Ferriday, Louisiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Ferriday, Louisiana
| official_name          =
| settlement_type        = [[Municipal corporation|Sole incorporated]] [[city]]
| image_skyline          = Downtown Ferriday, LA IMG 1186.JPG
| imagesize              = 
| image_caption          = Downtown Ferriday
| image_flag             = 
| image_seal             = 
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 
| image_map              =  Concordia Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ferriday Highlighted.svg  
| mapsize                = 
| map_caption            =  Location of Ferriday in Concordia Parish, Louisiana. 
| image_map1 = 
| mapsize1 = 
| map_alt1 = 
| map_caption1 = Location of Louisiana in the United States 
| pushpin_map            = Louisiana#USA
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of Ferriday in Louisiana##Location of Ferriday in the United States
| pushpin_label          = Ferriday
| coordinates            =  {{coord|31|37|50|N|91|33|24|W|display=inline,title}}  
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1      = {{flag| Louisiana}}
| subdivision_type2      = [[Parish]]
| subdivision_name2      =  [[Concordia Parish, Louisiana|Concordia]]  
| established_title      = 
| established_date       = 
| established_title2     = 
| established_date2      = 
| established_title3     = 
| established_date3      = 
| government_type        = 
| leader_title           = [[Mayor]] 
| leader_name            =  Sherrie Jacobs  
| area_total_km2         = 4.22
| area_land_km2          = 4.22
| area_water_km2         = 0.00
| elevation_m            = 
| elevation_ft           = 52
| population_total       = 3189
| population_as_of       = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 755.74
| population_urban       = 
| population_metro       = 
| population_note        = 
| timezone               = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset = -6
| timezone_DST           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -5
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code            = 71334
| area_code              = [[Area code 318|318]]
| blank_name             =  [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]  
| blank_info             =  22-25440  
| blank1_name            = 
| blank1_info            = 
| website                = 
| footnotes              = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 1957.64
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi = 1.63
|area_land_sq_mi = 1.63
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|population_footnotes = 
}}

'''Ferriday''' is a [[town]] in [[Concordia Parish, Louisiana|Concordia Parish]], which borders the [[Mississippi River]] and is located on the central eastern border of [[Louisiana]], United States. With a population of 3,511 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2225440| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212180231/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2225440| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ferriday town, Louisiana| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> it is an [[African-American]] majority town.

The town claims to have produced more famous people per square mile than any other in America. This statement intrigued author [[Elaine Dundy]], who explored both celebrities and townsfolk in her book, ''Ferriday, Louisiana'', published by [[E. P. Dutton]] in 1991.<ref>[[Elaine Dundy|Dundy, Elaine]]. ''Ferriday, Louisiana''.</ref>

Churches of several major denominations are located here, including a large [[Pentecostal]] congregation south of town on [[Louisiana Highway 15]], as well as [[Baptist]], [[Assembly of God]], [[Presbyterian]], Methodist, and Catholic.

==Geography==
Ferriday is situated on the west side of Lake Concordia and {{convert|8|mi|0}} from Lake St. John, [[oxbow lake]]s noted for recreational and professional bass fishing.

