Winnfield, Louisiana

Winnfield, Louisiana
City
Downtown Winnfield
Downtown Winnfield
Location of Winnfield in Winn Parish, Louisiana
Location of Winnfield in Winn Parish, Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 31°55′30″N 92°37′55″W / 31.92500°N 92.63194°W / 31.92500; -92.63194[2]
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishWinn
Government
 • TypeCity council/mayor
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.64 sq mi (9.43 km2)
 • Land3.64 sq mi (9.43 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
144 ft (44 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,153
 • Density1,140.4/sq mi (440.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
71483
Area code318
FIPS code22-82460
GNIS feature ID2405767[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Winnfield is a small city in, and the parish seat of, Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Winnfield had a population of 4,153.[3]

History

Stores in Winnfield, 1904
Courthouse, 1904

When Winn Parish was officially formed by the state legislature in 1852, Winnfield was established as the parish seat. During the Civil War, the area around Winnfield was the site of some minor skirmishes. Confederate forces defeated a Union detachment near Salsbury Bridge sent to destroy the Drake's Salt Works in the area.

Many Civil War bandits made the region their home. Among these were the West and Kimbrel clan.

Three Louisiana governors were Winnfield natives and grew up here: Huey Long, Oscar K. Allen and Earl Long. Huey Long became governor, U.S. Senator. He was assassinated in 1935. Oscar K. Allen was elected governor in 1932. Earl Long, "the Louisiana Longshot," served in a variety of state positions, said to be more than other Louisianan, including elective office. He was elected governor in 1939, 1948 and 1956. He was elected to Congress in 1960 but died before he could assume office.

Winnfield was a major producer of salt in the Civil War days; salt kettles used at Big Cedar and Drake's Salt Works furnished salt for the Confederate army. One still exists today in front of the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame, turned into a fountain. The salt works was located on Saline Bayou.[4] Later the Cary Salt Works started an 840-foot deep mine west of Winnfield. The mine was used by the federal government in Project Coyboy Plowshare Program, Cowboy Event. Between December 1959 and March 1960 a series of high explosives were set off inside the Carry Salt Works in an unused portion of the mine.[5][6][7] The mine was later flooded by an underground river. The mine and all equipment inside were abandoned.

The rock quarry operated near or on top of the salt mine and produced limestone and gravel still operates today as Winn Rock.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.6 km2), all land.

It is about a three hour traveling distance from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880133—
19102,925—
19202,9751.7%
19303,72125.1%
19404,51221.3%
19505,62924.8%
19607,02224.7%
19707,1421.7%
19807,3112.4%
19906,138−16.0%
20005,749−6.3%
20104,840−15.8%
20204,153−14.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

Racial and ethnic composition

Winnfield city, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,732 2,165 1,636 47.52% 44.73% 39.39%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,857 2,432 2,210 49.70% 50.25% 53.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 21 27 18 0.37% 0.56% 0.43%
Asian alone (NH) 9 17 4 0.16% 0.35% 0.10%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 2 0 0.00% 0.04% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 6 14 0.00% 0.12% 0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 64 66 143 1.11% 1.36% 3.44%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 66 125 128 1.15% 2.58% 3.08%
Total 5,749 4,840 4,153 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,153 people, 1,967 households, and 1,173 families residing in the city.

Economy

Winnfield City Hall

As of 2014, according to Bauer, Walmart, Winn Correctional Center, and the area lumber mill offer the majority of the jobs in the Winnfield area; because of the poverty in the area, residents are willing to take low-paying jobs at Winn Correctional Center despite the danger present there.[13]

Arts and culture

Museums

  • Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame

Annual events

  • Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials – a yearly bay dog event
  • Louisiana Forest Festival

Education

Public schools

Winn Parish School Board operates local public schools, which include:

  • Winnfield Senior High School (9–12)
  • Winnfield Middle School (5–8)
  • Winnfield Primary School (K–4)

Higher education

  • Central Louisiana Technical Community College — Huey P. Long campus

Media

Newspapers

  • The Piney Woods Journal
  • Winn Parish Enterprise
  • Winn Parish Journal

TV

  • KCDH-LP, cable only

Radio

  • KVCL-FM - country music

Infrastructure

Health Care

Winn Parish Medical Center is a 30-bed facility. it was founded in 1948.[14]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Winnfield, Louisiana
  3. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  4. ^ Davies, Greggory E. "1948 History of Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA". USGenWeb Archives.
  5. ^ Project Cowboy: Fracturing of rock salt by a contained high explosive. Ucrl ;6054. Lawrence Radiation Laboratory. 1960.
  6. ^ "Cowboy Trails. Phase I. Small-Scale Explosive Tests in Salt Domes. Part 1. Goals, Methods and Conclusions. Part 2. Experimental Program". November 19, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "Project Coyboy - Coyboy Event - Project Plowboy WinnFreeNet.com". winnfield.winnfreenet.com.
  8. ^ Bauer, Shane (June 2016). "My four months as a private prison guard". Mother Jones. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Winnfield city, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Winnfield city, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Winnfield city, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard: Part One ." Mother Jones. June 23, 2016. Retrieved on July 2, 2016. About 2:50 through 3:20 of 4:30.
  14. ^ "WPMC Hospital". Winn Parish Medical Center. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c "The City of Winnfield, Louisiana, Official website, Retrieved on February 10, 2009
  16. ^ Harley Bozeman obituary, Winn Parish Enterprise-News-American, May 20, 1971
  17. ^ Shanfelt, Eric (February 1, 2012). "Randy to the Rescue: TLC's Ultimage Bridal Event". New Orleans. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
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