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43-503: A variety of African-American museums devoted to art, history and culture are on the "trail", as is the Cane River Creole National Historical Park , and the first two churches founded by and for free people of color . The trail includes two extensive plantation complexes , with surviving slave quarters used by people who lived and worked at the plantations — until 1930 in one case, and into

86-639: A National Historic Landmark and Bicentennial Farm. Open to the public as a unit of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, a unit of the National Park System, Oakland's outbuildings, sheds, store houses, and tenant cabins illustrate the daily life of a working cotton plantation. The site offers a window into the Creole colonial culture, maintained by ethnic French such as the Prud'homme family, along with generations of blacks and Creoles of color in

129-486: A land grant from the Spanish government, who ruled Louisiana during that time. Emmanuel was one of the first planters to grow cotton in the area. During this period, Emmanuel began to purchase enslaved workers to labor in the fields and build the structures needed on the plantation. In 1818, Prud'homme began construction of his plantation home. In the late 1820s, Emanuel's son, Pierre Phanor Prud'homme, took over management of

172-471: A section of the owner's land in exchange for part of the crops or the money the crops generated. The plantation owner often supplied the seed and agricultural equipment required to cultivate the crop. On larger plantations, such as Magnolia and Oakland, a plantation store was opened to sell goods to the sharecroppers. A hardship faced by many sharecroppers across the South was the cycle of poverty created through

215-554: Is Ashland , and the most density populated area is Campti . The parish was formed in 1805. The Natchitoches, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Natchitoches Parish. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community, free people of color of mixed-race descent who settled here in the antebellum period . Their descendants continue to be Catholic and many are still French-speaking. The Cane River National Heritage Area includes

258-524: Is land and 47 square miles (120 km ) (3.6%) is water. It is the fourth-largest parish by land area in Louisiana. The primary groundwater resources of Natchitoches Parish, from near surface to deepest, include the Red River alluvial, upland terrace, Sparta, and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifers. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 37,515 people, 14,659 households, and 7,538 families residing in

301-492: Is the last of its kind still standing in its original location. The lives of the diverse people associated with Magnolia are being represented to reflect the resilience, resourcefulness, dedication, and continuous interaction of families and communities along Cane River. Oakland Plantation was started in the 18th century with a land grant to the French Creole Prud'homme family. In 1789 , Emanuel Prud'homme received

344-570: The Louisiana African American Heritage Trail . In May 1861 free men of color in the area known as Isle Brevelle began to organize two militia companies. Other free men of color of Campti and that area enlisted in the Confederate Army later in the war; and it is believed that they were accepted into a predominately white company because of their longstanding acceptance in the community. Many of

387-530: The National Park Service mission as it strives to tell the story of the evolution of plantation agriculture through the perspective of the land owners, enslaved workers, overseers , skilled workers, and tenant farmers who resided along the Cane River for over two hundred years. This park is included as a site on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail . A defining characteristic of

430-517: The antebellum period , numerous large cotton plantations were developed in this area, worked by enslaved African Americans. The parish population was majority black and enslaved by the time of the Civil War. There was also a large mixed-race population of free Creoles of color . Among the institutions they founded was the St. Augustine Parish (Isle Brevelle) Church , built in 1829. It is a destination on

473-501: The 1960s at the other. Two historically black universities are also on the trail. Mitch Landrieu , as Lieutenant Governor, supported the establishment of the cultural heritage trail in order to highlight the many contributions of African Americans to the culture of Louisiana and the United States; and to promote these sites as destinations for tourism, which is increasingly important to the state's economy. The state established

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516-479: The Civil War, the LeComte-Hertzog family rebuilt their plantation along with the main house. They converted much of their land to be worked by the new labor system of sharecropping by freedmen . In addition, they leased some acreage to tenant farmers, who were mostly Creoles of color . The system of sharecropping required an agreement between the landowner and the tenant. The sharecropper agreed to farm

559-581: The Civil War. During these years the enslaved population continued to perform a variety of skills: from cultivating the land and processing the cotton, to constructing the buildings, managing livestock, and making most of the goods needed by the plantation's occupants. The Civil War brought destruction to the Cane River region. During the Red River Campaign both the Union and Confederate armies destroyed plantation buildings, crops, and livestock. At

602-824: The Heritage Trail. Natchitoches Parish was created by the act of April 10, 1805, that divided the Territory of Orleans into 12 parishes , including Orleans , Iberville , Rapides and Natchitoches. The parish boundaries were much larger than now defined, but were gradually reduced as new parishes were organized following population increases in the state. The parishes of Caddo , Claiborne , Bossier , Webster , DeSoto , Bienville , Jackson , Sabine , Red River , Winn , and Grant were eventually formed from Natchitoches' enormous territory. Natchitoches Parish has had fifteen border revisions, making it second only to Ouachita parish in number of boundary revisions. During

