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57-692: Kisatchie National Forest , the only National forest in Louisiana , United States, is located in the forested piney hills and hardwood bottoms of seven central and northern parishes . It is part of the Cenozoic uplands (some of Louisiana's oldest rocks) and has large areas of longleaf pine forests (a forest type that has declined significantly over the last century). It is one of the largest pieces of natural landscape in Louisiana, with some 604,000 acres (2,440 km) of public land, more than half of which

114-479: A female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06. In the parish the population was spread out, with 28.30% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

171-1192: A wide array of plant species, including wild orchids and carnivorous plants. Two examples include the pale pitcher plant and rose pogonia orchid. Biologists have found 155 species of breeding or overwintering birds, 48 mammal species, 56 reptile species and 30 amphibian species. Rare animals include the Louisiana pine snake , the red-cockaded woodpecker, the Louisiana black bear and the Louisiana pearlshell mussel. The forest also offers recreation activities including: bird watching, photography, backpacking, canoeing, all-terrain vehicle trails, boating, camping, cycling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, picnicking and swimming. The forest has more than 40 developed recreation sites and over 100 miles (160 km) of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Roads are known to cause significant damage to forests, prairies, streams and wetlands. Roads are particularly harmful to native populations of amphibians and reptiles that migrate to vernal pools. Kisatchie National Forest contains three significant roadless areas, established to protect native species: Cunningham Brake and Saline Bayou . Cunningham Brake

228-618: Is a parish located in the North Central portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana . As of the 2020 census , the population was 22,169. The parish seat is Colfax . The parish was founded in 1869 during the Reconstruction era . Grant Parish is part of the Alexandria , LA Metropolitan Statistical Area and Red River Valley. From 1940 to 1960, the parish had a dramatic population loss, as many African Americans from

285-663: Is a large cypress-tupelo gum swamp that also protects flows in Kisatchie Bayou . Saline Bayou has mixed forests associated with alluvial habitats, ranging from shortleaf pine to tupelo gum. A third large roadless area, the Kisatchie Hills, is protected under a different designation, as a wilderness area . More information of these important areas can be found in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Kisatchie, prepared by

342-558: Is a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enlist the aid of non-federal property owners to help build and maintain adequate foraging habitat. The wild turkey was a very important food animal to Native Americans, but it was eliminated from much of its range by the early 20th century. Large groups of these birds can be observed on or near LA-Forestry rds 430 (Marlow Road) and 431 (Drakes Fork Road) that

399-533: Is a tributary of Old River at Isle Brevelle . The bayou runs through a large portion of the national forest and is known for its clear waters, swimming holes and waterfalls. The Man in the Moon (1991 film) was filmed at Kisatchie Bayou. Kisatchie Falls is a waterfall along Kisatchie Bayou in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana near the border with Vernon Parish . It is one of the few waterfalls and

456-672: Is located on LA 28 West, two miles (3 km) east of Gardner and ten miles (16 km) west of Alexandria, Louisiana. Wolf Rock Cave, the only known cave in Louisiana, is located just off Parish road 455 (locally known as Johnsonville road) in Vernon Parish. The 70 foot above ground cave is situated beside Bundick Creek and is a protected by two rock overhangs. The district comprises the Evangeline and Vernon units: This district features Kincaid Lake, Valentine Lake, and The Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail Other areas include

513-474: Is off LA 10 just west of Cravens. The Calcasieu's Vernon Unit is frequently used by neighboring Fort Johnson for training and the military leases training access to many areas. Areas affected by military operations will be posted by Fort Johnson and Kisatchie. The Caney Ranger district is located northeast of Shreveport south of the Arkansas state line near Homer , the seat of Claiborne Parish. It boasts

570-538: Is the modern south shore day-use/boat launch, the second is the more primitive north shore boat launch, and the third is the all new Corney Bayou Launch. Unlike other units, there are no designated trails within the Corney Lake Unit. Also, there are no fee areas within the Corney Lake Unit at any of the facilities provided. The Catahoula Ranger district is located north of Pineville . The district features Stuart Lake Recreation Complex; hiking and biking along

627-559: Is vital longleaf pine and flatwoods vegetation. These support many rare plant and animal species. There are also rare habitats, such as hillside seepage bogs and calcareous prairies. The forest also contains and provides a buffer for the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness , a nationally designated wilderness area that contributes to protecting biodiversity of the coastal plain region of the United States. The forest

