Sample Project (I used several parishes to

demonstrate; Remember, you will be using only one parish)

Melinda BotelerNovember 9, 2010

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Webster Parish

Parish Seat: Minden

Map of Parish

Natural Resources• Products Produced in Parish: Forestry, Poultry, Horses, and Hay• Number of Parishes that Produce Resources:

-Forestry: 62 parishes; Top Producer: Winn Parish

-Poultry: 24 parishesTop Producer: Tensas Parish

-Horses: 64 parishesTop Producer: Bossier Parish

-Hay: 50 parishesTop Producer: Webster Parish

II. Government of Caldwell Parish• Type of Government: Police Jury• Parish President: District 3:Jeffrey Wyant• Vice President, District 1:Buddy Bailes• Parish Police Juror, District 5:Jerry Bailey• Parish Police Juror, District 4:Eddie Hearns• Parish Police Juror, District 7:Denis Jacobson• Police Juror, District 2:Bobby Ryan• Parish Police Juror, District 6:Roy Smith

• State Congressmen: Noble E.Ellington, District 20

• State Senator: Norby Chabert• Sheriff: Stephen May• U.S. Senator of Louisiana: Mary Landrieu and

David Vitter• U.S. House of Representative: Rodney

Alexander, District 5

III. History of Tensas Parish• Early Settlers

Tensas Parish dates back to early times of 1000 A.D. when Flowery Mound was built by Native Americans. The Tensas first encountered Europeans with Hernando DeSoto’s expedition in 1540. However, LaSalle, the founder of Louisiana, first mentions the Tensas. Along with LaSalle’s group was a man named De Montigny, who settled among the Tensas as a missionary. The Tensas natives eventually left their area on the Mississippi due to fear of an attack from the Yazoo and Chickasaw Indians in 1706.

There was little settlement due to the fact that across the Mississippi River were the Natchez Indians, who were hostile with the French. After the United States purchased Louisiana, American settlers moved in to the area along the Tensas River. They included Ezra and Thomas Marble, John Perkins, David Huffman, Abraham Insco, Robert Coderman, John Barney, Mosses and G.W. Graves, Ehileab Smith, Gibson C. Bettis, Sr. and James Douglas.In 1861, Tensas Parish was created from parts of Concordia and Madison parishes.

Major Historical Events• Civil War:

In April 1862, Governor Thomas Overton Moore of Louisiana realized New Orleans was going to fall to the Union. He ordered the destruction of all cotton in areas along the river. Tensas Parish burned thousands of bales of cotton for days. Tensas Parish was the second leading producer of cotton in the state of Louisiana. By 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant set up his winter headquarters in Tensas Parish while planning his attack on Vicksburg.

• 1864: Confederate Captain Joseph C. Lea and his guerrilla force seized a Federal fort under the command of Colonel Alfred W. Eller. Lea attacked the fortification driving the Union to the Mississippi River in retreat. Lea was able to seize a federal warehouse of gunpowder, groceries, and medical supplies, which he promptly sent to Shreveport for the Confederates.

• 1964: 15 African Americans were permitted to register to vote. Tensas Parish was the last parish to permit African Americans to vote.

• 1965: Voters Rights Act of 1965: Large numbers of Tensas Parish African Amerians began registering to vote. They were staunchly Democratic voters.

Name of the Parish

• The parish is named for the ancient Native American tribe the Tensas Indians. The tribe dates back to 1000 A.D. where a trading center existed. This is now called Flowery Mound. The Tensas later leave the area for Mobile due to war with the Yazoo and Chickasaw Indians. Later they moved to the Red River area to avoid the English in Florida. The tribe has since disappeared believed to have blended with the Chitimacha Indians.

Festival/Event of Richland

• Southern Pickin and Ginnin Festival: A family festival that features games for all ages. Many young ladies become a member of the Cotton Blossoms, who serve as liasons between the board and the community.

• Swampstock: Country singer Tim McGraw hosts this charity softball game and concert series to raise money for Little League baseball and softball.

Major Cities of Richland

• Delhi• Mangham• Rayville• Start

Colleges/Universities

• DeVry University• Louisiana Technical College

Famous People

• Tim McGraw: This country singer and movie star was born in Delhi, Louisiana and raised in Start, Louisiana , which are both in Richland Parish. He is the son of the late baseball icon Tug McGraw and Elizabeth Ann. McGraw attended Northeast Louisiana University on a baseball scholarship. He later left to pursue his music career.

Richland Parish, Louisiana

Richland Parish, Louisiana