Louisiana Atlas of
Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy
Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor and Historical Compiler; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing
Director; Emily Kelley, Historical and Digital Compiler; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS
Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map
Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry
Library 2009
7 October 1763
By royal proclamation King George III organized former Spanish Florida
into the new British colonies of East and West Florida. The boundary between
East and West Florida was the Apalachicola River; included the part of present
Louisiana located east of the Mississippi River [not mapped]. (Cappon,
Petchenik, and Long, 1, 77; Shortt and Doughty, 119-120; Van Zandt, 103)
31 July
1764
In July 1764, Gt. Britain redefined West Florida, extending its limit
northward to a line running due east from the junction of the Yazoo and
Mississippi Rivers to the Chattahoochee River; included the part of present
Louisiana located east of the Mississippi River [not mapped]. (Cappon,
Petchenik, and Long, 87)
3 September
1783
Great Britain ceded East and West Florida to Spain by the Treaty of
Paris. The boundaries of the Floridas were not specified; included the part of
present Louisiana located east of the Mississippi River [not mapped]. (Parry,
48:481, 487, 491-492; Van Zandt, 12)
30 April
1803
The United States purchased Louisiana from France, taking formal
possession 20 December 1803; boundaries were not clearly defined but
unquestionably included the western half of the Mississippi drainage basin
(from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains). The United States took advantage
of the ambiguous description of the territory to claim as well to all of West
Florida west of the Perdido River (southern portions of present Alabama and
Mississippi and part of present Louisiana), based on the 1719 de facto
definition of Louisiana, even though Spain actually governed the area. (Cox, facing
2, 80-100; Parry, 57:27-40; Van Zandt, 23-26)
1 October
1804
The United States created Orleans Territory from that portion of
Louisiana south of the parallel of 33 degrees north latitude, west of the
Mississippi River, and south of Mississippi Territory east of the river; this
included part of West Florida between the Mississippi and Perdido Rivers
(southern portions of present Alabama and Mississippi and part of present
Louisiana), claimed by the United States as part of Louisiana but actually
governed by Spain. Act approved 26 March 1804, became effective 1 Oct 1804. (Terr. Papers
U.S., 13: 51-52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283-289; Van Zandt, 107;
Violette, 46-47)
The United States created the District of Louisiana from the part of the
Louisiana Purchase north of 33 degrees north latitude, the limit of the present
state of Louisiana (then New Orleans Territory); the district was not fully
organized as a territory and was attached to Indiana Territory. Act approved 26
March 1804, became effective 1 Oct 1804. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13: 51-52;
U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283-289; Violette, 46-47)
10 April
1805
Orleans Territory passed a single act creating 12 counties from existing
parish and non-parish areas. The parishes referred to in this act were existing
ecclesiastical jurisdictions (established under previous Spanish rule) rather
than precisely defined civil divisions. The ecclesiastical districts had never
been precisely bounded, nor did such parishes exist throughout the new
territory. In cases where no ecclesiastical parish existed (as with Ouachita
and Rapides) the general limits of the county were defined by established areas
of settlements. As a result,
county boundary lines can only be estimated. After creation of civil parish
system in 1907, the early county divisions were generally used for certain
electoral and taxation purposes. In 1843 the county was abolished as an
electoral unit, and when the state constitution was rewritten in 1845 all
remainders of the county system were eliminated. (Orleans Terr.
Acts 1804, 1st Leg., 1st sess., ch. 25/p. 144-152; Calhoun, 72-80; Goins and
Caldwell, 41)
Acadia County created to
"comprehend the Parishes of St. James and the Ascension, commonly called
the First and Second Acadian Coasts.
Attakapas County created "to
comprehend the Parish of St. Martin, commonly called the Parish of
Attakapas."
Concordia County created from
non-county area. Concordia County is the only one of the 12 original counties
with a distinct boundary description because the area it encompassed was not
part of any preexisting ecclesiastical parish, or collection of settlements.
German Coast County created
"comprehend the parishes of Saint Charles and Saint John the Baptist,
commonly called the first and second German coasts.
Iberville County created
"comprehend the Parish of St. Gabriel and such part of St. Bernard as lies
within the Territory of Orleans."
Lafourche County created
"comprehend the parish of Assumption."
Natchitoches County created to
"comprehend the parish of Saint Francis."
Opelousas County created to
"comprehend the parish of St. Landry."
Orleans County created to
"comprehend all that portion of the country lying on both sides of the
river Mississippi from the Balize to the beginning of the parishes of Saint
Bernard and Saint Louis
Ouachita County created to
"comprehend all that country commonly called and known by the name of the
Ouachita settlements."
Pointe Coupee County created to
"comprehend the parish of Saint Francis."
Rapides County created to
"comprehend the settlements of Rapides, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Bayou Boeuf,
Bayou Robert, and all other settlements which are now or may be made in the
vicinity thereof and which may in the opinion of the Superior court lie nearer
or more conveniently to the court house or seat of justice of the said county
of Rapides than to the court house of any other county."
The United States claimed the area south of 31 degrees north latitude
between the Mississippi and Perdido Rivers, based on its purchase of Louisiana.
