Ouachita Parish History and Information

Ouachita Parish was created on March 31, 1807. It is one of the 19 parishes, which were created by dividing the Territory of New Orleans. The parish was named in honor of the Ouachita Native American people . The Parish seat is Monroe . See History of the Courthouse for more info.

It is borderd by Union Parish (north), Morehouse Parish (northeast), Richland Parish (east), Caldwell Parish (south), Jackson Parish (southwest), Lincoln Parish (west) . Cites, Towns and Communities include Brownsville-Bawcomville, Claiborne, Monroe, Richwood, Swartz, West Monroe . Unincorporated areas of interest in the parish include Anabel, Bawcomville, Breard, Bosco, Brownville, Cadeville, Carlton, Calhoun, Chiniere, Cobb, Cypress, Deloach, Dicard, Erco, Eureka, Fairbanks, Fondale, Forksville, Fowler, Frizzel Spur, Frost Town, Guthrie, Guyton, Hancock, Indian Village, Lamkin, Lapine, Logtown, Luna, Magenta, McLain, Milhaven, Okaloosa, Perryville, Pine Grove, Pleasant Valley, Rilla, Shops, Sterlington Station, Steven, Summit, Swartz, Tama, Watts, Wham and Wilds.
The Official County Website is located at http://www.oppj.org/ . See Extended History for More information.

• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana History Books at Amazon.com
• Search Historical Newspapers from Louisiana (1805 - 1985) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 125 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in more than 500,000 issues of over 2,500 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.

Parish Court Records

See Also Louisiana Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. In April of 1864, Yankee gunboats partially destroyed the second courthouse. In 1882 the third courthouse was destroyed by fire..

Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court has Court Records from 1807, Land Records from 1807, Probate Records from 1807 and Marriage Records from 1807 and is located at 300 Saint John Street, Monroe, LA 71201, P O Box 1862, Monroe, LA 71210, (318) 327-1444, (318) 327-1462 Fax .

The Clerk of Court for each parish in Louisiana performs the functions of more than one office. As the Recorder, the office of the Clerk of Court receives, files, records and indexes all mortgages, conveyances and all other instruments recorded in the Public Records for the Parish. The Clerk’s Office receives and files all pleadings, such as petitions, answers, motions and other filings in Civil and Probate matters, as well as indictments, bills of information and other filings in Criminal matters. The Clerk’s Office also handles special Juvenile matters and Criminal Neglect cases. Another function of the Clerk’s Office is the issuance of Marriage Licenses and recording their returns after the marriages are performed.

You may also search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which does cover Louisiana and does cover surrounding states. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Court Records. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Records of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans Division: Petitions, 1838-1861(The National Archives): NARA P2233. Naturalization records in this publication include petitions and oaths for new citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1838 to 1861. Included here are petitions for naturalization and oaths by petitioners and two witnesses. Occasionally, declarations of intention filed in other courts are included. Each document contains the name and residence of the petitioner, country of birth, city and date of arrival, and names of the witnesses
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Court Books at Amazon.com
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

Parish Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Louisiana

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Vital Records Registry Office of Public Health, 325 Loyola Avenue, P.O. Box 60630. New Orleans, LA 70160; Tel: 504-568-5150 504- 568-5152 (automated) is the repository for all Louisiana Birth Certificates less than 101 years old and all Louisiana Death Certificates less than 51 years old. Existing records of births which occurred in Louisiana more than 100 years ago or deaths which occurred more than 50 years ago are maintained by the Louisiana State Archives. They have the following records:

---

• Birth Certificates: State office has had records since July 1914. Birth records for city of New Orleans are available from 1892. Death records are available since 1942. Older birth, death, and marriage records are available through the Louisiana State Archives, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
  • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $15.00. Fees must be remitted by personal check, money order or Credi/Debit Card Online for the exact amount at the time the order is placed. No credit cards are accepted except online. If the record is not on file, one fee is retained to cover the expense of the search. Please do not send cash in the mail
  • Processing Time: 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order Online Below
• Death Certificates: Under Louisiana law, death records are strictly confidential until 50 years after the year of death. Death records older than 50 years are available at the Louisiana State Archives.
  • Cost: The cost of a death record is $7.00. Fees must be remitted by personal check, money order or Credi/Debit Card Online for the exact amount at the time the order is placed. No credit cards are accepted except online. If the record is not on file, one fee is retained to cover the expense of the search. Please do not send cash in the mail
  • Processing Time: 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order Online Below
• Marriage Certificates: Orleans Parish records only from Vital Records Registry or the Louisiana State Archives. For other parishes, certified copies are available from the Clerk of the Court in the parish where the license was issued
• Divorce Certificates: Divorce records are available from Clerk of Court in parish where divorce was granted. Fees vary. Call Civil District Court, (504) 592-9100
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

