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Community Profile
July 2011
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Vernon Parish | Community Profile
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Table of Contents
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Purpose of the Comprehensive Plan
Purpose of the Community Profile
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02: Other Planning Initiatives in the Parish
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01: Introduction & Purpose
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Public Meeting Process
Round One Meeting Results
Preliminary Community Goals
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04: Parish Background
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Parish History
Parish Background
Parish Population and Demographics
Community Profile Introduction
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05: Land Use
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Parish-wide
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06: Transportation
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Major Corridors
Gulf Coast Strategic Highway System and Highway 28
Highway 171/Highway 28 Roundabout
Local Road Network
Alternative Transportation Network
Vernon Parish Public Transit
Air Access
Rail
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03: Community Values
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Parish-wide
Anacoco
Evans
Hornbeck
Leesville
New Llano
Pitkin
Rosepine
Simpson
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08: Conservation & the Environment
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Parish-wide
Kisatchie National Forest
Wildlife Management Areas
Sabine River and Toledo Bend
Vernon Lake
Anacoco Lake
Calcasieu River
Wetlands
Endangered/Threatened Species
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09: Recreation & Culture
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Parish-wide
Analysis
Community / Neighborhood Parks
Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Overview of Recreation Activities for Vernon Parish
Tourism / Cultural Programming
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10: Housing and Neighborhoods
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Housing Occupancy
Housing Age and Quality
Housing Tenure and Type
Housing Value and Cost
Specialized Housing Populations
Housing Trends
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07: Utilities
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Parish-wide
Anacoco
Evans
Hornbeck
Leesville
New Llano
Pitkin
Rosepine
Simpson
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12: Health & Human Services
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Parish Health
Medical Facilities
Nursing Facilities and Home Health Care Services
Human Service Agencies
Charitable and Non-Profit Groups
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13: Economic Development
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Introduction
Population Trends & Projections
Household Trends & Projections
Median Household Income Trends and Projections
Education Attainment
Employment and Establishment Trends
Unemployment and Labor Force Trends
Occupational Distribution
Regional Commuting Patterns
Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Implications
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11: Community Facilities
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01 Introduction & Purpose
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Introduction & Purpose
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The Comprehensive Plan for Vernon Parish and its communities
will serve as a long-term blueprint to enhance quality of life,
guide investment, and attract growth in the years ahead. All
communities face change and difficult choices about where to
improve or expand physical infrastructure, how to deliver needed
public services, where to build homes and businesses, and how
to maintain community assets and natural resources. Many
factors and trends—economic conditions, shifts in population,
aging infrastructure, the loss of natural resources—complicate
these already complex decisions. This planning process enables
decision-makers and service providers to examine the challenges
and opportunities that are shaping the parish and invites residents,
businesses, and organizations to give their input on how they want
their communities to look and function over the next two decades.
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Purpose of the
Comprehensive Plan
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The Comprehensive Plan will be a set of guiding policies that
acts as an advisory roadmap for many of the physical, social,
and economic elements that make up local quality of life—
transportation, land use, housing, the environment, cultural and
recreational amenities, economic development, infrastructure,
public facilities, and health and human services. The plan will
give an overall idea of how land, infrastructure, neighborhoods,
and commercial and rural areas will work together to support 3rd Street in the Leesville Historic District
outcomes like efficient infrastructure and public service delivery,
job creation, and economic growth within the parish. Designed
to capture a broad vision and path forward, the Comprehensive
Plan is intended as a guiding document, and will therefore not
establish specific regulatory actions or laws governing growth and
development in the parish.
While the plan will set goals and practical recommendations for
strengthening the parish across multiple resource areas, an equally
important purpose of the process will be to reflect the values and
priorities of its residents and stakeholders. People consistently
cite small-town character, beautiful rural landscapes, and safe,
friendly neighborhoods as the parish’s very best qualities. The
Comprehensive Plan affords a significant opportunity to build on
these key assets and to shape inevitable change so that Vernon
Parish remains an attractive, safe, and prosperous place for its
current and future residents.
Anacoco Creek
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Purpose of the Community
Profile
As shown in Figure 1, the Comprehensive Plan is a five-phase
process that begins with the Community Profile. This section of the
plan reviews existing conditions and facilities in Vernon Parish and
its communities, assesses currents demographic and economic
trends, establishes potential gaps in the parish’s economic and
physical health, and highlights important assets to maintain and
strengthen. The results of the Community Profile help to identify
current and anticipated challenges and opportunities and will
inform the development of goals and recommendations in later
stages.
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Though the profile summarizes public feedback received to date as
part of the Community Values section below, the Comprehensive
Plan’s guiding principles and goals will continue to emerge
throughout the planning process. Subsequent phases of the plan
will ask residents to consider the types of housing, transportation,
retail, community facilities, and parks and open spaces that
they would like to see in their neighborhoods and to examine
the different ways in which the parish can balance growth and
development with natural areas and rural landscapes. The input
received in Phases 2 and 3 will play a critical role in defining the
plan’s overall themes and establishing more specific goals for
each resource area. The Comprehensive Plan will then conclude
with a specific set of action steps and recommended projects for
achieving the community vision.
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Figure 1. Comprehensive Plan Process
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02 Other Planning Initiatives
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Other Planning Initiatives in the Parish
The studies summarized below have examined various aspects of the economic and built
context of Vernon Parish or its individual communities. What distinguishes this current
plan is the comprehensive scale of the effort—both geographically and in content. As
the first parish-wide planning exercise undertaken, the plan will develop policies and
recommendations for all parts of Vernon Parish, including its six municipalities and
unincorporated areas. Also, by emphasizing the wide range of inter-related economic,
social, natural, and physical issues that affect the parish, the plan will serve as an overarching
framework for action across multiple otherwise specialized areas of community initiative.
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Though the Comprehensive Plan is farther reaching in its scope and scale than previous
efforts, the intent of the study is to build on earlier plans and to complement ongoing
parish planning initiatives. This plan will be the vehicle for gathering and synthesizing the
many good ideas for strengthening the parish and crafting them into a broad vision for
better quality of life throughout Vernon Parish.
Visions for Vernon
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Initiated in 2007, Visions for Vernon is a foundational planning effort for the parish and
a key starting point for the current planning team. Led by the Chamber of Commerce
to facilitate collaborative community dialogue, Visions for Vernon focused on strategies
in five major areas of interest--education, economic development, infrastructure,
marketing of the parish, and quality of life. Visions participants conducted a strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis for the parish. The results shaped
an overall vision for Vernon and its communities…. “A great place to raise a family, a great
place to retire.” One of the study’s key findings was the need to conduct a parish-wide
comprehensive plan.
New Llano Town Hall
Visions for Vernon:
“A great place to raise a family, a
great place to retire.”
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The Town of New Llano Town Plan
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This plan, funded through the Department of Defense, Office
of Economic Adjustment (OEA), focuses on potential growth
in the University Parkway (LA Highway 467) area between the
City of Leesville's eastern boundary and the Fort Polk entrance.
The purpose of OEA-funded studies is to assist communities in
addressing growth impacts associated with mission change and
personnel increases at nearby military installations. The City of
Leesville is the fiscal agent for the grant, but a management
team consisting of representatives from Vernon Parish, the City of
Leesville, the Village of Anacoco, the State of Louisiana, Fort Polk,
Fort Polk Progress, and the Vernon Parish School Board oversees
the effort. The intent of the study is to position Highway 467 as
an attractive rural parkway that can anchor housing, contractor
spaces, retail and other quality of life amenities as Fort Polk
continues its transformation under the Grow The Army initiative.
The “467 Plan” examines opportunities to create a quality mixed
use environment to support the post’s evolving mission, while
complementing other existing or planned uses along the corridor,
such as the Northwestern State University campus, the Veteran's
Administration Out-Patient Clinic, and the Louisiana Department
of Veterans Affairs Cemetery. The planning team for the OEA study
will continue to coordinate their efforts and findings with the Plan
Vernon Parish team, though the Comprehensive Plan will remain
significantly broader in outlook.
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Highway 467 Office of Economic
Adjustment Plan
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The Town of New Llano is currently working with Villavaso and
Associates to develop a long-range master plan that examines
the community's population, economy, housing, transportation,
community facilities and land use. The Plan Vernon Parish team will
work closely with this plan’s developers to identify opportunities
for collaboration and to incorporate major findings and concepts.
Highways 171 and 78
State of Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development
Transportation Study
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
(LADOTD) is funding a study to conduct a detailed assessment of
transportation issues across the parish and to recommend specific
projects. Phases of the LADOTD plan and Comprehensive Plan
will overlap. Team members from both studies will coordinate on
findings. Concepts developed as part of the Plan Vernon Parish
Comprehensive Plan, such as desired future growth patterns, will
become key inputs for the transportation plan’s modeling of future
roadway conditions and the determination of community needs.
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Highway 171/28 Roundabout
Funded through LADOTD, the Market Basket food store and
Highway Safety Program funds, this effort focuses on the
conversion of the existing signalized T-intersection of U.S. 171 with
LA Highways 8/28 into a roundabout. The purpose for reconfiguring
this highly visible intersection is to improve safety and enhance
traffic flow. Groundbreaking for the two-phase project took place
in late October of 2010 and completion is scheduled for spring
2011.
Louisiana Speaks
Being a vibrant community flourishing with diversified
large and small businesses throughout the parish
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Being a well-trained, well-educated and wellcompensated workforce, full of life-long Vernon Parish
residents
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Having well-organized and well-planned residential
communities with a wide variety of housing options for
all income levels
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Being the envy of the state and the nation due to our
beautiful lakes, fish and wildlife resources, recreational
areas and vibrant timber industry
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Ensuring that Leesville has a revitalized and thriving
downtown revolving around our history and heritage,
specifically our Historic Courthouse Building
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Maintaining our small-town atmosphere, low crime
rate, quality public school system, and the spirit of
camaraderie throughout our entire community
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Having a well-equipped multi-purpose community
center which will also serve as an emergency evacuation
center
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Planning and implementing a well-managed evacuation
plan for our residents and for our southern neighbors to
find refuge in the event of a future emergency
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Louisiana Speaks is the long-term community recovery planning
process that engages citizens, federal agencies, local and regional
planning bodies, non-profits and industry experts in dialogue
about the state’s recovery needs and opportunities in the
wake of Hurricane Katrina. Vernon Parish officials, community
organizations, and businesses actively participated in the process
in late 2005 and 2006. The parish recovery vision focused on:
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03 Community Values
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Community Values
Public Meeting Process
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phases of the public involvement process, which begins with
general visioning and then examines more detailed concepts
While the Comprehensive Plan will establish more specific goals for for community growth and development. Along with public
each of the resource areas examined, the study begins the process meetings, members of the public can follow study progress,
of defining its guiding values by exploring a broad and basic review materials, and submit comments to the planning team at
question--“What makes a great rural community?” Communities the project web site: planvernonparish.org.
differ in their size, geography, culture, and physical makeup. But
A central goal of the plan is to reflect the diversity of context across
great places to live also tend to have elements in common, such
the parish, as well as to capture the variety of opinions about what
as access to jobs, affordability, the ability to move around easily,
makes a great place to live. With this emphasis on community-level
quality housing choices, and safe neighborhoods.
input, the resulting Comprehensive Plan will deliver a targeted
To explore this theme of great rural places, the planning team series of recommendations for individual communities, rather
has structured the Comprehensive Plan around a series of than a single, parish-wide approach to land use, transportation,
public meetings throughout the parish. Figure 2 shows the four and infrastructure.
Figure 2. Public Involvement Meeting Process
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Round One Meeting Results
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small percentage of people choosing “lack of development” as very
important could suggest that parish residents may be receptive to
The input summarized below constitutes an initial set of some form of growth in their communities.
community values that will drive the plan and its eventual
recommendations. The planning team will work with residents to Participants ranked strengthening education and diversifying
refine this feedback into more specific ideas about desired options the economy and creating jobs as the most essential areas of
for housing, open space, recreation, retail, jobs and transportation focus for the Comprehensive Plan. Respondents also emphasized
for the parish’s communities. It should be noted that the meeting addressing transportation needs and developing locally-focused
exercises summarized do not produce statistically valid data but recommendations that recognize the diversity of the parish’s
are intended as a tools to gather qualitative input from residents communities.
and generate dialogue about community issues.
The facilitators also asked participants to write out post cards from
In the first round of public meetings held in Anacoco, Leesville, Vernon Parish as if the year were 2030. The purpose of the cards
Simpson, Pitkin and Rosepine in October of 2010, team facilitators was to convey to family and friends what the parish was like in 20
used wireless audience response devices to gather input from years and thus capture a vision for a desired future.
participants. The system enables members of the public to choose
from among multiple answers to a series of posed questions Overall, the initial visioning exercise underscores a common identity
and then instantaneously displays the “voting” results on slides. for the parish that revolves around small town neighborliness, the
The facilitators presented ideas about what makes a great rural value of education, and the role of schools as community anchors.
community and then summarized potential strategy areas based Despite these unifying themes, however, the results also point
on Visions for Vernon findings and preliminary plan analysis. to distinct differences among communities. Residents in smaller,
Respondents ranked elements or general strategies according to rural areas, such as Simpson, placed a premium on maintaining
the level of importance for them and their specific communities. the small town atmosphere and assessing transportation issues.
As shown in Figure 3, most meeting participants identified people Communities with larger populations and stronger links to Fort
and the schools as the elements that have the greatest impact on Polk more highly valued strategies to increase retail and service
making their communities livable and appealing. The relatively options and expand housing choices.
Figure 3. What Makes a Great Rural Community Question Results
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Simpson Rosepine
Meeting Meeting
Strategy Focus
Leesville
Meeting
Anacoco
Meeting
Pitkin
Meeting
Protect the strong sense of community and
small town atmosphere
76%
50%
64%
14%
65%
Diversify the economy and create jobs
47%
83%
91%
100%
71%
Build on the recreation and quality of life
37%
33%
53%
0%
22%
Add new retail and services
35%
67%
73%
29%
53%
Address transportation infrastructure needs
80%
67%
75%
43%
61%
Address wastewater infrastructure needs
26%
67%
76%
29%
28%
Focus on all areas and different approaches
84%
71%
73%
29%
72%
Expand housing options
20%
83%
68%
33%
39%
Strengthen education
70%
86%
74%
71%
100%
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Note: Table shows the percentage of meeting participants that identified each focus area or theme as very important to
their communities
Note: The community names listed in the table refer only to the location of the meetings; the recorded focus areas may
include the views of citizens who attended those meetings and reside in nearby areas outside the named community
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Table 1. Strategy Focus Rankings
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Preliminary Community Goals
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The following preliminary community goals reflect the main ideas gathered during the visioning exercises. The planning
team will refine and build on this feedback to craft an overarching set of guiding principles and develop specific goals for
each of the plan’s resource areas.
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Protect the scenic value and small town character of the parish
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Improve traffic flow along Highway 171
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Identify opportunities to improve rural roadway conditions
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Improve existing water and wastewater systems
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Expand housing choices and neighborhood types
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Build on K-12 educational performance
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Diversify the economic base and promote investment and job creation
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Add retail, entertainment and restaurant options
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04 Parish Background
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Parish Background
Parish History
Leesville
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Government finally came to the region after the Civil War, when
Vernon Parish was created in 1871. Even then it was a sparsely
settled place of yeoman farmers and immense pine forests. Some
small-scale timber harvesting began in the years following the Civil
War, and loggers would use the Sabine River to float rafts of logs
to the mills near Orange, Texas. Other small timber operations
cropped up along tributaries of the Calcasieu River.
Named after General Robert E. Lee, Leesville was a small village
when it was incorporated in 1898. Its growth was sparked in 1899,
when a Beaumont, Texas-based company, Nona Mills, began
operations in the town. The mill employed over 300 people and
helped the town double its population between 1900 and 1910.
Three distinct parts of town developed: “Old Town,” “New Town,”
and “Mill Town.” The leaders of the company built stately homes
and businesses flourished. Yet by 1922 as the forest was depleted,
Nona Mills began to divest its holdings in Leesville and operate at
an increasingly smaller scale. The pine forest was so exhausted
that two of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps in the
1930s were set up near Leesville: Camp Vernon and Camp Lee.
Although the eventual closing of the mills interrupted the town’s
prosperity, the opening of Camp Polk in the 1940s provided a new
opportunity for Leesville to prosper.
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Compared to other parts of Louisiana, Vernon Parish is relatively
young. Known as the “neutral strip,” the area lacked any semblance
of government or laws for decades. During this period, travel
through the ungoverned territory had a dangerous reputation.
Outlaws such as the infamous Murrell Gang used Nolan’s Trace-known as an outlaw road-- for conducting raids and stealing cattle,
horses, and slaves from isolated settlements.
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The coming of the Kansas City Railroad in 1897 sparked the timber
boom that would bring growth to the parish and give birth to many
of the communities that exist today. Timber mills sprouted across
the parish, cutting the pine forests and producing thousands of
board feet of lumber. The timber heyday of the parish lasted from
the early 1900s until the 1920s. Lumber mills large and small were
built along the main rail line and its branch lines extending deep
into the forests. Workers from out of state joined local farmers in
the mills. At one point, there were more than twenty population
centers in the parish that grew up around the sawmills. Some
companies built entire towns to support the mills, providing
medical service, housing, barbershops, grocery stores, schools,
churches and parks. Towns and cities such as Hornbeck, Leesville,
Pitkin, and Fullerton prospered in this economy.
Fort Polk
In 1941, the federal government built Camp Polk as a headquarters
for the army to train in the Louisiana maneuvers, a series of tactics
used in World War II’s invasion of North Africa and Europe. The
government acquired thousands of acres mainly by expropriation
of homesteads and timberlands—for as little as $4.50 per acre in
some cases. During World War II, more than eight million people
trained at the post, but the camp closed at the end of the war.
In the following two decades, the camp would go through a
series of openings and closures, before becoming a permanent
site in 1962 for basic and advanced individual training. In 1974,
By the 1930s, however, timber companies had cut over more 70
percent of the parish, and the saw mills and their jobs quickly
dwindled. The next boom period came with the establishment
of Camp Polk during World War II. In some ways, the military
installation echoed the boom-bust cycles of the timber industry in
its pattern of closures and re-openings that would cause population
fluctuations throughout the parish and Leesville in particular. Over
the last half century, the parish has grown modestly but remains
firmly tied to its forestry and military roots. Though this story of
the timber industry and the military is pervasive throughout the
parish, each community has its own unique heritage, described
briefly below.
Camp Vernon CCC Camp, 1935
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Leesville Depot, 1918
New Llano
Anacoco
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The origins of the Village of Anacoco are less clear than other
parish communities. Its name is said to be derived from the Native
American word meaning “muddy sands”. Early maps showed the
area called “Bayou LanAcoco,” which belonged to an absentee
Frenchman land-owner. The first Euro-American family in presentday Anacoco was the Franklins, who were passing through the
area on their way west but for unknown reasons, decided to stay
and settle. Like other villages in the parish, Anacoco also has a
history of timber harvesting.
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Congress passed a large construction bill to remove the World War
II-era structures and replace them with more modern, permanent
masonry structures. Fort Polk eventually became the home of the
5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and today is best known for its
Joint Readiness Training Center.
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During the timber boom, present-day New Llano was known as
Stables, and was home to the large sawmill of the Gulf Lumber
Company. By the late 1910s, two of the company’s mills had burnt
down and the company chose not rebuild. News of the available
mill site reached the California socialist community of Llano in
California, which was looking for a place to rebuild their colony.
In 1917, 60 families from the colony arrived from the west on
the Kansas City Southern Railroad to build their community on
20,000 acres of land purchased from Gulf. The colony flourished
for a brief period, when residents rotated jobs and operated small
industries like a crate factory and a brick kiln. The combination of
the Depression and unsuccessful investments in oil well drilling led
to the colony’s demise, and most families left. The Town of New
Llano was incorporated in 1942, but the colony survived in some
form until 1965 when it was officially liquidated.
Rosepine
Incorporated as a village in 1902, Rosepine was another timber
boom town spurred by the coming of the Kansas City Southern
Railroad. It became the favorite recreation center for employees
from the Neame, Cravens, Fal, Pinewood, Bon Ami, and Carson
sawmills and had seven saloons, a bank, two hotels, and a number
of businesses. In recent years, the town has become a popular
place for Fort Polk personnel seeking off-post housing.
Hornbeck
Located just north of Anacoco, the Town of Hornbeck incorporated
in 1897 when F. A. Hornbeck discovered that the Kansas City
Southern Railway planned to build a railway division at the
location. Hornbeck drew up a plan and began selling lots; by the
early 1900s the town had a bank, a newspaper, five hotels, five
saloons, and a large sawmill. The small town prospered until the
railway division moved to Leesville in 1912. Hornbeck survived
the movement of the division because of its saw mills, and later its
turpentine stills. Today, it is the smallest settlement in Louisiana to
be designated a “Town.”
Simpson
Originally known as Pine Island, the Village of Simpson is located
about midway between Comrade Creek and the Calcasieu River.
The Beef Road, which ran through area, likely attracted early
residents to the community. Settlers used the local streams for
power to grind corn and polish rice, and in 1929 the village got a
cotton gin. Because it was not located on the railroad, Simpson’s
history is not as closely tied with the timber industry as many other
villages and towns in the parish.
