Ouachita County

As of the 2020 Census, Ouachita County, Louisiana has a population of approximately 160,368. The racial composition is 59.9% White, 34.6% Black or African American, 1.8% Asian, and 3.7% from other races. About 4.6% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. The median household income is around $42,513, and 22.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The county is home to several educational institutions and healthcare facilities, contributing to its diverse and dynamic community.

As of the most recent data, Ouachita County, LA, has a median home value of approximately $156,000. The median rent is around $875 per month. The homeownership rate stands at about 55%, with roughly 45% of the population renting. There are around 65,000 housing units in the county, with a vacancy rate of approximately 13%. The median household income is around $43,000, contributing to overall housing affordability in the region.

As of the most recent data available in 2023, Ouachita County, Louisiana, holds elections for various local, state, and federal positions. In the 2022 elections, notable races included those for the Parish President, School Board, and various judicial positions.

Parish President candidates:

1. Shane Smiley
2. Scotty Robinson

School Board races usually feature multiple candidates across several districts. For example, District A had three candidates:

1. Bill Willson (incumbent)
2. Lori Engler
3. James Wheeler

Turnout statistics indicate an engaged electorate, with the voter turnout around 52% for recent general elections. Specific breakdowns for candidates' votes are typically published post-election by the Ouachita Parish Registrar of Voters.

For up-to-date and detailed information, including the current candidate lists and numerical results, please refer to the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court’s office or their official website.

As of the most recent data, Ouachita Parish (county), Louisiana exhibits the following education statistics:

• High school graduation rate: Approximately 88.5%
• Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and older): Around 24.3%

In comparison to national and state averages:

• National high school graduation rate: About 90%
• National percentage with a bachelor's degree or higher: Approximately 32.1%
• Louisiana's high school graduation rate: Roughly 86.5%
• Louisiana's percentage with a bachelor's degree or higher: Around 24.5%

Ouachita Parish's high school graduation rate is slightly below the national average but above the state average. The percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree is lower than both the national and state averages. This illustrates that while the parish performs moderately well at the secondary education level, higher education attainment remains a challenge compared to broader benchmarks.

As of the latest data, Ouachita County, Louisiana, has a civilian labor force of approximately 70,000 individuals. The employment rate is 54%, with the unemployment rate hovering around 6%, which is slightly higher than the national average of approximately 5%. The top industries in Ouachita County include healthcare and social assistance (which employs around 20% of the workforce), retail trade (15%), and educational services (12%).

Comparatively, Louisiana as a whole also sees healthcare (14%) and retail trade (12%) as prominent sectors, but with slight variances in their proportions. Nationally, healthcare and social assistance (16%) and retail trade (10%) are significant employment sectors.

This comparison highlights that Ouachita County has a notably higher reliance on healthcare and retail trade industries than both state and national averages, indicating a localized economic structure with robust service-based sectors.

As of the latest available data, the average household income in Ouachita County, Louisiana is approximately $47,000. In comparison, the median household income in the United States stands at roughly $68,700, while the state average for Louisiana is about $51,073.

Statistics Table

This indicates that the average household income in Ouachita County is lower than both the state and national averages. The economic disparity may reflect regional differences in industry, education, and employment opportunities.

As of the most recent data available, Ouachita County, LA, has varied crime rates across different categories. Here's a summary with numerical values expressed per 100,000 residents:

These rates indicate a particularly high incidence of property crimes. Efforts to improve community safety continue through local law enforcement initiatives and community programs.