The U.S. and Spanish West Florida both claimed the area, but Spain actually
governed it. Act approved 26 March 1804, became effective 1 Oct 1804. (Terr. Papers
U.S., 13: 51-52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283-289; Van Zandt, 107;
Violette, 46-47)
5 November
1806
Following the Louisiana Purchase the United States and Spain engaged in
a series of disputes over the boundaries between Orleans Territory and Spanish
possessions to the east (Florida) and to the west (Texas). On 5 November 1806
American and Spanish military commanders reached an agreement concerning the
western boundary by declaring the disputed territory Neutral Ground. The
boundaries of the Neutral Ground were only loosely defined as an area between
the Sabine River on the west, the Arroyo Hondo on the east, the Gulf of Mexico
on the south and the thirty-second parallel of latitude on the north. Though
the agreement stipulated that no settlements would be established within the
Neutral Ground settlers from both the United States and Spain continued to move
into the Neutral Ground. The counties of Natchitoches, Opelousas and Rapides,
created by Orleans Territory on 10 April 1805, and the Parishes of
NATCHITOCHES, RAPIDES and ST. LANDRY created 14 April 1807, included land
within the disputed territory. Ownership of the Neutral Ground was not
officially settled until the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1821 [not mapped]. (Haggard,
1001-1128)
14 April
1807
Orleans Territory created a single act creating 19 original parishes.
These parishes were civil divisions which reused the earlier ecclesiastical
boundaries and names. The division into civil parishes did not abolish the
twelve counties established on 10 April 1805. This and subsequent laws set up a
dual system in which the counties existed "for the purpose of making the
election of the representatives of the territory, and levying the territorial
taxes", while the parishes took over jurisdiction of all civil, criminal,
probate and other judicial matters. The dual county / parish system remained in
effect until the state constitution of 1845. Though there was no legislative
act formally abolishing the old counties, the 1845 constitution dropped all reference
to the county as a civil or legislative division and redefined the limits of
parish autonomy and authority. [Creation of original 19 parishes approved 31
Mar 1807, became effective 14 Apr 1807] (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st.
Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)
ASCENSION Parish created within
Acadia County.
ASSUMPTION Parish created within
Lafourche County.
ATTAKAPAS Parish (extinct) created
within Attakapas County.
AVOYELLES Parish created within
Rapides County.
BATON ROUGE (now WEST BATON ROUGE)
Parish created within Pointe Coupee County.
CONCORDIA Parish created within
Concordia County.
IBERVILLE Parish created within
Iberville County.
LAFOURCHE INTERIOR Parish created
within Lafourche County.
NATCHITOCHES Parish created within
Natchitoches County.
ORLEANS Parish created within
Orleans County
OUACHITA Parish created within
Ouachita County
PLAQUEMINES Parish created within
Orleans County
POINTE COUPEE Parish created within
Pointe Coupee County
RAPIDES Parish created within
Rapides County
ST. BERNARD Parish created within
Orleans County
ST. CHARLES Parish created within
German Coast County
ST. JAMES Parish created within
Acadia County.
ST. JOHN the BAPTIST Parish created
within German Coast County.
ST. LANDRY Parish created within
Opelousas County.
Vague and contradictory boundary descriptions for the counties and
parishes surrounding Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador meant that Couba Island
and large portions of the lakes were essentially non-parish area. Resulting
disputes over the area were generally settled by the Louisiana Supreme Court in
the 1940s, and U.S.G.S. maps from the late 1940s and early 1950s seem to
finally fix the line through Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador at its modern
location. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/
p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)
23 March
1808
CATAHOULA created within Rapides County and from RAPIDES. No change to
the county boundary. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1808, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., ch.
10/p. 30)
16 March
1809
Boundary between Natchitoches County and Rapides County defined [no
change]. NATCHITOCHES boundary with RAPIDES defined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 16/p. 40)
18 March
1809
Concordia County gained from Ouachita County. CONCORDIA gained
from OUACHITA. (Orleans Terr. Acts. 1809, 2nd Leg.,
2nd sess., ch. 22/p. 54)
20 March
1809
A portion of the boundary between ORLEANS, PLAQUEMINES and ST. BERNARD
defined [no mappable change] (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg.,
2nd sess., ch. 30/p. 80)
September -
December 1810
Vague boundary descriptions for the Louisiana Purchase resulted in
disputes between the United States and Spain over the area of West Florida
(between the Mississippi River on the east and the Perdido River on the west).
The United States claimed West Florida as part of the Louisiana Purchase on the
basis of prior French occupation; Spain claimed possession based on accords in
the Treaty of San Lorenzo (1795). On 23 September 1810 a group of Floridians
seized the seat of Spanish Florida's government at Baton Rouge. On 27 October
1810 President James Madison proclaimed American dominion over West Florida and
preparations were made to annex West Florida to Orleans Territory. The West
Florida dispute would not be settled until April 1813 when the United States
and Spain signed articles of agreement for Spanish evacuation of the area. (Goins and
Caldwell, 32)
7 December
1810
Feliciana County created by proclamation of the Governor of Orleans
Territory from the disputed area bounded by the parallel of 31 degrees north,
the Perdido River on the east, the Mississippi River on the west and the Gulf
of Mexico on the south (southern portions of present Alabama, and Mississippi
and part of present Louisiana). Known as West Florida the disputed area was
claimed by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase but actually
controlled by Spain. Territory within Feliciana County did not initially
contain any internal parish divisions. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p.
