Tensas Parish, Louisiana

Tensas Parish
Tensas Parish Courthouse at St. Joseph
Tensas Parish Courthouse at St. Joseph
Map of Louisiana highlighting Tensas Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°00′N 91°20′W / 32°N 91.33°W / 32; -91.33
Country United States
State Louisiana
FoundedMarch 17, 1843
Named forTaensa people
SeatSt. Joseph
Largest townNewellton
Area
 • Total641 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Land603 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Water38 sq mi (100 km2)  6.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,147
 • Density6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitelouisiana.gov/Government/Parish_Tensas/

Tensas Parish (French: Paroisse des Tensas) is a parish located in the northeastern section of the State of Louisiana; its eastern border is the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,147.[1] It is the least populated parish in Louisiana. The parish seat is St. Joseph.[2] The name Tensas is derived from the historic indigenous Taensa people.[3] The parish was founded in 1843 following Indian Removal.[4]

The parish was developed for cotton agriculture, which dominated the economy through the early 20th century. There has also been some cattle ranching in the 1930s and timber extraction.

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Tensas Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Swanton, John Reed (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. US Government Printing Office. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-8063-1730-4.
  4. ^ "Tensas Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 5, 2014.