---

Order By Mail: SUBMIT APPLICATION, COPY OF STATE OR FEDERAL PHOTO ID AND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Please do not send cash in the mail. IF NO RECORD IS FOUND, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AND FEES WILL BE RETAINED FOR THE SEARCH PER R.S. 40:40. See LOUISIANA VITAL RECORDS REGISTRY OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS SERVICE FEES for current cost of all documents.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Louisiana newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased
• Louisiana Marriages, 1718-1925: This database is an index to over 570,000 individuals who were married in Louisiana between 1734 and 1935. This index was compiled from courthouse marriage licenses from various Louisiana parishes. Please note that not every parish is included in this index
• Louisiana Marriages to 1850: This database of Louisiana marriages to 1850 contains over 29,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked
• Louisiana Marriage Records, 1851-1900: Although official vital records registration began for Louisiana in 1914, many parishes kept records long before that date. This update adds the records for Bienville, Caldwell, Jackson, and Ouachita parishes to those of Bossier, Lincoln, and Sabine for the years 1851 through 1900. Each entry lists, at a minimum, spouses' names and the date of the marriage
• Louisiana Statewide Death Index, 1900-1949: This database is a statewide death index for Louisiana between the years 1900-1949
• New Orleans, Louisiana Birth Records Index, 1790-1899: This database is an index to birth records for New Orleans (which is coextensive with Orleans Parish) between the years 1790-1899
• New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925: This database is an index to marriage records for New Orleans (which is coextensive with Orleans Parish) between the years 1831-1925
• New Orleans, Louisiana Death Records Index, 1804-1949: This database is an index to death records for New Orleans (which is coextensive with Orleans Parish) between the years 1804-1949
• New Orleans Deaths, 1840-1970: Taken from small local newspapers, some published over a century ago, this database lists deaths for over 2700 residents of the area between 1840 and 1970
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

Parish Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Louisiana

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Parishwide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Ouachita Parish, Louisiana are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Statewide Records that exist for Louisiana are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. After the 1803 purchase of Louisiana it became an American possession; therefore, the first federal census report taken for the state was 1810.

Caution should be used particularly with the AIS indexes for Louisiana. Many of the French and Spanish names were transcribed wrong and numerous omissions exist. Many of these population schedules have been published. See Louisiana Census Records. Volume I: Avoyelles and St. Landry Parishes, 1810 and 1820 & Louisiana Census Records. Volume II: Iberville, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, and Rapides Parishes, 1810 and 1820 by Robert Bruce L. Ardoin & The Census Tables for the French Colony of Louisiana from 1699 Through 1732 by Charles R. Maduell, Jr. These books are on 1 Family Archive CD

As early as 1860 the federal government began attempts to identify Native Americans. In 1900 and 1910 it created a special Indian schedule. The first page was the same as the population census only it had “Indian Population” as its heading. The second page provided for such important information as: tribal affiliation, the tribe of each parent, the person's Indian blood quantum, and—if not full blooded —their precise racial mixture. These schedules will be found at the end of the ward or district in which the Native American resided.

There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Census Records. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

Parish Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Louisiana and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Louisiana showing all the parish boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in parish boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Louisiana showing all the parish boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in parish boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Maps. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Maps by clicking the link below:

• Louisiana Digital Map Library
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Map Books at Amazon.com
• Louisiana State Museum Map Database
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Military Records

See Also Military Records in Louisiana

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Military Records. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Louisiana (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Louisiana (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Louisiana (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from Louisiana units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier
• Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of Louisiana (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations
• Louisiana Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Louisiana Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Military Books at Amazon.com
• Louisiana Confederate Soldier Burial Database
• Louisiana Confederate Soldiers
• Louisiana Military Record
• Louisiana Soldiers in the War of 1812
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

