Jefferson Davis Parish was founded in 1912,  when Governor L.E. Hall signed the Parish Division Bill,  Imperial Calcasieu Parish was divided - separating Calcasieu and creating Jefferson Davis Parish.  The parish is named for the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. 

The division of the parishes occurred following 16 years of altercation,  but the bill was finally passed without dissent. 

On October 12, 1912,  Jennings was selected as the permanent parish seat.  In 1990, the parish had a population of  30,722.   With a water area of 6.3 square miles,  and land area covering some 652.4 square miles;  the population averages out to approximately 47.1 people per square mile.  

In addition to  ancestors of the original French and Spanish settlers, the parish includes many Cajuns and African Americans as well as members of the Coushatta (Koasati) Indian tribe.

Other towns in Jefferson Davis Parish 

Elton	Fenton	Hathaway
Hayes	Lake Arthur	Lacassine
Roanoke	-	Welsh

State Insect: Honeybee
 State Bird: Brown Pelican 
 State Dog: Catahoula Leopard Dog or Catahoula Hound
    State Tree: Bald Cypress
  State Nickname: Pelican State
  State Songs: "Give Me Louisiana" and "You Are My Sunshine" 

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