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684-667: Is water. The most famous fossil sites within Louisiana are Creola Bluff at Montgomery Landing Site in the parish. The Montgomery Landing Site was a 500 meters (1,600 ft) long and 14 meters (46 ft) high bluff that was the cutbank on the east side of the Red River . It exposed the top of the Cockfield Formation, the Moodys Branch Formation, and Tullos Member of the Yazoo Clay. In 1979, it

741-495: The National Park Service , extraction of natural resources from national forests is permitted, and in many cases encouraged. Forest products are the resources removed and harvested from national forests. They may be for commercial or personal use such as “lumber, paper, and firewood as well as 'special forest products' such as medicinal herbs, fungi, edible fruits and nuts, and other natural products”. However,

798-760: The New Orleans chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union . In a letter to the Grant Parish Police Jury, the ACLU said that officials must include secular symbols of the Christmas holiday if a nativity scene is placed alone on public property. District Attorney Jay Lemoine objected to the ACLU challenge in a statement to Alexandria Town Talk : "There have been various holiday displays presented both inside and outside

855-717: The Reform Party , polled 1,174 (14.9 percent). In 1996, Republican Robert J. Dole narrowly won in Grant Parish over U.S. President Bill Clinton , a son of the South, with 3,117 votes (42.8 percent) to 2,980 (40.9 percent). Ross Perot polled another 1,055 (14.5 percent). The last Democrat to win in Grant Parish at the presidential level was former Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia in his 1976 defeat of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, Jr. , who had Bob Dole as his vice-presidential partner. Republican nominee Donald Trump

912-528: The Republican Party in the state. Founded in 1869, it had a slight majority of freedmen , many of whom had worked on cotton plantations in the area. It was named for U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant . The parish seat of Colfax was named for Grant's first vice president, Schuyler M. Colfax (whose name is pronounced COAL-facks) of Indiana . However, the town of Colfax is pronounced CAHL-facks. The parish came into existence on March 4, 1869, which also

969-403: The grasslands , shrublands , and forest understory are grazed by sheep , cattle, and more recently, rising numbers of elk and mule deer due to loss of predators . Many ski resorts and summer resorts operate on leased land in national forests. National forests include 14 national monuments where resource extraction is restricted. Grant Parish, Louisiana Grant Parish

1026-584: The poverty line , including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 16.20% of those age 65 or over. The Federal Bureau of Prisons U.S. Penitentiary, Pollock is located in an unincorporated area in the parish, near Pollock . Today Grant Parish is majority white and votes strongly Republican . Mitt Romney polled 7,082 votes (81.7 percent) in his 2012 race against the Democrat U.S. President Barack H. Obama , who trailed with 1,422 votes (16.4 percent). In 2008, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona swept

1083-1076: The Amus Melder Camp and the Boy Scout Camp. The Amus Melder Camp is for equestrian riders utilizing the Claiborne Trails. Trails in this district include the Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail, the Claiborne Trails, the Kincaid Lake Trails, the Valentine Lake Trail, the Lamotte Creek Trail, the Ouiski Chitto Creek (sometimes spelled Whiskey Chitto) Recreation Trail and, the Indian Ridge Trail. The Evangeline Unit of

1140-1109: The Calcasieu Ranger District also encompasses the remains of Camp Claiborne , a U.S. Army post during World War II . Camp Claiborne was the largest military installation in the United States and the third largest city in Louisiana. Today, part of the old camp is used as a U.S. Air Force bombing range . This district features Fullerton Lake, Enduro Trailhead Camp, and Hunter's Camp. Day and group-use opportunities include The Fullerton Lake Day-Use Area, Fullerton Lake Group-Use Area, Little Cypress Day-Use Area, Little Cypress Group-Use Area, Blue Hole Day-Use Area, Blue Hole Group-Use Area, and Government Pond Recreation Area. Some activities have required fees. Boating opportunities include in this district include kayaking and canoeing on Fullerton Lake, Little Cypress, Blue Hole, and Blue Hole Wildlife Viewing Structure. Hiking trails in this area include Big Branch Trail, Ouiska Chitto Trail, Enduro Trail, Fullerton Mill Trail,' Ol Sarge Trail, and Turkey Pen Trail. Other notable activities in

1197-955: The Caney Lakes Ski Beach Area, and the Caney Lakes Group-Use Area which are all located on Lower Caney Lake. People desiring boating opportunities can enjoy The Upper Caney Lake Boat Launch Area, the Lower Caney Lake Boat Launch Area, and the South Shore Caney Lake Boat Launch Area. Fees are collected for certain activities in this unit. The Middle Fork Unit of the Caney Ranger District has only two designated recreation facilities, both of which are designated hunter's camps and are opened year-around but only maintained for