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Gulf Lumberton Co at Fullerton
in name only, but occasionally evidence of their existence has
One legacy of the timber industry is that there are many small survived, such as the old mill pond in Slagle.
villages and hamlets throughout the parish that were once the
Another exception to the vanishing mill communities is Fullerton.
locations of sawmills and other timber operations. Most of these
Located north of Pitkin, Fullerton was the site of the largest pine
areas are not incorporated, but have a distinct identity and sense
sawmill west of the Mississippi. Between 1907 and 1927, it was a
of place that remain today.
successful company town of almost 5,000 residents; accounts of
life in the town paint it as a harmonious community that could
have been a model for company towns across the nation. Officials
Pitkin
Pitkin was one of the first areas settled in the parish, and included from the Gulf Lumber Company sought to make the town a
the lands between Little Six Mile Creek and Big Six Mile Creek. Its pleasant place for its workers; in 1927 the Beaumont Enterprise
original name was Slabtown, but then changed to Lydia, before newspaper described it as “one of the most picturesquely beautiful
assuming its present-day name of Pitkin. Its apex in population mill towns whose streets were planned and carefully laid out by
mirrored that of nearby Fullerton Mill. At the dawn of the practiced engineers and a man who conceived and dreamed the
United States’ involvement with World War II, many Pitkin area place—lakes nestling in the bends of wide gravel thoroughfares.”
residents were forced to sell their land to the government for the Despite the investment, the operation closed up once the forest
had been exhausted. Most people left to find work in the Texas oil
establishment of Fort Polk.
fields; some stayed and attempted a living off of farming, but the
soil was ill-suited for it. Today all that remains of Fullerton are the
Evans
ruins of building foundations and a mill pond. The site has been
Because of its proximity to the Sabine River, the area around Evans incorporated as part of Kisatchie National Forest, and for a number
was also settled quite early. However, this also meant its forests of years has hosted the Fullerton Reunion that still happens
were depleted sooner and the area did not see as large a timber annually. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
boom as other parts of the parish. Evans is known to some as the
“Lone Sassafrass,” which is a large tree standing alone on a hill along
the Nolan Trace, the notorious criminal road through the parish.
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Unincorporated Vernon Parish Villages
“Ghost Towns”
Most of the towns spurred by the timber boom disappeared after
the forests were depleted. An examination of historic maps from
the era reveal a number of communities that do not exist today,
such as Barham and Neame, which both had mills. Most of these
operations have left no visible traces and the villages remain
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Study Area
At 1,328 square miles, Vernon is the one of the largest parishes
in the state. See Figure 4. Federal lands, including Fort Polk and
the Kisatchie National Forest, as well as privately-owned wildlife
management areas equal more than one quarter of this sprawling
land area. Other natural features, including Lakes Anacoco and
Vernon and managed forests, mark the predominantly rural
landscape. Small population centers spread across the remainder
of the parish.
The State of Louisiana recognizes three tiers of incorporated local
jurisdictions. Villages have a population of less than1,000 residents;
towns have between 1,000 and 4,999 residents; and cities feature
populations in excess of 5,000 people. Vernon Parish includes six
incorporated municipalities—the Village of Anacoco, the Town of
Hornbeck, the City of Leesville, the Town of New Llano, the Town of
Rosepine, and the Village of Simpson. As noted earlier, Hornbeck is
the smallest settlement in Louisiana to be designated as a “Town.”
Other unincorporated, but distinct, communities in the parish
include Evans, Cravens, Pitkin, Hicks, Slagle and Pickering. Given
their proximity to Fort Polk, Leesville and New Llano constitute the
developed core of the parish, anchoring most of its commercial
uses and economic activity.
Road Construction, Parish Capital Properties, Rural Fire Protection,
Parish Equipment, Permit and Claims, Solid Waste, Economic
Development and Planning, Subdivision, Wildlife and Lakes, Public
Works, & Ways & Means--to assist with specific operations. The
Police Jury also initiates capital and planning projects and has the
authority to adopt regulatory policy, such as ordinances, to protect
and promote the health, safety and order of the parish.
The Police Jury staff delivers a range of services across the parish,
including the construction or maintenance of parish facilities,
roads, bridges and water and drainage systems; law enforcement
and fire protection; the delivery of recreation, parks, and library
services; tax collection; election services; public works; economic
development; and the enforcement of subdivision regulations.
Governance at the municipal level consists of locally elected
mayors and councils. The municipalities deliver services in
functional areas such as permitting and land use regulation, parks
and recreation, law enforcement and fire protection within their
incorporated boundaries. The parish’s municipalities vary in their
service delivery capabilities due to size, available staffing and
fiscal resources, and the extent of land use and development
regulations adopted at the local level. The Police Jury performs
basic permitting for sewer connections, 911 communication
system connections, and floodplain management and issues
building permits for the parish’s smaller jurisdictions.
T
Parish Background
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Vernon Parish is also a member of the Kisatchie-Delta Regional
Planning & Development District, a non-profit, planning and
development agency serving eight parishes of central Louisiana.
Parish Governance
The agency provides economic development assistance, as well as
The Police Jury acts as the basic governing entity for Vernon
support for comprehensive planning, community development,
Parish. Jurors are elected from 12 districts and appoint a Secretary/
federal procurement technical assistance, business development
Treasurer to oversee financial and administrative functions, as
loans, entrepreneurial development, special-purpose planning,
well as 12 standing committees--Personnel, Finance, Highway/
and tourism and retirement promotion.
Vernon Parish Police Jury
23
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FIigure 4. Vernon Parish Study Area
24
Parish Population and
Demographics
As cited in the review of the area’s history, Vernon Parish’s
population has long fluctuated in response to the cyclical
expansion and contraction of the timber industry and the military.
As shown in Figure 5, the parish’s population rose dramatically
during the 1960s Vietnam era and has varied between 52,000 and
62,000 residents in subsequent decades.
According to the 2010 US Census, the parish had more than
52,000 residents, a slight drop from the 2000 figures. See Table
2. The parish population is evenly divided with just under half of
residents living in established municipalities or census designated
places associated with the post and half residing in unincorporated
areas. Leesville, the parish seat, is the most populated community
followed by New Llano.
Previous population estimates between July 2001 and July 2009
reflected a loss of almost 6,000 residents or about 11 percent of
Vernon Parish’s population base over the previous decade. Despite
recent growth initiatives at Fort Polk, the number of military
personnel assigned to the post was actually less in 2010 than in
2000, indicating that the parish saw growth in its non-military
population during the decade.
Area
Population
Anacoco
R
D
869
Fort Polk North CDP
2,864
Fort Polk South CDP
9,038
Leesville
6,612
Simpson
638
Hornbeck
480
2,504
Rosepine
1,692
New Llano
AF
Long-term population projections for the parish still reflect
an ongoing loss of residents through 2030. However, with a
population that is 12 percent above the estimated 2010 baseline,
the parish is currently on a growth trajectory that now exceeds
this anticipated trend. While unforeseen military initiatives could
curtail or even reverse projected population losses, the trend data
nonetheless highlight the importance of diversifying the economic
base in the parish to reduce dependence on a single growth sector
and to expand opportunities to attract new residents.
2010 Census figures show that
Vernon Parish’s non-military
population grew by about 2,000
people over the previous decade.
T
Population Trends and Projections
Unincorporated Parish
27,637
PARISH TOTAL
52,334
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010
Note: CDP = census designated place
Table 2. Vernon Parish and Municipalities, 2010 Population
25
70000
61961
60000
53794
52531
50000
52334
53475
40000
30000
20000
18301
10000
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Military
Source: Fort Polk
Table 3. Projected Military Strength at Fort Polk
FY 2009
D
Population
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AF
T
Figure 5. Vernon Parish Population, 1960 to 2000
9,708
Forecasted
FY 2015
10,325
26
Social Characteristics
Economic Characteristics
Table 4 summarizes the social characteristics of the parish. The
presence of military personnel and their families skews some of the
statistics, making the parish younger than the State of Louisiana
and the US and creating a higher percentage of children under
the age of 5 years. Vernon Parish has an estimated 6,000 civilian
veterans, producing a significantly higher percentage of military
retirees than in Louisiana and the US. Average household and
family size are also smaller than the state and nation. While high
school graduation figures are comparable to or better than state
and national figures, the parish lags in the percentage of residents
with a bachelor's degree or higher, indicating the importance of
workforce development strategies.
As shown in Table 5, estimated labor force participation in the
parish is fairly strong, but median household income levels are
below state and national figures. Similar to the state, the parish
experiences an individual poverty rate that exceeds the US overall.
Statistics reinforce the affordability of the parish, highlighting
a median housing value well below state and national levels.
The economic profile emphasizes the need to promote stronger
income growth through job creation and business investment and
to expand quality housing options.
Vernon Parish
Estimate
Louisiana
US
Percent
2.45
x
2.65
2.61
Average family size
2.90
x
3.26
3.20
84.9%
80.2%
84.5%
x
15.0%
20.4%
27.4%
5,974
22.2%
9.8%
10.1%
29.8
x
35.1
36.7
4,214
8.9%
6.9%
6.9%
4,735
10.0%
12.1%
12.6%
Louisiana
US
x
AF
High school graduate or higher
Bachelor’s degree or higher
R
Civilian veterans
D
Median age (years)
Under 5 years
T
Average household size
65 years and over
Source: 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates
Table 4. Vernon Parish Social Characteristics, 2006-2008 Estimates
Vernon Parish
Estimate
Percent
In labor force (population 16 years
and over)
22,578
65.8%
61.3%
65.2%
Median household income (in 2008
inflation-adjusted dollars)
$39,541
x
$42,634
$52,175
Individuals below poverty line
x
17.3%
18.5%
13.2%
Median housing value (dollars)
$81,600
x
$123,900
$192,400
Table 5. Vernon Parish Economic Characteristics, 2006-2008 Estimates
27
Community Profile Findings by Resource Area
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T
The sections that follow summarize major findings by resource
area. The intent of the Community Profile is not merely to create
a list of current facilities and economic and physical conditions
across the parish, but to identify significant gaps in policy,
infrastructure systems or service delivery capabilities and highlight
opportunities that can form the basis for recommendations in later
stages of the plan. To emphasize the link between existing findings
and possible strategies, each section concludes with an analysis of
initial opportunities and challenges.
T
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05 Land Use
29
Land Use
This section describes the use of land across the parish and
its communities, as well as the prevailing character of existing
development and the physical building blocks of growth, such as
streets, neighborhoods, blocks, and lots.
Parish-wide
R
AF
As shown in Figure 6, the parish is heavily rural with large areas
of protected open space, water, wetlands, and forest. Table 6
summarizes land uses across Vernon Parish. Forest, scrub/shrub
areas and forested wetlands are by far the most common land use
types. Low, medium and high intensity development comprise
only about three percent of the total land area, indicating a
challenge in creating a distinct sense of place across such as large,
undifferentiated landscape. Timber companies also own significant
tracts of land in the parish. Divestiture of timber holdings would
likely need to occur if private development were to proceed in
these areas.
T
Existing Land Use
D
The main north-south corridor, Highway 171, focuses the most
intense development in the central part of the parish in proximity
to Fort Polk. The intersection of this corridor with Highway 28
forms the most prominent visual gateway into the parish and its Commercial uses along Highway 171
communities.
land use patterns in the parish is the University Parkway Plan, which
Other more dispersed population centers contain loosely knit as described earlier, seeks to reposition Highway 467 into a more
pockets of large lot housing, community facilities, such as schools, compact, mixed use corridor. The plan’s concept would establish
and very small scale retail uses. While the Leesville and New Llano an additional focus for Fort Polk-related commercial activity north
areas form an identifiable downtown and suburban core, the parish of Entrance Road, integrating multiple housing styles with nearby
overall remains sparsely populated at 39.6 residents per square retail and office uses.
mile. The State of Louisiana in contrast has 102.6 people per square
mile. As discussed in greater detail in the section on Utilities, the
lack of centralized wastewater treatment outside of incorporated
Regulatory Policies
areas curbs development in many rural parts of the parish.
The parish regulates the subdivision of land and conducts
As a result of this widely spread land use pattern, much of Vernon permitting for building construction, sewer connections and septic
Parish currently lacks a strong physical framework, such as a systems. The subdivision regulations require compliance with basic
network of smaller interconnected streets, distinct neighborhood provisions related to the physical layout of development, including
or retail centers, and a mix of lot and blocks sizes, to organize future lot dimensions, road rights-of-way, drainage infrastructure, and
growth. New subdivision activity typically occurs at the fringes of utility easements. Vernon Parish does not govern the permissible
incorporated areas, stretching the built form of the parish and uses of land or development intensity through a zoning ordinance.
resulting in sprawl. This de-centralization of development patterns As noted below, Leesville has adopted more specific land use
weakens the ability of already built areas to act as anchors for new regulations for the city.
housing and retail.
The current initiative that could most significantly reshape future
30
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T
Figure 6. Vernon Parish Land Cover
Land Cover (2006)
31
Acres
Percent
2,653.38
0.3%
Cultivated
447.49
0.1%
Deciduous Forest
2,097.42
0.2%
Developed Open Space
2,699.98
0.3%
319,681.18
37.2%
66,845.49
7.8%
High Intensity Developed
1,409.36
0.2%
Low Intensity Developed
21,883.92
2.5%
3,564.12
0.4%
62,605.24
7.3%
5.61
0.0%
Palustrine Emergent Wetland
1,229.33
0.1%
Palustrine Forested Wetland
124,468.88
Palustrine Scrub/Shrub Wetland
4,888.98
0.6%
Pasture/Hay
30,468.61
3.6%
Scrub/Shrub
199,271.78
23.2%
395.02
0.0%
9,205.30
1.1%
Not Specified
4,406.43
0.5%
Total Acres
858,228
Evergreen Forest
Grassland
Medium Intensity Developed
Mixed Forest
Water
R
D
Unconsolidated Shore
14.5%
AF
Palustrine Aquatic Bed
T
Bare Land
Source: USGS 2006 National Landcover Dataset
Table 6. Vernon Parish Landcover, 2006
Anacoco
Most development in Anacoco focuses along the parish’s main north-south corridor,
Highway 171, and its intersection with Highway 111. Current land uses include commercial
that spreads along the highway in a strip pattern, and, farther to the north, residential
uses. The housing stock features large-lot single-family detached units and scattered
manufactured homes.
Evans
Evans has mostly rural residential uses and some very light commercial activity. The high
school, a church, and general store cluster along Highway 11 to form the recognizable
heart of the community. Housing consists mostly of single family ranches on large lots.
Developed uses are just over 3% of
the parish’s total land area.
32
Hornbeck
Little physical evidence of historic Hornbeck remains today. The
town has a strip pattern of locally-oriented, small scale businesses
that stretch along the east side of Highway 171. The railroad tracks,
however, have curbed growth to the west of the corridor. Housing
includes single family homes interspersed with manufactured
units. The community is primarily oriented around the area
between Highway 171, Stillwell Avenue, Martin Street and Port
Arthur Avenue.
Leesville
Land Use
D
R
AF
The rail is both a highly visible place-making element of this historic
core and an access and connectivity challenge for areas east of
downtown. East of the rail line the land use pattern becomes a mix
of housing and office, retail and industrial activity. More modest
and sometimes distressed single-family detached units, lie to
the north and south of the downtown. A former oxidation pond
previously used by the City of Leesville for wastewater treatment
poses a potential brownfield challenge between Highway 171 and
Highway 467.
T
The City of Leesville retains a very strong, historic center of
commercial, institutional, cultural, and educational uses to the
east of Highway 171/5th Street. The two-to-three story buildings
with ground-floor retail and residential above and the adjoining
sidewalks along 3rd Street create a pedestrian-oriented, traditional Historic house, Leesville
main street environment that is not replicated in other parts of
the parish. Farther south on 3rd Street across from the outdoor
market and museum, several rehabilitated commercial structures
are finding new uses as small scale retail or office spaces. Some
preserved historic houses or historically compatible new housing
also exist along 1st Street, East Lee Street, and North Street.
Regionally-oriented commercial activity, including big box retail
and restaurants, follows Highway 171 south into New Llano and
continues toward the Fort Polk gate at Entrance Road. West of the
highway, larger-scale institutional uses, such as medical facilities,
cluster around Fertitta Boulevard. The housing that surrounds this
medical campus along Port Arthur Terrace has a contemporary,
suburban quality, while residential areas to the west and north are
typically older and have smaller lots. North of the Highway 171 and
Highway 28 intersection, housing displays a larger lot residential
character. In the Lee Hills area, 166 acres of vacant land bounded
roughly by Nolan Trace on the north, Abe Allen Memorial Drive to
the west, Port Arthur Terrance to the east, and Franklin Avenue to
the south presents a strong opportunity for new master planned
infill development, including housing. The mature northwest
section of Leesville, extending west from Highway 171 to north
of Highway 8 and over the Fair Grounds also has potential for
revitalization as a mixed use and mixed income community.
Regulatory Authority
The city uses a zoning code to guide development within
its incorporated boundary. The ordinance implements
basic regulatory provisions that largely separate residential,
commercial, and industrial activity into distinct districts and
govern the intensity, scale and permissible land uses. In addition
Historic General Merchandise building, Simpson
to the traditional use districts, the code establishes residential,
commercial, and industrial planned districts, a narrow set of
supplementary standards related to signs, fences, and any
nuisance impacts, and off-street parking. The code currently does
not designate any mixed use districts that could readily integrate
housing and retail uses or area-specific design overlays that could
create a cohesive built form and feel.
Along with zoning, the city has its own subdivision ordinance.
These regulations are more robust than the parish code, setting
standards for lot and block size, street rights-of-way, driveways and
sidewalks, as well as easements, drainage and utilities.
The Planning and Zoning Commission assists in implementing
the zoning and subdivision ordinances in Leesville by reviewing
plats and requests for rezoning or conditional use permits and
making recommendations to City Council. To complement the
city’s existing regulatory authority, the Tourism Commission and
the accredited Main Street Program play roles in preserving and
33
New Llano
New Llano includes a fairly compact grid of streets to the west of
Highway 171. Stanton Street forms the spine of the community,
anchored by the town hall, maintenance and fire departments
and the community park. Housing consists mainly of single-family
ranch-tyle detached units on suburban-sized lots with some
small scale multi-family units interspersed. Housing closer to the
171 corridor show signs of age and physical decline, including
pockets of manufactured housing in poor condition. As noted
earlier, the town is undertaking a Master Plan to guide land use,
infrastructure, transportation, recreation, education, and other
public improvements and is in the process of developing zoning.
Pitkin
Pitkin features mostly residential uses with some locally-oriented
strip commercial activity centered on Pitkin Highway (113).
Housing is a mix of manufactured homes and small single family
houses. The intersection of Highway 113 and Highway 463 near
the high school form an identifiable hub for the community.
Rosepine
Simpson has one of the most unique visual gateways among all
of the parish’s communities—the historic general merchandise
building, which sits at the “Y” intersection formed as the Alexandria
Highway and Highway 8 diverge. Farther east along the Highway 8
corridor, the high school, post office, and nearby housing create a
focal point for the community. South of this area, housing is very
large lot and rural in character. To the southwest, the intersection
of the Alexandria Highway, Slagle Lake Road, and the Slagle Loop
frame another recognizable community anchor that includes a
small retail center and the Slagle Senior Center.
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is approximately 100,000 acres in size and has joint use
of an additional 100, 000 acres of National Forest Service property.
The Department of Defense has authorized Fort Polk to expand
its current training area by purchasing up to100,000 acres. The
additional land would enhance the Joint Readiness Training
Center’s training capabilities and realism, as well as support the
training of home units, including the 1st Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade, the 4th Brigade Mountain Division and the 162nd Infantry
Training Brigade. The acquisition strategy focuses on purchasing
land from willing sellers, particularly from commercial land
owners. Areas of acquisition interest lie to the immediate north
of the installation near Highway 28; south of Peason Ridge near
Highway 117 and Highway 465; and to the east of the post.
LAND USE CHALLENGES
D
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AF
Land uses along Highway 171 follow a strip commercial pattern
with buildings set back far from the corridor and large parking
lots. Suburban-sized residential lots lie to the west of the main
commercial corridor with rural residential uses to the east. The
community has more physical gaps in its built environment than
other rural population centers in the parish.
Simpson
T
enhancing the physical character of Leesville’s historic downtown.
Fort Polk has received funding for the purchase program and has
conducted the required Environmental Impact Statement and Real
Estate Planning Report. The Army has initiated preliminary contact
with the largest land owners in the geographic areas of interest.
LAND USE OPPORTUNITIES
» The very dispersed pattern of people and land uses
within the parish weakens its overall physical identity
and cannot guide new growth in a coherent way
» Protect the strong scenic value and small town character
of the parish both as a recreational/tourism asset and as
a foundational element of local quality of life
» The prevalence of scattered large lot land uses does
not readily support retail and services in rural parts of
parish
» Build on and revitalize the existing community cores
to create more of a sense of place and draw new retail,
services, and amenities
» Most commercial activity in the parish spreads along
the main corridors and is prone to visual clutter and
traffic congestion due to dependence on automobile
access
» Expand available community choices that can range
from small downtowns to suburban neighborhoods
and rural settings
» New residential subdivisions tend to be farther away
from the mature cores of existing communities and are
not integrated with retail, open space or other quality
of life amenities
» Higher potential growth areas currently lack the
most innovative land use management tools to
shape desirable growth patterns and and discourage
incompatible uses
» Build on the historic character and appeal of the
Leesville’s Main Street District as a cultural and specialty
retail focus for the parish
» Encourage more mixed use districts in higher growth
areas that can integrate housing, retail, open space and
employment uses
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06 Transportation
35
Transportation
This section describes transportation access across the parish and
its communities, including roadways, transit, rail and air service.
As described earlier in the Community Profile, the LADOTD is
funding a detailed transportation for the parish that will conduct
transportation modeling to assess capacity, evaluate Highway 171
conditions, and recommend a network that includes alternative
roadways and transportation facilities. The purpose of the
transportation section in the Comprehensive Plan, therefore, will
be to identify broad themes and principles to guide the detailed
transportation study and to develop critical inputs, such as land use
and growth scenarios. Given the parish’s size and very dispersed
development patterns, strong mobility and access are critical in
supporting quality of life and economic development.
Gulf Coast Strategic
Highway System and
Highway 28
Major Corridors
The Gulf Coast Strategic Highway route in Louisiana stretches 199
miles from the Sabine River to the Mississippi River. Highway 28 in
Vernon Parish is a key segment of the system, enhancing access
between Fort Polk and the Alexandria International Airport, which
deploys troops, supplies, and equipment abroad. The widened
corridor also is intended to reduce traffic congestion for all
motorists and facilitate business growth and investment in Central
Louisiana.