210; HRS, 23)
22 December
1810
Civil Parishes of EAST BATON ROUGE, FELICIANA, ST. HELENA and ST.
TAMMANY created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish
area within Feliciana County. The portion of Feliciana County lying east of the
Pearl River remained non-parish area. No change to county boundary lines. (Gov. Proc. in
Orleans Terr., Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./pp. 210, 212; HRS, 23)
4 January
1811
Civil Parishes of BELOXY (extinct) and PASCACOULA (extinct) created by
proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana
County. The portion of Feliciana County lying east of Bayou La Batre (present
Alabama) remained non-parish area. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts
1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 214; HRS, 23)
26 January
1811
PASCAGOULA (extinct) boundary extended to the eastern limit of Feliciana
County (Perdido River, present Alabama); Non-parish area within Feliciana
County eliminated. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr.
Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 216)
20 March
1811
Concordia County gained from Ouachita County. Civil Parish of WARREN
(extinct) created within Concordia County from CONCORDIA. (Orleans Terr.
Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 10/pp. 34-40)
10 April
1811
A portion of the boundary between ORLEANS, PLAQUEMINES and ST. BERNARD
defined [no mappable change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg.,
2nd sess., ch. 19/p. 72)
17 April
1811
Civil Parishes of ST. MARTIN and ST. MARY created within Attakapas
County from ATTAKAPAS Parish (extinct), which was eliminated. No change to
county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811,
3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 24/pp. 104-106)
24 April
1811
Civil Parish boundaries within Feliciana County adjusted or redefined.
No change to county boundaries. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg.,
2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)
BELOXY (extinct) redefined [no
change].
FELICIANA (extinct) gained from EAST
BATON ROUGE.
PASCAGOULA (extinct) redefined [no
change].
ST. HELENA gained from ST. TAMMANY.
30 April
1812
The United States created the State of Louisiana, with modern
boundaries, from Orleans Territory; Orleans Territory eliminated. (U.S. Stat.,
vol. 2, ch. 50 [1812]/pp. 701-704; Van Zandt, 107)
BELOXY (extinct) and PASCAGOULA (extinct) both eliminated when the State
of Louisiana was created. The remnant of Orleans Territory (including BELOXY
and PASCAGOULA) lying south of 31 degrees north latitude and between the Pearl
and Perdido Rivers (i.e., the southern portions of present Alabama and
Mississippi) was added to Mississippi Territory. (U.S. Stat.,
vol. 2, ch. 50 [1812]/pp. 701-704; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 84 [1812]/p. 743)
Feliciana County lost to Mississippi Territory when the United States created
the state of Louisiana. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 50 [1812]/pp. 701-704;
Van Zandt, 107)
Natchitoches County and NATCHITOCHES both lost to Spain when the United
States created the state of Louisiana. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 50
[1812]/pp. 701-704; Van Zandt, 107)
4 August
1812
Louisiana General Assembly passed a resolution giving the assent to
"An act to enlarge the limits of the State of Louisiana" which was
passed by the United States Congress. The Congressional act, effective 30 April
1812, established the state boundaries as: "beginning at the junction of
the Iberville with the river Mississippi; thence along the middle of the of the
Iberville, the river Amite, and of the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain to the
mouth of the Peal river; thence up the eastern branch of the Pearl river to the
31st degree of north latitude to the river Mississippi; thence down the said
river to the place of beginning. This enlargement of the state boundaries
officially added Feliciana County and the parishes of EAST BATON ROUGE,
FELICIANA, ST. HELENA and ST. TAMMANY (created by Orleans Territory in December
of 1810 from Spanish West Florida) to the State of Louisiana. (La. Acts
1812, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 4-6)
5 September
1812
Boundaries of Natchitoches County and NATCHITOCHES redefined [no
change]. (La. Acts 1812, 1st Leg., 1st sess., ch. 12/p. 48)
by December
1812
BATON ROUGE renamed WEST BATON ROUGE though no formal change of name was
declared by the Louisiana legislature. POINTE COUPEE gained a small area (approx.
