Webster

Formed February 27, 1871 (53^rd parish)

Webster Parish (36,963), Minden (11,918)

A tan brick and masonry Modern building constructed in 1952 is the courthouse of Webster Parish.  The structure is located on Main Street at Pine.  United States Highways 79 and 80 pass in front of the courthouse.  The building was renovated in 1974.  Minden has been the only site for parish courthouses.  There was a 1905 version of the courthouse in Minden.  Webster Parish was formed on February 27, 1871 from Claiborne Parish as the 53^rd parish.  A horizontal arch sets in front of the structure.  The current facility was designed by Peyton and Bosworth.  Minden, Germany is the source name for the parish seat.  American statesman, Daniel Webster, was the source for the name of the parish.  Webster Parish was the birthplace of 1 Louisiana Governor, Robert F. Kennon, Sr. 

Webster Parish government consists of a President, a sheriff, a clerk, a treasurer, and a coroner (executive).  It has 11 Police Jury Members (legislative.)  Five District Court Judges serve Webster and Bossier parishes and Three Justice Court Judges serve Webster Parish (judicial.) Webster Parish is in the northwest part of Louisiana on the border with Arkansas.  Shreveport, Louisiana is to the west and Monroe, Louisiana is to the east of the parish.  The parish center is 11.6 miles North-Northwest of Minden nearer Cotton Valley.  The parish is surrounded clockwise by Arkansas and Claiborne, Bienville, and Bossier parishes. 

The area of the parish is 615 square miles.  It is 43 out of 64 in the state.  It ranks 30 out of 64 in population in the state.  It has a density of 60.1 persons per square mile making it 26 out of 64 in the state.  Webster Parish has 58.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 20 crosses the south, east to west from Bienville to Bossier parishes.  United States Highway 79 enters from the northeast, Claiborne Parish, joins Interstate Highway 20 at Minden, and exits into Bossier Parish.  United States Highway 80 parallels Interstate Highway 20 from Bienville Parish to Bossier Parish.  United States Highway 371 goes north to south from Arkansas into Red River Parish.  A capital letter I is the shape of the parish.  Minden is in the southeast part of the parish.  Minden is the parish seat and the largest city.  It is 32.2% of the parish population.  The parish seat is pronounced MIN-DEN.  This parish is in the Minden Micropolitan Statistical Area.