AF
T
The purpose of the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway System is to meet
the military transportation needs of U.S. Army and National Guard
facilities in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The network begins
at Camp Shelby in Alabama, continues through central Louisiana,
connecting Fort Polk, England Airpark and Camp Beauregard,
and then terminates at Fort Bliss in Texas. The projects focuses
on improving existing highways to enhance connectivity to key
military installations, as well as ports.
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The main transportation artery through Vernon Parish is the
four-lane Highway 171. This north-south corridor supports
major commercial and institutional uses, as well as five of the six
municipalities, in the parish. It also provides a critical vehicular link
to the main gate of Fort Polk along Entrance Road. Other significant
corridors in the parish roadway network include Highway 28,
described more fully below; Highway 8, running east-west from
the Village of Simpson to the Texas border; Highway 111, providing
north-south access along the western portion of the parish; and
Highway 10, which travels along the southern end of the parish
and connects to the community of Pitkin. Highway 467 could also
become a very prominent development corridor and am additional
access point to the installation.
In general, these arterials function well in linking such a
geographically dispersed population, though stakeholders
and residents have consistently noted the high levels of traffic
congestion along the most commercially developed segments of
Highway 171 in Leesville and New Llano. Strip commercial land
use patterns, including frequent driveway curb cuts to individual
businesses, contribute to vehicular delays during peak hours.
Figure 7 shows estimated annual average daily traffic counts for the
LADOTD monitoring site near the intersection of Highway 171 and
Highway 1212 just north of New Llano. The data confirm a striking
rise on daily traffic counts in this heavily commercialized stretch
of the 171 corridor. Ongoing personnel increases associated with
Fort Polk mission transformation are likely adding to daily traffic
volumes.
Strip Commercial Uses along Highway 171
36
Source: LADOT
Figure 7. Estimated Annual Average Daily Traffic Count Data, Highway 171 and Highway 1212 Intersection
T
Local Road Network
D
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The entire project along Highway 28 is almost 48 miles in length
and has widened the existing corridor from two to four lanes
between Leesville and Alexandria and has added new bridges and
drainage structures, upgraded intersections, and improved safety
design. The LADOTD has completed almost all construction phases
along Highway 28 with a final 8.7 mile segment in western Rapides
Parish scheduled for completion by 2012
Highway 171/Highway 28
Roundabout
LADOTD is also converting the existing signalized T-intersection
of Highway 171 with LA Highways 8/28 into a roundabout. The
purpose for reconfiguring this highly visible intersection is to
improve safety and enhance traffic flow. A portion of the project
will include the intersection of a new side road to be constructed
as part of the new Market Basket food store development adjacent
to the west side of U.S. 171. To minimize local traffic disruption, the
project will proceed in two phases: the first phase will construct
the west side of the new intersection, while maintaining traffic on
the east side; and the second phase will shift traffic to the west
side, while constructing the east segment. Groundbreaking for the
roundabout took place in late October of 2010 and completion is
scheduled for summer 2011.
While the larger arterials form the physical backbone of the
transportation network, local roads are essential for connecting
people and jobs to population centers throughout the parish.
During public meetings and stakeholder interviews, residents and
officials from rural parts of the parish often cited difficult traveling
conditions along unpaved roads. Weather, maintenance issues,
and the presence of heavy haulers in some areas can compromise
the quality of unpaved sections and create access challenges for
private vehicles and parish school buses.
Alternative Transportation
Network
The alternative transportation network refers to non-automobile
choices, such as walking, biking or transit for travel between home,
work, school and shopping. As described below, the parish has
shuttle options as part of its transit system. Given the rural nature
of the parish, walking facilities, outside of recreational loop trails,
are limited. Many newer residential subdivisions do not feature
sidewalks. However, several parish communities, particularly
Leesville and New Llano, have a connected grid of streets in their
built cores that support a safe pedestrian-oriented environment.
The parish is also enhancing walkability around its school facilities.
Designated bike lanes or off-road multi-use paths are also not
evident in the parish, though quieter, rural sections could safely
accommodate cyclists.
37
Public Transit
The Vernon Parish Council on Aging operates a daily demandresponse transit system that provides access to requested
destinations, including medical appointments, shopping, senior
centers, businesses, vocational schooling and training. Vernon
Parish Public Transit also operates under a contract with the Office
of Family Support to provide transportation for single parent
families to work sites and day care centers.
Air Access
The closest commercial airport in the region is in Alexandria,
approximately 45 miles east of the parish. The Leesville Municipal
Airport is four miles west of the city. The airport includes a 3,800
foot runway with instrument approach landing and an additional
1,200 feet of runway length is proposed. The facility has a terminal
and pilots lounge, aircraft parking ramp/tie downs, hangar space
for sale or rent and fuel services.
Leesville Municipal Airport
D
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AF
The Kansas City Southern Rail line runs north-south through
Vernon Parish. The train is an active presence in the community
and has several at-grade crossings that create safety issues and
periodically disrupt local traffic flow.
T
Rail
TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES
TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES
» The pattern of individual, unconnected commercial lots
and frequent curb cuts on segments of Highway 171
causes vehicle delays during peak use
» Build on the enhanced east-west access along Highway
28 between Leesville and Alexandria to draw economic
development and business investment to the corridor
» At-grade rail crossings disrupt local traffic flow and
create safety risks
» Improve traffic flow through access management and
stronger site planning along Highway 171
» The prevalence of unpaved roads in rural parts of the
parish can create poor travel conditions due to weather
and the impacts of heavy haulers
» Cluster additional uses or design elements around the
Highway 171/Highway 28 roundabout to reinforce a
strong visual gateway for the parish
» There are several specific intersections or roadway
sections cited for safety risks, including the adjacency
of Pickering Elementary School and High School to the
rail line and Highway 171
» Identify opportunities to improve rural roadway
conditions and enhance existing roadway repair
prioritization criteria
» Enhance the pedestrian environment in community
centers and around school facilities
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07 Utilities
39
Utilities
This section summarizes water and wastewater infrastructure issues across the parish
and its communities. The presence of these physical systems, particularly centralized
wastewater treatment, significantly influences future land use patterns by attracting
growth and supporting more intense development. In contrast, the lack of infrastructure
availability or limited existing capacity can curb growth opportunities. Infrastructure
extension planning can, thus, be used as a strategic tool to guide development and
maintain lower density, rural character in select areas. However, careful planning must
also consider the importance of providing adequate capacity in those areas deemed
desirable for future growth.
Parish-wide
The upgrading of aging or atcapacity wastewater systems and
distribution lines was identified as
a top priority among stakeholders
Generally, access to public drinking water systems is available in much of the parish throughout the parish
AF
T
Stakeholders have identified infrastructure issues, particularly the upgrading of aging or
at-capacity wastewater systems and distribution lines, as a top priority throughout the
parish. System maintenance and upgrades are among the costliest and most resourceintensive capital programs that Vernon’s communities face.
D
R
with the notable exception of Evans. A total of 14 public providers deliver water from
groundwater sources to customers. Areas without a public system, such as the community
of Evans, rely on wells. Centralized wastewater delivery, however, is more limited and is
largely absent outside of incorporated boundaries.
While sewer connections are available in most municipalities, not all incorporated homes
or businesses connect to existing systems. Several potential growth areas do not have
centralized wastewater access, including Entrance Road near Fort Polk, University Parkway
(Highway 467), and land around Lakes Vernon and Anacoco. Businesses in these areas
must install individual on-site package plants to meet demand. Though the size of the
required absorption field for the system varies based on soil characteristics, reliance on
septic necessarily increases the size of development lots to reduce groundwater pollution
risks. As noted earlier, widespread septic use, therefore, contributes to very dispersed
growth patterns. It should be noted, however, that the parish is actively seeking funds to
install centralized utilities along Highway 467 in support of future growth.
Anacoco
Anacoco operates a separate water authority. The system serves approximately 500
customers from three wells. Town officials indicate that there are no system capacity issues,
though bigger distribution lines might be required to support any infill development.
40
Evans
Rosepine
The community of Evans currently does not own or operate any
utility systems. All uses, including the K-12 school complex, draw
water from wells. Stakeholders have indicated that reliance on well
sources, particularly for larger institutional uses, has resulted in
capacity and water quality challenges.
Rosepine supplies water to approximately 1,800 customers both
inside and outside of the incorporated boundary. The town is
connected to the South Vernon Wastewater system, but some
incorporated residents maintain individual septic systems.
According to town officials, the sewer system is adequately
maintained, but would require additional funds to keep pace with
growth.
Hornbeck
Leesville
D
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AF
Leesville operates a water system that serves approximately 7,800
customers. The city also owns a wastewater plant with a treatment
capacity of about 2.1 million gallons per day. The facility typically
operates at about one million gallons, indicating excess capacity
to absorb additional growth without a plant expansion. The
system, however, has aging sewer lines with ongoing maintenance
issues. A recent assessment indicates that dozens of abandoned
properties in the city have uncapped sewer lines and that some
residential properties have storm gutters connected to the sewer
system. These issues cause a major inflow of water that exceeds
plant treatment capacity during heavy rainfall events.
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The Town of Hornbeck owns a natural gas system with 85 miles of
distribution lines and 800 customers and a water system serving
560 customers through 60 miles of lines. Water treatment plant
capacity is currently sufficient, though some distribution lines are
small in areas around Ford Stewart Road and Highway 111. The
town has received a $450,000 grant to upgrade and extend its
water system and an engineering study is underway. Hornbeck
also has centralized sewer in the incorporated area through West
Vernon Wastewater, though not all residents are connected to the
system.
New Llano
New Llano Water Department serves a population of about 3,200.
The Town Council has also passed a resolution in September
of 2010 to extend sanitary sewer along Emmitt Wilson Road.
New Llano will own, operate, and maintain the sewer system
improvements upon project completion.
Pitkin
Approximately 1,200 customers in Pitkin receive water from the
South Vernon Water District. The community relies exclusively on
individual septic systems.
Water tower, Simpson
Simpson
The village operates a separate water system that serves a customer
base of approximately 620.
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UTILITIES CHALLENGES
» The parish lacks wastewater treatment access in areas
where growth may be desirable, such as Vernon and
Anacoco Lakes, and Entrance Road and University
Parkway near Fort Polk
» The communities have limited financial and staffing
resources to maintain and expand water and
wastewater systems
» Wastewater distribution lines in Leesville are aging and
in declining physical condition
» Water system distribution lines in systems, such as
Hornbeck and Anacoco, are currently or potentially
undersized
UTILITIES OPPORTUNITIES
» Improve existing water and wastewater system
performance through planned replacement and
upgrades
» Identify future growth areas and plan for the
extension of centralized wastewater to support future
development
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08 Conservation & Environment
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Conservation & the Environment
Parish-wide
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Kisatchie National Forest spans seven parishes and thousands of
acres, 85,000 of which are in Vernon Parish. The forest supports
multiple uses, including timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation.
In Vernon Parish, the forest is home to four unique natural
communities of note: Cooter’s Bog, Drakes Creek Natural Area,
Ouiska Chitto Natural Area, and the Longleaf Pine Scenic Area.
Much of the National Forest lands in the parish are co-used by Fort
Polk for military training activities.
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As a result of its very rural character, the parish has many intact
natural resources among its rolling hills, rivers, and creek beds.
Elevations average about 300 feet, and are highest in northern
areas of the parish. Along the waterways, flooding can be an issue,
particularly near the Sabine River. Major natural resources include
the Kisatchie National Forest, four Wildlife Management Areas, the
Sabine River, Vernon and Anacoco Lakes, the Calcasieu River, and
a number of rare, endangered or threatened species and natural
communities.
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The National Forest is not the only large natural resource in the
parish. Currently there are four Wildlife Management Areas
(WMAs), three of which are large enough to offer extensive
opportunities for recreation.
Rivers, creeks and bayous are also important topographical
features of the parish. Those running north-south are typically
accompanied by low elevation and are prone to flooding, including
the Sabine River, Anacoco Bayou, and Castor Bayou southwest of
Leesville; Ouiska Chitto Creek and Six Mile Creek south of Fort Polk
near the Beauregard Parish line; and Prairie Creek north of Anacoco
Lake. West-east creek and river systems in the parish tend to have
slightly higher elevations and smaller floodplains, including the
Calcasieu River and Comrade Creek. Other water bodies include
Vernon and Anacoco Lakes, which were formed by damming the
Anacoco bayou and now provide an essential source of drinking
water for the region.
Vernon Parish is home to a number of rare, threatened, and
endangered species. Currently there are 25 state-recognized
animal species under threat living in the parish and over sixty plant
species. Many of these species live in one of the eleven rare or
endangered natural communities that have been identified, such
as Longleaf pine and Western hillside seepage bogs.
or are managed appropriately by private landowners. Additionally,
the parish’s population growth is not advancing at a pace that
threatens the health of the forest and waterway eco-systems. An
ongoing emphasis on managing the effects of timber harvesting,
In general, most of the parish’s natural resources do not face land development and recreational vehicle access is critical to
imminent threats. This is mostly due to the fact that many of the maintaining the overall health of the parish’s natural systems.
most important natural resources in the parish are publicly owned
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The Kisatchie National Forest boundary encompasses over one
million acres of land, about 604,000 acres of it designated as
National Forest. As a National Forest, it is unique in that its holdings
are non-contiguous, spread among seven parishes, and managed
by five different ranger units. It is a forest that hosts a great deal
of co-use, including timber harvesting, military training, and many
recreation activities. Currently the Forest has about 460 permits
and easements authorizing the occupancy or use of National
Forest land.
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Historically, the forest had four major vegetative communities:
longleaf pine, shortleaf pine/oak-hickory, mixed hardwood/
loblolly pine, and riparian. Throughout these communities other
small-scale, specialized communities can be found, such as hillside
bogs and cypress swamps. Many of these communities have been
altered and/or reduced over time, with the greatest changes seen
in the uplands. For example, most of the native tree overstory was
removed in the early 1900s as part of the timber boom, and were
replaced—if at all—by different tree species. Most of the original
old-growth forests are now interspersed with young, even-aged
patches of trees. In all, about 66 percent of the area originally
Mixed loblolly pine forest
composed of longleaf pine forest is now gone. Additionally, about
80 percent of the shortleaf pine/oak-hickory forests have been
altered, and the mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forests have been
reduced by about 50 percent. The riparian communities are largely
still intact.
Today, 77 percent of Kisatchie’s forested acres are
classified as pine, 8 percent has bottomland hardwood, 6 percent
as upland hardwood, 5 percent as mixed hardwood-pine, and 4
percent as mixed pine-hardwood.
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One critical aspect to note about the Forest is that it is a working
landscape that includes timber harvesting, mineral extraction, and
grazing. Within the bidding area for Kisatchie, timber product
demand is still strong, particularly for pulpwood, saw timber, and
fuel wood. As of 2006, about 30,000 acres of the forest were under
lease for oil and gas exploration. The Forest also contains some
common-variety minerals such as sand, gravel, low-grade iron ore,
clay and salt. Additionally, the Forest has 13 grazing allotments
totaling 32,638 acres but only two allotments are active.
Kisatchie National Forest in Vernon Parish
Out of the 604,000 acres of Kisatchie National Forest, about 85,000
are managed by the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District.
Fort Polk has joint-use of about 60,000 of these acres for training,
which is typically scheduled at least six months in advance. The
acreage used by Fort Polk is designated as either Intensive Use
Areas (IUA) and Limited Use Areas (LUA). Many parts of the Forest Timber harvesting occurs at Kisatchie National Forest
in Vernon Parish are working landscapes, or have the potential to
•
Cooter’s Bog – 130 acres of hillside seepage bogs that
be. In addition to harvesting timber, the parish has one of only two
provides a place for rare plants to thrive, such as the
active grazing allotments in the Forest and is also one of the few
unusual pitcher plants that lure insects into its long
parishes with sizable opportunities for gravel extraction.
tubes that fill with rainwater, and the sundew covered
Within Vernon Parish, there a number of environmentally significant
with tiny sticky hairs that entrap flies.
resources found in Kisatchie National Forest. Four Special Interest
•
Drakes Creek Natural Area – includes a number of small
areas within Vernon Parish are of note:
bogs that support fragile pitcher plants, grassy hillsides,
and a mixed hardwood bottomland.
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Wildlife Management
Areas
Beyond Kisatchie National Forest, there are four Wildlife
Management Areas (WMAs) in Vernon Parish. The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries manages and maintains
Wildlife Management Areas or WMAs either through direct
ownership or through license agreements with other public
agencies or private entities. These areas provide public access for
hunting, recreation and various other uses.
Fort Polk WMA
165.58 square miles. The Fort Polk WMA is a military reservation
that requires a special use permit to access and a daily checkin. On any given day, large parts of the WMA may be closed for
access due to military training. Like most of the parish, the terrain
is rolling hills with large stream bottoms, and pine forests. About
110 acres per year are planted with browntop millet, sunflower,
sorghum, cowpea and winter wheat as a food source for wildlife.
Most people are attracted to the Fort Polk WMA for its hunting and
bird-watching opportunities.
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Cooter’s Bog
Peason Ridge WMA
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52.26 square miles. Located 18 miles north of Leesville, Peason
Ridge WMA is also owned by the United States Army. Like the Fort
Polk WMA, special use permits and daily check-ins are required.
The terrain has gentle to high rolling hills and creeks; longleaf pine
dominates some hills, but a mixture of natural communities can
be found. The army will close sections of the WMA for training
programs. Most people use the WMA for hunting and/or trapping.
Invasive Cogongrass
•
•
Boise Vernon (Clear Creek) WMA
84.8 square miles. Also sometimes referred to as Clear Creek WMA,
Ouiska Chitto Natural Area – An area of diverse and this WMA is located southwest of Anacoco Lake and extends to
unique plant species in almost untouched conditions.
Burr’s Ferry. Owned by Forest Capital Partners LLC, it is subject
Longleaf Pine Scenic Area – Old growth longleaf pine to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) hunting
groves with long red stem grasses and picturesque regulations.
terrain. Also an important habitat for the protected Red
Cockaded Woodpecker.
The Kisatchie National Forest natural communities are susceptible
to a number of invasive exotic species, such as bamboo and
kudzu. The forest in Vernon Parish in particular is threatened by
Cogongrass. Cogongrass is one of the most invasive species in the
southeast and can dominate native communities easily—longleaf
pine forests are especially vulnerable. Although it has not been
found within the Forest boundaries, it has appeared elsewhere in
the parish.
Walnut Hill WMA
0.93 square miles. This small WMA was acquired from the Farmers
Home Administration and is about two miles east of Slagle on
Highway 121. Historically the land was used as pasture for dairy
cattle, and has thick undergrowth with mixed young hardwoods
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and pine trees. Because of its small size, hunting opportunities are downstream flooding, and improve lake conditions. Vernon Lake is
limited. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries owns a popular fishing destination and the parish has increased the size
and improved the markings of lanes to enhance boating capacity.
this WMA.
Managed by the Sabine River Authority (SRA), the flatwater
Sabine River stretches 270 miles between Louisiana and Texas and
comprises most of Vernon Parish’s western boundary. The river
forms where the South Fork River and the Cowleech Fork River
merge in Hunt County Texas, and flows into its mouth on Sabine
Lake at the Gulf Mexico. The River got its name “Sabine” for the
Spanish word for “Cypress”, which describes the cypress swamplike character of the waterway. Total drainage for the River is 9,756
miles, about one third of which is in Louisiana.
Like Vernon Lake, Anacoco Lake was formed by damming the
Anacoco Bayou. It is 2,018 acres in size and normally has a surface
area of about 4.1 square miles. Though originally completed in
1951, the structure was substantially modified in 1958. Its normal
storage is 24,000 acre feet, but it contain up to 55,000 acre feet
if needed. Although Anacoco Lake does not pose the same
issues of underwater stumps as Vernon Lake, there are barriers to
maximizing the lake’s full value to the community. Water clarity has
been a challenge, and the lake particularly struggles with turbidity
issues. According to a July 2010 presentation made by Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Eric Shanks, the muddiness
stems from land use changes in the watershed (Leesville Daily
Leader. July 19, 2010). Actions such as new construction and
timber cutting, for example, affect the flow of stormwater runoff
into the lake. The department has, however, noted significant
improvements in both clarity and the number of fish since 2000.
Largemouth bass in particular are faring well; in 2006 there were
zero in the lake, whereas now the LDWF counts about 60 per hour.
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There are 15 major lakes and reservoirs along the Sabine, with the
largest at Toledo Bend (about 182,000 acres) in neighboring Sabine
Parish. Constructed in 1969, Toledo Bend is a reservoir that controls
the water flow of the lower river, and is major source of water and
electricity for the region. As the largest man-made water body
in the South, the reservoir also provides a number of recreation
opportunities. Although Toledo Bend is an asset to the area, any
break in the dam would be likely to cause significant flood damage
in Vernon Parish.
Anacoco Lake
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Sabine River and Toledo
Bend
Calcasieu River
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Vernon Lake
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The Calcasieu River rises just north of Leesville, and drains a mostly
rural area of forests and bayou. Flowing for about 200 miles, it
initially meanders southeast into Kisatchie National Forest, then
Vernon Lake is 3,386 acres in size and has a depth of up to 50 turns southwest to Lake Charles, near where it enters the brackish
feet. The lake was formed as a result of damming Anacoco Bayou Calcasieu Lake near the Gulf of Mexico. It is a somewhat “hidden”
in 1961 for the purposes of creating a drinking water source. Its resource of Vernon Parish since there are few official public access
normal storage is 57,000 acre feet but can contain up to 97,000 points both visually and for recreation.
acre feet if needed. In 2009 the State implemented a significant
drawdown of the lake to repair the dam and gates, simulate
Toledo Bend
Vernon Lake
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Wetlands
Many of the parish’s water bodies are associated with wetland
systems as well. According to land cover data, there are 1,229
acres of Palustrine Emergent Wetlands, 124,469 acres of Palustrine
Forested Wetlands, and 4,889 acres of Palustine Scrub Wetlands.
These wetlands and other low-lying areas create 247 square miles
of floodplain within the Parish.
Endangered/Threatened
Species
Vernon Parish is home to a number of endangered, threatened,
and rare species. The state of Louisiana has designated imperiled
resources in three categories: animals, plants, and communities.
