Bastrop, Louisiana

Bastrop is a city in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is the parish seat of Morehouse Parish. The population was 9,691 at the 2020 census, down from 11,365 in 2010. The population of Bastrop is 76 percent African American. It is included in the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the Monroe–Ruston Combined Statistical Area.

History
Bastrop was founded by Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, a Dutch businessman accused as an embezzler. He had fled to the then Spanish colony of Louisiana to escape prosecution and became involved in various land deals. In New Spain, he falsely claimed to be a nobleman. He received a large grant of land, provided that he could settle 450 families on it over the next several years. However, he was unable to do this, and so lost the grant. Afterwards, he moved to Texas, where he claimed to oppose the sale of Louisiana to the United States and became a minor government official. He proved instrumental in Moses Austin's plan (and later, that of his son, Stephen F. Austin) to bring American colonists to what was then northern Mexico.

Bastrop formally incorporated in 1857, and is the commercial and industrial center of Morehouse Parish. In the 19th century, it was notable as the western edge of the great North Louisiana swamp, but more favorable terrain resulted in the antebellum rail line connecting to Monroe, further to the south.

Bastrop was a Confederate stronghold during the American Civil War until January 1865, when 3,000 cavalrymen led by Colonel Embury D. Osband of the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment, embarked from Memphis, Tennessee, for northeastern Louisiana.

During the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Bastrop was the site of a relief camp for refugees. During World War II, it was the site of a German prisoner-of-war camp.

Bastrop is the parish seat of Morehouse Parish and is within an area marketed to tourists as the Sportsman's Paradise Region of Louisiana. It is a Main Street Community and has received Transportation Enhancement funding for improvements in its historic district.

Celebrations and concerts are held in the historic downtown at the restored 1914 Morehouse Parish Courthouse and Rose Theater. Bastrop is home to the Snyder Museum and Creative Arts Center, housed in the circa 1929 home of a local family. Volunteers lead heritage appreciation tours for children and interpret the history of the parish using local artifacts.

Geography
Bastrop is located in western Morehouse Parish, at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 425 and U.S. Highway 165 (Madison Avenue).

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bastrop has a total area of 8.59 sqmi, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 9,691 people, 3,834 households, and 2,273 families residing in the city.

Economy
In 2008, International Paper Company, the largest area employer, ceased operations of its Bastrop mill.

In 2009, poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride closed multiple facilities in the area, which impacted the economy of Bastrop. DG Foods opened a poultry processing plant at Bastrop in 2011.

In 2015, and wood pellet facility opened in Bastrop, employing 64 people.

The 1023rd Engineer Company (Vertical) of the 528th Engineer Battalion of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in Bastrop.

Arts and culture


A branch of the Morehouse Parish Public Library System is located in Bastrop.

Government
Bastrop is governed by a mayor, Betty Alford-Olive, and a city council, which includes:
 * Angela Moore, District A
 * Charles Bradford, District B
 * James Green, District C
 * Darry Green, District D
 * Howard Loche, District E

Public schools
Public schools located in Bastrop are operated by the Morehouse Parish School Board, and include:
 * Bastrop High School
 * Beekman Charter School
 * Morehouse Elementary School
 * Morehouse Magnet School

Private schools
Prairie View Academy is a private school in Bastrop serving kindergarten to grade 12.

Postsecondary schools
Louisiana Delta Community College has a campus in Bastrop.

Bastrop High School prayer controversy
In 2011, graduating senior Damon Fowler objected to prayer at the Bastrop High School graduation exercises, claiming a looming violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana asked the school not to include a prayer in the May 20 graduation. At the Thursday night rehearsal for the graduation, senior Sarah Barlow included a prayer that explicitly mentioned Jesus Christ, and during the graduation, student Laci Mattice led people in the Lord's Prayer before a moment of silence. The school says that Mattice was told not to include a prayer. Fowler stated that after his objections became public he was ostracized by other students.

Media


Bastrop and Morehouse Parish were until 2019 served by a daily newspaper, the Bastrop Daily Enterprise, which ceased operations because of financial and readership issues.

Notable people

 * Ronnie Coleman, professional bodybuilder
 * Bill Dickey, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher for the New York Yankees
 * Denzel Devall, college football player
 * Michael Echols, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
 * Stump Edington, Major League Baseball player who died in Bastrop
 * David 'Bo' Ginn, state senator from Morehouse Parish from 1980 to 1988
 * Luther E. Hall, governor of Louisiana
 * Stacey Hawkins, United States Air Force major general
 * Ed Head, Major League Baseball player who died in Bastrop
 * Mable John, Motown Records singer born in Bastrop
 * Jim Looney, NFL player
 * Bob Love, NBA basketball player
 * Calvin Natt, National Basketball Association player who was born in Monroe, but attended Bastrop High School, later NLU and was an NBA All-Star with the Denver Nuggets
 * Kenny Natt, National Basketball Association younger brother of Kenny Natt, drafted by Indiana Pacers in 1980
 * Willie Parker, NFL and WFL player
 * Rueben Randle, LSU Tigers football, wide receiver, led Bastrop High School to a state championship, was drafted by the New York Giants in 2012
 * Shane Reynolds, Major League Baseball player
 * John Wesley Ryles, country music singer, born in Bastrop in 1950
 * Talance Sawyer, played for the Minnesota Vikings; born in Bastrop
 * Dylan Scott, country music singer-songwriter
 * Pat Williams, NFL player (Minnesota Vikings); born in Bastrop
 * Hulon B. Whittington, Medal of Honor recipient