40 acres) from WEST BATON ROUGE [exact location uncertain, not mapped]. (La. Acts
1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess.,
28 December
1812
ST. BERNARD gained from ORLEANS when ST. BERNARD was enlarged "to
include the plantation of Julien Poydras and V. Delassize" [not mapped]. (La. Acts
1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 8)
20 March
1813
ST. MARY gained from ST. MARTIN. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg.,
2nd sess., p. 134)
24 March
1813
CATAHOULA gained from OUACHITA and RAPIDES. (La. Acts
1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp.138-140)
CONCORDIA gained from WARREN (extinct). (La. Acts
1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p.140)
15 April
1813
American forces captured the city of Mobile from Spain, effectively
extending U.S. control over the territory between the Mississippi and Perdido
Rivers; Spanish control and claims to the area effectively ended. (Cox, facing
2; Fuller, 202)
28 February 1814
CONCORDIA gained the portion of WARREN (extinct) lying south of the
upper line of John Milliken's plantation; OUACHITA gained the portion of WARREN
(extinct) lying north of the upper line of John Milliken's plantation; WARREN
eliminated. (La. Acts 1814, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., p. 32-34)
Ouachita County gained from Concordia County when part of the Parish of
WARREN (extinct) was annexed to Ouachita. (La. Acts 1814, 1st Leg., 3rd
sess., p. 32-34)
31 January
1815
Surveyor appointed to ascertain the center of FELICIANA Parish (extinct)
and to run the boundary line between FELICIANA (extinct) and EAST BATON ROUGE
[not mapped]. (La. Acts 1815, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 50-54)
29 February
1816
A portion of the boundary between Opelousas County and Rapides County
defined. No change to the line as previously estimated. (La. Acts
1816, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 18; HRS, 31)
7 February
1817
Boundary between Attakapas County and Opelousas County defined [no
change]. (La. Acts 1816, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., p. 66-68)
4 February
1818
AVOYELLES gained from CATAHOULA, exchanged with RAPIDES and ST. LANDRY. (La. Act.
1818, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 10)
22 February
1819
Adams-Onis Treaty between the United States and Spain established the
Sabine River as the western boundary of Louisiana; Neutral Ground eliminated. (Van Zandt,
27)
6 March 1819
WASHINGTON created from ST. TAMMANY. (La. Acts
1819, 4th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 80-82)
22 March
1822
TERREBONNE created from LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE). (La. Acts
1822, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 74-76)
17 January
1823
LAFAYETTE created from ST. MARTIN. (La. Acts 1823, 6th Leg., 1st
sess., pp. 6-10)
17 February
1824
EAST FELICIANA and WEST FELICIANA created from FELICIANA (extinct);
FELICIANA eliminated. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 26-34)
7 March
1824
LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) gained Grand Isle, and implicitly gained
jurisdiction over the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula from ORLEANS when LAFOURCHE
INTERIOR boundary was defined. Uncertainty over the relative locations of Grand
Isle and the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula resulted in a long-standing dispute
over the area. Boundary between LAFOURCHE INTERIOR and ASSUMPTION defined [no
change]. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 68)
8 April
1824
Surveyor appointed to run the boundary line between ASCENSION and
IBERVILLE and to determine the limits of said parishes. (La. Acts
1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 140; HRS, 39)
4 February
1825
POINTE COUPEE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts
1825, 7th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 82-86)
11 February
1825
JEFFERSON created from ORLEANS; included the disputed areas of Grand
Isle and Cheniere Caminada. As with ORLEANS before it, the western line of
JEFFERSON only vaguely defined resulting in a series of disputes and
uncertainties between JEFFERSON and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE), and
JEFFERSON and ST. CHARLES. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 108-112; La. Rpts. 206, pp. 616-642)
22 February
1826
Portion of the boundary between ST. TAMMANY and WASHINGTON defined
[change too small to map]. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 2nd sess.,
pp. 38-40)
7 April
1826
IBERVILLE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE when southern and western
boundaries of WEST BATON ROUGE defined. This law is the first concrete
definition for the line between the two parishes. Previously mapped line was
derived from contemporaneous maps of parish boundaries. (La. Acts
1825, 7th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 186-188)
15 March
1827
NATCHITOCHES exchanged with OUACHITA when eastern boundary of
NATCHITOCHES was defined for the first time. (La. Acts
1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., p. 30)
22 March
1827
JEFFERSON gained officially gained jurisdiction of the disputed Grand
Isle from LA FOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE); Disputed Area between JEFFERSON
and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) reduced to just the Cheniere Caminada
Peninsula. (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., p. 156; La. Rpts. 206, pp.
