|
Louisiana State...
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Louisiana Parishes
|
|
Click Image to Enlarge
Louisiana Parishes
Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes in the same way that 48 of the other states of the United
States are divided into counties (Alaska is divided into boroughs and census areas).
On March 31, 1807, the territorial legislature divided the state into 19 parishes, without getting rid of the
old counties (which continued to exist until 1845).
In 1811, a
constitutional convention organized the state into seven judicial districts, each consisting of groups of
parishes. In 1816, the first official map of the state used the term, as did the 1845 constitution. Since then,
the official term has been parishes. |
|
| |
|
|
Cameron Parish, Louisiana
Cameron Parish History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Cameron
Year Organized: 1832
Square Miles: 1,313 |
Court House: P.O. Box 366
Parish Courthouse
Cameron, LA 70631-0366
|
Etymology - Origin of Parish Name
the parish was named in honor of U.S. Secretary of War Simon Cameron.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
Cameron Parish was created on March 16, 1870, by Legislative Act 102, from part of Calcasieu and from the
southwestern comer of Vermillion and the parish was named in honor of U.S. Secretary of War Simon Cameron. The Parish
seat is Cameron. Cameron Parish is one of the largest parishes in Louisiana but has the smallest population. The current
courthouse was built in 1937 and is one of the most historic courthouses in Louisiana. It was one of the few buildings
in town to escape serious damage from Hurricane Audrey. On June 26, 1957 the courthouse sheltered Cameron residents for
the disastrous hurricane.
Henry Clay Warmoth, carpet-bag governor of Louisiana, created Cameron Parish as a favor to his friend, Colonel George W.
Carter. The latter, with friends and adroit political manipulation, came down into the newly created parish as Parish
Judge. Governor Warmoth had given him carte blanche to appoint the parish officers, sheriff, police jurors, constables,
justices of the peace, and registrars of voters. See Extended History for More information.
Neighboring Parishes:
- Northeast: Jefferson Davis Parish
- East: Vermilion Parish
- South: Gulf of Mexico
- West: Jefferson County, Tex.
- Northwest: Orange County, Tex.; Calcasieu Parish
Cities and Towns:
- Cameron (County
Seat)
Parish Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
|
|
County Resource Guide
|
|
|
The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
|
|
| |
|
