East Feliciana Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, in the Florida Parishes region north of Baton Rouge. It had a population of 19,539 at the 2020 census and covers 456 square miles (1,180 km2) centred near 30°51′N 91°03′W.
Clinton is the parish seat, and its postal code is 70722. The parish has three incorporated towns, two villages, and several unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area.
Towns & Villages in East Feliciana Parish
East Feliciana Parish has three incorporated towns and two incorporated villages; the rest of the places below are unincorporated communities with no municipal government (marked Unincorp.).
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | Town · seat | 1,428 | 70722 |
| Jackson | Town | 3,439 | 70748 |
| Slaughter | Town | 1,131 | 70777 |
| Norwood | Village | 164 | 70761 |
| Wilson | Village | 595 | 70789 |
| Ethel | Unincorp. | — | 70730 |
| Bluff Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gurley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gilead | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olive Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Felixville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blairstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
A handful of small rural crossroads named in older listings — Battle, Browns, Cole, Delombre, Felps, Grays, Hatchersville, Lindsay, McKnight Crossing, McManus, Oaknolia, Reiley, Reimer Crossing, and Teddy — are farmsteads or road junctions with no verifiable current population figures or ZIP assignments; they are omitted from the table above for lack of a citable source, not because they don’t exist on the ground.
ZIP Codes
- 70722 — Clinton (also serves Bluff Creek, Gurley)
- 70748 — Jackson
- 70777 — Slaughter
- 70730 — Ethel
- 70761 — Norwood
- 70789 — Wilson
The parish’s six standard-delivery ZIP codes carry every incorporated place; unlisted rural communities use whichever of these six ZIPs covers their mail route.
Geography
East Feliciana sits on rolling, forested uplands typical of the Florida Parishes, well above the flat alluvial plain that covers most of south Louisiana. The Comite and Amite river systems drain the parish, with numerous smaller creeks — including Bluff Creek, the source of the community’s name — cutting through pine and hardwood timberland. Of the parish’s total area, 453 square miles is land and 2.4 square miles is water.
East Feliciana borders West Feliciana Parish to the west, East Baton Rouge Parish to the south, St. Helena Parish to the east, and Wilkinson County, Mississippi and Amite County, Mississippi to the north.
Demographics
East Feliciana Parish had 19,539 residents at the 2020 census. Jackson is the largest community, followed by Clinton, the seat. Median household income in the parish runs below the Louisiana median of $58,229, reflecting the area’s rural, institution-heavy economy. Population density is roughly 43 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Two large state institutions anchor the parish economy: East Louisiana State Hospital, a psychiatric facility, and Dixon Correctional Institute, a state prison, both near Jackson — making state government the parish’s largest employer. Agriculture, timber, and cattle ranching remain significant on the parish’s rural land, and Baton Rouge Community College maintains a service presence in the parish for residents commuting to the metro area.
History
East Feliciana Parish was created in 1824 when the Louisiana legislature split the old Feliciana Parish into East and West. The Feliciana name honors Marie Felicité, wife of Spanish colonial governor Bernardo de Gálvez; the parish was part of Spanish West Florida before it joined the United States. Clinton, laid out as the seat soon after formation, still preserves a cluster of antebellum courthouse-square architecture that draws heritage visitors.
Getting There
US Highway 61 runs along the parish’s western edge, and Louisiana Highways 10, 19, 63, 67, and 68 cross the parish, linking its towns to Baton Rouge.
- Baton Rouge — 30 miles south
- Jackson to Clinton — 12 miles southwest
- McComb, Mississippi — 35 miles north
- Hammond — 45 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is East Feliciana Parish?
It is in southeastern Louisiana’s Florida Parishes region, north of Baton Rouge and south of the Mississippi state line.
What is the population of East Feliciana Parish?
19,539 residents, per the 2020 census.
How big is East Feliciana Parish?
456 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 453 square miles is land.
What is the parish seat of East Feliciana Parish?
Clinton is the parish seat.
How many towns are in East Feliciana Parish?
Three incorporated towns (Clinton, Jackson, Slaughter) and two villages (Norwood, Wilson), plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in East Feliciana Parish?
70722 (Clinton), 70748 (Jackson), 70777 (Slaughter), 70730 (Ethel), 70761 (Norwood), and 70789 (Wilson).
What state institutions are located in East Feliciana Parish?
East Louisiana State Hospital and Dixon Correctional Institute, both near Jackson.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.