Bayhead Swamp
Plants
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According to the LDWF, Vernon Parish has 25 rare, threatened or
endangered species. These species include seven species of birds,
five species of mussels, four species of mammal, three fish species,
two species of amphibians, and one species each of crustacean,
insect, and reptile. This includes the largest land-dwelling
amphibian on earth, the Tiger Salamander. Although each species
has particular threats and vulnerabilities, there are commonalities.
For forest-dwelling species, threats include habitat alteration from
timber harvesting, fire exclusion and off-road recreation; for waterbased species, the threat is mostly in the siltation or impoundment
of waterways and agricultural runoff.
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Animals
In addition to the animal species, Vernon Parish contains at least Fleming Prairie
sixty documented threatened, rare or endangered plant species
including a number of unique orchids. Common threats include
the conversion of wetland habitats to pine plantations; forest
conversion to pine plantations; residential and commercial
development; fire exclusion; and changes in hydrology (such as
impoundments).
Communities
Many of the threatened animals and plants are part of the eleven
rare, threatened or endangered natural communities present in
the parish. A brief description of each community type follows;
unfortunately, no map data is available that indicates the locations
of the communities within the parish.
Bayhead Swamp
A wetland community found mostly around deep depressional
areas in flatwood forests. Soils are generally highly acidic and
combined with muck on the swamp floor that produces areas of
“blackwater”. They are easily destroyed by the channelization of
waterways and the introduction of invasive species.
Bearded Grass Pink Orchid
Bottomland Hardwood Forest
Forested, alluvial wetlands that occupy floodplain areas near
large river systems. These systems are dependent on a natural
hydrologic cycle of alternating wet and dry periods and provide
important ecological functions such as water quality maintenance
and habitat for a variety of species. The forests are threatened
from clearing for agricultural purposes and construction of roads
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and utilities.
Flatwoods Pond
Small, natural wetlands in depressions that are typically found in
Longleaf pine flatwoods or savannahs. The soils are highly acidic
and nutrient poor, and the system is dependent on fire to maintain
its heath.
Fleming Calcareous Prairie
Naturally treeless areas that occur within calcareous forests with
very diverse plants dominated by grasses and legumes. Soils are
stiff clays that can range in color from red to olive-tan to gray-black.
Of the historical landscape, only an estimated five to ten percent
of these prairies still exist because they are commonly transitioned
into other land uses and become fire excluded.
Mixed Hardwood-Loblolly Forest
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A forest community found on ridgetops and gentle slopes in
terrace uplands, these forests are usually about 20 percent loblolly
pine with a mixture of hardwood trees. Historically these are
dependent on fire to maintain the presence of the pine trees.
Although less rare than some of the other threatened landscapes in Pine Flatwoods
the state, older growth examples of this community are vulnerable
to destruction by pine plantations and other land use changes.
Pine Flatwoods
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A forest where Longleaf pine and slash often co-dominate,
with a lack of mid-story layer and a low woody shrub layer. This
community is fire dependent and occurs on flat, low-relief areas
with a high water table. The biggest threats are transitions into
slash pine or loblolly pine plantations and other land use changes/
disturbances.
Small Stream Forest
Narrow wetland forests that occur along smaller rivers and large
creeks, these communities are usually flooded for brief periods
and have silt-loam soils. They are critical in terms of the services
they provide in terms of water quality, both in filtering flows and
storing sediment and nutrients. Threats include land use changes
Small Stream Forest
and gravel extraction.
Western Hillside Seepage Bog
These open, mostly treeless herb-dominated wetlands are Western Xeric Sandhill Woodland
extremely sensitive to land management activities. They are A woodland developed on deep sands with nutrient-poor soils that
dependent upon fire and commonly found in associated with often produce stunted trees. Many of the Louisiana rare species
longleaf pine ecosystems.
live in this natural community. Much of this forest type has been
converted to agricultural use and other types of forest.
Western Upland Longleaf Pine Forest
The eleventh natural community under threat in the parish is water
A Longleaf pine forest found in hilly uplands, often with small to bird nesting colonies.
large branch creek bottoms that have bayheads or seeps. Bogs
may also be found on mid- to low-slopes. These communities have
highly diverse herbaceous flora and are dependent on fire to stay
healthy.
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Western Hillside Seepage Bog
Western Xeric Sandhill Woodland
CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT OPPORTUNITIES
» Parts of the parish are prone to flooding from the
Sabine River
» Protect intact natural resources to maintain the rural
character and ecological health of the parish
» Anacoco Lake has had previous issues with poor water
clarity due to changes in surrounding land use though
water quality has improved
» Build on the presence of high quality natural systems
and communities to create an identity as an outdoor
recreation and natural heritage tourism area
» Higher recreational usage of forested areas, particularly
motorized off-roading if not properly managed, could
cause damage to natural communities
» Use low impact development techniques in sensitive
natural areas and timber management best practices
to minimize impacts on the surrounding environment
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08 Recreation & Culture
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Recreation & Culture
Parish-wide
Analysis
The section includes an inventory and analysis on all existing
parks and recreational opportunities, as well as preserved natural
areas and cultural programs, in the parish. The findings will help to
evaluate the potential for proposing new and/or expanding upon
existing amenities and to organize the parish’s amenities, open
space, and natural areas, and promote connectivity both internally
and to its neighboring parishes.
The sections that follow organize findings into three main
categories, largely influenced by region, existing institutional
boundaries, and scale:
1.
Community / Neighborhood Parks
While many opportunities exist within Vernon Parish for various 2.
recreational activities, there is a lack of a cohesive structure, clear
orientation, and connection. Vernon is a large parish dominated
by extensive open space and natural forested areas, with most
communities distant and somewhat isolated. These open spaces
and natural areas represent an opportunity to create links within
the parish, while still maintaining the bucolic and natural character
of the region. Through the development of a parish wide greenway,
many of the existing elements and assets could be connected and
highlighted to allow for greater visibility. Greenways are corridors
of land that connect people and places. They are ribbons of open 3.
space that typically follow either natural elements, such as rivers or
manmade features, such as abandoned rail and utility corridors. The
majority of the park and recreational areas throughout the parish
are difficult to find or hard to navigate due to lack of orientation
and directional signage, as well as the physical separation between
many of the areas. Existing parks within the cities and towns in
the parish should be better integrated into the fabric of the
community. For its population, Leesville has a healthy number of
parks. Some of the parks lack programming elements and could
be supplemented or combined to provide more comprehensive
recreational opportunities. In communities with little or no
parks, additional park space could be developed to provide more
community based recreational opportunities. With improved
organization and connection, the parks and recreational areas
can provide more comprehensive recreational opportunities that
promote parish wide assets while enhancing its inherent character.
Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
•
Water
•
•
Overview
»
Developed Recreation Areas & Trails
»
Special Interest Areas / Natural Areas
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Tourism / Cultural Programming
Developing outdoor recreational opportunities is a top priority
for the parish and the Tourism Commission. As noted below,
most available activities are passive. Stakeholders have cited the
importance of adding community amenities, such as retail and
restaurants, as well as physical infrastructure, including RV parking
and water and electricity at campsites, to facilitate longer visitor
trips to parish parks and natural areas.
Walking Trail at the New Llano Community Park
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Community /
Neighborhood Parks
13. Vernon Parish Arena District
14. West Louisiana Forestry Festival Fair Grounds (Vernon Parish
Fair Grounds)
This category consists of parks that are smaller, pocket-park types, 15. Leesville Motorsports Park (sells motorcycles, ATVs, parts,
and are generally associated with a particular neighborhood or
and accessories, Leesville Motorsports Park hosts LACC series
institution, such as a school, church, or government building.
racing during the spring and fall)
These small parks tend to be used by the public on a daily basis
for activities such as after school play, or daily exercise. Leesville,
the only incorporated city within Vernon Parish, has the most
occurrences of Community / Neighborhood parks. Fort Polk and
New Llano run a close second with their own successful community
parks, while Rosepine and Hornbeck are currently in the planning
processes of new public parks, and Burr Ferry has incorporated
public picnic areas into the preserved historic Confederate
Breastworks site. Below is an inventory of communities within
Vernon Parish and their corresponding parks.
Leesville Area
Leesville Municipal Golf Course & City Park (10 acres –
9-hole golf course/club house, concessions, tennis courts,
playground, barbeque facilities, covered gathering pavilion,
vending machines)
2.
Leesville Recreation Complex (Leesville, Leisure Pool, 5
baseball / softball fields, concessions, future swimming pool,
soccer fields, walking path, and basketball / tennis courts)
3.
Leesville Leisure Pool (pool within Leesville Recreation
Complex including a waterslide and 3 water sprays,
concessions)
4.
Liberty Garden at Vernon Parish Library (wood gathering
deck with benches and bridges – part of “Keep America Leesville Recreation Complex
Beautiful” program and dedicated as a memorial park to those
who have perished in acts of terrorism and reaffirm principles
of freedom and liberty)
5.
Jubilee Commemorative Park (walking path, pavilion –
dedicated by Leesville City-wide Singing Convention and
Vernon Parish Tourism Commission to Vernon Parish Black
American Citizens that have made political, religious, civic,
and social contributions)
6.
Magnolia Park (walking path, covered benches, playground)
7.
Dogwood Park (walking path, benches, chain climber)
8.
Myrtle Park (walking path, pavilion, basketball / tennis courts,
9-hole frisbee golf )
9.
Cedar Park
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1.
10. Veterans Memorial Plaza
11. Martin Luther King Community Center (playground, covered
gathering pavilion, community building for rent)
12. Pioneer Park
Hornbeck Park and Walking Trail
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Hornbeck - “Gateway to Toledo Bend”
3.
4.
Hornbeck Park (baseball complex with playground equipment,
park, and walking trail; funded by the Town of Hornbeck and a 5.
grant from the Rapides Foundation as part of Central Louisiana
6.
Academic Residency for Teachers (CART))
7.
Rosepine
Catfish Cove
Meter Pool
Soldiers Athletic Complex
Fort Polk Shooting Complex
Warrior Hills Golf Course
The US Army has various recreation enhancements proposed for or
underway at Fort Polk, including a splash park, planned renovations
to Catfish Cove, an RV Park and boat dock for Alligator Lake, and a
Go Cart Track and Miniature Golf, as well as improvements to the
Toledo Bend site.
Planning stages of a public park
New Llano
New Llano Community Park (walking path, playground, picnic
tables, grills, pavilion)
Burr Ferry
Burr Ferry (at the junction of LA 8 and LA 111 south) Confederate
Breastworks Picnic Area
Water
Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and bayous of Vernon Parish provide
recreational and sportsmen opportunities. Though these water
bodies are technically associated with a neighborhood or
community, they are more identifiable on their own, and are often
used as geographical landmarks. Because of the location and
scale of these water bodies, and the types of activities that take
place there, these waters are more often visited on the weekends
or other extended periods of time, and not on a daily basis like the
Community / Neighborhood parks. Below is a list of water bodies in
Vernon Parish and the public access points associated with them.
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Slagle
Outdoor Recreation
Opportunities
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Walking trail around the senior center
Alligator Lake
2.
Marion Bonner Recreation Site & Nature Trail
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Fort Polk (North & South) - “Best Home
Town in the Army”
Lake Vernon
3,386 acres – owned by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries
1.
Lake Vernon Spillway Park (maintained/operated by Vernon
Parish Police Jury)
2.
Hickory Ridge Recreation Park (maintained/operated by
Vernon Parish Police Jury)
3.
Bivens East w/ Free Boat Launch (maintained/operated by
4.
Bivens West w/ Free Boat Launch (maintained/operated by
5.
Thaxton’s Landing (maintained/operated by Vernon Parish
Police Jury)
Lake Anacoco
2,000 acres – owned by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries
Alligator Lake
1.
Lake Anacoco Spillway RV Park (leased from the Vernon Parish
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Police Jury)
Methodist Landing Recreation Park (maintained/operated by Vernon Parish Police
Jury)
3.
VFW Landing (RV & tent) (leased from the Vernon Parish Police Jury
4.
Sandy Creek Boat Launch (maintained/operated by Vernon Parish Police Jury)
Sabine River / Toro Bayou
1.
Hadden’s Ferry Public Boat Launch
2.
Tack-a-Paw Expeditions (Canoe Rentals for Sabine River & Toro Bayou)
Notable Adjacent Water Bodies
Though not located within the Vernon Parish limits, Toledo Bend Reservoir’s vicinity to
the parish line, and attraction quality create tourist opportunities for Vernon Parish and
therefore should be considered in the overall connectivity with its surrounding parishes.
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Toledo Bend Reservoir (Toledo Bend Lake, famous for its bass fishing, is the largest
man-made lake in the south. Located on the Texas-Louisiana state line, both states share
financial responsibilities, and is governed by the Sabine River Authority.)
Bass Haven Resort
2.
South Toledo Bend State Park
3.
Toledo Bend Resort
4.
Cypress Bend Resort - Golf, Spa, and Conference Hotel
5.
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1.
6.
Pleasure Point Park
Army Rec Center - Toledo Bend Cabins/Cottages
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Vernon Parish is known as the
“Heart of Sportsman’s Paradise”
2.
The WMA’S are areas set aside by the State of Louisiana for the conservation of wildlife
and for recreational activities involving wildlife, such as hunting, bird watching, camping,
and trail use. The goals of WMA’s are to provide quality examples of Louisiana habitats,
insure viability of these lands’ wildlife populations, and provide the opportunity for quality
outdoor recreational (and commercial when compatible) experience. Though open year
round, the use of the WMA’s tend to be concentrated around the hunting seasons such as
migratory birds & waterfowl, deer, turkey, and resident small game. Vernon Parish is the
home to four WMA’s – Clear Creek, Walnut Hill, Peason Ridge, and Fort Polk.
The Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area (54,269 acres) is located southwest of Leesville
within Vernon Parish near Lake Anacoco. It consists of one primitive campground and
attracts primarily deer and turkey hunters. Horseback riding, hiking, and bird watching
are also allowed among the pine plantation habitat.
The Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area (595 acres) is the smallest WMA in Vernon
Parish consisting of several small tracts of land totaling 595 acres in the Slagle area. Before
the land was acquired from the Farmers Home Administration, its rolling hills were used
as pasture for dairy cattle. The current vegetation is dense undergrowth with mixed pine
and hardwoods. Because of its small land area and dense undergrowth, this WMA offers
55
limited hunting opportunities.
The Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area (33,488 acres)
is a military reservation spread located eighteen miles north of
Leesville and spread across Vernon, Natchitoches, and Sabine
Parishes. Though camping is not allowed, this WMA is popular
among hunters, trappers, and birdwatchers with a free special use
permit issued by the Army.
The Fort Polk Wildlife Management Area (105,545 acres) is a
military reservation located within the Vernon Unit of Kisatchie
about ten miles southeast of Leesville. Though camping is not
allowed, this WMA is popular among hunters, trappers, and
birdwatchers with a free special use permit issued by the Army.
Summary of Wildlife Management Areas
•
Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area - Owned by the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (Hunting
- limited rabbit, deer and quail hunting opportunities)
•
Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area – Owned by
U.S. Army, U.S. Forest Service. Hunting (deer, squirrel,
quail, woodcock, dove, rabbit and turkey), Trapping
(raccoon, fox, bobcat, skunk, opossum, beaver, mink and
coyote), Bird Watching (numerous species of non-game
birds being present, including the endangered Redcockaded Woodpecker), Bogs (unusual plant forms such
as Venus’ fly trap, sundew, pitcher plant and sphagnum
moss)).
•
Fort Polk Wildlife Management Area – Owned by U.S.
Army, U.S. Forest Service. Hunting (deer, squirrel, rabbit,
quail, woodcock, dove and turkey), Bow Hunting (deer),
Trapping (raccoon, fox, bobcat, skunk, opossum, mink
and coyote)
Drake’s Creek
T
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area – Owned by
Forest Capital Partners, LLC. Hunting, Camping, Trails
D
R
AF
•
Overview
Kisatchie National Forest was designated in 1930 from the Longleaf
Pine forests of west Louisiana. The Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC), a group of unemployed men, planted millions of seedlings
on this land, which was bought by the National Forest Service
from the Gulf Lumber Company. Kisatchie National Forest is the
only National Forest in Louisiana covering more than 600,000
acres across seven parishes. Divided into five ranger districts,
The Calcasieu Ranger District manages the Vernon Unit which
encompasses 85,000 acres of land immediately south of Ft. Polk
within Vernon Parish.
The Vernon Unit is known for its developed recreation areas within
the serenity of a longleaf pine ecosystem, trail systems through
old growth pine and hardwood forests, historic sites, and wildlife
in their purest form. Because Kisatchie is a National Forest rather
Long Leaf Scenic Area
than a National Park, it was founded on the idea of proper agency
management of timber and wildlife. Allowing hunting in Kisatchie
is one of the National Forest’s founding objectives; the wildlife
would be harvested by the public under agency management,
which will ensure that ecology and economy are always in balance.
The same proper management techniques are true for timber
sales, which still exist today. The idea is that the timber harvests
are managed in a way so that the forest never runs out of timber.
The Vernon Unit of Kisatchie is the reason Fort Polk has its location
today. The Army got its start on 27,000 acres of Forest Service land.
56
Currently, Fort Polk uses about a hundred thousand acres of land for military training.
Today, the Vernon Unit is also noted for its red cockaded donor population, very pristine
park-like stands of long-leaf pine, archeological ruins, and high quality botanical habitat,
including wildflowers and native plants.
Developed Recreation Areas & Trails
AF
T
The Fullerton Complex, just north of Fullerton, Louisiana, is the site of an old saw mill
town. The complex consists of a lake, a pavilion, campsites, and the historic Fullerton
Mill Trail that proceeds through the ruins of the old saw mill town surrounding the lake.
Aside from its historic relevance, the Fullerton Complex is popular for bank fishing, nonmotorized boating, and bird / wildlife viewing. National Forest Service representatives
have expressed interest in promoting more opportunities at Fullerton, including visitation
to the mill ruins, hunting, fishing, and ATV use.
R
The Blue Hole Complex, Vernon Unit’s choice for the annual fishing derby, is a compact
area with a small lake appropriately named “Blue Hole”. This complex offers a day-use
pavilion for group meetings or picnics, open shoreline, grills, vault restrooms, trash
receptacles, and non-motorized boating, but is best known for its viewing pavilion (Blue
Hole Wildlife Viewing Structure) and wildlife trail along which the Forest Service has
installed bird and bat houses to encourage their presence.
D
The parish’s natural landscape includes longleaf pine woods, rolling
hills, creeks, bayous, reservoirs, and
lakes
The Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District has a variety of Recreation Areas, each
with its own unique experience and program. Recreation opportunities exist such as
Hunting, Fishing, Non-Motorized Boating, Camping, Trails (Hiking, Bicycling, Horseback
Riding, ATV / OHV riding), Birding Watching, Nature Tours, Group / Day Use Facilities. The
four primary developed recreation complexes are Fullerton Complex, Blue Hole Complex,
Government Pond Complex, and Little Cypress Pond Complex. Each of these complexes
contains a water body as well as various recreational opportunities and day / outdoor use
facilities. Other Recreation areas without water bodies are the Enduro Complex and the
Hunter’s Camp. The complexes are inner connected by a system of trails, each of which
has its own unique experience and mode of circulation. The primary trails are Ouiska
Chitto Trail, Big Branch Trail, Enduro Trail, Fullerton Mill Trail, Ol’ Sarge Interpretive Trail,
and Turkey Pen Trail.
The Government Pond Complex, best known as a favorite destination for horse riders,
has an open shoreline for bank fishing (particularly bream and white perch), trail systems
(hiking and horse trails), picnic areas with limited facilities, non-motorized boating,
and vaulted restrooms. The Government Pond with its pasture surroundings make for
a picturesque campground, and houses trailheads for the Turkey Pen Trail and the Big
Branch Trail.
The Little Cypress Pond, a family friendly complex, is on the National Historic Registry as
the old CCC Camp Vernon site, whose efforts proved to be a successful jump start for the
timber industry by replanting faster growing pines instead of the slow-growing Longleaf
pine. In addition to its history, Little Cypress Pond also offers a covered pavilion, paved
interpretive trail with educational displays, bank fishing, non-motorized boating, and
playground equipment.
The Enduro Complex is a primitive trailhead camp established primarily for visitors to the
Enduro Trail, a 30 mile designated OHV / motorcycle trail, as well as horse riders, bicyclists,
and hikers. This trail can be split into three separate loops within the Enduro Trail System:
the South Loop (5 miles), the Fullerton Loop (15 miles), and the Mogul Loop (19 miles). The
campsite is open for general camping by non-motorist visitors and provides a pavilion for
day / group use or picnics.
The Hunter’s Camp is a centrally located primitive hunting campsite, but is open for
general camping purposes throughout the year. It is equipped with vault restrooms and
is a popular stop among trail users (Enduro, Big Branch, and Ouiska Chitto), nature lovers,
and photographers. It is in close proximity to the Longleaf Scenic Area.
57
(Ouiska Chitto Trail – BLUE – Horseback riding, hiking,
bicycling)
Special Interest Areas / Natural Areas
The Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District has a diverse
ecosystem of wildlife species and plant life, which is visible through
numerous natural areas, bogs, creeks, and special interest areas.
Natural areas are preserved for their unique natural conditions and
wildlife diversity. These areas are used for nature studies, tours, and
wildlife viewing. The primary special interest areas, each with its
own unique experience and program, are the Longleaf Pine Scenic
Area, Cooter’s Bog, Drake’s Creek, and Ouiska Chitto Natural Area.
The Longleaf Pine Scenic Area was set aside for the Longleaf
Pine trees that make up a significant portion of Kisatchie today.
Home to the protected Red Cockaded Woodpecker, these pines
are indicated by two bands of white paint on the lower part of
the trunk. The controlled burns keep the ground uncluttered and
provide an overhead canopy making the area ideal for hunting,
camping, and hiking.
Drake’s Creek Natural Area and Cooter’s Bog are fragile areas set
aside for the number of smaller pitcher plant bogs, grassy hillsides,
and mixed hardwood bottomland species.