Parish Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tax records are a valuable but little-used source. Almost everything was taxed: household and personal goods, livestock, slaves, and property. Tax lists can be used as a substitute census, to create complete neighborhoods for a neighborhood study, establish relationships, locate land, and so on. Unfortunately, most of these lists no longer exist in Louisiana, but those that are extant are usually found in the tax assessor's office in the Ouachita Parish courthouse.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Tax Books at Amazon.com

Parish Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Louisiana Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• ?
• Louisiana State Archives , 3851 Essen Lane, PO Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125; (225) 922-2012
• Louisiana Historical Society, 5801 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115; 504/866-3049, [EMAIL]
• Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Society, P.O. Box 82060, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70884-2060-60
• National Archives and Records Admin,501 W Felix Str, Building 1, P.O. 6216, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-3405; archives@ftworth.nara.gov, Fax: 817-334-5511
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• Louisiana Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Parish Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Louisiana

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Ouachita Parish. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Ouachita Parish Tombstone Transcription Project.

Most Catholic church registers are still in the local parish church. Many of them have been translated and published.

The recording of cemetery inscriptions in Louisiana has long been a project of the DAR and numerous genealogical societies. Genealogical publications continually print these inscriptions in their issues.

Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Louisiana obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Louisiana newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Louisiana
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Ouachita Parish Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Ouachita Parish Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Louisiana Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Louisiana Researcher!
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Ouachita Parish ] [ Louisiana ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The Louisiana Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
• Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

Ouachita Parish was estab­lished March 31, 1807. It is one of the 19 parishes, which were created by dividing the Territory of New Orleans. The original Ouachita Parish was sub­sequently divided into the parishes of Morehouse, Union, Caldwell, Franklin, Tensas, Madison, East and West Carroll with the present Ouachita Parish remaining.

The parish is named after the Ouachita Indians who held the area when it was first discovered and ex­plored. There is disagreement as to the meaning of the word "Ouachita." Its Choctaw meaning is "Big Hunt­ing Ground," but it also means, "sil­ver water." Years before the "Louisi­ana Purchase" the present site of Monroe was a more or less established point of contact on the banks of the Ouachita River for the fur traders and Indians of the region. It was a half-defined gateway into the land of adventure and mystery that lay beyond the great lone wilderness.

The Ouachita River was first explored by Hernando de Soto in 1542, and later by the French. In March and April 1700 "Father of Louisiana", Jean Baptist LeMoyne, the Sieur de Bienville came on a fact finding tour for his brother Iberville. He visited a Ouachita Village where the present day town of Columbia is Located.

There were five huts and 70 men to record. A French trad­ing post called: Prairie de Canots was established on the "Washita," but there were no per­manent settlements until after the close of the French and Indian War in 1763, when Louisiana was ceded to Spain. This was near where the present day Monroe is located/Prairie de Canots (Prairie of the Canoes) was named this probably because it was a land­ing place for the Indians of the re­gion who came to trade with the hunters and trappers.

Spain sent Don Juan Filhiol as com­mandant of the post, and he built the Post of Ouachita around 1780 to protect the settlers against the Indians. He later renamed it to Fort Miro. This fort was on the site of the present Monroe. He was commandant until 1800.

In 1805 the newly established town was plotted, recorded and by act of the territorial government, Fort Miro was designated as the seat of justice of "Ouachita County". The Filhiol plantation on the east bank of the river was divided into blocks each 300 feet square. The eastern boundary was the present Jackson Street, The original planta­tion of Joseph de la Baume, which had by this time been disposed of by the owner, and similarly divided, and from those two grants a major poition of the present cities of Mon­roe and West Monroe evolved. Fort Miro was built on the banks of the Ouachita River in what is now downtown Monroe and is where the parish courthouse now stands. Filhiol is considered the father of modern Monroe. In his day, he worked hard to establish a town on his land grant.

On September 5,1816,Filhiol signed the deed, which gave over the lots to the parish government. On that date, Monroe had its true birth.The town name was changed from Fort Miro to Monroe in 1819 in honor of the United States President James Monroe. Primitive as it was, it evolved into twin cities of industrial and commercial importance. West Monroe actually be­came a city in 1880. Combin­ing the two former towns of Trenton and Cotton Port, each of which began at sepa­rate times and locations, formed the city of West Mon­roe. Monroe and West Monroe are often referred to as the twin cities.

