ST. HELENA PARISH, LOUISIANA

'St. Helena Parish' (French: ''Paroisse de Sainte-Hélène'') is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Greensburg. In 2000, its population was 10,525.

Contents

Geography

Major highways

Adjacent parishes and counties

Demographics

Sheriff scandals

Cities and towns

References

Geography

The parish has a total area of 1,060 km² (409 mi²). 1,058 km² (408 mi²) of it is land and 3 km² (1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.27% water.

Major highways

★ Louisiana Highway 10

★ Louisiana Highway 16

★ Louisiana Highway 37

★ Louisiana Highway 38

★ Louisiana Highway 43

Adjacent parishes and counties

★ Amite County, Mississippi (north)

★ Tangipahoa Parish (east)

★ Livingston Parish (south)

★ East Baton Rouge Parish (southwest)

★ East Feliciana Parish (west)

Demographics

As of 2000, there are 10,525 people, 3,873 households, and 2,784 families residing in the parish. The population density is 10/km² (26/mi²). There are 5,034 housing units at an average density of 5 persons/km² (12 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the parish was 46.53% White, 52.42% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,873 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 18.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the parish the population was spread out with 29.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $24,970, and the median income for a family was $29,950. Males had a median income of $30,218 versus $16,853 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,318. About 22.80% of families and 26.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.50% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.

Sheriff scandals

For the past decade, St. Helena Parish has suffered from a string of scandals involving its sheriffs. In 1997, Sheriff Eugene Holland was found guilty of misuse of government funds and property and using prison inmates for personal labor. His replacement, Chaney Phillips, served for only a year before he was convicted for fraud and money laundering that he committed while Parish Assessor. Ronald "Gun" Ficklin took over the Sheriff's office in 1998, but on 5 February 2007, Ficklin himself plead guilty on multiple counts involving his role in operating "chop shops" — reselling stolen automobiles and parts — using state prisoners to staff these activities and as a pit crew for his race car.^[1][2]

Cities and towns

★ Greensburg

★ Montpelier

References

1. St. Helena sheriff pleads guilty to role in illegal chop shop Penny Brown
2. Sheriff pleads guilty in chop shop case