MANSFIELD, LOUISIANA

The city of 'Mansfield' is the parish seat of De Soto Parish, in the US state of Louisiana.
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The population was 5,582 at the 2000 census. According to the 2004 census, the city had a population of 5,496.
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Contents

Geography

History

Demographics

References

Geography

Mansfield is located at (32.032782, -93.702475) and has an elevation of .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 km² (3.7 mi²), all land.

History

The Battle of Mansfield, a Confederate victory under General Richard Taylor (son of Zachary Taylor), was fought here on April 8, 1864. This battle turned 42,000 Union Troops away from their conquest of the Louisiana Confederate Capital, Shreveport and sent them in retreat to New Orleans.
Mansfield is also the birthplace of the popular former major league baseball player Vida Rochelle Blue, Jr. It is also the birthplace of Josh Logan, the noted broadway producer. Mary Miles Minter, the silent screen actress was also from this area.
Mansfield was the home of United States Congressman Joseph Barton Elam. (1821-1885) Mansfield was also the home of Louisiana State Representative Charles Wheaton Elam. (1866-1917).
Mansfield was the home of a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, Joe Henry Cooper (1920-1980), a merchant who was instrumental in the development of the Toledo Bend Dam and Reservoir in nearby Sabine Parish.
The first female college west of the Mississippi River, Mansfield Female College was founded by the Methodists here in the 1800s.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,582 people, 2,054 households, and 1,390 families residing in the city. The population density was 585.7/km² (1,515.4/mi²). There were 2,298 housing units at an average density of 241.1/km² (623.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.13% White, 64.26% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
There were 2,054 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 27.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city of Mansfield, the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,981, and the median income for a family was $26,683. Males had a median income of $30,239 versus $19,854 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,850. About 27.2% of families and 33.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.1% of those under age 18 and 26.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

1.
"Mansfield, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes),
''City Data'', 2007, webpage:
C-Mansfd.

2.
"Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list),
US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage:
C2000-LA.