•
Blue Hole Complex (Blue Hole Wildlife Viewing /
Overlook Structure w/ trail – hiking only)
•
Government Pond Complex – (Big Branch Trail - majority
Horseback riding, but also bicycling and hiking) (Turkey
Pen Trail – Horseback riding and hiking)
•
Little Cypress Pond (Ol’ Sarge Trail)
•
Hunter’s Camp
•
Ouiska Chitto Natural Area
•
Drakes Creek
•
Longleaf Scenic Area
Overview of Recreation
Activities for Vernon
Parish
T
Ouiska Chitto Natural Area was set aside for its unique soil and
land conditions as well as the plant and animal life it supports.
Below is a summary of all recreation opportunities available in
Vernon Parish and immediate vicinity listed alphabetically by
program.
Kisatchie Recreation Areas
Cooter’s Bog
•
Fullerton Complex (Fullerton Mill Trail – Hikers only)
•
Enduro Complex (Enduro Multiple-Use Trails - ORANGE –
primarily motorcyclists, but also OHV’s, hiking, bicycling)
Ball Parks
•
Leesville Recreation Complex
•
Rosepine Recreational Complex is under development
D
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AF
•
Vernon Lake Spillway Park
Fullerton Hiking Trail
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RV Camping
•
Anacoco Lake Spillway RV Park & Gro.
•
The Craft’s RV Park
•
Hickory Ridge Campground
•
Liberty Creek RV Park
•
Methodist Landing Campground
•
Norm’s RV Sales and Campground
•
Pecan Acres RV Park
•
Shady Lake RV Park
•
Silver Creek Junction LLC
•
VFW Landing
•
Walnut Hill RV Park
Cabin Camping
•
Bass Haven Resort
•
Hodges Gardens State Park
•
South Toledo Bend State Park
•
Toledo Bend Resort
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T
Municipal Golf Course
•
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Primitive / Tent Camping
•
•
Bivens West
•
Clear Creek Camping Area
•
•
•
•
Sandy Creek Boat Launch
•
Tack-A-Paw Expeditions
•
VFW Landing
Fishing & Boating
Magnolia Park
Birdwatching
•
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area
•
Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area
•
Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area
•
Fort Polk Wildlife Management Area
•
•
Lake Vernon
•
Lake Anacoco (2000 acres)
•
Sabine River / Toro Bayou
•
Toldeo Bend Reservoir
•
Alligator Lake
Frisbee Golf Course
•
Myrtle Park
Garden / Nature Tours
•
Allen Acres Native Ventures
•
•
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Golf
•
Leesville Municipal Golf Club & City Park
•
Warrior Hills Golf Resort (Fort Polk)
•
Cypress Bend Golf at Toledo Bend Lake
•
Emerald Hills Golf Resort at Toledo Bend Lake
Group / Day Use
•
Bivens West
•
Burr Ferry Confederate Breastworks
•
•
•
•
•
Pioneer Park
•
Vernon Lake Spillway Park
Museum of West Louisiana
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area – 54,269 Acres
owned by Forest Capital Partners, LLC.
•
Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area - 595 owned by
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Acreage
•
Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Area - 33,488 Acres
Owned by U.S. Army, U.S. Forest Service
•
Fort Polk Wildlife Management Area - 105,545 Acres
owned by U.S. Army and U.S. Forest Service
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•
Kisatchie National Forest – Hunter’s Camp
Horseback Riding
•
•
Kisatchie National Forest Trails (Government Pond
Complex, Enduro Trails, Turkey Pen Trail, Big Branch Trail,
and Ouiska Chitto Trail)
•
Swany Creek Ranch
•
Wagon Wheel Riding Club
Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV’S)
•
Anacoco Lake Spillway Park
•
Enduro Multi-Use Trails
•
Leesville Motorsports
Playgrounds
•
Pools
AF
Hunting
•
New Llano Community Park
T
•
Leesville City Park
•
Leesville Leisure Pool
Tennis Courts
•
Leesville City Park
Trail Systems
•
Enduro Trails
•
Big Branch Trail
•
Ouiska Chitto Trail
•
Ol’ Sarge Trail
•
Fullerton Mill Trail
•
Turkey Pen Trail
Walking Paths
•
Dogwood Park
•
Jubilee Park
•
Magnolia Park
•
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Tourism / Cultural
Programming
The Vernon Parish Tourism Commission actively markets the
area’s recreation, cultural and heritage amenities through various
informational outlets, including its Venture into Vernon web
site (www.venturevernon.com). In addition to promoting local
visitation, the Commission participates in broader regional efforts
to build cultural identify across the western parishes of the state
(Allen, Beauregard, DeSoto, Sabine, and Vernon Parishes). The
Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) has funded a cultural survey of
the five parishes to document common cultural themes that could
be used to develop tourist and visitor opportunities to the region.
In 2009, the Vernon Parish Tourism Commission received a second
grant from LDOA Folklife Initiative Fund to gather myths, legends
and folktales from region, as part of the Myths and Legends Byway
Project and Toledo Bend Forest Byway.
Vernon Parish has numerous opportunities for tourism and culture
programming in the form of fairs, festivals, historic buildings and
sites, places to see, and things to do. Listed below are the notable
Forestry Fargrounds
tourist attractions and cultural activities throughout the parish.
Historic Buildings, Sites & Districts
T
Fairs & Festivals
Mardi Gras Ball (February - March)
•
Mardi Gras Parade (February - March)
•
Spring Art Walk (March)
•
Anacoco Spring Festival & Parade (April)
•
Roses in the Pines Arts & Crafts Festival (April)
•
West Louisiana Chill & Grill (April)
•
Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival (May)
•
Slagle Trade Days (September)
•
West LA Forestry Festival Pageant (October)
•
West LA Forestry Festival & Fair (October)
•
Lions Club Rodeo Parade (October)
•
•
Booker-Lewis House
•
Burr Ferry WPA Era Bridge
AF
•
Burr Ferry Earthworks
•
Cain Motor Co.
•
Christian Commonwealth Colony
•
Downtown Leesville Historic District
•
Dreamland Theater
•
Ferguson, G.R., Sr. House
•
First National Bank
•
First United Methodist Church
•
Fort Polk and JRTC
•
Fullerton Mill and Town
Lions Club Pro Rodeo (October)
•
Holly Grove Methodist Church
•
LHS Homecoming & Parade (October)
•
Howerton House
•
Slow Rollers Car Show (October)
•
Kansas City Southern Depot
•
Fall Art Walk (October)
•
Kurth, Joseph H., Jr. House
•
Witch Way to Main Street (October)
•
Leesville Cemetery
•
LaCamp Fall Festival (November)
•
Leesville Hotel
•
Christmas Parade (December)
•
Lyons Building
•
Museum of West Louisiana’s “Elegant Affair” (December)
•
Lyons, Benson H., House
•
Merchants and Farmers Bank
•
National Hotel
•
New Llano Cooperative Colony
•
Old Mitchell Graveyard
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•
•
Red Hound Building
•
Reid, Dr. William E., House
•
Rose House
•
Smart, Edmond Ellison, House
•
Talbert-Pierson Cemetery
•
U.S. Post Office - W. P. A.
•
Vernon Bank
•
Vernon Parish Courthouse
•
Ward House
•
Wingate-Bagents-McRae House
61
Arts, Entertainment & Culture
171 Speedway
•
Fort Polk Military Museum
•
Gallery One Ellleven
•
Lee Hills 6 Cinema
•
Louisiana Lanes Fun Center
•
Museum of West Louisiana
•
Showboat Theater
•
Vanishing Vernon
•
Vernon Parish Arts Council
•
Vernon Parish Community Orchestra
•
Vernon Parish Library
•
Vernon Parish Veteran’s Memorial Plaza
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T
•
RECREATION & CULTURE CHALLENGES
» Lack of orientation and directional signage, as well
as the physical separation between many of parish
communities, makes it difficult to access parks
» Existing parks within the cities and towns in the
parish are not always integrated into the fabric of the
community
RECREATION & CULTURE OPPORTUNITIES
» Enhance facilities and supporting services to encourage
more visitation and longer stays
» Build on the identity of NW Louisiana and the Neutral
Strip
» Add more community park and open space and better
connect these spaces to create a parish-wide network
» Establish a parish-wide recreation department to
mange, develop and promote recreational facilities and
opportunities
T
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09 Housing and Neighborhoods
63
Housing and Neighborhoods
This section summarizes housing conditions, ownership patterns,
and cost, as well as the range of residential choices available in the
parish. As described earlier in the land use section, the parish has a
high number of affordable, large lot rural housing options in many
communities, but lacks a diversity of choice in smaller lot detached
or attached units. Though recent subdivision development is
adding to the inventory, the parish does not yet have a sufficient
supply of contemporary, higher price point residential subdivisions
that could appeal to military families, retirees or other relocating
residents.
Housing Occupancy
Vernon Parish, according to American Community Survey
estimates, has more than 22,000 housing units (See Table 7).
The overall residential vacancy rate in the parish is higher than
Louisiana though most of these vacancies are among its rental
supply. Vernon Parish has a lower percentage of vacant homeowner
units than the state overall.
Housing Age and Quality
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The majority of the parish’s houses were built in the 1980s and
1970s (See Table 8). Overall, Vernon Parish has a lower percentage
of units built since 2005 than the state. Areas that tend to fewer
contemporary housing units include Fort Polk South and the City
of Leesville.
Age is not necessarily an accurate indicator of structural quality.
However, pockets of housing in the mature central neighborhoods
of Leesville and New Llano show signs of physical distress. Housing
in other areas varies widely in character, ranging from quality large
lot rural housing to more modest houses and manufactured units
with aesthetic challenges.
Single-family house on Highway 1211
Vernon Parish
Louisiana
Estimate
Percent
Housing Occupancy
Total housing units
22,051
x
x
Occupied housing units
18,179
82.4%
85.8%
Vacant housing units
3,872
17.6%
14.2%
Homeowner Vacancy rate
x
1.3%
1.8%
Rental vacancy rate
x
16.4%
7.2%
Table 7. Vernon Parish Housing Occupancy, 2006-2008 Estimates
64
Vernon Parish
Louisiana
Estimate
Percent
Year Structure Built
Built 2005 or later
511
2.3%
3.5%
Built 2000 or 2004
1,381
6.3%
8.1%
Built 1990 or 1999
3,741
17%
13.5%
Built 1980 or 1989
6,517
29.6%
16.8%
Built 1970 or 1979
4,566
20.7%
20.5%
Built 1960 or 1969
2,216
10%
13.9%
Built 1950 or 1959
1,921
8.7%
10.9%
Built 1940 or 1949
577
2.6%
5.5%
Built 1939 or earlier
621
2.8%
7.3%
AF
T
Table 8. Vernon Parish Housing Age, 2006-2008 Estimates
Vernon Parish
Louisiana
Percent
D
Housing Tenure
R
Estimate
9,848
54.2%
68.3%
8,331
45.8%
31.7%
1 unit, detached
10,421
47.3%
66%
1 unit, attached
1,253
5.7%
2.6%
2 units
1,362
6.2%
3.4%
3 or 4 units
2,506
11.4%
4.1%
5 to 9 units
1,272
5.8%
3.4%
10 to 19 units
510
2.3%
2.7%
20 or more units
192
0.9%
3.7%
Mobile home
4,507
20.4%
14.0%
28
0.1%
0.2%
Owner-occupied
Renter-occupied
Units in structure
Boat, RV, van, etc.
Table 9. Vernon Parish Housing Tenure, 2006-2008 Estimates
65
Housing Tenure and Type
Overall, the parish has a smaller supply of owner occupied homes than the state, reflecting
the high percentage of military families in the area and the resulting demand for rental
options. Leesville and New Llano, given their proximity to Fort Polk, have more rental
units. Those communities farther away from the installation, such as Simpson, Anacoco
and Hornbeck, have higher percentage of owner-occupied units. Other rural, nonincorporated areas of the parish also have high rates of owner-occupied housing.
Manufactured houses are more prevalent as a residential choice in Vernon Parish than in
the state overall. Though the parish’s total housing supply contains a smaller percentage
of one unit detached houses than Louisiana, larger lot rural character single family
housing is the most common residential option in many parts of the parish. Vernon Parish
also has a comparatively high percentage a small multi-family structures, but lacks denser
developments of 10 or more units.
Housing Value and Cost
Vernon Parish has a lower percentage of homes in the mid to upper-mid price range
from $150,000 to $500,000 than Louisiana, indicating a weakness in the supply of higher
quality, contemporary housing options. See Table 10.
T
Residents and stakeholders often cite affordability as a major asset and the data clearly
highlight the relatively lower cost of homeownership in the parish. According to parish
staff, a new house costs approximately $100 per square foot. The median figure for
selected monthly owner costs, including mortgage payments, falls below the state.
However, median gross rent is slightly above the state figure, likely driven higher by rental
demand from Fort Polk Soldiers and personnel.
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AF
As a general rule, households spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing
are said to suffer from a housing-cost burden. Families that spend a larger proportion
of their income on housing may not have sufficient funds for other daily necessities
such as food, health care, transportation, child care, and clothing. The housing-cost
burden tends to be higher for renters and for those families experiencing poverty and
financial insecurity. Just under one-quarter of parish homeowners exceed the 30 percent
threshold, a rate below that of Louisiana overall. The burden is more common among
renters, though again, the parish rate is below that of the state.
Specialized Housing Populations
Vernon Parish has two populations with more specialized housing needs—Soldiers and
their dependents, contractors, and civilian personnel at Fort Polk; and the retirees that the
parish seeks to attract as a certified retirement community.
Fort Polk Military Personnel
About one-third of Fort Polk’s active military population or 3,500 Soldiers and their
dependents live in the surrounding communities. In contrast, most defense communities
house about two-thirds of military families. Anecdotal evidence suggests a limited supply
of off-installation housing that appeals to incoming military families. Southern parts
of the parish, such as Rosepine, as well as Beauregard Parish are popular options for
military personnel. Following a trend seen across many military installations, Fort Polk
has privatized its residential areas. Picerne Military Housing will spend $240 million to
refurbish or construct on-post housing over a 10-year period between 2004 and 2014. The
total residential community will consist of up to 3,700 housing units in five neighborhoods
with multiple housing options, ranging from townhomes to single-family houses, and
amenities such as neighborhood centers and park spaces. Some existing housing on
The parish has a comparatively
smaller supply of newer houses in
the mid to upper-mid prices ranges.
66
Vernon Parish
Value of Owner-occupied Units
Louisiana
Estimate
Percent
Less than $50,000
2,492
25.3%
$50,000 to $99,999
3,550
36.0%
68.3%
$100,000 to $149,999
1,635
16.6%
31.7%
$150,000 to $199,999
1,055
10.7%
66%
$200,000 to $299,999
848
8.6%
2.6%
$300,000 to $499,999
240
2.4%
3.4%
$500,000 to $999,000
28
0.3%
4.1%
$1,000,000 or more
0
0%
3.4%
Gross rent
$709
Selected monthly owner
cost with mortgage
$867
AF
Median (dollars)
$678
T
Median (dollars)
$1,105
Less than 20.0 percent
2,700
56.0%
46%
603
12.5%
14.7%
414
8.6%
10.4%
30.0 to 34.9 percent
308
6.4%
6.7%
35.0 percent or more
794
16.5%
22.2%
1,359
20.5%
15.2%
896
13.5%
12.0%
1,325
20.0%
11.9%
754
11.4%
9.8%
466
7.0%
8.2%
35 percent or more
1,819
27.5%
42.8%
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Selected monthly owner cost as a percentage of household income
Gross rent as a percentage of household income
Less than 15.0 percent
Table 10. Vernon Parish Housing Value and Costs, 2006-2008 Estimates
67
the post will be removed, however, requiring the construction of earlier, timber companies own large tracts of land in the parish.
approximately 3,300 new houses in the surrounding community The companies have sold some land holdings for development
and if the costs of timber ownership continue to increase ongoing
to absorb military personnel.
interest in divesting land could spark more subdivision activity.
New residential construction in the parish is heavily skewed toward
sites outside of incorporated areas. In Leesville, for example, only
Vernon Parish has been designated a Certified Retirement
about three or four new homes have been built within city limits
Community by the State of Louisiana. The certification recognizes
in the past few years, while the parish issued 182 housing permits
places where affordable housing, recreational and cultural
in 2009 and 154 in 2008. The spread of development weakens the
opportunities, available medical facilities, and transportation
ability of the parish’s established communities to organize future
access create a supportive, high quality environment for retirees
growth and create a sense of place.
aged 55 and older. Generally, retirees are drawn to Vernon Parish
because of the warm climate, small town character, low cost of living
and medical care. However, the lack of walkable neighborhoods
and more compact and lower maintenance housing options, such
HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD CHALLENGES
as townhomes or attached condos, could limit the ability of these
» The parish has strong rural residential choices, but lacks
retirees to age in place within the parish.
diversity in other housing types and neighborhood
Fort Polk military personnel who are transitioning out of the US
settings
Army also represent an opportunity for the parish to attract
» Housing conditions in some portions of the parish
relocating households. Many veterans either retire or establish
show signs of aging and physical decline, particularly
second civilian careers in the surrounding communities, drawn
in more remote rural areas or within the built cores of
by easy access to post amenities and health care and the familyexisting municipalities, such as Leesville
friendly environment of the parish. Vernon Parish has an estimated
6,000 civilian veterans.
» The parish has a relatively high vacancy rate in its
housing inventory, especially among existing rental
units
AF
T
Retirees
Housing Trends
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Though both data analysis and stakeholder interviews indicate
that Vernon Parish still lacks an array of quality houses to
attract military families, relocating retirees and other residents,
several recent subdivision developments will expand available
residential choices. New subdivision activity has occurred or has
been proposed along Highway 1211 near New Llano, along East
Hawthorne Road and Massey Road, and to the north and south of
Rosepine. In general, new subdivisions feature higher price point,
larger square footage houses, but lack supporting amenities, such
as sidewalks and park spaces. These residential enclaves are also
not connected to nearby retail or employment centers.
Areas in the south of the parish are growing most quickly,
particularly around Rosepine. Other growth spots include areas
around the medical facilities in Leesville and Alligator Lake. As noted
HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITIES
» Expand housing choices and neighborhood types
by adding quality small-lot housing, townhouses,
apartments or subdivisions with strong open space and
mixed use elements in select areas
» Add to the supply of better quality, contemporary
housing units that can appeal to military families and
retirees
» Encourage
the
redevelopment
of
mature
neighborhoods and the rehabilitation of older housing
units
2008
2009
YTD 2010 (through
4/30/10)
Single Family Permits
124
176
66
Multi Family Permits
30
6
2
Total
154
182
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Source: Fort Polk Realtor Association, and RKG Associates Inc, 2010
Table 11. Vernon Parish Housing Permits, 2008-2010
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10 Community Facilities
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Community Facilities
This section inventories facilities both parish-wide and within
individual communities. Community facilities include assets
owned by the local governments, such as police stations, fire
stations, schools, and municipal buildings, as well as facilities
generally available to the public, including the library and senior
and veteran’s centers. Other resources that play a strong role in the
community life of the parish are charitable organizations, churches
and media, such as the radio stations and newspaper.
Parish-wide
Police
The Sheriff has jurisdiction parish-wide, with its major station in
Leesville and a limited-hour substation in Pitkin. The six municipal
departments focus their response efforts within the incorporated
boundaries. Law enforcement also has a strong presence in parish
schools with school resource officers placed in all facilities. In
addition to emergency response, the Sheriff ’s department fully
funds the parish’s anti-drug education program, DARE, and
provides courtesy transportation for the elderly and sick on a case
by case basis.
Geographical size poses a challenge to patrolling the parish and
officials from the Sheriff ’s department indicate the need for two
more officers. The department’s goal is to establish more of a
community presence through additional patrols. Despite the
large, dispersed service area, the Sheriff ’s staff reports that overall
crime is low and declining. The most common law enforcement
issues relate to narcotics use and domestic violence. The parish
has also recently passed millage to build a new jail facility that will
increase capacity from 84 to 140 beds.
Emergency Services
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The Sheriff ’s Department delivers emergency response services
to the entire parish, but each of the six municipalities—Leesville,
New Llano, Rosepine, Hornbeck, Simpson, and Anacoco—also
maintains its own police force. All parish residents have access
to an enhanced 911 emergency system. Fire response services
are also comprehensive with three professionally staffed fire
departments (Leesville, New Llano, and Fort Polk) and 20 volunteer
departments spread throughout the parish. The parish also plays
Fire
an important role in disaster response for hurricanes in the gulf,
Vernon Parish has a total of 23 fire stations with professional staff
offering one of the southernmost emergency shelters in the state.
stationed in Leesville, New Llano and Fort Polk. All incorporated
Figure 8 shows the locations of emergency services in the parish.
municipalities have a fire station, and there are volunteer
departments at Sandy Creek, Dry Fork, Sundown, Caney, Marlow,
Sandy Hill, Lacamp, Slagle, Burr Ferry, Evans, and Pitkin. The
volunteer forces are a critical part of maintaining public safety
New Llano Fire Department
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Figure 8. Vernon Parish Emergency Services
71
Vernon Parish is in the process of developing a notification system
to assist residents in the event of an emergency.
and lowering insurance rates in these communities. The current
insurance rating in Vernon Parish has fallen to 4.
The parish, municipalities, including DeRidder, and Fort Polk
participate in cooperative agreements to extend and supplement
available rescue resources. When requested, the Leesville
Department will assist at large fire events seven miles outside of
the city limits. Currently, the Leesville Department does not deliver
emergency medical response at accident sites. The department,
however, is now equipped with a “jaws of life,” to extract vehicular
crash victims anywhere in the parish. The department seeks to
expand its extraction capabilities by adding four more sets and
is working toward establishing emergency medical services. Fort
Polk also has also assisted with accident extraction, but starting in
2011, will limit responses.
K-12 Schools
Vernon Parish schools have achieved a sound state-wide reputation
for quality and serve as the cornerstones of the parish communities.
In 2009-2010, the district had 9,986 students, about thirty to forty
percent from military families. Over the past decade, enrollment
has remained fairly stable. About 59.2 percent of students were
on the free/reduced price lunch (compared to 65.8 percent statewide) and the district had a slightly higher attendance rate (94.2
percent) than the state average (93.6 percent). The district’s
performance score in 2009 was 105.7, up 2.3 points from 2008 and
well above the state average of 91.0.
