Lecompte, Louisiana

Lecompte (/ləˈkaʊnt/) is a town in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Alexandria, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,227 at the 2010 census.

Lecompte, Louisiana
Town
Town of Lecompte
Lecompte Town Hall
Location of Lecompte in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 31°05′41″N 92°24′01″W
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Rapides
Government
• Mayor	Craig Phillips (No Party)
Area [1]
• Total	1.06 sq mi (2.75 km^2)
• Land	1.06 sq mi (2.75 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	69 ft (21 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,227
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	1,160
• Density	1,091.25/sq mi (421.23/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	318
FIPS code	22-42800

Lecompte calls itself "The Pie Capital of Louisiana".

Lea's Lunchroom is a popular restaurant in Lecompte.

Red River Bank in Lecompte

Bayou Boeuf in Lecompte

Geography

Lecompte is located at 31°5′28″N 92°24′1″W (31.091135, -92.400397).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), all land.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 71
• Louisiana Highway 112
• Louisiana Highway 457

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	1,058		—
1920	1,034		−2.3%
1930	1,247		20.6%
1940	1,311		5.1%
1950	1,443		10.1%
1960	1,485		2.9%
1970	1,518		2.2%
1980	1,661		9.4%
1990	1,592		−4.2%
2000	1,366		−14.2%
2010	1,227		−10.2%
2019 (est.)	1,160	[2]	−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,366 people, 516 households, and 330 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,344.8 people per square mile (517.1/km²). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 576.9 per square mile (221.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 24.96% White, 74.30% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 516 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,708, and the median income for a family was $23,897. Males had a median income of $22,361 versus $15,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,210. About 32.9% of families and 35.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 32.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

The town of Lecompte, Louisiana, was named after a famous race horse owned by the Wells family who lived on a plantation south of the town. The horse's name was LeComte. He won races at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. During the days of the Lecompte High School, the yearbook was named The LeComte with a picture of the horse on the first page. When the railroad company painted a sign for the town on the side of the train depot, a "p" was accidentally added to the name and it has remained there ever since. The horse was named after horse breeder Ambrose LeCompte who lived in the area and was a great lover of fine stock and owner of a fine string of race horses.

LeComte, the horse, was bought by an Englishman for an undisclosed large sum after winning a race, and died during the voyage back to England by catching cold and receiving poor care from the ship's crew.

Notable people

Shreveport attorney Jackson B. Davis, who served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1956 to 1980, was born near Lecompte. One of Davis's state Senate colleagues, Cecil R. Blair of Rapides Parish, who served from 1960 to 1964 and 1966–1976, resided and operated a business in Lecompte.

State Representative Richmond C. Hathorn, in office from 1936 to 1940, resided in Lecompte.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway, a resident of nearby Forest Hill, was born in Lecompte in 1943.[6]

Coushatta businessman and philanthropist Edgar Cason, formerly resided in Lecompte.

Jam Downs, the retiring district attorney of the 9th Judicial District Court in Alexandria, resides with his wife, Maureen, in a restored farmhouse in Lecompte.[7]

See also

• James Madison Wells, 20th Governor of Louisiana

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. Barone, Michael; and Ujifusa, Grant. The Almanac of American Politics 1988', p. 503. National Journal, 1987.
7. "Rick, Markway, "The Prosecutor: District Attorney James Crawford 'Jam' Downs"" (PDF). lwaa.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2013.