645-406: The Prud'homme plantation, the cotton gin was burned. The facts relating to the survival of the plantation home and Phanor's fate have become clouded by several unconfirmed stories and legends. One family legend states that Phanor was arrested by Union soldiers. He became ill as he was moved from his plantation to Natchitoches, where he died in a cousin's home. At war's end, Phanor's two sons divided

688-399: The Prud'hommes opened a store and post office at Oakland to provide supplies and services for sharecroppers and tenant farmers. The plantation store operated until 1983, serving the larger community when the number of farm workers declined. Low cotton prices in the late 19th century and a boll weevil infestation in the early 20th century resulted in mostly lean times for the planter family and

731-428: The age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14. In the parish the population was spread out, with 26.00% under

774-468: The age of 18, 17.90% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.80 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $ 25,722, and the median income for a family was $ 32,816. Males had a median income of $ 29,388 versus $ 19,234 for females. The per capita income for

817-440: The constant flow of debt and repayment owed to the plantation store. There was often little money left to live on. During the 20th century, the old plantation world was fading. Mechanization replaced many black workers on the cotton fields by the 1960s. Yet many of the community's old ways persisted. At Magnolia, workers and planters still enjoyed baseball games and horse races, and celebrated Juneteenth . The last black family left

860-619: The early 19th century the LeComte family was producing cotton and expanding their landholdings. In the 1830s, Ambrose LeComte II acquired the land that would come to form Magnolia Plantation. During this period, the LeComtes were extremely prosperous and began to build most of the structures that are still located on Magnolia. By the 1850s Ambrose and his wife Julia (Buard) retired to their Natchitoches townhouse, where Ambrose could focus on his lucrative race horse business. By 1852 management of

903-411: The formation of the larger community culture and agricultural landscape. Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Natchitoches Parish ( French : Paroisse des Natchitoches or Les Natchitoches ) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana . As of the 2020 census , the population was 37,515. The parish seat and most populous municipality is Natchitoches , the largest by land area

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946-419: The free people of color were related to longtime white families in the parish, who acknowledged them. After the war, during Reconstruction and after, there was white violence against freedmen and their sympathizers blacks in the aftermath of emancipation and establishing a free labor system. Most planters continued to rely on cotton as a commodity crop, although the market declined, adding to area problems. In

989-759: The land, and are continued by the French Hertzog family. In 1753, Jean Baptiste LeComte received a French land grant in Natchitoches Parish. LeComte established the Shallow Lake plantation and focused mainly on tobacco as a commodity crop, and subsistence farming. The LeComte family pioneered through the colonial rule of the French and the Spanish, and became one of the most successful landowning families in Natchitoches Parish . By

1032-536: The late 1960s, they have supported the Democratic Party. Most white conservatives have left that party, and affiliated with the Republican Party, as has been obvious in parish results in presidential elections since 2000. These results reflect the demographic breakdown of the parish, where whites comprise a slight majority. The last Democrat to win in Natchitoches Parish at the presidential level

1075-441: The late 19th century, a timber industry developed in some areas. Since the late 20th century, the parish has developed considerable heritage tourism. It also attracts people for fishing and other sports, including spring training on Cane River Lake by several university teams. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the parish has a total area of 1,299 square miles (3,360 km ), of which 1,252 square miles (3,240 km )

1118-491: The many of mixed heritage, which may include African, French, Spanish, and American Indian influences. The Prud'hommes of Oakland and the LeComtes of Magnolia were considered French Creole. As with others in the area, the homes and plantations of these families reflected the French Creole architectural style and way of life. The historic landscapes and dozens of structures preserved at Oakland and Magnolia plantations are

1161-734: The national historical park's authorized boundary. But the Plantation Store, the Overseer's House, the Blacksmith Shop, the Slave/Tenant Quarters, the Gin Barn, Cotton Picker Shed, and Carriage House are all part of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, which was designated in 1994. They are open to visitors. The gin barn houses two types of cotton gins and a rare 1830s mule-powered cotton press, which

1204-418: The overseer and the enslaved people, as well as work sites, such as the wash house and the carpenter shop. An unusual building to modern eyes is the pigeonnière , where pigeons were raised to be enjoyed as a food delicacy. Although Pierre Phanor had managed the plantation since the 1820s, he did not become the owner until 1845 upon his father's death. Phanor continued to successfully manage the plantation until

1247-594: The parish was $ 13,743. About 20.90% of families and 26.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 32.70% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over. Until the late 20th century, Natchitoches Parish was reliably Democratic in most competitive elections. But the party affiliations have changed, and like most of the Deep South, have a distinct ethnic and demographic character. Since African Americans achieved certain gains under civil rights legislation and have been enabled to vote again since

1290-476: The parish. Among the numerous significant historic sites in the parish is the St. Augustine Parish (Isle Brevelle) Church , a destination on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail , founded in 2008. Including extensive outbuildings at Magnolia and Oakland plantations, the Cane River Creole National Historical Park interprets the history and culture of the Louisiana Creoles. It is also on