The fire department has a major need for additional staff. To follow
the guidelines set by the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA), stations should be staffed with a five person minimum
for the initial emergency response. Currently the Leesville Fire
Department has four people on shift plus the chief, leaving
no flexibility in staffing. The city is pursuing a grant to increase
manpower.
In 2009, the district had four schools showing “Exemplary Academic
Growth”, three schools showing “Recognized Academic Growth”,
eight schools showing “Minimal Academic Growth”, one school
showing “No Growth” and two schools “In Decline.” There are three
private or alternative schools in Vernon Parish: First Assembly
Christian Academy School; the Gates School, and Vernon Parish
Optional.
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Fire and public safety officials also report the need for better
communication equipment, including a new communication
tower, and portable generators to maintain fire protection services
in the event of a power disruption. Officials also cited concerns over
potential delays in response times caused by the interruption of
traffic flow across at-grade rail crossings when trains travel through
the parish and by increasing traffic congestion along Highway 171.
Vernon Parish is the first sheltering community north of Highway
190 and thus plays an important role in the state’s hurricane
evacuation efforts . The parish coordinates emergency responses
with the Red Cross and currently has a disaster preparedness plan
in place. All schools can be used as evacuation centers during
disaster events, but officials have indicated that available shelter
is under capacity.
While hurricanes result in evacuation impacts, the parish is
vulnerable to more direct disaster risks from flooding hazards
around the Sabine River and the Toledo Bend dam. Parish public
safety representatives noted the need for additional coordination
with regional and state officials to manage and mitigate potential
flooding hazards. Officials also cited the risk of hazardous materials
spillage during rail transport through the parish.
Rosepine Elementary School
3rd Grade
ELA
3rd Grade
Math
5th
Grade
ELA
5th Grade
Math
7th Grade
ELA
7th Grade
math
9th Grade
ELA
9th Grade
Math
Vernon (Change)
76% (-4)
76% (1)
80% (2)
78% (0)
76% (0)
78% (9)
79% (3)
76% (4)
State (Change)
66% (2)
68% (5)
66% (1)
62% (1)
62% (1)
63% (8)
65% (3)
64% (3)
Table 12. Testing: 2009 Data. Percentage students at basic and above (change since 2008)
72
Performance % Teachers
Academic
Score*
NCLB**
Growth Level
Grades
Enrollment
Anacoco Elementary
School
Anacoco
PK-6
571
127.9
96%
Recognized
Anacoco High School
Anacoco
7-12
378
123.7
75%
Exemplary
East Leesville Elementary
School
Evans High School
Leesville
PK-1
516
101.5
71%
Minimal
Evans
PK-12
383
99.5
75%
Minimal
Hicks
PK-12
317
98.6
82%
In Decline
Hornbeck High School
Hornbeck
PK-12
469
109.8
74%
Recognized
Leesville High School
Leesville
9-12
605
100.00
79%
Exemplary
Leesville Junior High
School
Leesville
7-9
581
93.6
67%
Minimal
North Polk Elementary
School
Fort Polk
PK-1
622
103.2
82%
Minimal
Pickering Elementary
School
Pickering
PK-6
766
108.4
68%
Minimal
Pickering High School
Pickering
7-12
443
96.8
79%
No Growth
Pitkin
PK-12
534
101.3
60%
Minimal
Rosepine Elementary
School
Rosepine
PK-6
829
101.7
91%
Recognized
Rosepine High School
Rosepine
7-12
526
99.7
82%
Exemplary
Simpson High School
Simpson
PK-12
332
101.2
65%
Minimal
South Polk Elementary
School
Fort Polk
2-4
591
104.5
100%
Minimal
Vernon Middle School
Leesville
5-6
542
100.8
77%
Exemplary
West Leesville Elementary
School
Leesville
2-4
512
107.1
94%
In Decline
AF
Pitkin High School
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Hicks High School
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Location
D
School Name
* Beginning in 1999, the State of Louisiana has tracked the quality of public schools through an accountability
program. Every public school in the state receives a score based on:
• Elementary Schools (K-5) – Attendance Index (10%), Assessment Index (90%)
• Middle Schools/Junior High Schools (K-8, 7-8) – Attendance Index (5%), Dropout Index (5%), Assessment Index
(90%)
• High Schools – (9-12) Graduation Index (30%), Assessment Index (70%)
** NCLB = No Child Left Behind. To be designated as “highly qualified”, teachers must have: 1) a bachelor’s degree,
2) full state certification or licensure, and 3) prove that they know each subject they teach.
Table 13. Vernon Parish Schools
73
As a whole, Vernon Parish students are outperforming many of their state counterparts.
Table 13 shows the percentages of students at a basic level and above in both English/
Language Arts and Math in grades 3, 5, 7 and 9. Figure 9 shows the location of school
facilities.
The major threat to the schools is limited funding. In Vernon Parish, the per pupil
expenditure in 2009 was $8,825 versus $9,781 statewide. Maintaining so dispersed a
network of facilities strains the available district budget. Yet, long travel distances in the
parish complicate potential opportunities to consolidate schools into more centralized
campuses. The parish’s smaller communities also place high value on their schools and
associated sports and activities and each plays an essential role in the community’s social
fabric. Another challenge is attracting and retaining highly qualified staff ; in 2009-2010,
78.9 percent of classes in the district were taught by state-defined “highly qualified
teachers”, a rate slightly below the state rate of 82.8 percent
Vernon Parish schools have
achieved a sound state-wide
reputation for quality and serve
as the cornerstones of the parish
communities. In 2009, the
district had four schools showing
Vocational and Post-Secondary Education
Vernon Parish has one state-funded vocational-technical school, Louisiana Technical “Exemplary Academic Growth.”
College - Lamar Salter Campus. The facility has a staff of 30 and an annual enrollment
of 935 students. The curriculum includes: Air Conditioning/Refrigeration; Automotive
Technology; Carpentry; Outdoor Power Equipment Technology; Early Childhood
Education; Practical Nursing; Industrial Electronics Technology; Office Systems Technology;
Accounting Technology; Computer Specialist-Applications and Criminal Justice.
Associate of Nursing
•
Associate of Business Administration
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The Northwestern State University Leesville/Fort Polk on Highway 467 is a 160 acre
campus that houses 30,000 square feet of classroom and administrative office space.
The satellite campus serves the civilian communities of Vernon, Beauregard, and Sabine
parishes, as well as military personnel at Fort Polk. In addition to providing the first two
years of preparation for almost any degree NSU offers, NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk enables
students to complete the following degrees on campus:
•
Associate of General Studies (Flexible/Child Development options)
•
Associate of Criminal Justice
•
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
•
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
•
Bachelor of General Studies (Interdisciplinary)
•
Master of Education, Administration and Supervision
•
Master of Education in Counseling
The Education Center on Fort Polk provides learning opportunities, including counseling,
testing, college degree programs, basic skills training, Army Learning Center/MOS Library
and self-paced programs for Soldiers, family members, Department of the Army Civilians,
retirees, contractors and civilians. Participating institutions include Central Michigan
University, Central Texas College, Louisiana State University, Northwestern State University
and Upper Iowa University.
Library
Vernon Parish enjoys an excellent public library system. Located in Leesville, the parish
library is housed in a modern 20,000 square foot facility. Voter approval of a referendum for
a $2.5M bond issue secured funding for the building construction. The library board had
earlier purchased the 2.5 acre site through its accumulated savings. Continued funding for
the library comes from a dedicated millage.
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Figure 9. Vernon Parish Schools
75
Vernon Parish Library
The system contains over 106,000 volumes of books and other
materials, WiFi services and the Lexus/Nexus database. The library
is also functions as a State and Federal Depository. In 2005, the
State Library of Louisiana reported that the Vernon Parish system
had an annual circulation of 225,860 materials.
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in New Llano, the Association of the United States Army, and the
Officers’ Spouses’ Club. Vernon Parish also has an Office of Veteran’s
Affairs and the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce supports a
Military Affairs Committee to promote strong relations between
the military and civilian communities, maximize the economic
impact of defense spending on the local area and enhance the
Special features of the library include a children’s wing, a meeting value and capacity of Fort Polk as a U.S. Military installation.
room with seating for 100 people, a collection of genealogy
research items and local archives, CD-ROM reference, public As of Spring 2011, the Veterans Administration is nearing
access to federal documents, and holdings of university libraries completion of a Community-based Outpatient Clinic on Highway
throughout the state. The parish library has two branches: the 467 near Leesville. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is
Dunbar branch on Nona Street and the Pitkin branch. Bookmobile also funding the construction of the Central Louisiana Veterans
service and audio/visual materials are available throughout the Cemetery in the vicinity.
parish. The system has plans for a 35-foot unit mobile branch that
Churches
will go to every town once per week.
In addition to the circulation of books, the library has established The parish has almost 190 churches, which residents cite as an
itself as a broad community resource, offering meeting facilities, integral part of the local community. The Ministerial Alliance is also
the Musical Odyssey program, adult education classes, pet food very engaged in community affairs and charitable activities.
drives, fishing rod and reel rental, and story times held at shelters
during hurricanes.
Other Civic Groups
Civic and non-profit groups in the area include:
Other Facilities
•
Vernon Chapter of Ducks Unlimited
Vernon Parish has other resources that play a valuable role in the
rich community life of its residents.
•
Garden Club
•
Community Choir
Veterans Groups and Facilities
•
Community Orchestra
As a defense community, Vernon Parish has an active network
of civilian veterans, as well as groups that focus on outreach and
partnership building between the community and Fort Polk.
Military-oriented facilities and organizations in the parish include
the American Legion Post #145, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
#3106, Disabled American Veterans #20, American Legion Post
•
Mayor’s Women’s Commission
•
Kiwanis Club of Vernon Parish
•
Anacoco Lions Club
•
Leesville Lions Club
76
•
Leesville Rotary Club
•
Louisiana Lions League for Crippled Children
•
Ministerial Alliance
•
Vernon Community Action Council
•
Vernon Council on Aging
•
Senior Circle at Byrd Regional Hospital
Radio Stations
There are six main radio stations in the parish, all based in Leesville:
KJAE, KVVP, KROK, KLLA, KVCL, KYKC, and ABC. On KJAE, the
station handles local news in designated time slots and has a talk
show called Swap Shop, which is used as a community forum and
information exchange.
Anacoco High School
Newspaper
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Anacoco
T
The Leesville Daily Leader has been the parish’s newspaper for
over one hundred years. The paper is published five days a week
and has a circulation of about 3,700. It covers local news, sports,
business, and community events.
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The Village has its own police force and a fire station staffed by
community volunteers. Anacoco is home to the two highest
performing schools in the parish, Anacoco Elementary and
Anacoco High. The two schools are the only in the parish that
already meet the Louisiana state performance goals for 2014. Colocated on Port Arthur Road, the Elementary school was built in
1961 and last renovated in 1992. The high school is a newer facility,
built in 1991. The district is planning a major renovation for the
high school. Other community facilities in Anacoco include a small
municipal office and a branch of the post office.
Evans High School
Evans
The major community facility in this unincorporated is village is
Evans High School on Highway 111 and Bonner Road. Even though
it accommodates grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12, Evans High
School has one of the smallest enrollments in the parish. The
facility has been recently renovated. The community also has a
volunteer fire station on Fal Road and a small post office branch.
Hornbeck
Hornbeck has its own police department, a volunteer fire
department, and a fire tower. The major community facility
is Hornbeck High School. Of the four schools in the parish that
Leesville High School
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Leesville Fire Station
Vernon Public Library in Pitkin
Simpson High School
serve all grades pre-Kindergarten through 12, Hornbeck is the
highest performing. The structure, however, is outdated and in need
of renovation. The community also has a post office on Highway
171 and a municipal government building/welcome center. The
town has acquired property for a club house, illuminated walking
trail and ball parks and leases these facilities to the Optimist Club.
has struggled with low performance scores and a smaller number
of classes taught by highly qualified teachers. The junior high
school is co-located with Leesville High School, which teaches
grades 9 through 12. A recently passed bond issue will fund facility
renovation and expansion at the high school over the next two to
three years.
Leesville
As the parish seat, the city includes its own municipal facilities,
as well as parish-wide institutions such as the Vernon Parish
Courthouse and Police Jury Complex, the Sheriff ’s Office and Jail,
the historic courthouse, the Registrar of Voters Office and Tax
Assessor’s Office.
As the largest municipality in Vernon Parish, Leesville also has the
most community facilities, including the largest police department,
a professionally staffed fire department, and five schools.
Leesville has two elementary schools with similarly sized
enrollments. East Leesville Elementary was built in 1953, and
updated in 1995. West Leesville Elementary was constructed
originally in 1958. Leesville also has two middle/junior high
schools. Vernon Middle School was first built in the 1920s, and
houses grades 5 and 6. Leesville Junior High School was built in
1976 and was last renovated in 1989. Leesville Junior High School
New Llano
The town has its own police department and one of the three
professionally staffed fire departments in the parish. The New
Llano Town Hall building is on Highway 171 and other municipal
buildings and the community park are on Stanton Road
78
Pitkin
The Sheriff has a sub-station in Pitkin and the community also
has a volunteer fire department. Pitkin High School is the largest
community facility in the area. In 2009-2010, it had an enrollment
of 534 students. Voters recently passed a bond issue to improve
school facilities, originally constructed in 1969. In addition to the
school, there is a small community building where residents can
pay utility bills and get general information about area events and
a limited-hour branch of the Parish library adjacent to the school.
Rosepine
Rosepine has a police department of nine staff, and a volunteer fire
department. The community also has two large schools: Rosepine
Elementary School with 829 students, and Rosepine High School
with a student population of 526. The high school is showing
strong academic growth, though physically, the facilities are in
need of a renovation. Stakeholders have reported that the schools
are both overpopulated and there is a need for a middle school.
Community Center, Pitkin
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Rosepine has plans for a new town hall on a three acre site to
accommodate future expansion and is seeking to acquire 40 acres
north of town for recreational facilities, including youth baseball, a
walking trail and picnic area. There is a small senior center east of
Highway 171 and the Rosepine post office branch.
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Slagle Senior Center
COMMUNITY FACILITIES CHALLENGES
Simpson
The Village of Simpson has its own police department, a volunteer
fire station, and municipal building. The major community facility
is the school, one of four Pre-K through grade 12 schools in the
parish. At 332 students, it has the smallest enrollment in the parish.
The Simpson post office branch is near the school on Highway 8.
The nearby unincorporated area of Slagle has senior center and a
recreational walking trail.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES OPPORTUNITIES
» Police and fire emergency services require additional
staffing and the upgrading of equipment
» Increase staffing levels and upgrade equipment for
police and fire emergency services
» Schools play a major role in individual community
identities, but the number of facilities spread across
the parish stretches the limited funds available for
maintenance and renovation
» Build on K-12 educational performance and the
visibility of schools in local communities by improving
the physical quality of school facilities
» Some parts of the parish do not have access to common
gathering spaces
» The parish overall lacks a quality central gathering
space, such as a civic center
» Expand post-secondary training and educational
options and build on the presence of a strong parishwide library system to create an identity as a life-long
learning community
» Increase the number of flexible, multiple purpose
spaces in communities to accommodate recreational
activities, events and local gatherings
» Establish civic center for the parish
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Health & Human Services
This section summarizes facilities, organizations and resources
devoted to promoting the physical and social well-being of the
parish and its residents, including medical facilities, human service
agencies and non-profit groups.
Parish Health
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Medical Facilities
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In addition to the presence of medical providers (see below),
medical care coverage and service availability are also key
components of access to adequate care. Table 15 summarizes
health care access statistics for Vernon Parish.
T
According to Community Health Status Indicator data collected by
the US Department of Health and Human Services, Vernon Parish
is healthy relative to its peer communities. As shown on Table 14,
the only areas in which the parish compares unfavorably with its
comparably sized counterparts is in low birth weight for babies
born under 37 weeks, colon cancer, lung cancer and motor vehicle
fatalities.
Stakeholders have cited the emerging cluster of health care
facilities as a major asset for Vernon Parish. Byrd Regional
Hospital in Leesville has 37 affiliated physicians and a 60 bed
capacity. Services include medical/surgical acute care, a senior
care unit, intensive care unit, full radiological services and full
pathology diagnostic laboratory and services. labor and delivery,
lithotripsy services, endocrinology services, neurology services,
gastroenterology diagnostic testing (pediatric and adult), and pain
management service. Byrd Regional Hospital also has medical staff
in the following specialties:
•
Family Practice
•
Pediatrics
•
Internal Medicine
•
Orthopedics
•
Ear, Nose, Throat
•
Cardiology
•
Podiatry
•
OB/GYN
•
General Surgery (including same day & laser surgery
Byrd Regional Hospital
•
Urology
•
Psychiatry
•
Radiology
Doctor’s Hospital, also in Leesville, has a 10-bed capacity and
9 affiliated doctors, performing general, orthopedic, eye,
gynecological, foot, and ENT surgery. The Leesville Rehabilitation
Hospital provides specialty inpatient rehabilitation for patients
who are medically stable and can benefit from intensive
rehabilitation in a hospital setting.
The medical campus in Leesville also includes the following clinics,
offices and out-patient facilities:
•
Neurology Center
•
Tri-Parish Rehabilitation Hospital
•
Outpatient Medical Center
•
Leesville Dialysis Center
•
Orthopedic center of Louisiana
•
Leesville Surgical Center
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Peer County
Range
Parish Percent
U.S. Percent
2005
Healthy People
2010 Target
Birth Measures
8.0
6.0-10.1
Low Birth Wt. (<2500 g)
8.2
5.0
1.3
1.0-2.0
Very Low Birth Wt. (<1500 g)
1.5
0.9
13.0
10.1-16.0
Premature Birth (<37 weeks)
12.7
7.6
3.0
2.8-6.2
Births to Women under 18
3.4
No objective
0.6
1.0-2.3
Births to Women age 40-54
2.7
No objective
22.2
29.8-44.9
Births to Unmarried Women
36.9
No objective
14.0
12.4-29.9
No Care in First Trimester
16.1
10.0
Rate per 1,000
Infant Mortality
5.4-9.5
Infant Mortality
6.9
4.5
3.6
4.1-8.1
White non-Hispanic Infant
Mortality
5.8
4.5
9.6
0.0-22.7
Black non-Hispanic Infant
Mortality
13.6
4.5
nrf
0.0-13.2
Hispanic Infant Mortality
5.6
4.5
3.1
2.8-6.6
Neonatal Infant Mortality
4.5
2.9
1.9
2.0-3.7
Post-neonatal Infant Mortality
2.3
1.2
Breast Cancer (Female)
24.1
21.3
Colon Cancer
17.5
13.7
Coronary Heart Disease
154.0
162.0
Homicide
6.1
2.8
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5.0
Death Measures
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Rate per
100,000
16.4
19.6-30.9
20.6
16.4-26.8
146.9
139.3-233.9
3.8
1.3-8.9
68.2
47.1-76.7
Lung Cancer
52.6
43.3
24.5
14.7-31.0
Motor Vehicle Injuries
14.6
8.0
51.1
43.0-87.1
Stroke
47.0
50.0
12.5
10.0-17.9
Suicide
10.9
4.8
24.3
17.7-33.7
Unintentional Injury
39.1
17.1
Source: Community Health Status Indicators. US Department of Health and Human Services
Table 14. Vernon Parish Health Care Statistics
82
Measure of Access
Parish Estimate
Uninsured individuals (age under 65)
12,439
Medicare beneficiaries Elderly (Age 65+)
4,290
Medicare beneficiaries Disabled
1,150
Medicaid beneficiaries
9,707
Primary care physicians per 100,000 pop
48.2
Dentists per 100,000 pop
21.9
Source: Community Health Status Indicators. US Department of Health and Human Services
Table 15. Vernon Parish Health Care Access Statistics
Foot Clinic of West Louisiana
•
Leesville Diagnostic Center
•
Agape Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
•
Leesville Cardiovascular Center
•
Thomas Vision Clinic
Leesville Heart Center
•
Allergy and Asthma Center
•
Vernon Internal Medicine and Oncology Clinic
•
Deep South Chiropractic Clinic
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Fort Polk has its own on-post hospital. Baynes-Jones Army Community Hospital has
285 affiliated physicians, 169 beds, and 10 specialties. The Veteran’s Administration is
nearing of a new Out-Patient Clinic in the parish near Fort Polk. The 15,500 square foot
facility will support an estimated 2,500 veterans and 7,000 clinic visits per year, providing
services such as primary care, mental health, pharmacy education, phlebotomy, nutrition
counseling, and medical social work.
Leesville Rural Health Services is staffed by a full-time Family Practice physician and
support staff. Services include general primary care, KID-MED, WIC, AMD; referral for
specialty services such as Obstetrics/Gynecology and Dental. Future services will include
in-house lab and x-ray services and transportation. The program processes about 4,200
cases annually and accepts fees on a sliding scale, as well as Medicaid, Medicare and
private health insurance payments.
The Vernon Parish Health Unit in Leesville provides communicable disease control,
vaccinations, maternal/infant child healthcare, blood pressure control monitoring, food/
water protection, home health services, and nursing services.
Nursing Facilities and Home Health
Care Services
Vernon Parish has two nursing care facilities. The Woodlands in Leesville is a 150bed facility that offers long-term acute care, specialized dementia care, and physical,
occupational, and speech therapies. A second facility, the Pine Haven Nursing Home, just
outside of Rosepine, has a capacity of 52 beds. Byrd Home Health, Rapides Parish Regional
Center Home Health Care, Thompson Home Health, and Vernon Home Health, Inc provide
in-home medical services to parish residents, including lab work, vital signs monitoring,
The emerging cluster of health care
facilities is a major asset for Vernon
Parish, according to stakeholders.
83
medication regimens, family/patient care, tube feeding, catheters and colostomy care,
chemotherapy, phototherapy, and IV therapy.