616-642)
24 March
1827
IBERVILLE gained from WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts
1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 178-180)
13 March
1828
CLAIBORNE created from NATCHITOCHES and OUACHITA. (La. Acts
1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 70-76)
18 March
1828
IBERVILLE boundary with WEST BATON ROUGE defined [no change]. (La. Acts
1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 92)
4 March
1830
CATAHOULA exchanged with OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1830, 9th Leg., 2nd
sess., p. 36)
15 March
1830
JEFFERSON officially gained jurisdiction over the Cheniere Caminada
Peninsula. Though this technically eliminated the dispute between JEFFERSON and
LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE), the competing claims to the Cheniere
Caminada Peninsula and Grand Isle were not fully settled until 26 June 1944
when the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of JEFFERSON. (La. Acts
1830, 9th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 64; La. Rpts. 206, pp. 616-642)
10 February
1832
Creation of LIVINGSTON, "lying and being south of a line to be
established" authorized. LIVINGSTON boundaries not actually defined until
30 March 1832. (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., p. 20)
7 March
1832
EAST BATON ROUGE gained from EAST FELICIANA. (La. Acts
1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 78-80)
14 March
1832
CARROLL (extinct) created from CONCORDIA and OUACHITA. (La. Acts
1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 100-106)
30 March
1832
LIVINGSTON created from ST. HELENA. LIVINGSTON creation initially
authorized on 10 February 1832, boundaries not defined until this date. (La. Acts
1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 130-132)
10 March
1834
OUACHITA gained from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1833, 11th Leg., 2nd
sess., p. 122)
Jurisdiction over a portion of Grand Terre Island in JEFFERSON Parish was ceded
to the United States. No change to parish boundaries. (La. Acts
1833, 11th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 105-106)
28 March
1835
CATAHOULA gained from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1835, 12th Leg., 1st
sess., p. 160)
23 February
1837
ASSUMPTION boundary with ST. MARY redefined [no mappable change]. IBERVILLE gained
from POINTE COUPEE; POINTE COUPEE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 1st sess., p. 22-23)
18 January
1838
CADDO created from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd
sess., pp. 11-13)
19 January
1838
MADISON created from CONCORDIA and OUACHITA. (La. Acts
1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 13-14)
12 February
1838
POINTE COUPEE gained from WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts
1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 21-22)
6 March
1838
CALDWELL created from CATAHOULA and OUACHITA. (La. Acts
1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 38-41)
13 March
1839
UNION created from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 22-26)
14 March
1839
MADISON gained from CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts
1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., p. 82)
12 March
1840
CALCASIEU created from ST. LANDRY. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st
sess., pp. 72-75)
3 February
1841
ASCENSION gained from IBERVILLE, and ST. JAMES; ASSUMPTION gained from
ASCENSION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 7)
6 February
1841
OUACHITA gained from CATAHOULA; exchanged with CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts
1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 10-11)
12 January
1842
PLAQUEMINES boundary with ST. BERNARD defined. This is the first actual
definition of this line [no change]. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 20-22)
27 January
1842
OUACHITA's west boundary defined to run along the east branch of the
Dugdemona River [no change]. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess.,
p. 30)
10 February
1842
CATAHOULA gained from AVOYELLES. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st
sess., pp. 106-108)
26 March
1842
ASSUMPTION gained from ASCENSION; exchanged with ST. JAMES. (La. Acts
1841, 15th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 514)
24 February
1843
BOSSIER created from CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st
sess., pp. 17-19)
1 March
1843
FRANKLIN created from CATAHOULA, MADISON and OUACHITA. (La. Acts
1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-24)
7 March
1843
SABINE created from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st
sess., pp. 26-28)
17 March
1843
TENSAS created from
CONCORDIA and MADISON. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg.,
1st sess., pp. 35-38)
1 April
1843
DESOTO created from CADDO, NATCHITOCHES and SABINE. CADDO gained very
small area along the Red River from NATCHITOCHES. SABINE gained from CADDO. (La. Acts
1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 52-54)
1843
In 1843 the counties were abolished as electoral units and that
structure was shifted to the parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41)
11 March
1844
FRANKLIN boundaries clarified to correct a wording error in the law of 1
March 1843 [no change]. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 23-24)
25 March
1844
MOREHOUSE created from CARROLL (extinct) and OUACHITA. (La. Acts
1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 77-79)
VERMILION created from LAFAYETTE. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd
sess., pp. 45-47)
27 February
1845
JACKSON created from CLAIBORNE, OUACHITA (which was divided into 2
parts), and UNION.
(La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 16-19)
8 March
1845
DESOTO gained from CADDO. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 77-78)
10 March
1845
CATAHOULA gained from OUACHITA; OUACHITA remained divided into 2 parts. (La. Acts
1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., p. 68)
25 January
1846
When the state constitution was rewritten in 1845 all mention and use of
the term "county" was eliminated and all previous county functions
shifted to the control of the civil parishes. Counties of Attakapas, Concordia,
Feliciana, German Coast, Iberville, LaFourche, Natchitoches, Opelousas,
Orleans, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, and Rapides all eliminated when new
constitution became effective 24 January 1846. (Goins and
Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)
12 May 1846
NATCHITOCHES authorized to loose to RAPIDES. Boundary for this change
cannot be drawn as described in this 12 May 1846 law. An accurate description
for the change intended here was approved by the legislature on 15 April 1847
[no change]. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 42)
29 May 1846
MADISON gained from CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts
1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 151-152)
1 June 1846
JACKSON gained from CLAIBORNE and OUACHITA, exchanged with UNION. OUACHITA gained
from UNION. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 159-160)
5 April
1847
CARROLL (extinct) gained from MADISON. (La. Acts
1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 74-75)
15 April
1847
IBERVILLE exchanged with ST. MARTIN. (La. Acts
1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 95-96)
MOREHOUSE gained from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd
sess., p. 91)
NATCHITOCHES exchanged with RAPIDES. (La. Acts
1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 96-97)
20 April
1847
ORLEANS gained small area from JEFFERSON when the limits of ORLEANS were
extended to "all that portion of Felicity Road from Levee street to the
rear of the city, lying between the center of said street, and to the line of the
second Municipality of New Orleans, on the north side of the same, which ground
is within the limits of the city of LaFayette, parish of JEFFERSON." (La. Acts
1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 100-101)
24 April
1847
AVOYELLES exchanged with RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd
sess., p. 113)
28 April
1847
ST. JAMES gained from LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE). (La. Acts
1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 134-135)
24 February
1848
OUACHITA gained from FRANKLIN. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st sess.,
p. 8)
14 March
1848
BIENVILLE created from CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st
sess., pp. 118-121)
16 March
1848
Legislature authorized creation of RED RIVER 1 (proposed) from
BIENVILLE, BOSSIER, CADDO, CLAIBORNE, DESOTO and NATCHITOCHES, dependent on an
enumeration to determine whether the proposed new parish contained the number
of electors required by the Constitution. This first attempt to create RED
RIVER was unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 145-146)
5 July 1848
State of Louisiana lost disputed territory to Texas through Sabine Lake,
Sabine Pass, and the Sabine River [not mapped]. (U.S. Stat.,
vol. 9, ch. 94 [1848]/p. 245; Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 2/p. 4)
by 1850
IBERVILLE gained from ASCENSION. (Thorndale & Dollarhide, p.
