Leesville, Louisiana

Leesville is a city in and the parish seat of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,649 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Fort Polk South micropolitan area and is additionally served by the Leesville Airport. The city is home to the Fort Polk (known as Fort Johnson from 2023-2025) U.S. Army installation. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.49 square miles (14.2 km2), of which 5.45 square miles (14.1 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.55%) is water. Climate This climatic region is typified by hot, humid summers and mild winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Leesville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded on August 24 and 25, 2023, and record low of 1 °F (−17 °C) was recorded on January 25, 1948. The average date of first frost is November 10, and the average date of last frost is March 18. This gives it a frost-free season length of 236 days. Leesville averages 39 nights at or below freezing annually. Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 census, Leesville had a population of 5,649. The median age was 35.0 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.1 males age 18 and over. There were 2,456 households in the city, including 1,266 family households. Of all households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 29.5% were married-couple households, 23.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 3,102 housing units, of which 20.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 21.0%. 94.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.2% lived in rural areas. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 6,753 people, 2,841 households, and 1,650 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,238.7 inhabitants per square mile (478.3/km2). There were 3,389 housing units at an average density of 621.7 per square mile (240.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.49% White, 35.33% African American, 1.47% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.56% Pacific Islander, 2.25% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.92% of the population. There were 2,841 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. Nearly 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.02. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,864, and the median income for a family was $30,435. Males had a median income of $27,267 versus $21,661 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,360. About 24.5% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over. Education The Vernon Parish School District operates public schools: Hicks High School K-12 Pickering Elementary School K-6 Pickering High School 7-12 West Leesville Elementary School: 1-4 East Leesville Elementary School: PK-K Vernon Middle School: 5th and 6th grade Leesville Jr. High: 7th and 8th grade Leesville High School: 9th through 12th grade The Vernon Parish Public Library operates the Main Library and the Dunbar Branch Library. Notable people Bert A. Adams, state representative from Vernon Parish from 1956 to 1968 Ward Connerly, political activist, businessman, and former University of California Regent (1993–2005). Michael Ford, LSU running back Eddie Fuller - NFL player, running back with the Buffalo Bills Bo Harris - NFL player, played with the Cincinnati Bengals Carolyn Huntoon - NASA scientist, first woman director of the Johnson Space Center Buddy Leach - Politician, former member of the United States House of Representatives Demond Mallet - Professional basketball player Kevin Mawae - NFL All-Pro Center for the Tennessee Titans New York Jets, Pro Football Hall of Fame D'Anthony Smith - NFL player, but spent his teen years in Leesville John R. Smith, state senator, former state representative, and former president of the Vernon Parish Police Jury See also Kansas City Southern Depot (Leesville, Louisiana) — on the National Register of Historic Places References External links City of Leesville Archived June 16, 2019, at the Wayback Machine