Bernice (Louisiana)

Union Parish

22-07030

Bernice is a city in Union Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Covering an area of ​​more than eight square kilometers, about 1,700 people live.

Bernice is part of the socio-economic region Ark- La -Tex, which includes parts of four states Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Geography

Bernice is located about 20 kilometers south of the border with Arkansas. Almost 30 kilometers south-west is the approximately 26 -square-mile Lake Claiborne.

Neighboring towns include Dubach (9.5 km south), Junction City (20 km north) and Farmersville (23 km southeast).

History

The current urban area Bernice ' was once part of the border forest of the state of Louisiana, from 1865 still exist building. The city itself was founded in 1899 as the Arkansas Southern Railroad was built along the route and at various locations, including in Bernice, sawmills were built. In addition, the city was the first European-American community in Union Parish and the first agricultural trade center of it. The area around the town was known as the " Big Woods " because there were huge old pine stands here. With the construction of the railway, the deforestation of these forests began.

In the year of the founding Bernice was also incorporated into the Parish as well as in the state and received shortly after a railroad depot, which now serves as a railroad museum and tourist center. First head of the city was Jake Crews, who had then built many of the houses. From the period 1900-1904 houses are still preserved, as well as the Alabama Methodist Church in 1895, which was also entered in the National Register of Historic Places. IN this time opened the first stores and the Bank of Bernice founded. During the 20th century, the city center was designated as Bernice Historic District.

Despite the general importance of loss of timber industry Bernice has still an active timber and block work. In addition, a hospital, a nursing home, a volunteer fire department, various churches and smaller shops are in the city.

Traffic

The city is run on a common path from U.S. Highway 63 and U.S. Highway 167. In addition, the Louisiana Highway 2 runs through the town.

Demography

The 2000 census showed a population of 1809, which divided to 668 households 452 families. The population density was just over 98 people per square kilometer. 57 % of the population were black, 36.9 % white, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5 % Asian and 0.2 % Indians. 5% were from a different ethnicity, 0.6 % had two or more Ethinzitäten. The average age was 35 years, as per capita income was about $ 17,000, with which almost one-third of the population lived below the poverty line.

In the 2010 census, a lower population of 1689 was noted.

By 2012, the population continued to decline to now in 1655.

Personalities

Willis Reed, famous basketball player for the New York Knicks and since 1982 part of the Hall of Fame, lived at Bernice.