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1254-523: The Democratic Party included widespread intimidation of black voters. The League was integral to white Democrats' regaining power in the state by 1876. Soon after, they effectively disfranchised most blacks, a situation that persisted until after federal enforcement of Civil Rights -era legislation of the mid-1960s. In December 2016, a courthouse nativity scene in Colfax drew a complaint from

1311-538: The Forest Service in 1999. Although forests dominate the landscape, scattered prairies can also be found. Natural prairies have been almost extirpated from Louisiana, mostly by clearing for agriculture. Less than one thousand acres of calcareous prairie may remain in the entire state, three pieces of which are associated with Kisatchie: the Kieffer prairie (769 acres), the historic Tancock Prairie (45 acres), and

1368-528: The Forest Service to identify, investigate, and protect cultural resources on lands it manages. The U.S. Forest Service also manages all of the United States national grasslands and nearly 50% of the United States national recreation areas . Land management of these areas focuses on conservation , timber harvesting , livestock grazing , watershed protection, wildlife , and recreation . Unlike national parks and other federal lands managed by

1425-758: The Glenn Emery Trail; the original Louisiana State University site in Pineville; hunting in the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge ; and two ATV trails located in old Camp Livingston . The remains of Camp Livingston, a World War II-era U.S. Army installation, lie almost completely in the Catahoula Ranger District. Livingston was one of the Army's large training facilities and was at the epicenter of

1482-965: The Kincaid Lake Day-Use Area, the Kincaid Lake Group-Use Area, the Valentine Lake Day-Use Areas, Valentine Lake Group-Use Area, the Bayou Boeuf Research Natural Area, and the Castor Creek Scenic Area. The Wild Azalea Seep area is part of the Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail. Campgrounds include three at Kincaid Lake, two at Valentine Lake, the Loran/Claiborne Trailhead Camp, the Evangeline Camp,

1539-561: The Kisatchie National Forest has five ranger districts in the north-central area of the state: Calcasieu, Caney, Catahoula, Kisatchie and Winn. The forest lies in parts of seven parishes. In descending order of land area within the forest, they are Grant , Natchitoches , Winn , Rapides , Vernon , Claiborne , and Webster parishes. The Calcasieu Ranger district is the southernmost district, located between Alexandria , Leesville and DeRidder . The District Office

1596-719: The Middle Fork Unit, and the Corney Lake Unit Camping opportunities in this unit include The Beaver Dam Campground on Upper Caney Lake and the Turtle Slide Campground on Lower Caney Lake in the Caney Lakes Recreation Complex. Trail opportunities include The Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail inside the Caney Lakes Recreation Complex. Day and group-use opportunities include The Caney Lakes Day-Use Area,

1653-578: The South to seek better opportunities in the North, during the first phase, and in the West, especially California 's defense industry, in the second phase. Tens of thousands of migrants left Louisiana during times of agricultural difficulties and the collapse of agricultural labor after mechanization. In 2000, there were 7,073 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 12.90% had

1710-613: The Stuart Nature Trail. The Stuart Lake Day-Use and Group-Use Areas and The Iatt Lake Observation Pier Day-Use Area are intended for day use. The district also houses The Catahoula National Wildlife Management Preserve, consisting of 36,000 acres (150 km) of land set aside for the preservation of land for wildlife habitat. Hunters come from all around during hunting season to the Catahoula Preserve. Catahoula Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden also resides in

1767-734: The Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail along with Caney Lakes Recreation Area and Corney Lakes. The Caney Ranger District, unlike the rest of the Kisatchie National Forest, began its life in the hands of the Depression-era Resettlement Administration , which bought up marginal upland farmland. The Caney was not turned over to the Forest Service until 1959. The district comprises the Caney Lake Unit,

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1824-737: The United States One Trillion Trees Interagency Council" in order to further the Federal Government's participation in this effort and repeal the current $ 30 million annual funding cap for the Reforestation Trust Fund. The United States national forest comprises about 132 million acres. There are 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands containing 193 million acres (297,000 mi /769 000 km ) of land. These lands comprise 8.5 percent of