137)
12 March
1850
LIVINGSTON gained from ASCENSION. (La. Acts 1850, 3rd Leg., p.
67)
13 March
1850
LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) gained from TERREBONNE. (La. Acts
1850, 3rd Leg., p. 68)
18 March
1850
Legislature authorized creation of DUGDEMONA (proposed) from CATAHOULA,
NATCHITOCHES, and RAPIDES; dependent on an enumeration to determine whether the
proposed new parish contained the number of electors required by the
Constitution. This attempt to create DUGDEMONA was unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts
1850, 3rd Leg., pp. 105-106)
21 March
1850
JEFFERSON boundary with ORLEANS redefined [no change] (La. Acts
1850, 3rd. Leg., pp. 243-244)
Legislature authorized creation of IBERIA (proposed) from ST. MARTIN and
ST. MARY; dependent on a survey "to decide whether or not a new parish can
be created in conformity to article eighth of the Constitution." No
boundary description for this proposal appears in the session laws; limits
prescribed only in a Senate resolution of 15 March 1848. This first attempt to
create IBERIA was unsuccessful [not mapped]. (La. Acts
1850, 3rd. Leg., Res. No. 297, pp. 227-228; HRS, 71)
23 February
1852
City of New Orleans annexed the independent municipality of LaFayette,
extending the limits of New Orleans upriver as far as Toledano Street and into
JEFFERSON Parish. The act of annexation stipulated that the 1847 line along
Felicity Street was to remain the boundary between the parishes of ORLEANS and
JEFFERSON [no change]. (Swanson, 100-102)
24 February
1852
WINN created from CATAHOULA, NATCHITOCHES and RAPIDES. RAPIDES gained
very small areas along the Dugdemona River from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 67-69)
4 March
1852
RAPIDES gained from CALCASIEU and NATCHITOCHES, exchanged with ST.
LANDRY. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 83-84, 87-88)
11 March
1852
Legislature authorized creation of RICHLAND (proposed) from CARROLL
(extinct), FRANKLIN, MOREHOUSE and OUACHITA; dependent on an enumeration to
determine whether the proposed new parish contained the number of electors
required by the Constitution. This first attempt to create RICHLAND was
unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., p. 115)
15 March
1852
POINTE COUPEE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts
1852, 4th Leg., pp. 143-144)
23 March
1853
LAFOURCHE INTERIOR renamed LAFOURCHE. (La. Acts
1853, 1st Leg., p. 42)
16 March
1854
SABINE gained from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1854, 2nd Leg., 1st
sess., p. 141)
2 March
1857
NATCHITOCHES gained from BIENVILLE. (La. Acts 1857, 3rd Leg., 2nd
sess., p.47)
20 March
1858
MOREHOUSE gained from CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts
1858, 4th Leg., 1st sess., p. 211)
11 March
1859
POINTE COUPEE gained from IBERVILLE. (La. Acts
1859, 4th Leg. 2nd sess., pp. 16-17)
14 March
1859
IBERVILLE gained from POINTE COUPEE when boundary was adjusted to run
along the upper line of the Barrow plantation. (La. Acts
1859, 4th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 59; Lemmon, Magill and Wiese, p. 202)
17 March
1859
Legislature authorized creation of RED RIVER 2 (proposed) from
BIENVILLE, BOSSIER, CADDO and NATCHITOCHES; dependent on an enumeration to
determine whether the proposed new parish contained the number of electors
required by the Constitution. This second attempt to create RED RIVER was
unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts 1859, 4th Leg., 2nd sess.,
p. 183-184)
2 March
1860
Legislature authorized creation of an Unnamed Parish from CLAIBORNE,
JACKSON and UNION; dependent on an enumeration to determine whether the
proposed new parish contained the number of electors required by the
Constitution. This proposal was unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts
1860, 5th Leg., 1st sess., p. 52)
21 February
1861
POINTE COUPEE gained from IBERVILLE when law of 14 March 1859 was
repealed and the Barrow plantation declared to be within POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts
1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 19)
20 March
1861
CARROLL (extinct) boundary with MOREHOUSE defined [no change]. (La. Acts
1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 185)
TENSAS gained from MADISON. (La. Acts 1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess.,
pp. 161-162)
21 March
1861
Legislature authorized creation of an Unnamed Parish from RAPIDES;
dependent on an enumeration to determine whether the proposed new parish
contained the number of electors required by the Constitution. Proposal was
unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts 1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess.,
p. 198)
23 March
1867
UNION gained from CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1867, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess.,
p. 201)
29
September 1868
RICHLAND created from CARROLL (extinct), FRANKLIN, MOREHOUSE and
OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 151)
30 October
1868
IBERIA created from ST. MARTIN (which was divided into 2 parts) and ST.
