West Monroe, Louisiana

"West Monroe" redirects here. For the community in Michigan, see West Monroe, Michigan. For the town in New York, see West Monroe, New York.

West Monroe is the second largest city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 13,103. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana.

West Monroe, Louisiana
City
Cottonport Historic District (2010)
Location of West Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 32°30′05″N 92°08′31″W
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Ouachita
Government
• Mayor	Staci Albritton Mitchell[citation needed]
Area [1]
• Total	8.31 sq mi (21.53 km2)
• Land	8.03 sq mi (20.79 km2)
• Water	0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation [2]	82 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,103
• Density	1,632.57/sq mi (630.35/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	318
FIPS code	22-80955
GNIS feature ID	2405712[2]
Website

History

Originally laid out in 1837 as Byron by John Campbell at the foot of the ferry landing to Monroe, the town floundered and Campbell went bankrupt. The area was bought by Christopher Dabbs, a doctor from Virginia who submitted the plans for Cotton Port in 1854; it was officially recognized in 1859.

It too languished until the arrival of the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway and the construction of the bridge over the Ouachita River. Cotton Port boomed as a river port and rail depot.^[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km²), of which 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km²) (3.14%) is water.

West Monroe is a separate municipality from Monroe.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	447		—
1900	775		73.4%
1910	1,127		45.4%
1920	2,240		98.8%
1930	6,566		193.1%
1940	8,560		30.4%
1950	10,302		20.4%
1960	15,215		47.7%
1970	14,868		−2.3%
1980	14,993		0.8%
1990	14,096		−6.0%
2000	13,250		−6.0%
2010	13,065		−1.4%
2020	13,103		0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

West Monroe racial composition as of 2020^[5]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	7,082	54.05%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	4,607	35.16%
Native American	27	0.21%
Asian	116	0.89%
Pacific Islander	6	0.05%
Other/Mixed	521	3.98%
Hispanic or Latino	744	5.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,103 people, 5,616 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city.

West Monroe is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Government

West Monroe City Hall (2010)

The current mayor is Staci Albritton Mitchell, who has served since 2018.

A 2013 "Community Impressions" report complimented the green spaces, including the Kiroli and Restoration parks, and Antique Alley as important assets to the West Monroe community. According to long-term Mayor Dave Norris, the study confirms "the value of many of the projects we've focused on to enhance quality of life."^[6] The report identifies situations in need of improvement, many of which have already been addressed, including insufficient or inaccurate signage to area attractions, brown water and the need to renovate certain wells, limited shopping opportunities for clothing, traffic problems on Thomas Road, and the failure to promote the popular phenomenon created from the West Monroe-based A&E reality television series, Duck Dynasty.^[6] The consultants declared West Monroe and the general area west of the Ouachita River overall as "a clean, vibrant, growing friendly area ... [with] a small town atmosphere and yet ... many of the amenities and features of a [larger] city."^[6]

National Guard

1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 527th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in West Monroe.

Education

Ouachita Parish School System is the area school district.^[7]

Media

Radio

West Monroe is the second most populous city of the Monroe media market for radio.

Television

West Monroe is part of the Monroe media market for television.

Notable people

• Donnie Copeland, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, 2015 to 2017^[8]
• Clarence Faulk, publisher, broadcaster, businessman in Ruston, born in West Monroe in 1909
• William C. Feazel, oilman, interim U.S. Senator and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• Bruce Fowler, opera singer
• Andy Griggs, country singer
• Kevin Gordon, Americana singer/songwriter
• James D. Halsell, astronaut; space shuttle pilot
• Dixon Hearne, author
• Alton Hardy Howard, co-founder of Howard Brothers Discount Stores
• Bradie James, NFL linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys
• Rickey Minor, music director, composer and music producer
• William Norris III (1936-2016), city, district, and circuit court judge
• Webb Pierce, Country Music Hall of Fame member
• Cassidy Riley, professional wrestler for WWE
• Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty star and founder of Duck Commander
• Kay Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
• Sadie Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
• Si Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
• Willie Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
• Jase Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
• Korie Robertson, Duck Dynasty star
• Bill Russell, professional basketball player
• Andrew Whitworth, NFL offensive tackle