisiana Tech 100 miles Northwestern State University 40 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 110 miles |
Director - Doris Lively 300 Main St. Colfax, LA 71417-1830 Email - 1 Branch - Georgetown, 1 Bookmobile Grant Parish enjoys an excellent parish-supported public library system. The library headquarters is located in Colfax, with a head librarian and a staff of five, and a branch is located in Pollock. Volumes in the library total in excess of 35,000, with approximately 86 new additions per month. The collection also includes over 120 periodical titles and many audio-visual resources. The facilities offer reading and reference materials for all ages. A bookmobile serves other areas of the parish. American Library Directory 1999-2000, R. R. Bowker |
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