Claiborne Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, in the north-central part of the state near the Arkansas line. It had a population of 14,170 at the 2020 census and covers 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 755 square miles are land, centred near 32°49′N 92°59′W.
Homer is the county seat, and its postal code is 71040. The parish has 2 incorporated towns, 3 villages, and several unincorporated communities. Claiborne Parish is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Claiborne Parish
Claiborne Parish has 5 incorporated municipalities and a scatter of unincorporated communities and crossroads settlements. Villages are small incorporated places distinct from the unincorporated (Unincorp.) communities, which have no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homer | City · seat | 2,747 | 71040 |
| Haynesville | Town | — | 71038 |
| Athens | Village | — | 71003 |
| Lisbon | Village | — | 71048 |
| Junction City | Village | — | — |
| Arizona | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Aycock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blackburn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bridges Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Colquitt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Darley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dykesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forest Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gordon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hebron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holly Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hurricane | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lake Claiborne | Unincorp. | — | 71003 |
| Langston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mahan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marsalis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McKenzie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millerton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mulnix | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norton Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oaks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Athens | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point Pleasant | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ruple | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Russellville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scottsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sharon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Soco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sugar Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Summerfield | Unincorp. | — | 71079 |
| Tulip | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weldon | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 71040 — Homer (also serves Lake Claiborne)
- 71038 — Haynesville
- 71003 — Athens
- 71048 — Lisbon
- 71079 — Summerfield
Most of the unincorporated communities and crossroads settlements listed above share the postal service area of their nearest town rather than carrying a distinct ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Claiborne Parish sits in the rolling, pine-forested hill country of north-central Louisiana. Kisatchie National Forest reaches into the parish, and Lake Claiborne, a reservoir on Bayou Corney, is the parish’s main body of water. The land drains south toward the Dugdemona and Bayou D’Arbonne watersheds.
Claiborne Parish borders Union Parish to the east, Lincoln Parish to the southeast, Bienville Parish to the south, Webster Parish to the west, and Columbia County and Union County, Arkansas, to the north.
Demographics
Claiborne Parish had a population of 14,170 at the 2020 census. Homer, the seat, is the largest community, followed by Haynesville. The parish’s median household income runs well below the Louisiana median of $58,229, reflecting the decline of the timber and oilfield-service jobs that once anchored the local economy. Population density is roughly 19 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forest products remain central to the parish economy, alongside oil and gas services tied to the Haynesville Shale play, which runs beneath much of the area. The David Wade Correctional Center, a state prison near Homer, is one of the parish’s largest employers. Poultry farming and small-scale agriculture round out the rural economy.
History
Claiborne Parish was created in 1828 from part of Natchitoches Parish and named for William C. C. Claiborne, Louisiana’s first governor. Homer was laid out as the parish seat soon after, and the parish’s economy shifted through cotton, timber, and, in the 20th century, oil and natural gas. The discovery of the Haynesville Shale gas formation in the 2000s brought a drilling boom to the northern part of the parish.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 79 and Louisiana Highways 2 and 9 are the parish’s main routes, with a future Interstate 69 corridor planned through the area.
- Shreveport — 45 miles west
- Monroe — 55 miles southeast
- El Dorado, Arkansas — 30 miles north
- Ruston — 25 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Shreveport Regional Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Claiborne Parish?
It is in the north-central part of Louisiana, on the Arkansas state line, about 45 miles east of Shreveport.
What is the population of Claiborne Parish?
14,170 at the 2020 census.
How big is Claiborne Parish?
767 square miles (1,990 km2), including 13 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Claiborne Parish?
Homer is the parish seat.
How many towns are in Claiborne Parish?
Two incorporated towns (Homer and Haynesville) and three villages (Athens, Lisbon, and Junction City), plus more than two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Claiborne Parish?
Homer (71040), Haynesville (71038), Athens (71003), Lisbon (71048), and Summerfield (71079) each have their own ZIP code.
What is Claiborne Parish’s economy built on?
Timber, natural gas production from the Haynesville Shale, and state-government jobs at David Wade Correctional Center.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.