Human Service Agencies
Child and Family Services
As noted in the section on demographics, Vernon Parish experiences human service
issues commonly seen in rural areas, including poverty and a lack of job opportunities.
The Department of Children and Family Services office in New Llano promotes economic
stability through cash assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, Child Care
Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Subsidy Program, as well as Child Support
Enforcement Services and adoption and foster care.
Other child-oriented programs include The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
program, which consists of specially trained and supervised community volunteers,
appointed by a Judge. These volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children by
investigating and monitoring cases involving children in foster care in Vernon Parish.
T
Vernon Parish Head Start is part of a federally funded program that focuses on developing
social competence in young children from economically disadvantaged families in
the parish. The program stresses the interrelatedness of cognitive and intellectual
development, physical and mental health, and nutritional needs.
R
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Each Head Start classroom has a teacher and an aide with a developmentally appropriate
curriculum, offering health, nutrition, social services, and parental involvement
opportunities. Vernon Parish has 16 classrooms and 300 students.
Adult Services
The Vernon Community Action Council provides weatherization, food and nutrition
assistance, emergency shelter, home energy assistance to parish residents. The Leesville
Residential and Employment Services Center has five community homes and two
employment programs that support individuals with developmental challenges. Services
include independent living, work skills, academics, social development, and behavioral
support.
D
Vernon Parish has a strong network
of charitable, religious and civic
organizations.
Vernon Parish Department of Social Services
84
Like communities across the nation, the parish will also continue to
see an increase in the number of older residents with specialized
needs in health care, nutrition, transportation, and social support.
The Vernon Council on Aging provides multiple services to
residents over the age of 60, including transit, health screening,
“Meals on Wheels” deliveries, and homemaker and caregiver
programs.
Charitable and Non-Profit
Groups
In addition to human service agencies, many non-profit
organizations participate in charitable activities in Vernon Parish
and nearby communities, including:
Kiwanis Club of Vernon Parish
•
Anacoco Lions Club
•
Leesville Lions Club
•
Louisiana Lion’s Camp: League Office
•
Leesville Rotary Club
•
Louisiana Lions League for Crippled Children
•
Masonic Lodge
•
Helping Hands Streetfront Ministries
•
BeauCARE in DeRidder
•
Big Brothers Big Sisters in DeRidder
•
Ministerial Alliance
•
American Red Cross at Fort Polk
•
Military Affairs Committee of the Greater Vernon
Chamber of Commerce
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•
AMVETS Post in Leesville
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES CHALLENGES
» The parish has a high number of children under the age
of 5 years, indicating demand for specialized care and
educational services
» The parish experiences a comparatively high rate of
individual poverty
» The size of the parish and its widely dispersed
population limits physical access to needed human
services
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES OPPORTUNITIES
» Highlight and build on the presence of health care
facilities as a key quality of life element in the parish
» Explore rural social service delivery strategies to
provide needed programs and resources to those living
in rural parts of parish
» Expand recreational and after-school educational and
mentoring opportunities for children
T
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12 Economic Development
86
Economic Development
Introduction
T
This following section analyzes the socioeconomic trends relevant to the workforce and
economic development opportunities within Vernon Parish. Documenting these trends
will help inform the direction of future growth and economic development policies
in Vernon Parish. RKG Associates examined four regions in this analysis. At the local
level, the Consultant studied trends and projections for Vernon Parish and the City of
Leesville, as the largest municipality in the parish. Where appropriate, the parish has
been compared against the Central Louisiana Region and the State of Louisiana in order
to provide additional context for the changes occurring locally. The data collected for
this analysis was taken primarily from CCIM Institute’s Site to Do Business data site and
DemographicsNow1. Additionally, information from the U.S. Census Bureau County
Business Patterns, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Louisiana Workforce Commission was
used in the employment and occupational sections of this report.
R
Population Trends
AF
Population Trends & Projections
D
Fluctuations in population in the parish have been highly influenced by personnel
changes at Fort Polk. Serving primarily as a basic training base during the Vietnam War,
in 1974, Fort Polk was selected as the home of the 5th Infantry Mechanized Division. The
Fort continued to grow throughout the 1980s, which contributed to local population
growth during the decade, increasing by 16.2% from 1980 to 1990) (Table 16). However,
in the early 1990s, the 5th Infantry Division (renamed the 2nd Armored Division) relocated
to Fort Hood, thereby removing those soldiers and their dependents. This relocation is
reflected in the population decline from 1990 to 2000 (-26.9% decline). From 2000 to
2010, the parish population has remained fairly stable.
According to Fort Polk’s Public
Affairs Office, the installation has
a total of population of 28,563
within the region (including family
In 1993, the Joint Readiness Training Center moved from Fort Chaffee, Arkansas to Fort Polk members).
and in 2005, the Armor Calvary Regiment relocated to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington,
which led to a further decline in population within the parish during the first decade of
the 2000s. Today, Fort Polk is home of the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC); the
4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division; and the 162nd Infantry Brigade. The Fort also hosts
the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which contains several combat support units.
Medical, dental and military police commands also support the installation. According to
Fort Polk’s Public Affairs Office, the installation has a permanent party military population
of 9,792, with an additional 18,771 family members for a total of population of 28,563
within the region. An additional 6,500 contractors and civilian government workers are
also affiliated with the post.
The Central Region, which is composed of Vernon, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant,
LaSalle, Rapides, and Winn Parishes, experienced a slight population decline from 1980 to
2000 (14,614). However, it is estimated that this trend has started to reverse as the Region’s
1
ESRI and DemographicsNow are private data vendors that compile and analyze socioeconomic and demographic data. The companies also apply proprietary methodologies to develop
future projections.
87
Trends
1980
1990
2000
2010
Population Count
Leesville
8,610
7,421
6,753
6,612
Vernon Parish
53,337
61,961
52,531
52,334
Central Region
316,004
312,029
301,390
309,761
4,168,923
4,219,973
4,468,976
4,533,372
Louisiana
Percent Change in Population
Leesville
--
-13.8%
-22.5%
-2.1%
Vernon Parish
--
16.2%
-26.9%
-0.4%
Central Region
--
-1.3%
-3.1%
2.8%
Louisiana
--
1.2%
6.8%
1.4%
Annual Percentage Change in Population
--
-1.4%
-0.9%
-0.2%
Vernon Parish
--
1.6%
-1.5%
0.0%
Central Region
--
-0.1%
-0.3%
0.3%
Louisiana
--
0.1%
0.7%
0.1%
AF
T
Leesville
Source: Demogrpahics Now, ESRI, and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
R
Table 16. Population Trends & Projections, Vernon Parish & Comparison Regions, 1980-2015
population has increased by 1,097 within the past ten years. The
regional population is less dependent on military changes at
Fort Polk and therefore has experienced less severe population
changes. In comparison, the state as a whole has experienced a
steady increase of population since the 1980s (8.1% increase from
1980 to 2010).
D
age is 30.2 years, compared to 35.5 in the Central Region, and
35.7 in Louisiana). This is likely due to the large concentration of
military personnel living in the parish. According to data obtained
from the Fort Polk Public Affairs Office, roughly 67% of the military
personnel live on the installation. After including dependents
and family members, that percentage is close to 63%, which is the
opposite of many Army installations where the goal is to provide
on-post housing for only 30% of the force. The lack of suitable
housing within proximity of Fort Polk is cited as the reason for
Population Projections
According to DemographicsNow, the population within the City of increasing the supply of on-post housing.
Leesville and Vernon Parish are projected to decline through 2015
Similar to the rest of the county, the populations in all study areas is
(8.4% and 7.0%, respectively). This does not include population
aging. In Vernon Parish, those over 65 increased from 6.1% in 1980
changes related to future fluctuations at Fort Polk. 2010 Census
to 10.8% in 2010. At the same time, those 0 to 4 have decreased
figures, however, indicate that the parish’s population has
from 12.2% of the population in 1980 to 9.3% of the population
remained stable over the previous decade and in fact has shown
in 2010. It’s interesting to note, that despite the decline, Vernon
growth in the non-military population. The Central Region is also
Parish maintains the highest percentage of infants and toddlers
projected to decline in population, albeit at a much slower rate
of the four study regions. This likely reflects the large share of
(0.4%). Conversely, the State is projected to increase at a rate of
military families, which tend to have larger families than civilian
3.6%. The State increase in population presents an opportunity for
households.
Vernon Parish to try and attract a portion of the new populations
into the region.
However, the most significant trends include the loss of population
in the key household forming age cohort of 20 to 34. People
within this age group typically get married and start families.
At the state and regional level, this group has declined slightly
Population By Age
Vernon Parish has a comparatively young population compared to since 1980. However, both Vernon Parish and Leesville have
the rest of the region and state (Table 17). In 2010, the median experienced significant losses in younger households. While this
88
Trends
1980
1990
Projections
2000
2010
2015
Leesville
0 to 4
11.7%
8.2%
7.5%
7.2%
7.3%
5 to 14
12.6%
14.8%
14.4%
15.2%
14.8%
15 to 19
15.5%
7.9%
8.3%
8.6%
8.6%
20 to 34
25.3%
27.4%
22.4%
16.3%
15.7%
35 to 44
9.8%
12.9%
14.3%
13.8%
13.1%
45 to 65
16.8%
18.6%
20.8%
22.8%
24.1%
Over 65
8.4%
10.1%
12.4%
16.2%
16.4%
Median Age
25.4
29.6
33.2
37.3
38.3
0 to 4
12.2%
10.6%
9.5%
9.3%
9.6%
5 to 14
12.0%
15.0%
15.7%
17.7%
17.4%
15 to 19
17.7%
8.6%
7.5%
7.9%
8.1%
20 to 34
30.5%
37.0%
29.1%
21.8%
21.1%
35 to 44
9.5%
11.4%
13.6%
13.6%
13.0%
45 to 65
11.9%
11.6%
16.8%
19.0%
19.9%
Over 65
6.1%
5.8%
7.9%
10.8%
11.1%
Median Age
23.3
28.2
30.2
30.3
8.2%
7.4%
7.4%
7.5%
16.6%
15.1%
14.2%
14.1%
AF
24.7
R
Central Region
T
Vernon Parish
10.5%
5 to 14
13.5%
15 to 19
14.2%
7.7%
8.0%
7.0%
6.8%
20 to 34
22.5%
25.4%
20.7%
20.7%
20.1%
35 to 44
10.5%
13.1%
14.9%
12.6%
12.6%
45 to 65
17.8%
17.3%
21.4%
24.2%
24.0%
Over 65
10.9%
11.7%
12.5%
13.9%
14.8%
27.3
30.1
34.2
35.5
36.1
0 to 4
10.2%
7.9%
7.1%
7.2%
7.4%
5 to 14
13.6%
16.6%
15.3%
13.6%
13.5%
15 to 19
14.1%
7.9%
8.2%
7.1%
6.5%
20 to 34
24.1%
24.4%
20.8%
21.3%
21.1%
35 to 44
10.7%
14.4%
15.5%
12.4%
12.0%
45 to 65
17.7%
17.7%
21.6%
25.6%
25.2%
Over 65
9.6%
11.1%
11.5%
12.9%
14.2%
Median Age
27.3
31.0
34.0
35.7
36.2
Median Age
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0 to 4
Louisiana
Source: Demogrpahics Now, ESRI, and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
Table 17. Population by Age, Vernon Parish & Comparison Regions, 1980-2015
89
was likely due to personnel changes at Fort Polk, it’s common in
most communities for people in this age group to seek educational
and employment opportunities in larger metropolitan areas. In
contrast to that trend, the parish and city have experienced better
than average growth in the 35-44 and 45 to 64 age cohorts. These
are key groups that are moving into the mid- and later-parts of
their career; they’re reaching their peak income potential and are
attracted to areas offering career advancement opportunities and
a good place to raise their families.
Household Trends &
Projections
population decline is again indicative of smaller household sizes
and more people having fewer children or choosing to live alone.
Household Projections
Household formations in the city and parish are projected to
continue to decline through 2015 to 2,317 and 15,555, respectively.
The household formations within the Central Region are projected
to remain flat, while the State is projected to increase 0.8% per
year (71,213 households).
Median Household Income
Trends and Projections
Household Trends
Median Household Income Trends
T
RKG Associates adjusted the median income data using the South
Urban Consumer Price Index, obtained from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, in order to reflect historic and future median income
levels in today’s dollars. Since 1990, the median household income
in the parish has been higher than in the city or central region.
However, the median income in the parish is generally below the
state median income. Currently, the median income in Vernon
Parish is $35,290, which is slightly below the state median income
of $37,623 (Figure 11).
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Household trends in the parish have mirrored fluctuations in
population. From 1980 to 1990, the number of households
increased almost 24%, or 2.4% per year (Figure 10). However,
from 1990 through 2010, the parish declined by 2,512 households
to a current 16,599 households. Although both household and
populations have declined since 1990, households have declined
at a much slower rate. The drop in household size and increase in
household formations is a trend that has been occurring nationally
for several decades. The trend is likely indicative of three primary
factors including (1) households having fewer children, and (2) an
increase in empty-nester, retiree, and senior households.
A recent trend that has contributed to increased incomes in
many military communities was recently highlighted in USA
Today. According to the article, soldiers, sailors and Marines
received average compensation of $122,263 per person in 2009,
up from $58,545 in 2000. Military compensation — an average
Source: DemographicsNow, ESRI, and RKG Assoociates, Inc., 2010
Source: DemographicsNow and RKG Assoociates, Inc., 2010
Figure 10. Household Formation Trends, Annual Percent Change, 1990 to
2015
Figure 11. Median Household Income, Inflation Adjusted - 2010 Dollars
(1980 to 2015)
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The Central Region has experienced an annual increase in
household formations since 1980 (9,805 households). At the
same time, the Central Region experienced a population decline
of 13,517 people. The increase in households during a time of
90
of $70,168 in pay and $52,095 in benefits — includes the value of housing, medical care,
pensions, hazardous-duty incentives, enlistment bonuses and combat pay in war zones.
After adjusting for inflation, military compensation rose 84% from 2000 through 2009.
By contrast, compensation grew 37% for federal civilian workers and 9% for private
sector employees during that time, the BEA reports. After adjusting for inflation, military
compensation rose 84% from 2000 through 2009. By contrast, compensation grew 37%
for federal civilian workers and 9% for private sector employees during that time, the BEA
reports2. This may explain, in part, the rising incomes in Vernon Parish as compared to
the CENLA region.
Median Household Income Projections
The median household income in all studies areas is projected to increase through 2015.
Vernon Parish is projected to experience a 7.0% increase to $37,758. The State median
income is projected to increase at a faster rate (8.2%) to $40,711. The City of Leesville and
the Central Region median household incomes are projected to increase at a slower rate
to $28,580 and $33,594, respectively.
Education Attainment
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Income is strongly correlated with education attainment levels in most communities. As
such, the education attainment data for Vernon Parish is relatively consistent with the
median household income levels. A higher percentage of residents in Vernon Parish
have completed college or graduate school (21.2%) than in the City of Leesville (20.0%)
or Central Region (19.4%). However, a higher percentage of the State’s 25 years and
older population has completed college or graduate school (25.6%). The Central Region
contains the highest percentage of persons 25 years and older who have not graduated
Source: DemographicsNow and RKG Assoociates, Inc., 2010
Figure 12. Median Household Income, Inflation Adjusted - 2010 Dollars (1980 to 2015)
high school (22.5%) (Figure 12). Compared to the larger CENLA region, Vernon Parish
and Leesville have slightly better education attainment levels, which is consistent with
2
2010
“Rising pay, benefits drive growth in military towns,” USA Today, D. Cauchon, August 16,
The median household income
in all studies areas is projected to
increase through 2015. Vernon
Parish is projected to experience a
7.0% increase to $37,758.
91
positive claims about the Vernon Parish school system.
Employment and Establishment
Trends
Employment and establishment trends were analyzed to identify industries that have
experienced growth in the recent past and therefore may be ideal target industries to
future recruitment efforts. The employment and establishment data were collected from
the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP). The County Business Pattern
database is an annual series that provides employment and establishment growth trends
data by industry.
RKG collected data for the years 1998 and 2008 for both Vernon Parish and the Central
Region. In 1998, the Census Bureau switched to the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS), a new industry classification system that makes it difficult to make
comparisons with pre-1998 data sets. The most recent data series used in this analysis is
2008.
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It is important to note that some of the employment data is suppressed by the Census
Bureau to protect the confidentiality and identity of certain companies in smaller rural
areas. In these cases, RKG estimated employment numbers by using averages that fell into
the ranges provided by the Census Bureau. The information presented in this analysis is
intended to be a representation of market trends, not an exact count. Though there are
some limitations to the data, it provides a good sense of what types of industries have
been gaining or losing employment and establishments in the recent past.
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The largest employers in Vernon Parish are presented in Table 18, and predominantly
consist of local and federal government organizations. Fort Polk is the single largest
Company Name
Fort Polk (JRTC) Employment
16,000
Vernon Parish School Board 1,663
Wal Mart Supercenter 426
Byrd Regional Hospital 340
Vernon Parish Police Jury 185
Vernon Parish Sheriff 's Dept 174
Leesville Development Center 130
Lowe’s Home Improvement
City of Leesville 120
110
Source: Louisiana Economic Development and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
Table 18. Vernon Parish’s Largest Employers, 2010
92
employer accounting for an estimated 16,000, according to
Louisiana Economic Development. The next largest employer
is Vernon Parish School Board, which employs 1,663 employees
in 2010. The only private sector business on the list is Wal-Mart,
which is the largest private employer in the world. According to
the 2010 Louisiana Labor Force Diversity report, 334 participants
in the Vernon Parish work force are employed in the farming,
fishing and forestry occupational category.
Retail Trade is the second largest industry with 1,616 jobs. This
industry increased employment by 20.4% during the 1998-2008
study period, despite the lack of a regional shopping center or
mall. Interviews with local stakeholders indicate that residents
must travel outside the parish to DeRidder or the City of Alexandria
to find restaurants and regional shopping opportunities not
offered locally. Initial field observations indicate that the level
of retail square footage is quite low, which might indicate that
the population is currently underserved. Likely reasons for this
include the large military population that living on Fort Polk, some
of which with limited access off-post. As mentioned previously,
Employment Trends
with roughly 63% of the military population living on-post, many
national store and restaurant chains want direct access to military
Vernon Parish
Vernon experienced an increase of 1,137 jobs between 1998 and household spending.
2008, increasing from 7,107 to 8,244 jobs for a gain of 16% (Table
19). This data reflects changes in private sector employment and The lack of suitable highway commercial locations with
does not account for government or military employment. The infrastructure is currently making it difficult to locate businesses in
Health Care and Social Assistance industry comprised the largest areas convenient to serving both civilian and military household
share of employment in 2008, accounting for 20% (1,695 jobs) of needs. Adequate infrastructure in areas of the community near
all jobs. However, this industry experienced a 1.5% employment Fort Polk is important to support new growth that can capture
consumer spending from the installation, as well as expand the
decline during the study period.
NAICS
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Total
7,107
8,244
1,137
16.0%
T
-----
Description
183
189
6
3.3%
30
5
(25)
-83.3%
60
59
(1)
-1.7%
312
611
299
95.8%
123
166
43
35.0%
237
139
(98)
-41.4%
1342
1,616
274
20.4%
Transportation and Warehousing
267
174
(93)
-34.8%
51
Information
124
108
(16)
-12.9%
52
Finance and Insurance
306
310
4
1.3%
53
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
124
287
163
131.5%
54
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
581
917
336
57.8%
55
Management of Companies and Enterprises
5
18
13
260.0%
56
Admin. and Support and Waste Mgnt. and Remediation
Services
273
226
(47)
-17.2%
61
Educational Services
14
15
1
7.1%
62
Health Care and Social Assistance
1721
1,695
(26)
-1.5%
71
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
25
10
(15)
-60.0%
72
Accommodation and Food Services
994
1,210
216
21.7%
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
371
489
118
31.8%
95
Auxiliaries (exc corporate, subsidiary & regional mgt)
0
N/A
N/A
N/A
99
Unclassified
15
0
(15)
-100.0%
Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, and Agriculture Support
21
Mining
22
Utilities
23
Construction
31
Manufacturing
42
Wholesale Trade
44
Retail Trade
48
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Source: US Census Bureau and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
Table 19.. Employment Trends, By Major Industry Classifications, Vernon Parish, 1998-2008
NAICS
93
Description
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Largest Net Gain
541
581
917
336
58%
444
Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers
118
372
254
215%
238
Specialty Trade Contractors
141
349
208
148%
621
Ambulatory Health Care Services
226
394
168
74%
722
Food Services and Drinking Places
939
1,093
154
16%
1,100
900
(200)
-18%
Largest Net Loss
622
Hospitals
441
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
325
215
(110)
-34%
447
Gasoline Stations
255
152
(103)
-40%
484
Truck Transportation
255
172
(83)
-33%
623
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
241
170
(71)
-29%
Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers
118
372
254
215%
238
141
349
208
148%
236
Construction of Buildings
112
252
140
125%
621
226
394
168
74%
813
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar
Organizations
149
243
94
63%
255
152
(103)
-40%
325
215
(110)
-34%
255
172
(83)
-33%
AF
444
T
Largest Percentage Gain
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Largest Percentage Loss
Gasoline Stations
441
484
623
241
170
(71)
-29%
424
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
153
113
(40)
-26%
D
447
Table 20. Largest Employment Shifts*, Vernon Parish, 1998-2008
*Minimum of 100 employees
retail offerings available to the broader public.
Other large employment sectors in the parish include
Accommodation and Food Services (1,210 jobs), Professional,
Scientific, and Technical Services (917 jobs), and Construction (611
jobs). Accommodations and food service, which includes hotels/
motels and eating establishments, is projected to increase rapidly
in the next few years. With the expanded training mission at Fort
Polk, a number of new hotels are currently in the development
pipeline. Several hundred new rooms are anticipated in three
additional hotels. The current hotel room night demand is far in
excess of the existing supply, particularly in the limited service
business class hotel segment.