1881-706: The area include Cooter's Bog Special Interest Area, Drake's Creek Special Interest Area, Quiska Chitto Special Interest Area, and the Longleaf Scenic Area. Animals in the area include the red-cockaded woodpecker ( Picoides borealis ), often referred to as the RCW, is one of the few birds endemic to the United States and many colonies are in the Vernon Unit. The RCW only nest in cavities of specific trees. Having extremely specific habitat requirements lost by mass deforestation caused large population declines and

1938-598: The area. Viewable year-around, the Catahoula Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden is best viewed in late spring through early fall. Seasonal butterflies and migratory hummingbirds frequent the garden quite often through the summer months. The Stuart Seed Orchard was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s for the purpose of replanting clear-cut areas from the previous 30 years of unsupervised forest harvesting. A by-product of

1995-549: The courthouse on Easter Sunday, 1873. In the ensuing violence, three whites and 120-150 blacks were killed, including 50 that night who were held as prisoners. Leading late 20th-century historians renamed the Colfax Riot, the original state designation, as the Colfax Massacre . The total number of freedmen deaths were never established because some of the bodies were thrown into the river and woods. The white militia

2052-427: The courthouse over many years. This year, as in years past, they include both secular and non-secular symbols. It is unfortunate that some are offended by these displays during this holiday season, as that was not the intent." According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the parish has a total area of 665 square miles (1,720 km ), of which 643 square miles (1,670 km ) is land and 22 square miles (57 km ) (3.3%)

2109-502: The effort. There have been multiple legislative acts to expand the scope of the national forest system, as well as shrinking it. In 2020, the Trump administration encouraged more forest products to be harvested in order to support a struggling economy. There was a plan to develop around 190 million acres of protected National Forests in order to increase logging, grazing, and energy resources. This would be facilitated through shrinking

2166-524: The extinction of numerous colonies in the 20th century. It was listed as a Federal Endangered Species . All areas in this unit where RCW reside have been identified and are distinctly marked. The markings include a boundary of Department of Forestry Service signs and white paint markings on the boundary trees. Many of these habitats can be observed from the roadside of La-Forestry Rd. 410, known as Bailey Road, that runs from Rosepine to LA 10 . The Louisiana Statewide Red-cockaded Woodpecker Safe Harbor Program

2223-441: The famed Louisiana Maneuvers . The "Maneuvers," two large war games which took place over the summers of 1940 and 1941, played a key role in the preparation of the U.S. military for World War II combat. Camping opportunities in this district include The Stuart Lake Campground, Bankston Camp, Highway 472 Camp, Pearson Camp, and Saddle Bayou Camp. Opportunities for trails include The Camp Livingston Trails, The Glenn Emery Trail, and

2280-634: The first-designated wilderness areas , and some of the largest, are on national forest lands. There are management decision conflicts between conservationists and environmentalists and natural resource extraction companies and lobbies (e.g. logging & mining) over the protection and/or use of national forest lands. These conflicts center on endangered species protection, logging of old-growth forests , intensive clear cut logging , undervalued stumpage fees, mining operations and mining claim laws, and logging/mining access roadbuilding within national forests. Additional conflicts arise from concerns that

2337-620: The historic Bartram Prairie (1,190 acres). The latter two are referred to as "historic" because they were mentioned in 1836 survey records; they have reverted to forest. So thoroughly have the prairies of North America been cleared that remnants such as these are likely to be of national significance. The restoration of a natural fire regimen is the most important priority for maintaining and enhancing these prairies. The forest consists of several large areas; and these are fragmented by private land ownership. The headquarters are in Pineville , but

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2394-450: The hunting season. These primitive camps are Bucktail Camp and Turkey Trot Camp. These areas are ideal for wildlife and bird watchers, plant enthusiasts, and nature lovers. Camping opportunities include the south shore campground, the north shore camp, and sugar creek hunter's camp. Day and group-use facilities include the south shore day/group-use area and the north shore day-use area. Corney Lake has three separate boat launches. The first

2451-643: The only Class II rapids in the state. In 2007, the Kisatchie Ranger District was acknowledged with a Secretary of Agriculture award for heroism for actions relating to a 100-year flood that swept the district. The Kisatchie Ranger District contains 102,000 acres (159 square miles; 41,000 hectares), that includes the 8,700 acres (3,500 ha) Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area and the 38,000 acres (15,000 ha) National Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve United States National Forest The Land Revision Act of 1891 , enacted during

2508-519: The parish was 85.43% White , 11.88% Black or African American , 0.89% Native American , 0.14% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.36% from other races , and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The decreases in population from 1910 to 1920, and from 1940 to 1960, were chiefly caused by different phases of the Great Migration , as African Americans left segregation and oppression of