U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 84|84]] and [[U.S. Route 425|425]] pass through the center of Ferriday. US 84 leads west {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Jonesville, Louisiana|Jonesville]], and US 425 leads north {{convert|6|mi|0}} to [[Clayton, Louisiana|Clayton]]. The two highways jointly lead southeast {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Natchez, Mississippi]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Ferriday has a total area of {{convert|4.2|km2|disp=flip}}, all being land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
<div style="width:65%">
{{Weather box 
|location = Ferriday, Louisiana
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 57
|Feb high F = 63
|Mar high F = 70
|Apr high F = 77
|May high F = 83
|Jun high F = 89
|Jul high F = 92
|Aug high F = 91
|Sep high F = 88
|Oct high F = 79
|Nov high F = 68
|Dec high F = 59
|year high F= 76
|Jan low F = 39
|Feb low F = 41
|Mar low F = 49
|Apr low F = 55
|May low F = 63
|Jun low F = 69
|Jul low F = 72
|Aug low F = 71
|Sep low F = 66
|Oct low F = 55
|Nov low F = 48
|Dec low F = 41
|year low F= 56
|Jan record high F = 83
|Feb record high F = 85
|Mar record high F = 91
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 102
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 83
|year record high F= 105
|Jan record low F = 4
|Feb record low F = 8
|Mar record low F = 18
|Apr record low F = 28
|May record low F = 30
|Jun record low F = 49
|Jul record low F = 55
|Aug record low F = 50
|Sep record low F = 40
|Oct record low F = 27
|Nov record low F = 18
|Dec record low F = 5
|year record low F= 4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 6.44
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.03
|Mar precipitation inch = 6.74
|Apr precipitation inch = 6.07
|May precipitation inch = 5.49
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.68
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.03
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.89
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.73
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.97
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.58
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.44
|year precipitation inch=
|Jan snow inch = 0.7
|Feb snow inch = 0.2
|Mar snow inch = 0.1
|Apr snow inch = 0
|May snow inch = 0
|Jun snow inch = 0
|Jul snow inch = 0
|Aug snow inch = 0
|Sep snow inch = 0
|Oct snow inch = 0
|Nov snow inch = 0
|Dec snow inch = 0
|year snow inch= 
|source 1 = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?location=USLA0155|title = Intellicast &#124; Weather Underground}}</ref>
}}
</div style>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 577
|1920= 1044
|1930= 2502
|1940= 2857
|1950= 3847
|1960= 4563
|1970= 5239
|1980= 4472
|1990= 4111
|2000= 3723
|2010= 3511
|2020= 3189
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Ferriday racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2225440&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-29|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 362
| 11.35%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 2,704
| 84.79%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 10
| 0.31%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 7
| 0.22%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 55
| 1.72%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 51
| 1.6%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 3,189 people, 1,354 households, and 885 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,723 people, 1,350 households, and 918 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|2,220.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,498 housing units at an average density of {{convert|893.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 74.89% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 24.09% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.35% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 1,350 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $14,732, and the median income for a family was $18,636. Males had a median income of $23,654 versus $16,725 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $8,767. About 40.7% of families and 47.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 70.2% of those under age 18 and 25.1% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Ferriday had the [[List of the poorest places in the United States|15th-lowest median household income]] of all places in the United States with a population over 1,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=US Census|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212210359/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2020|access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref>

==Education==
The [[Concordia Parish School Board]] serves Ferriday. [[Ferriday High School]] is located off [[Louisiana Highway 15|LA 15]]. Its sports teams are known as the Trojans. To the right rear of the high school is the Concordia Parish Library.

The Central Louisiana Technical Community College is located in Ferriday.

==Notable people==
* [[Andy Anders]], politician and farm equipment salesman in Ferriday; former state representative for Concordia Parish 
* [[Campbell Brown (journalist)|Campbell Brown]], [[NBC]] and [[CNN]] news correspondent
* [[Brenham C. Crothers]], (1905-1984), state senator from 1948 to 1952 and 1956 to 1960
* [[Mickey Gilley]] (1936-2022), country musician and owner of Gilley's Nightclub in Pasadena, Texas 
* [[Dale Houston]] (1940–2007), whose single "[[I'm Leaving It Up to You]]" reached No. 1 in 1963
* [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] (1935-2022), [[rock and roll]] pioneer, pianist
* [[Howard K. Smith]] (1914-2002), [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] commentator and anchorman; ''[[Howard K. Smith: News and Comment]]'' (1962–1963)
* [[Jimmy Lee Swaggart]], [[Evangelism|evangelist]]; he was involved in sex scandals in the late 1980s and early 1990s which were revealed, but he never left his Ministries
* [[Jimmy Warren]], college, professional football player and coach

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Ferriday, LA sign IMG 1191.JPG|Ferriday welcoming sign on [[Louisiana Highway 15|LA 15]]
File:Delta Music Museum, Ferriday, LA IMG_1184.JPG|Delta Music Museum
Image:Concordia Parish Library IMG_1197.JPG|{{center|The Concordia Parish Library in Ferriday}}
Image:Ferriday (LA) High School IMG 1205.jpg|{{center|"FHS" carved in shrubbery at Ferriday High School}}
Image:Jerry Lee Lewis Drive in Ferriday IMG_1201.JPG|{{center|Jerry Lee Lewis Drive in Ferriday en route to Huntington School (now Delta Charter School).}}
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Concordia Parish, Louisiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ferriday, Louisiana|*]]
[[Category:Towns in Concordia Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Natchez micropolitan area]]