Webster Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, in the state’s northwestern corner, bordered by Arkansas to the north and the Bossier and Bienville parish lines to the west and southeast. It had a population of 36,967 at the 2020 census and covers 615 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 593 square miles are land and 22 square miles are water, centred near 32°42′N 93°20′W.
Minden is the county seat of Webster Parish, and its postal code is 71055. The parish holds two cities, four towns and five villages, plus a handful of unincorporated communities. Webster Parish sits in the Central time zone and is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden combined statistical area.
Towns & Villages in Webster Parish
Minden and Springhill anchor the parish as its only cities; the rest of the population lives in smaller incorporated towns and villages or in unincorporated crossroads communities along the bayous and rail lines.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minden | City · seat | 11,928 | 71055 |
| Springhill | City | 4,801 | 71075 |
| Sibley | Town | 1,127 | — |
| Cotton Valley | Town | 787 | — |
| Sarepta | Town | 717 | — |
| Cullen | Town | 716 | — |
| Doyline | Village | 674 | — |
| Dixie Inn | Village | 293 | — |
| Dubberly | Village | 250 | — |
| Heflin | Village | 213 | — |
| Shongaloo | Village | 151 | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Yellow Pine | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 71055 — Minden (also serves the surrounding unincorporated parish)
- 71075 — Springhill
The parish’s other incorporated towns and villages each carry their own ZIP code, but this profile lists only the two confirmed above rather than guess at the rest.
Geography
Webster Parish sits in the Ark-La-Tex, drained by Dorcheat Bayou and dotted with sand-and-clay hills typical of north Louisiana. Lake Bistineau forms part of the parish’s southern edge, and pine timberland covers much of the interior between the towns. The parish borders:
- Lafayette County, Arkansas — north
- Columbia County, Arkansas — northeast
- Claiborne Parish — east
- Bienville Parish — southeast
- Bossier Parish — west
Demographics
Webster Parish counted 36,967 residents at the 2020 census. Minden, the seat, is the largest community with 11,928 people, followed by Springhill with 4,801. Louisiana’s 2023 ACS median household income is $58,229; parish officials have said the local economy has long depended on petroleum and natural gas employment, and the end of the Haynesville Shale drilling boom coincided with population losses noted in a 2017 parish report. Population density works out to roughly 62 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas extraction has shaped Webster Parish’s economy for decades, and the Haynesville Shale boom brought a wave of drilling activity to the region before slowing in the years after. Camp Minden, the former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, now houses Louisiana National Guard units and remains a source of government jobs. Timber and light manufacturing round out employment outside Minden and Springhill’s town centers.
History
Webster Parish was created on February 27, 1871, from portions of Bienville, Bossier and Claiborne parishes. It is named for Daniel Webster, the 19th-century American statesman from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Early settlement in the Overton community dates to about 1818, when Virginia-born Newett Drew established a grist mill there; his descendants later held judicial and legislative office in the region.
Getting There
Interstate 20 crosses the parish east–west, joined by U.S. Routes 79, 80 and 371 and Louisiana Highway 2; a future Interstate 69 corridor is also planned through the area.
- Shreveport, Louisiana — 30 miles west
- Ruston, Louisiana — 30 miles southeast
- El Dorado, Arkansas — 35 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Shreveport Regional Airport. Amtrak does not serve Webster Parish; the closest station is in Longview, Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Webster Parish?
It is in northwestern Louisiana, on the Arkansas state line, roughly 30 miles east of Shreveport.
What is the Minden postcode?
Minden’s postal code is 71055.
What is the population of Webster Parish?
Webster Parish had a population of 36,967 at the 2020 census.
Minden is the county seat — what is the parish’s second-largest city?
Springhill, with 4,801 residents at the 2020 census.
What county borders Webster Parish to the west?
Bossier Parish borders Webster Parish to the west.
Why is it called Webster Parish?
It is named for Daniel Webster, the 19th-century American statesman.
What was Camp Minden?
Camp Minden is the former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, now used by Louisiana National Guard units.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.