Pineville, Louisiana

Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located across the Red River from the larger Alexandria, and is part of the Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,555 at the 2010 census. It had been 13,829 in 2000; population hence grew by 5 percent over the preceding decade.
The Central Louisiana State Hospital, the Pinecrest Supports and Services Center, the Huey P. Long Memorial Hospital (closed), the Alexandria Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the Alexandria National Cemetery are all located in Pineville. The city is also home to several large non-government employers including Baker Manufacturing, Procter & Gamble, and Crest Industries.
History
Louisiana State University was founded by the Louisiana General Assembly in 1853. It was founded under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy and was located near Pineville. The first academic session began on January 2, 1860, with General William Tecumseh Sherman of Ohio as superintendent.
Pineville was historically a "dry" city, with no alcohol legally available in the community. In a referendum held in the 1980s, voters continued to support a ban on alcohol. Mayor Clarence Fields, who took office in 1999, supported holding another referendum to permit the sale of liquor in restaurants. In a special election in 2013, voters approved liquor sales in restaurants.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.1 square miles (31.3 km2), of which 11.5 square miles (29.7 km2) is land and 0.6 square mile (1.6 km2) (4.97%) is water.
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot and humid summers and mild winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Pineville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,384 people, 5,065 households, and 3,063 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,829 people, 4,994 households, and 3,121 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,448 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 69.57% White, 26.08% African American, 0.51% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 4,994 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of eighteen living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,159, and the median income for a family was $37,735. Males had a median income of $30,205 versus $21,154 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,969. About 14.3% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Louisiana Maneuvers Museum is located at Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville.
Old Town Hall Museum "is the only museum in the entire state of Louisiana dedicated to municipal government".
Education
In 1906, the Southern Baptist–affiliated Louisiana College opened in Pineville. The Rapides Parish School Board operates public schools.
Infrastructure
The J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center was located at Camp Beauregard. It closed in July 2012.
From 1939 to 2014, the Huey P. Long Medical Center, a state charity hospital named former governor Huey Long, operated Pineville.
The Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge, the replacement for the former O. K. Allen Bridge, named for former Governor Oscar K. Allen, links Alexandria and Pineville across the Red River. The bridge is named for two African-American politicians, Israel "Bo" Curtis, and William George "Willie" Goleman.
Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville, formerly Camp Beauregard, in Pineville is operated by the Louisiana Army National Guard. It is the headquarters of the 225th Engineer Brigade and is one of the largest engineer units in the US Army.
Notable people
Joe W. Aguillard, president of Louisiana College from 2005 to 2014
Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College since 2015
Faith Ford, actress
W. C. Friley, president of Louisiana College from 1909 to 1910
Lawrence T. Fuglaar, state representative for Rapides Parish from 1948 to 1952
Justin Gaston, actor, model, and singer who was also a contestant on Nashville Star.
G. Earl Guinn, president of Louisiana College from 1951 to 1975
Jeff Hall, state representative for District 26 in Rapides Parish; former Pineville resident
Henry E. Hardtner, lumber magnate, state legislator, and forestry conservationist, born in Pineville in 1870
Ben F. Holt, state representative from Rapides Parish from 1956 to 1960
Anjanette Kirkland, track and field athlete
Rory Lee, president of Louisiana College from 1997 to 2004
Rashard Lewis, professional basketball player with the Miami Heat
Robert L. Lynn, Louisiana College president from 1975 to 1997; now a poet in Duluth, Georgia
Hugh Thompson Jr., United States Army major who played a role in ending the My Lai massacre in the Vietnam War; he died in Pineville.
Tommy Tenney, evangelist and author
Kenny Mixon, played football at Pineville High, LSU and with NFL.
Cody Ford, NFL player for the Cincinnati Bengals
Jay Luneau, Louisiana State Senator
See also
References
External links
City of Pineville
Cities in Alexandria metropolitan area, Louisiana
Cities in Louisiana
Cities in Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Cities in the Central Louisiana