MARY. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 272-273)
4 March
1869
GRANT created from RAPIDES and WINN. (La. Acts
1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 79-80)
6 March
1869
TANGIPAHOA created from LIVINGSTON, ST. HELENA, ST. TAMMANY and
WASHINGTON. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 83-86)
15 March
1870
CAMERON created from CALCASIEU and VERMILION. (La. Acts
1870, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 168-169)
16 March
1870
ORLEANS gained from JEFFERSON when the cities of New Orleans and
Jefferson were consolidated. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., extra sess.,
pp. 30-49)
5 April
1870
FRANKLIN gained from TENSAS. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., extra sess.,
pp. 189-190)
27 February
1871
WEBSTER created from BIENVILLE, BOSSIER and CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts
1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 59-68)
2 March
1871
RED RIVER created from BIENVILLE, BOSSIER, CADDO, DESOTO and
NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)
30 March
1871
VERNON created from
NATCHITOCHES, RAPIDES and SABINE. (La. Acts 1871,
2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 175-176)
1 July 1872
RED RIVER boundaries clarified [no change]. (La. Acts
1872, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 147)
24 February
1873
LINCOLN created from BIENVILLE, CLAIBORNE, JACKSON and UNION. (La. Acts
1873, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 67-70)
23 March
1874
ORLEANS gained from JEFFERSON when the city of Carrollton was annexed to
the City of New Orleans. (La. Acts 1874, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 119-122)
15 April
1875
ST. BERNARD boundary through New Orleans defined [no change]. (La. Acts
1875, 4th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 54-55)
5 March
1877
JACKSON gained from LINCOLN. (La. Acts 1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess.,
p.31)
26 March
1877
EAST CARROLL and WEST CARROLL created from CARROLL (extinct), which was
eliminated. Act became law by limitation, without signature of objection or
approval by the Governor. (La. Acts 1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess.,
pp. 39-43)
11 May 1877
EAST CARROLL gained from WEST CARROLL. (La. Acts
1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 219-220)
25 February
1878
FRANKLIN gained from CATAHOULA. Act became law by limitation, without
signature, objection, or approval by the Governor. (La. Acts
1878, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 64-65)
11 March
1878
RED RIVER clarified to make explicit the portion of the boundary between
the Red River and the Bayou Pierre [no change]. (La. Acts
1878, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 108-109)
30 June
1886
ACADIA created from ST. LANDRY. (La. Acts 1886, reg. sess., pp.
48-52)
10 July
1890
Legislature authorized creation of TROY (proposed) from CATAHOULA. The
Louisiana Supreme Court declared the creation of TROY unconstitutional because
it increased the representation in the House of Representatives beyond the
constitutional limit [no change]. (La. Acts 1890, reg. sess., pp.
138-143; HRS, 12; "Adams vs. Forsyth", 44 La. Ann., 130; 10 So.,
622.)
14 July
1898
ACADIA exchanged with LAFAYETTE. (La. Acts 1898, reg. sess., pp.
294-295)
4 July 1904
Legislature authorized LINCOLN to gain from JACKSON. Change dependent on
a vote in the election of November 1904. Proposed annexation never took place
[no change]. La. Acts 1904, reg. sess., pp. 221-223)
5 July 1904
Legislature authorized CALDWELL to gain from CATAHOULA. Change dependent
on a vote in the election of November 1904. Proposed annexation never took
place [no change].
La. Acts 1904, reg. sess., pp. 334-335)
27 June
1906
Legislature authorized creation of BEAUREGARD (proposed) from CATAHOULA,
dependent on vote in election to be held 16 January 1908; proposal failed in
referendum and this first attempt to create a BEAUREGARD Parish was
unsuccessful [no change]. La. Acts 1906, reg. sess., pp. 37-41)
22 June
1908
Legislature authorized creation of EVANGELINE (proposed) from ST.
LANDRY, dependent on vote in election to be held 8 April 1909. Louisiana
Supreme Court declared this creation unconstitutional [no change]. La. Acts 1908,
reg. sess., pp. 53-57; HRS, 13-14. 98; "Sandez vs. Sanders" 125 La.