2565-404: The parish, with 6,907 votes (80.7 percent) to Obama's 1,474 (17.2 percent). In 1992, George Herbert Walker Bush carried Grant Parish but was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection. He polled 3,214 votes (40.8 percent) to Democratic Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas's 3,122 (39.6 percent). This son of the South carried numerous other Republican-leaning jurisdictions. Ross Perot, who later founded

2622-415: The plantation areas left in the Great Migration to seek better opportunities in the North and West. Such migration continued until about 1970. One of the eleven parishes organized during Reconstruction, Grant was created from parts of Winn and Rapides parishes. Grant Parish is the site of United States Penitentiary, Pollock . Grant Parish was originally a part of the more populous Rapides Parish to

2679-613: The presidency of Benjamin Harrison , allowed the president to set aside forest reserves on public lands. Harrison established 15 forest reserves containing more than 13 million acres of land. The bill was the result of concerted action by Los Angeles -area businessmen and property owners who were concerned by the harm being done to the watershed of the San Gabriel Mountains by ranchers and miners. Abbot Kinney and forester Theodore Lukens were key spokesmen for

2736-535: The rules and regulations required to get permits to conduct such business. In October 2020, the Trump administration proclaimed its goal of "strengthening markets for wood products and incentivizing innovative manufacturing techniques" and reported "The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service sold 3.3 billion board feet of timber from national forests in fiscal year 2019 — the highest output since 1997". Furthermore, President Trump signed an executive order to "establish

2793-523: The seed orchard is the Stuart Lake Recreation Complex, built to water the seed orchards before the more modern irrigation systems was built. The Kisatchie Ranger district is located between Leesville and Natchitoches . Within the district are the protected areas of a national forest , national Preserve , and national wilderness area , that contains scenic trails as well as a scenic bayou and waterfalls. Kisatchie Bayou

2850-516: The south. Prior to the American Civil War , the center of activity focused upon "Calhoun's Landing," named for the cotton and sugar planter Meredith Calhoun , a native of South Carolina . Calhoun also published the former National Democrat newspaper in what became Colfax, designated as the seat of government of the new parish. Grant was one of several new parishes created by the Reconstruction legislature in an attempt to build

2907-581: The total land area of the United States, an area about the size of Texas . About 87 percent of national forest land lies in the Western United States , mostly in mountain ranges. Alaska has 12 percent of all national forest lands. Within the national forest system, there are 1,200 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places and 23 are National Historic Landmarks . The National Historic Preservation Act requires

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2964-415: Was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $ 29,622, and the median income for a family was $ 34,878. Males had a median income of $ 31,235 versus $ 20,470 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $ 14,410. About 16.90% of families and 21.50% of the population were below

3021-565: Was designated in 1930 during the administration of U.S. President Herbert Hoover . The name Kisatchie is derived from a tribe of Kichai Indians of the Caddo Confederacy. Kisatchie National Forest plays an important role in protecting representative examples of the landscape of northern Louisiana, particularly those that fall within the South Central Plains Ecoregion. The forest protects habitat for

3078-401: Was finally settled in favor of the Republican candidates, but the decision was disputed in certain areas. As social tensions rose, Republican officials took their places at the courthouse in Colfax. They were defended by freedmen and state militia (mostly made up of freedmen), who feared a Democratic Party takeover of the parish. Amid widespread rumors, whites organized a militia and advanced on

3135-417: Was led by Christopher Columbus Nash , a Confederate officer who had been a prisoner of war at Johnson's Island in Ohio . It consisted of veterans from Grant and neighboring parishes. The following year, Nash gathered many of the white militia members as the basis of the first chapter of the White League . Other chapters quickly grew up across the state. The White League's organized violence in support of

3192-448: Was the day of President Grant's first inauguration. The parish encompassed both cotton plantations and pinewoods. It was one of several areas along the Red River that had considerable violence during Reconstruction, as whites tried to maintain social control. The gubernatorial election of 1872 was disputed in the state, and both the Democrats and Republicans certified their slates of local officers. Two inaugurations were held. The election

3249-471: Was the site of a large whale skeleton discovery. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 22,169 people, 6,989 households, and 4,651 families residing in the parish. As of the census of 2000, there were 18,698 people, 7,073 households, and 5,276 families residing in the parish. The population density was 29 inhabitants per square mile (11/km ). There were 8,531 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km ). The racial makeup of

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