1333-628: The parish. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 39,566 people living in the parish. As of the census of 2000, there were 39,080 people, 14,263 households, and 9,499 families living in the parish. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km ). There were 16,890 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km ). Of its population in 2010, 54.3% were White , 41.4% Black or African American , 1.0% Native American , 0.3% Asian , 0.9% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races ; 1.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). In 2000, its racial makeup

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1376-404: The park is approximately 63 acres and includes two French Creole cotton plantations , Oakland and Magnolia . Both plantations are complete in their historic settings, including landscapes, outbuildings, structures, furnishings, and artifacts; and they are the most intact French Creole cotton plantations in the United States. In total, 65 historic structures and over a million artifacts enhance

1419-551: The park is the conservation and interpretation of Creole culture. In colonial Louisiana the term "Creole" was used to indicate New World products derived from Old World stock, and could apply to people, architecture, or livestock. Regarding people, Creole historically referred to those born in Louisiana during the French and Spanish periods, regardless of their ethnicity. Today, as in the past, Creole transcends racial boundaries. It connects people to their colonial roots, be they descendants of European settlers, enslaved Africans , or

1462-468: The plantation in 1968. The Hertzog family contracted with an agricultural company to work the land. In the early 21st century, Magnolia Plantation is recognized as a Bicentennial Farm and a National Historic Landmark . The main house at Magnolia and the farming acreage are owned by the Hertzog family and are not open to the public. On December 29, 2022, the main house and surrounding grounds were added to

1505-605: The plantation was turned over to Ambrose's son-in-law, Matthew Hertzog. The name Hertzog would eventually become inextricably linked with the plantation. This prosperous period for the planter family would come to an abrupt halt with the Civil War . During the Civil War, Magnolia's main house was burned to the ground by Union troops during the Red River Campaign . In addition, crops and plantation structures were destroyed by both Confederate and Union armies. After

1548-433: The plantation. As with Magnolia and most large plantations of the early 19th century, the Prud'homme plantation was a self-sufficient community that grew or made everything that was needed. Its commodity crop was cotton, but produce was grown for use on the plantation, as well as food for animals. Livestock structures were constructed to house mules, chickens, horses, and turkeys. In addition, housing had to be constructed for

1591-498: The plantation. Jacques Alphonse Prud'homme kept the land that included the main house and surrounding lands west of the Cane River. Pierre Emmanuel Prud'homme took the land on the east side of the river and established his own plantation, which he called Atahoe. Alphonse renamed his home as Oakland and began rebuilding his fortunes. He adapted to the free labor economy, hiring freedmen as sharecroppers ; some Creoles of color leased land separately as tenant farmers . During this era,

1634-595: The plantations in the Great Migration for employment in war industries. Lyle Saxon wrote a short story titled "Cane River" published in 1926. The Cane River and Creoles also feature in Saxon's 1937 novel Children of Strangers . John Isiah Walton created an artwork depicting a girl looking at her reflection titled "Cane River". Oakland Plantation is listed by the National Park Service as

1677-464: The setting for the stories of workers (enslaved and free) and late post-Civil War tenant farmers who worked the same land for over two centuries, adapting to historical, economic, social, and agricultural change. Today their descendants carry on many of their traditions. The origins of Magnolia Plantation can be traced to the mid-18th century, when the French LeComte family received grants to

1720-536: The trail with 26 sites in 2008, more were added in 2012 and 2019, and the list was expanded to 38 with an announcement from Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser in 2022. Included in 2008 were: Cane River Creole National Historical Park The Cane River Creole National Historical Park was established in 1994 to preserve the resources and cultural landscapes of the Cane River region in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana . Located along Cane River Lake ,

1763-430: The workers until after World War II . Modernization came fitfully to Cane River. Phanor Prud'homme II bought the family's first car in 1910, while most people in the area still traveled by mule-drawn wagon. By the 1960s the family adopted mechanization for agriculture, with machines doing more of the tasks long performed by mules and human workers. During World War II and after, many of the remaining black workers had left

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1806-512: Was 57.85% White, 38.43% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races; 1.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2020, its racial makeup was 50.37% non-Hispanic white, 39.6% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.8% multiracial, and 3.97% Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000, there were 14,263 households, out of which 33.00% had children under

1849-923: Was native son of the South, Bill Clinton from Arkansas in 1996, who received 8,296 votes (54.7 percent), compared to Republican Robert J. Dole 's 5,471 ballots (36.1 percent). Ross Perot of the Reform Party attracted 1,053 votes (6.9 percent). Natchitoches Parish School Board operates local public schools. Parish Schools, East Natchitoches Elementary & Middle High School, Fairview Alpha Elementary & Junior High School, Frankie Ray Jackson Sr. Technical Center, Goldonna Elementary & Junior High School, L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Junior High School, Lakeview High School, M.R. Weaver Elementary, Marthaville Elementary & Junior High School, Natchitoches Central High School, Natchitoches Magnet School, NSU Elementary Laboratory School, NSU Middle Laboratory School, and Provencal Elementary & Junior High School. It

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