Catahoula Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, on the Ouachita and Black rivers in the state’s central-northern lowlands. It had a population of 8,906 at the 2020 census and covers 739 square miles (1,910 km2), of which 708 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) is water, centred near 31°40′N 91°51′W.
Harrisonburg is the parish seat and its postal code is 71340. The parish has one incorporated town (Jonesville), two villages (Harrisonburg and Sicily Island), one census-designated place (Wallace Ridge), and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities. Catahoula Parish observes Central time and carries FIPS code 22-025.
Towns & Villages in Catahoula Parish
The parish has 29 named places on record: 1 town, 2 villages, 1 CDP, and the rest unincorporated communities and landings along the Ouachita, Black, and Little rivers. Louisiana parishes have no civil townships, so the table below omits that column.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesville | Town | 1,728 | 71343 |
| Harrisonburg | Village · seat | — | 71340 |
| Sicily Island | Village | — | 71368 |
| Wallace Ridge | CDP | — | 71343 |
| Aimwell | Unincorp. | — | 71401 |
| Archie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Argo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Book | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Copeland Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Enterprise | Unincorp. | — | 71425 |
| Foules | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Larto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lee Bayou | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maitland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Manifest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mayna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norris Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Parhams | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peck | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prichard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Quaid | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rhinehart | Unincorp. | — | 71363 |
| Security | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sherwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trinity | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Utility | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walters | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Webb | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wildwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 71343 — Jonesville (also serves Wallace Ridge)
- 71340 — Harrisonburg
- 71368 — Sicily Island
- 71425 — Enterprise
- 71401 — Aimwell
- 71363 — Rhinehart (post office box service only)
Most of the parish’s smaller landings and rural communities share the Jonesville or Harrisonburg ZIP codes rather than having their own.
Geography
Catahoula Parish sits in the alluvial lowlands where the Ouachita, Tensas, and Black rivers meet, with Catahoula Lake — a large, seasonally drained natural lake and internationally recognized wetland — occupying much of its western half. Bottomland hardwood forest and farmland cover most of the parish outside the lake basin.
Catahoula Parish borders Franklin Parish to the north, Tensas Parish to the northeast, Concordia Parish to the east, Avoyelles Parish to the south, La Salle Parish to the west, and Caldwell Parish to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 8,906 residents, a density of about 12.6 people per square mile of land. Jonesville, with 1,728 residents, is the largest community, followed by Sicily Island. Median household income in the parish runs well below the Louisiana median of $58,229, consistent with its rural, agriculture-dependent economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives much of the parish’s economy, with soybean, cotton, and timber operations on the bottomland around Jonesville and Harrisonburg. Catahoula Lake draws hunters and anglers each fall and winter for its waterfowl, and the Catahoula Correctional Center in Harrisonburg is a significant local employer. The parish gave its name to the Catahoula Leopard dog, Louisiana’s state dog, said to have been bred in the area by early settlers and Native American communities.
History
Catahoula Parish was organized in 1808, not long after the United States acquired the territory through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Its name comes from a Native American word, generally translated as “big, clear lake,” referring to Catahoula Lake. Jonesville occupies the site of the Troyville Earthworks, a major Native American mound complex; its largest mound once stood 82 feet tall before being leveled for bridge fill in 1931.
Getting There
U.S. Route 84 and Louisiana Highway 124 are the parish’s main routes, with US 84 running through Jonesville as its main street.
- Alexandria — 55 miles southwest
- Natchez, Mississippi — 45 miles east
- Monroe — 60 miles north
- Ferriday — 25 miles east
Alexandria International Airport, in Rapides Parish, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Catahoula Parish?
It is in central-northern Louisiana, along the Ouachita and Black rivers, between Alexandria and Natchez, Mississippi.
What is the population of Catahoula Parish?
8,906 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Catahoula Parish?
739 square miles (1,910 km2) total, of which 708 square miles is land.
What is the Catahoula Parish seat?
Harrisonburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Catahoula Parish?
One incorporated town (Jonesville), two villages (Harrisonburg, Sicily Island), and about two dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Catahoula Parish?
71343 (Jonesville), 71340 (Harrisonburg), 71368 (Sicily Island), 71425 (Enterprise), 71401 (Aimwell), and 71363 (Rhinehart).
Why is Catahoula Parish known for a dog breed?
The Catahoula Leopard dog, Louisiana’s official state dog, takes its name from the parish and Catahoula Lake, where the breed is said to have developed among early settlers and Native American communities.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.