Elton, Louisiana

Elton is a town in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,261 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The wife of pioneer settler J. M. Henderson is said to have chosen the name Elton for her home town from a book in which she read of an English town named Elton. That was probably the town on the northwest coast of England in County Durham near Middlesbrough. Elton was incorporated as a village in 1911.

Geography

Elton is located at 30°28′51″N 92°41′47″W (30.480934, -92.696265).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	995		—
1930	742		−25.4%
1940	901		21.4%
1950	1,434		59.2%
1960	1,595		11.2%
1970	1,598		0.2%
1980	1,450		−9.3%
1990	1,277		−11.9%
2000	1,261		−1.3%
2010	1,128		−10.5%
2014 (est.)	1,129		0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,261 people, 489 households, and 342 families residing in the town. The population density was 765.1 people per square mile (295.1/km²). There were 574 housing units at an average density of 348.3 per square mile (134.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.83% White, 39.10% African American, 2.06% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 489 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,384, and the median income for a family was $28,359. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $16,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,713. About 26.6% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.8% of those under age 18 and 23.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Jefferson Davis Parish Public Schools operates public schools in Elton. Schools serving Elton, within Elton, include Elton Elementary School (PK-6) and Elton High School (6-12) [1]. Elton High School offers several sports, all of which compete in District 4 of Class 1A of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. EHS offers football, basketball, track and field, rodeo, and cross country for boys and basketball, track and field, rodeo, cross country, and cheerleading for girls.

Jefferson Davis Parish Library operates the Elton Branch at 813 Main Street.

Notable Residents

• Al Woods- American football player. Graduated from Louisiana State University and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League in the 2010 NFL Draft. Currently plays defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans.
• Kevin Sickey- chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.
• William Lafleur- served as French translator for the U.S. Army during World War II. Former longtime Chief of Police for Elton.
• Joseph F. Fuselier- first sheriff of Jefferson Davis Parish. Served as sheriff from 1913 to 1916.
• Azenar Buller- served five consecutive terms as sheriff of Jefferson Davis Parish from 1940 to 1960 and had the longest tenure of any sheriff in parish history.
• Roger "Tony" Laughlin- current mayor of Elton.
• Bruce Lemelle- current Chief of Police of Elton.
• John Richer- current Fire Chief of Elton and native of Australia.