Ann., 396; 51 So., 436)
3 July 1908
LA SALLE created from CATAHOULA. LA SALLE not fully organized, attached
to CATAHOULA until 1 January 1910. Act became law by limitation, without
signature, objection, or approval by the Governor. (La. Acts
1908, reg. sess., pp. 244-250)
1 January
1910
LA SALLE was to be fully organized and detached from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts
1908, reg. sess., pp. 245-250)
15 June
1910
EVANGELINE created from ST. LANDRY. EVANGELINE not fully organized until
1 January 1911. (La. Acts 1910, reg. sess., pp. 23-28)
28 June
1910
Legislature authorized creation of ALLEN (proposed) from CALCASIEU,
dependent on vote in election of 8 November 1910; creation was not ratified and
the act never became operative [no change]. (La. Acts
1910, reg. sess., pp. 127-129; HRS, 103, 112)
Legislature authorized creation of BEAUREGARD (proposed) from CALCASIEU,
dependent on vote in election of 8 November 1910; creation was not ratified,
the act never became operative and this second attempt to create a BEAUREGARD
Parish was unsuccessful [no change]. (La. Acts 1910, reg. sess., pp.
124-127; HRS, 103, 114)
Legislature authorized creation of JEFFERSON DAVIS (proposed) from
CALCASIEU, dependent on vote in election of 8 November 1910; creation was not
ratified and the act never became operative [no change]. (La. Acts
1910, reg. sess., pp. 122-124; HRS, 12-13, 102; 130 La. Ann., 272)
7 October
1910
CALCASIEU gained from RAPIDES; RAPIDES exchanged with NATCHITOCHES and
VERNON. (Natchitoches Parish Police Jury. Correspondence, 8 Aug 2008;
Rapides Parish Police Jury. Correspondence, 15 Aug 2008; Rapides Parish Police
Jury Minutes Jan. 1910, pp. 299-305)
by January
1911
EVANGELINE was to be fully organized. (La. Acts
1910, reg. sess., p. 25)
12 June
1912
ALLEN, BEAUREGARD, and JEFFERSON DAVIS created from CALCASIEU. ALLEN and
BEAUREGARD not fully organized, attached to CALCASIEU for civil and criminal
purposes until 1 January 1913. (La. Acts 1912, reg. sess., pp. 8-15)
9 July 1912
ST. TAMMANY boundary with WASHINGTON redefined "establishing a
dividing line between said Parishes in the Richard Chappel Headright No. 57,
Township 4 South, Range 12 East [not mapped]. (La. Acts 1912,
Reg. Sess. pp. 146-147)
by 1952
JEFFERSON gained Couba Island, and parts of Lake Cataouatche and Lake
Salvador; ST. CHARLES gained parts of Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador. Vague descriptions given in acts
creating and changing JEFFERSON resulted in multiple interpretations of the
JEFFERSON boundary as it ran around, or through Lake Cataouatche, Lake
Salvador, and Caminada Bay. Court actions in the 1940s settled parts of this
boundary, and by 1952 U.S.G.S. maps showed the JEFFERSON boundary running to
the west of Couba Island between Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador. (La. Rpts.
206, pp. 616-642; Swanson, 47-48; U.S.G.S. Louisiana 7.5 Minute Series, 1944,
1952)
21 June
1954
Gulfward boundary of the State of Louisiana defined as extending "a
distance into the Gulf of Mexico 3 marine leagues from coast [not mapped]. (La. Acts
1954, reg. sess., pp. 63-65)
30 July
1954
In a companion act to law of 21 June 1954 the boundaries of the coastal
parishes were defined to be coextensive with the gulfward limits of the state.
As a result CAMERON, IBERIA, JEFFERSON, LAFOURCHE, PALQUEMINES, ST. BERNARD,
ST. MARY, TERREBONNE, and VERMILION boundaries extended three marine leagues
into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundaries coextensive with the
gulfward boundary of the State of Louisiana. Act passed 21 June 1954, became
effective 30 July 1954 [not mapped]. (La. Acts 1954, reg. sess., pp. 62-63)
by 1954
ST. CHARLES gained Couba Island and parts of Lake Cataouatche and Lake
Salvador from JEFFERSON. (U.S.G.S. Louisiana 7.5 Minute Series, 1954, 1966)
by 1961-1962
ST. JOHN the BAPTIST gained from ASCENSION and ST. JAMES. (U.S.G.S. 7.5
Minute Series [topographic], 1962, 1998, 2005)
27 July
1966
LAFOURCHE boundary with TERREBONNE, from the intersection of Bayou
Pointe au Chien and Grand Bayou Felicity south to the Gulf of Mexico, was
defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1966, reg. sess., pp. 240-244)
20 July
1979
JEFFERSON, LIVINGSTON, ORLEANS, ST. CHARLES, ST. JOHN the BAPTIST, ST.
TAMMANY and TANGIPAHOA all gained when parish boundaries through Lake
Pontchartrain were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess.,
pp. 2042-2056)
12
September 1980
TANGIPAHOA boundary through Pass Manchac amended and reenacted "to
correct a typographical error in the coordinates of a certain point in the
description" of 20 July 1919. Act approved by the governor 12 July 1980,
became effective 12 September 1980. [not mapped] (La. Acts
1980, reg. sess., pp. 516-519)