Table 20 contains a more detailed breakout of Vernon Parish
employment industries at the 3-digit NAICS level. This data provides
greater detail of the fastest growing and declining industries in the
parish. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services experienced
the highest net increase in employment (336 jobs). This includes
such companies as engineering and architectural firms, surveyors,
and the like. Such jobs typically require college degree or some
post-secondary education. Building Material and Supply Dealers
and Specialty Trade Contractors also experienced a large net
increase (254 and 208 jobs, respectively). In comparison, the largest
net losses were in Hospitals (200 job decline) and Motor Vehicles
and Parts Dealers (110 job decline). Other auto-related economic
subsectors, such as Gasoline Stations and Truck Transportation lost
employment (103 and 83 job decline, respectively).
The industries that experienced the fastest percentage growth
include construction related industries. Building Material and
94
Supply Stores (215% growth), Specialty Trade Contractors
(148% growth), and Construction of Buildings (125% growth) all
experienced over 100% growth from 1998 to 2008. The largest
percentage losses occurred in similar categories as the largest
net losses. Gasoline Stations and Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
declined at the fastest rates (40% and 34%, respectively).
Central Region
The Central Region experienced employment growth, but at
a slower rate than Vernon Parish. Employment in the Region
increased 8.6%, as opposed to a 16.0% in Vernon Parish (Table 21).
The top three largest employers, Health Care and Social Assistance
(20,054 jobs), Retail Trade (13,648 jobs), and Accommodation and
Food Services (9,444 jobs) are the same as those in Vernon Parish.
The largest net gains and losses in the Central Region occurred
in a few similar categories as the parish. Ambulatory Health Care
Services (1,495 jobs) and Social Assistance (1,136 jobs) had the
largest net gains (Table 22). However Food and Beverage Stores
Northside Industrial Park
NAICS
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Total
7,107
8,244
1,137
16.0%
Total
75,364
81,844
6,480
8.6%
62
18,558
20,054
1,496
8.1%
44
Retail Trade
13,038
13,648
610
4.7%
72
7,845
9,444
1,599
20.4%
31
Manufacturing
6,700
6,385
(315)
-4.7%
23
Construction
4,757
5,442
685
14.4%
81
3,901
4,549
648
16.6%
56
Services
2,865
3,608
743
25.9%
54
2,653
3,203
550
20.7%
52
2,990
3,086
96
3.2%
42
Wholesale Trade
2,856
2,931
75
2.6%
48
1,808
2,048
240
13.3%
53
1,040
1,305
265
25.5%
51
Information
1,386
1,286
(100)
-7.2%
61
895
1,172
277
30.9%
11
1,211
1,162
(49)
-4.0%
22
Utilities
965
1,005
40
4.1%
21
Mining
717
886
169
23.6%
71
367
349
(18)
-4.9%
55
283
265
(18)
-6.4%
99
Unclassified
112
12
(100)
-89.3%
95
417
N/A
N/A
N/A
D
R
-----
AF
T
-----
Description
Table 21. Employment Trends, By Major Industry Classifications, Central Louisiana Region, 1998-2008
NAICS
95
Description
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Largest Net Gain
621
3,489
4,984
1.495
43%
624
Social Assistance
2,331
3,467
1,136
49%
237
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
935
1,985
1,050
112%
722
Food Services and Drinking Places
5,702
6,591
889
16%
452
General Merchandise Stores
2,919
3,741
822
28%
Largest Net Loss
445
Food and Beverage Stores
2,428
1,668
(760)
-31%
623
5,175
4,433
(742)
-14%
321
Wood Product Manufacturing
2,256
1,774
(482)
-21%
238
3,030
2,550
(480)
-16%
484
1,413
986
(427)
-30%
935
1,985
1,050
112%
531
Real Estate
422
865
443
105%
213
Support Activities for Mining
389
733
344
88%
624
Social Assistance
2,331
3,467
1,136
49%
621
3,489
4,984
1,495
43%
265
124
(141)
-53%
2,428
1,668
(760)
-31%
1,413
986
(427)
-30%
618
436
(182)
-29%
163
119
(44)
-27%
AF
237
T
Oil and Gas Extraction
445
484
532
Rental and Leasing Services
327
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
D
R
211
Table 22. Largest Employment Shifts*, Central Louisiana Region, 1998-2008
*Minimum of 100 employees by 2008
96
(760 job decline) and Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (742
job decline) experienced the largest net losses in employment.
The largest percentage growth occurred in the construction
industry. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction experienced
a 112% growth. Real Estate also grew by over 100%. The largest
percentage losses were in oil and gas extraction (53% decline) as
well as Food and Beverage Stores (31% decline).
Establishment Trends
Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish experienced slower growth in business
establishments (3.9%) than employment (16.0%) during the 10year study period (Table 23). This could indicate that existing
businesses within the parish have been successful at employment
retention and expansion. It could also indicate that a few larger
businesses have experienced significant employment gains which
have bolstered overall employment growth. The top five sectors, in
terms of number of businesses, were similar to the top employment
sectors. Retail Trade had the largest number of businesses (145
NAICS
Total
Changes in establishments among the major sectors have
varied within the parish. Ambulatory Health Care Services (19
new businesses) experienced the largest net gain (Table 24).
However, Repair and Maintenance and Merchant Wholesalers
of Nondurable Goods experienced the largest net decline (11
and 9 businesses, respectively). Similar to employment trends,
Gasoline Stations experienced a large net loss (5 businesses).
The largest percentage gains occurred in Securities, Commodity
1998
2008
Change
% Change
639
664
25
3.9%
142
145
3
2.1%
85
69
(16)
-18.8%
47
65
18
38.3%
54
60
6
11.1%
39
52
13
33.3%
23
Construction
50
51
1
2.0%
52
45
49
4
8.9%
48
37
33
(4)
-10.8%
53
26
29
3
11.5%
56
Services
13
24
11
84.6%
11
26
23
(3)
-11.5%
42
Wholesale Trade
27
19
(8)
-29.6%
31
Manufacturing
7
12
5
71.4%
51
Information
15
11
(4)
-26.7%
22
Utilities
7
9
2
28.6%
Retail Trade
81
62
72
54
D
R
44
AF
T
-----
Description
businesses), followed by Other Services (69 businesses), Health
Care and Social Assistance (65 businesses), Accommodation and
Food Services (60 businesses), and Professional, Scientific, and
Technical services (52 businesses).
61
3
4
1
33.3%
71
5
4
(1)
-20.0%
55
2
3
1
50.0%
21
Mining
2
2
0
0.0%
99
Unclassified
7
0
(7)
-100.0%
95
0
N/A
N/A
N/A
Table 23. Establishment Trends, By Major Industry Classifications, Vernon Parish, 1998-2008
NAICS
97
Description
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Largest Net Gain
621
26
45
19
73.1%
541
39
52
13
33.3%
561
Administrative and Support Services
12
20
8
66.7%
441
18
24
6
33.3%
531
Real Estate
17
22
5
29.4%
Largest Net Loss
811
Repair and Maintenance
34
23
(11)
-32.4%
424
16
7
(9)
-56.3%
237
10
3
(7)
-70.0%
447
Gasoline Stations
29
24
(5)
-17.2%
624
Social Assistance
15
11
(4)
-26.7%
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments
1
5
4
400.0%
562
Waste Management and Remediation Services
1
4
3
300.0%
712
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
1
3
2
200.0%
622
Hospitals
2
4
2
100.0%
621
26
45
19
73.1%
AF
T
523
Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
533
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
525
Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
521
Monetary Authorities - Central Bank
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
492
Couriers and Messengers
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
D
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713
Table 24. Largest Establishment Shifts, Vernon Parish, 1998-2008
98
Contracts, and Other Financial Investments (400%) and Waste
Management and Remediation Services (300%). Economic
subsectors that experienced a loss in all establishments include
a couple from the financial industry, including Funds Trusts and
Other Financial Vehicles, and Monetary Authorities – Central Bank.
Other economic subsectors to lose all establishments include
Amusement, Gambling and Recreation Industries and Couriers and
Messengers.
Central Region
Establishments within the Central Region grew at roughly the
same rate as in Vernon Parish (3.6%) (Table 25). The largest
establishment sectors are Retail Trade (1,149 businesses), Health
Care and Social Assistance (795 businesses), and Other Services
(666 businesses). Real Estate and Leasing experienced the largest
percentage growth in establishments (47.7%).
The economic subsector to experience the largest net gains
includes Ambulatory Health Care Services (84 businesses) (Table
26). This industry also experienced the largest employment gains
(1,495 jobs). Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services also
NAICS
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Total
5,860
6,070
210
3.6%
11
185
143
(42)
-22.7%
21
Mining
63
74
11
17.5%
22
Utilities
54
57
3
5.6%
23
Construction
462
473
11
2.4%
31
Manufacturing
157
160
3
1.9%
42
Wholesale Trade
277
244
(33)
-11.9%
44
Retail Trade
1,192
1,149
(43)
-3.6%
48
246
226
(20)
-8.1%
51
Information
100
88
(12)
-12.0%
52
426
498
72
16.9%
53
151
223
72
47.7%
54
423
502
79
18.7%
55
27
22
(5)
-18.5%
56
Services
202
228
26
12.9%
61
44
52
8
18.2%
62
635
795
160
25.2%
71
60
50
(10)
-16.7%
72
373
412
39
10.5%
81
722
666
(56)
-7.8%
95
8
N/A
N/A
N/A
99
Unclassified
53
6
(47)
-88.7%
D
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AF
T
-----
Description
Table 25..Establishment Trends, By Major Industry Classifications, Central Louisiana Region, 1998-2008
NAICS
99
Description
1998
2008
Change
% Change
Largest Net Gain
621
404
488
84
20.8%
541
423
502
79
18.7%
624
Social Assistance
132
198
66
50.0%
531
Real Estate
99
162
63
63.6%
522
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
233
295
62
26.6%
Largest Net Loss
811
Repair and Maintenance
229
179
(50)
-21.8%
113
Forestry and Logging
157
117
(40)
-25.5%
445
149
109
(40)
-26.8%
484
197
162
(35)
-17.8%
424
121
92
(29)
N/A
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
3
7
4
133.3%
314
Textile Product Mills
1
2
1
100.0%
322
Paper Manufacturing
1
2
1
100.0%
481
Air Transportation
3
6
3
100.0%
487
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
1
2
1
100.0%
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
3
0
(3)
-100.0%
AF
336
T
Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
316
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
334
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
312
Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
1
0
(1)
-100.0%
313
Textile Mills
1
0
(1)
-100.0%
D
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114
Table 26. Largest Establishment Shifts, Central Louisiana Region, 1998-2008
100
experienced a large net gain in establishments (79 businesses).
Those economic subsectors to lose establishments include Repair
and Maintenance (50 businesses), Food and Beverage Stores, and
Forestry and Logging (40 businesses each). The largest percentage
gain occurred in Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (133%).
However other manufacturing subsectors such as Leather and
Allied Product Manufacturing and Computer and Electronic
Product Manufacturing experienced a loss of all establishments (3
businesses each).
Unemployment
and Labor Force
Trends
Labor Force Participation
D
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AF
T
Labor force data was collected from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and represents
those over the age of 16 that are active
participants in the labor force. Vernon
Parish had 20,777 active labor force
participants in 2009 (Figure 13). This
represents an increase of 4,194 workers
since 1990. The 25% labor force growth has
far outpaced the State of Louisiana, which
experienced a 10% increase during the
same time period. The strong labor force
gains in Vernon Parish may be a function
of Fort Polk’s large construction program, Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
which seems to be driving increases in
construction and professional and scientific Figure 13. Civilian Labor Force, Vernon Parish, 1990 to 2009
jobs. What is unusual is that much of the
labor force growth during the past decade
has occurred during a period when area
population was declining by 13.8%.
Unemployment Rate
Vernon Parish’s unemployment rate in 2009
was 6.5%, which was slightly lower than the
State unemployment rate (6.8%) and much
lower than the national rate of 9.6% (Figure
14). Historically, the parish unemployment
rates have been fairly consistent with State
unemployment rates. There was a spike
in unemployment in 1994, which may
have been associated with the relocation
of the 5th Infantry Division to Fort Hood.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
Figure 14. Unemployment Rate, Comparative Analysis, 1990 to 2009
101
Occupational Distribution
The following section examines the current occupational
distribution in the Central Region. RKG Associates collected
occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and then
organized the data into broad occupational grouping categories
(e.g., white collar and blue collar) and skill levels (e.g. lower skilled,
semi-skilled, and higher-skilled). Although BLS has suppressed
some occupational categories due to confidentiality reasons, the
following analysis provides a general sense of the skill level of the
region’s workforce.
•
Lower-Skilled White Collar (LSWC) – a position within
a white collar work environment requiring no degree
or formal schooling beyond high school, but requiring
some on-the-job training.
•
Lower-Skilled Blue Collar (LSBC) – a position within a
trade profession requiring no advanced degree or formal
schooling, but requiring some on-the-job training.
Current Occupational Distribution
Occupations within the region are predominantly white collar in
nature, accounting for more than three-quarters of all jobs (Figure
15). Of these white collar occupations, the largest concentration
is in high-skilled workers, with a concentration of jobs within the
health and education industries. Registered nurses (3,050) are the
largest occupation in this category. Other high-skilled occupations
within this category include elementary school teachers (2,000),
general and operations managers (1,790), and licensed practical
and licensed vocational nurses (1,510).
There is also a large share of semi-skilled white collar positions
(29%) in the region. Secretaries (2,510), correctional officers
(2,470), and nursing aides and attendants (2,180) are some of the
top occupations in this skill category. The low-skilled white collar
occupation levels comprise 18% of the total distribution. Retail
industry positions such as cashiers (4,200) and retail salesperson
(2,960) comprise the top occupations in this category.
Comparatively, high-skilled blue collar positions constitute only
2% of the occupations in the Central Region. The high-skilled blue
collar positions are primarily managers of production workers. The
D
R
AF
These groupings were derived from the consultant’s experience
and knowledge regarding the skill and educational requirements
of general occupational categories. Due to the way this data is
reported, the Central Region is defined as Avoyelles, Catahoula,
Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn Parishes.
Although it is difficult to group occupational categories in this
manner with great precision, the results provide some indication
of the distribution and diversity of skills available within the labor
force. The occupational categories and their descriptions are as
follows:
degree but requiring some specialized training or skill,
while working within a blue collar environment.
T
Although military jobs are not counted as part of the civilian
labor force, military divisions are often supported by an array of
support services and civil government positions. As such, the loss
of military jobs will often result in the loss of civilian government
jobs, which are part of the labor force and are reflected in the
unemployment rate. The recent rise in unemployment is reflective
of national recessionary conditions, but the region has been
buffered by a stable government employment base during a time
a great economic instability.
•
Higher-Skilled White Collar (HSWC) – a professional
position requiring a college degree, with
supervisory/management
responsibility
or
specialized training while working within a whitecollar work environment.
•
Higher-Skilled Blue Collar (HSBC) – a trade or
non-professional position requiring less than
an advanced degree, but some post secondary
education, a certificate, or specialized training
or skill while working within a blue collar work
environment.
•
Semi-Skilled White Collar (SSWC) – a professional
position requiring less than an advanced degree,
but some post secondary education, a certificate,
or specialized training or skill while working
within a white collar work environment.
•
Semi-Skilled Blue Collar (SSBC) – a trade position
requiring less than an advanced or trade school
Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
Figure 15. Labor Force Skill Level, Central Region, 2009
102
2008 Occupational
Employment Estimate
2010 Regional Avg.
Annual Wage
Cashiers
4,070
$16,239
Low White
Registered Nurses
3,020
$58,200
High White
Retail Salespersons
3,000
$22,974
Low White
Food Preparation Workers
2,020
$16,323
Low White
Correctional Officers and Jailers
2,320
$35,708
Semi Blue
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
2,880
$21,188
Low Blue
Waiters and Waitresses
1,360
$15,911
Low White
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
1,980
$40,779
High White
Customer Service Representatives
1,510
$23,222
Low White
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
2,220
$19,355
Semi White
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
1,510
$35,256
High White
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
1,940
$18,639
Low Blue
Home Health Aides
1,100
$19,524
Semi White
General and Operations Managers
1,900
$81,350
High White
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers
1,720
$31,202
Semi White
Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission and RKG Associates, Inc., 2010
Skill Level
T
Occupational Title
AF
Table 27. Top 15 Occupational Growth Categories, Central Louisiana Region, 2008
D
R
largest high-skilled blue collar occupation is first-line supervisors/
managers of mechanics, installers and repairers (440). Semi-skilled
and low-skilled blue collar occupations comprise 10% and 11% of
the occupational skill level distribution, respectively. Maintenance
and repair workers (1,340) and construction laborers (1020) are
major occupations within the semi-skilled blue collar category.
These occupations generally require some education beyond a
high school diploma, such as a technical certificate. Lastly, the
low-skilled blue collar positions include laborers and freight stock
and material movers (2,630) and truck drivers, heavy and tractor
trailer (1,810).
The wages of the top occupational categories reflect the variation
of white-collar occupations. The largest occupation is cashiers,
who only make an average of $16,239 per year (Table 27).
However, the next largest occupation is registered nurses, who
make a substantially higher wage ($58,200). Only one blue-collar
occupation is represented in the top occupational categories
(laborers and freight, stock, and material movers). Those in this
low-skilled blue-collar occupation make an average of $21,188.
Unlike skill levels, the difference between white and blue collar
occupations is not predictive of wage levels. In fact, the lowskilled blue collar laborers make more, on average, than some of
low-skilled white collar positions (such as janitors, and cashiers).
Occupation Projections
Occupational projection data were obtained from the Louisiana
Workforce Commission. The projections indicate that the largest
occupational categories will continue to grow. Retail, health, and
education related positions are projected to have the greatest
occupational growth. Cashiers are projected to grow by 190
positions, customer service representative is projected to grow by
160 positions and registered nurses are projected to grow by 160
positions. The top five projected occupations are all white-collar
positions, indicating occupations in the region are projected to
remain largely white collar.
Commuting Patterns
Commuting pattern data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau
for the year 2000. Although commuter data is only reported once
every ten years, the following analysis provides a general sense
of where people are commuting to work and utilizes the most
current available data. Generally, Vernon Parish is a net exporter of
labor. There were 3,888 (20.9%) of employed residents that left the
County for work in 2000. Approximately 2,378 commuters entered
into Vernon Parish for work, which results in a net export of 1,510
workers.
Unfortunately, many of the top 15 growth occupations do not pay
a “living wage.” For example, for a person to be able to afford a The majority of parish residents who left for their job are employed
median-priced, single family home ($138,000), a minimum salary in Beauregard (7.7%). Beauregard Parish is located just 18 miles
of roughly $30,000 would be required to cover the mortgage, south of Leesville. The City of DeRidder (population 9,138 in
taxes, and insurance. Only 6 of the top 15 occupations pay an
annual salary that would support that purchase.
103
Greater Vernon Chamber
of Commerce
D
R
AF
T
The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit
organization that supports its operations through membership
investments and revenue generated from business-related
programs. The chamber represents more than 300 businesses and
individuals and promotes economic development in the parish
by providing demographic and economic resource data and
networking opportunities, responding to requests for business
relocation information, and advocating for a business-friendly
environment. The chamber also sponsors various community
events and features committees dedicated to Military Affairs,
Industrial/Economic Development, Education and Transportation.
Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce
104
2010), is on the border of Vernon Parish, and it is likely many Vernon residents who leave
the parish for work are finding employment in DeRidder. A lesser number of employed
residents work in Rapides (2.5%) and Calcasieu and Allen (1.1% each). In contrast, less
than 2,400 workers commute into the County for work. The commuters are primarily from
Beauregard (6.2%) and Sabine (1.7%). Regardless, there is a relatively large amount of
labor available in Vernon Parish.
Vernon Parish’s future prospects will
continue to rise and fall with the
fortunes of Fort Polk unless it can
diversify its economic base.
Implications
The implications of the demographic and economic trends for Vernon Parish are many.
While the population has been fairly steady over the previous decade, the parish’s future
prospects will remain tied to Fort Polk unless the parish can diversify its economic base.
With the emergence of healthcare and educational industries, the parish has the potential
to produce future jobs that pay a living wage.
In the short term, the planning team projects a demand for dozens of hospitality jobs
with the construction of three new hotels in Leesville. While many of these service jobs
pay lower wage rates, they are a good supply of employment for lower skilled workers
and people seeking a second job. The increased hotel supply supports the parish’s desire
to develop tourism as a viable industry. However, front-line hospitality workers must
be trained to provide enhanced service to hotel guests and visitors to the community.
Welcoming and assisting tourists or other guests are essential elements of any tourism
strategy.
D
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T
In addition, the modest level of retail development in the community indicates that there
may be opportunities to encourage commercial development where appropriate. The
most desirable commercial locations will be along Highway 171 between Highway 28
and the main entrance to Fort Polk. The area south of Leesville, including the area on
Highway 171 known as “Billy Goat Hill”, would seem to be a prime location for larger scale
commercial development and national retailers. In order for that to occur, the parish, the
City of Leesville, and the Town of New Llano should explore cooperative agreements on
how to finance the basic infrastructure needed to support growth in this area. The lack
of parish-wide sewer is currently the biggest impediment to commercial development in
this area. The level of traffic along this corridor appears sufficient to support new retail
and services. However, one of the largest impediments to growth is the fact that 63% of
the military population lives on-post. Much of their spending is captured by a growing
number of commercial establishments on the installation, as well as the Post Exchange
and the commissary.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
» The parish is subject to economic and population
fluctuations due to its heavy dependence on military
and timber-industries
» Diversify the economic base and promote investment
and job creation in areas such as small industry, tourism,
recreation and health care opportunities
» The parish lags in the percentage of residents with a
bachelor’s degree or higher
» Leverage growth opportunities associated with the
parish’s retirement community certification
» The parish lacks an adequate supply of retail, restaurant,
and entertainment options
» Stress workforce development strategies and enhance
post-secondary training and educational opportunities
» Add retail, entertainment and restaurant options to
capture more local spending and increase quality of life
D
R
AF
T
AECOM
One Midtown Plaza
1360 Peachtree Street
Suite 500
Atlanta, GA. 30309

Vernon-Parish-Comm-P..

Transcription

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