In 1805 the newly established town was plotted, recorded and by act of the territorial government, Fort Miro was designated as the seat of justice of "Ouachita County". The Filhiol plantation on the east bank of the river was divided into blocks each 300 feet square. The eastern boundary was the present Jackson Street, The original planta­tion of Joseph de la Baume, which had by this time been disposed of by the owner, and similarly divided, and from those two grants a major poition of the present cities of Mon­roe and West Monroe evolved. Fort Miro was built on the banks of the Ouachita River in what is now downtown Monroe and is where the parish courthouse now stands. Filhiol is considered the father of modern Monroe. In his day, he worked hard to establish a town on his land grant.

On September 5,1816,Filhiol signed the deed, which gave over the lots to the parish government. On that date, Monroe had its true birth.The town name was changed from Fort Miro to Monroe in 1819 in honor of the United States President James Monroe. Primitive as it was, it evolved into twin cities of industrial and commercial importance. West Monroe actually be­came a city in 1880. Combin­ing the two former towns of Trenton and Cotton Port, each of which began at sepa­rate times and locations, formed the city of West Mon­roe. Monroe and West Monroe are often referred to as the twin cities.

History of the Courthouse

Ouachita Parish court records from the days of Fort Miro give an interesting look into the history of the court system in Ouachita Parish.

In the early days, the courts of justice met at various locations throughout the parish to serve the general convenience. Of course at that time, Ouachita Parish covered the entire northeast corner of Louisiana. This area has since been divided into the parishes of Ouachita, Madison, Tensas, East Carroll, West Carroll, Morehouse, Union, Caldwell and Franklin.

The first courthouse in Ouachita Parish was built in 1816 on a plot of land, donated by Don Juan Fihoil, which is the present courthouse square. The courthouse was a two-story structure of mixed hewn logs and frame with the ground floor used for a jail and the second floor as a courtroom. Also in 1816, a building that was used as the Clerk of Court's Office was constructed. It was a small, one room stucco building. It was constructed on the southeast corner of the plot of land. This building, which is still standing, is considered to be the oldest in Ouachita Parish.

In 1819, a steamboat, named the "James Monroe", traveled down the Ouachita River. The residents then changed the name of Fort Miro to Monroe.

The first legal hanging in Ouachita Parish was in October of 1822. A man named Russell Brooks was convicted of murdering the man who stole his horse, so he was hung from the branch of an oak tree on the courthouse lawn.

The second courthouse was built in 1860. It was constructed of wood frame and stucco. In April of 1864, Yankee gunboats partially destroyed the courthouse as is evidenced by a note to his superiors from a Northern officer "We burned the courthouse, railroad depot and bridge at Monroe."

The third Ouachita Parish courthouse, a red brick two-story building with plantation style galleries, was completed on Nov. 8, 1883. East Baton Rouge contractors Hannan & Voss built the structure at a cost of $25,000.

In 1924, Ouachita Parish residents approved a bond issue for approximately $500,000 to build a new and modern courthouse on the same original site. The new courthouse, built of reinforced concrete, Indiana limestone and a granite base, was completed in 1926. It had a copper roof and marble corridors, stairways and wainscoting. The new courthouse included three stories with a basement and one extra floor that was used for the jail. The jail included a gallows room, which ended public hangings.

For almost forty years, the courthouse provided adequate space for the parish government and courts, but with the growth of the parish due to the industrial expansion in the area, more room was needed. After much debate and consideration the police jury voted to award the contract to remodel the Ouachita Parish courthouse to Jesse F. Heard & Sons, Inc. The $1,567,000 remodeling project began in the fall of 1966 and was completed in the spring of 1969. The central part of the courthouse as well as the marble stairways and halls remained much the same, with the major changes being in the two extensions at each end of the building where complete renovation and enlargement of the facility was completed.

The current and most recent renovation to the historic Ouachita Parish Courthouse was brought about by the growth of the justice system in the area and the need for additional courtrooms and office space for both court and parish governmental functions.

The old Ouachita Parish jail, on the fourth floor of the courthouse, was gutted and that space was reconfigured and built out as new courtrooms and offices for the nine 4th Judicial District Court judges and the administrative staff of the court. The original third floor courtrooms also received a refurbishing and updating with modern communications facilities and increased security.

Local architect Bill Land, whose father designed the 1960's renovation, was responsible for the redesign and update planning of the facility to fill the needs of today and the foreseeable future.