Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
| Parish of Ouachita | |
Ouachita Parish Courthouse in Monroe was built in the 1930s by the contractor George A. Caldwell | |
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana | |
Louisiana's location within the U.S. | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Region | North Louisiana |
| Founded | March 31, 1807 |
| Named after | Ouachita people |
| Parish seat (and largest city) | Monroe |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,640 km2 (632 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,600 km2 (610 sq mi) |
| • Water | 50 km2 (21 sq mi) |
| • percentage | 9 km2 (3.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 160,368 |
| • Rank | LA: 8th |
| • Density | 98/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 318 |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | Ouachita Parish Police Jury |
Ouachita Parish (French: Paroisse d'Ouachita) is a parish located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,368. The parish seat and largest city is Monroe. The parish was formed in 1807.
Ouachita Parish is part of the Monroe, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located here is Watson Brake, the oldest indigenous earthwork mound complex in North America. It was built around 3500 BCE, making it older than the Ancient Egyptian pyramids or Britain's Stonehenge. It is on privately owned land and not available for public viewing.