DeSoto Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, on the Texas state line in the northwest corner of the state. It had a population of 26,812 at the 2020 census and covers 895 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 876 square miles are land and 19 square miles are water, centred near 32°04′N 93°44′W.
Mansfield is the parish seat, and its postal code is 71052. The parish holds one city, three towns, four villages, two census-designated places and a number of unincorporated communities. DeSoto Parish is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area and observes the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in DeSoto Parish
DeSoto Parish counts one incorporated city, three incorporated towns, four incorporated villages, two census-designated places (CDPs) and a wider set of unincorporated rural communities. The table below covers the incorporated and census-recognised places; the unincorporated communities that follow have no municipal government and no separate census count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mansfield | City · seat | 4,714 | 71052 |
| Keachi | Town | — | — |
| Logansport | Town | — | — |
| Stonewall | Town | — | — |
| Grand Cane | Village | — | — |
| Longstreet | Village | — | — |
| South Mansfield | Village | — | — |
| Stanley | Village | — | — |
| Frierson | CDP | — | — |
| Gloster | CDP | — | — |
Beyond the incorporated places and CDPs, DeSoto Parish has a long list of unincorporated rural communities, most centred on a store, church or crossroads: Bayou Pierre, Belle Bower, Benson, Carmel, Catuna, Coker, De Soto Heights, Evelyn, Funston, Goss, Grove Hill, Hickory Hills Estates, Highland Park, Holly, Hunter, Kickapoo, Kingston, Kolter, Lula, Meadow Park, Naborton, New Rockdale, Oak Hill, Old Pleasant Hill, Oxford, Pelican, Porter Place, Rambin, Slone, Smyrna, Trenton, Wallace, Wemple, Wildwood, Willow Glen and Wood Springs. “Keatchie” on some older lists is an alternate spelling of the town of Keachi, not a separate place.
ZIP Codes
- 71052 — Mansfield (also serves South Mansfield and the surrounding rural community)
Other DeSoto Parish towns share ZIP codes with post offices in neighbouring parishes and this page does not list unverified ZIP assignments; Keachi, Logansport, Stonewall, Grand Cane, Longstreet and Stanley residents should confirm delivery ZIPs with USPS.
Geography
DeSoto Parish sits in the rolling piney-woods country of the Florida Parishes’ northwestern cousin, the Louisiana Red Hills, drained by the Sabine River along its western Texas border and by Bayou Pierre through the parish interior. Toledo Bend Reservoir, the largest man-made lake in the South, forms part of the parish’s western edge along the Sabine.
DeSoto Parish borders Caddo Parish to the north, Red River Parish to the east, Natchitoches Parish to the southeast, Sabine Parish to the south, and Panola County, Texas to the west and Shelby County, Texas to the southwest.
Demographics
DeSoto Parish had a population of 26,812 at the 2020 census, a density of about 31 people per square mile. Mansfield, with 4,714 residents, is by far the largest community; Logansport and Stonewall are the next-largest incorporated places. The parish’s median household income runs well below the Louisiana median of $58,229, reflecting its rural, agricultural and oilfield-service economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and natural gas production, particularly from the Haynesville Shale that underlies much of northwest Louisiana, has been a major driver of the DeSoto Parish economy since the late 2000s, alongside longstanding timber and cattle operations. Public education and parish government are among the largest employers, centred in Mansfield. The parish’s proximity to the Shreveport–Bossier City metro area gives residents access to a larger regional labor market.
History
DeSoto Parish was created in 1843 from parts of Natchitoches and Caddo parishes. It is popularly assumed to honor the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, but local historical tradition instead traces the name to Marcel DeSoto, who led an early group of settlers into the area. The parish was the site of the Battle of Mansfield in April 1864, a major Confederate victory that halted the Union’s Red River Campaign, commemorated today at the Mansfield State Historic Site.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 84 and Louisiana Highway 175 are the parish’s principal routes, connecting Mansfield to Shreveport in the north and to Many and Natchitoches to the south and east.
- Shreveport — 35 miles north
- Natchitoches — 45 miles southeast
- Many — 25 miles south
- Marshall, Texas — 30 miles west
Shreveport Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is DeSoto Parish?
It is in northwest Louisiana, on the Texas state line, part of the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area.
What is the population of DeSoto Parish?
26,812 people at the 2020 census.
How big is DeSoto Parish?
895 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 19 square miles are water.
What is the DeSoto Parish seat?
Mansfield is the parish seat.
How many towns and villages are in DeSoto Parish?
One city (Mansfield), three towns (Keachi, Logansport, Stonewall), four villages (Grand Cane, Longstreet, South Mansfield, Stanley), two CDPs (Frierson, Gloster) and dozens of unincorporated rural communities.
What ZIP codes are in DeSoto Parish?
71052 covers Mansfield and South Mansfield; other towns share ZIPs with neighboring post offices.
What happened at Mansfield during the Civil War?
The Battle of Mansfield, fought here in April 1864, was the decisive Confederate victory that stopped the Union Army’s Red River Campaign into Texas.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.