Oak Ridge, Louisiana

Oak Ridge, Louisiana
Village
Location in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 32°37′25″N 91°46′28″W / 32.62361°N 91.77444°W / 32.62361; -91.77444
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Morehouse
Area [1]
• Total	0.99 sq mi (2.57 km2)
• Land	0.99 sq mi (2.57 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	89 ft (27 m)
Population  (2020)[3]
• Total	124
• Density	124.75/sq mi (48.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	318
FIPS code	22-57205
GNIS feature ID	555528[2]

Oak Ridge is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 124 at the 2020 census.^[3]

The earliest inhabitants of the area were different Native American societies that existed prior to European contact. Between 1540 and 1685 a multimound site with an adjoining central plaza was built. Since its archeological discovery, the area has come to be known as the Jordan Mounds. It is believed that by 1700 the site was abandoned, likely due to contact with explorers like Hernando de Soto.^[4]

Morehouse Parish was formed in 1844 after the result of an increasing population in the area.^[5] It is thought that a small farming community was formed near Oak Ridge's modern location around this time. Cedars Plantation located at 4987 Lake Irwin Rd is considered the oldest surviving structure not just in the town, but the whole parish, built in 1840. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 1976. It had been abandoned in 2008 after the last homeowner passed away, but in 2010 a proposal was created in order for the property to be restored.

Not much is known about the towns early history, but one surviving relic is a small wooden jail that is estimated to have been built in 1850. Simply known as the "Oak Ridge, Louisiana Jail", it is believed to be the last surviving pre-Civil War wooden jail in the state.^[6] The existence of this jail hints at the fact that Oak Ridge may have served an administrative purpose for the parish at the time. It is written that "the parish sheriff would use this jail to lock up free and enslaved men." The jail was eventually donated and now sits at the Louisiana State University - Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge.

Oak Ridge was incorporated as a village in 1882.^[7]

The historic Oak Ridge High School had its first graduating class in 1926 and served the community until 1969. In 2015 a heavy storm destroyed an estimated 20 homes in the surrounding area and one of the outward walls of the school collapsed. Despite a long battle of preservation by locals Carolyn Perry and Annette Carroll the structure was demolished in 2016.^[8]

Oak Ridge is located in southern Morehouse Parish at 32°37′25″N 91°46′28″W / 32.62361°N 91.77444°W / 32.62361; -91.77444 (32.623659, -91.774355).^[9] U.S. Route 425 passes through the village, leading north and west 16 miles (26 km) to Bastrop, the parish seat, and south 10 miles (16 km) to Rayville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.99 square miles (2.56 km²), all land.^[1]

The Jordan Mounds are located one mile north of the village.

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 142 people, 63 households, and 38 families residing in the village. The population density was 143.2 inhabitants per square mile (55.3/km²). There were 72 housing units at an average density of 72.6 per square mile (28.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.55% White, 7.75% African American, and 0.70% from two or more races.

There were 63 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $70,417. Males had a median income of $75,287 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the village was $25,408. There were 9.8% of families and 17.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 17.5% of under eighteens and 33.3% of those over 64.

• Edwards Barham, Oak Ridge farmer and former Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, who served from 1976 to 1980
• Abner Wimberly, NFL defensive end for the Los Angeles Dons and Green Bay Packers

• Excelsior (Oak Ridge, Louisiana)

• Oak Ridge Progress Community Progress Site for Oak Ridge, LA