LA: Individual County Chronologies

Acadia County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the Parishes of St. James and the Ascension, commonly called the First and Second Acadian Coasts. The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parishes of ASCENSION and ST. JAMES created within Acadia County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Acadia County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

ACADIA created from ST. LANDRY. (La. Acts 1886, reg. sess., pp. 48-52)

ACADIA exchanged with LAFAYETTE. (La. Acts 1898, reg. sess., pp. 294-295)

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)

ALLEN created from CALCASIEU. ALLEN not fully organized, attached to CALCASIEU for civil and criminal purposes until 1 January 1913. (La. Acts 1912, reg. sess., pp. 8-10)

ASCENSION Parish created within Acadia County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

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)

ASCENSION gained from IBERVILLE, and ST. JAMES; lost to ASSUMPTION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 7)

ASCENSION lost to ASSUMPTION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 514)

ASCENSION lost to IBERVILLE. (Thorndale & Dollarhide, p. 137)

ASCENSION lost to LIVINGSTON. (La. Acts 1850, 3rd Leg., p. 67)

ASCENSION lost to ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. (U.S.G.S. 7.5 Minute Series [topographic], 1962, 1998, 2005)

ASSUMPTION Parish created within Lafourche County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

Boundary between ASSUMPTION and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 68)

ASSUMPTION boundary with ST. MARY redefined [no mappable change]. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 1st sess., p. 22-23)

ASSUMPTION gained from ASCENSION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 7)

ASSUMPTION gained from ASCENSION; exchanged with ST. JAMES. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 514)

ATTAKAPAS Parish (extinct) created within Attakapas County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

ATTAKAPAS (extinct) eliminated when it lost all territory to creation of ST. MARTIN and ST. MARY. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 24/pp. 104-106)

Attakapas County created by Orleans Territory "to comprehend the Parish of St. Martin, commonly called the Parish of Attakapas." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parish of ATTAKAPAS created within Attakapas County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Civil Parishes of ST. MARTIN and ST. MARY created within Attakapas County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 24/pp. 104-106)

Boundary between Attakapas County and Opelousas County defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1816, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., p. 66-68)

Attakapas County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

AVOYELLES Parish created within Rapides County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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 or 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. 14; Calhoun, 85-93)

AVOYELLES gained from CATAHOULA, exchanged with RAPIDES and ST. LANDRY. (La. Act. 1818, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 10)

AVOYELLES lost to CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 106-108)

AVOYELLES exchanged with RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 113)

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)

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)

BEAUREGARD created from CALCASIEU. BEAUREGARD not fully organized, attached to CALCASIEU for civil and criminal purposes until 1 January 1913. (La. Acts 1912, reg. sess., pp. 13-15)

BELOXY Parish (extinct) created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana County. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 214; HRS, 23)

BELOXY (extinct) redefined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)

BELOXY (extinct) eliminated from Louisiana when the United States created the state of Louisiana, with modern boundaries, from Orleans Territory. The remnant of Orleans Territory (including BELOXY) 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)

BIENVILLE created from CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 118-121)

BIENVILLE lost to NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1857, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p.47)

BIENVILLE lost to creation of WEBSTER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 59-68)

BIENVILLE lost to creation of RED RIVER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)

BIENVILLE lost to creation of LINCOLN. (La. Acts 1873, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 67-70)

BOSSIER created from CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 17-19)

BOSSIER lost to creation of WEBSTER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 59-68)

BOSSIER lost to creation of RED RIVER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)

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)

Great 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)

CADDO created from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 11-13)

CADDO lost to creation of DESOTO, and lost to SABINE; gained very small area along the Red River from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 52-54)

CADDO lost to DESOTO. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 77-78)

CADDO lost to creation of RED RIVER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)

CALCASIEU created from ST. LANDRY. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 72-75)

CALCASIEU lost to RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 87-88)

CALCASIEU lost to creation of CAMERON. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 168-169)

CALCASIEU gained from RAPIDES. (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)

CALCASIEU lost to creation of ALLEN, BEAUREGARD, and JEFFERSON DAVIS. 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)

CALDWELL created from CATAHOULA and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 38-41)

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)

CAMERON created from CALCASIEU and VERMILION. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 168-169)

CAMERON boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

CARROLL (extinct) created from CONCORDIA and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 100-106)

CARROLL (extinct) lost to MADISON. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., p. 82)

CARROLL (extinct) lost to creation of MOREHOUSE. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 77-79)

CARROLL (extinct) lost to MADISON. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 151-152)

CARROLL (extinct) gained from MADISON. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 74-75)

CARROLL (extinct) lost to MOREHOUSE. (La. Acts 1858, 4th Leg., 1st sess., p. 211)

CARROLL (extinct) boundary with MOREHOUSE defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 185)

CARROLL (extinct) lost to creation of RICHLAND. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 151)

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)

CATAHOULA gained from OUACHITA and RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp.138-140)

CATAHOULA lost to AVOYELLES. (La. Act. 1818, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 10)

CATAHOULA exchanged with OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1830, 9th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 36)

CATAHOULA lost to OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1833, 11th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 122)

CATAHOULA gained from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1835, 12th Leg., 1st sess., p. 160)

CATAHOULA lost to creation of CALDWELL. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 38-41)

CATAHOULA lost to OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 10-11)

CATAHOULA gained from AVOYELLES. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 106-108)

CATAHOULA lost to creation of FRANKLIN. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-24)

CATAHOULA gained from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., p. 68)

CATAHOULA lost to creation of WINN, and lost very small areas along the Dugdemona River to RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 67-69)

CATAHOULA lost to FRANKLIN. Act became law by limitation, without signature, objection, or approval by the Governor. (La. Acts 1878, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 64-65)

Legislature authorized CATAHOULA to lose to CALDWELL. 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)

CATAHOULA lost to creation of LA SALLE. 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)

LA SALLE was to be fully organized and detached from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1908, reg. sess., pp. 245-250)

CLAIBORNE created from NATCHITOCHES and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 70-76)

CLAIBORNE exchanged with OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 10-11)

CLAIBORNE lost to creation of BOSSIER. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 17-19)

CLAIBORNE lost to creation of JACKSON. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 16-19)

CLAIBORNE lost to JACKSON. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 159-160)

CLAIBORNE lost to creation of BIENVILLE. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 118-121)

CALIBORNE lost to UNION. (La. Acts 1867, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 201)

CLAIBORNE lost to creation of WEBSTER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 59-68)

CLAIBORNE lost to creation of LINCOLN. (La. Acts 1873, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 67-70)

Concordia County created by Orleans Territory 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. 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)

Civil Parish of CONCORDIA created within Concordia County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Concordia County gained from Ouachita County. (Orleans Terr. Acts. 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 22/p. 54)

Concordia County gained from Ouachita County. Civil Parish of WARREN (extinct) created within Concordia County. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 10/pp. 34-40)

Concordia County lost to Ouachita County when part of the Parish of WARREN (extinct) was annexed to Ouachita. (La. Acts 1814, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., p. 32-34)

Concordia County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

CONCORDIA Parish created within Concordia County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

CONCORDIA gained from OUACHITA. (Orleans Terr. Acts. 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 22/p. 54)

CONCORDIA lost to creation of WARREN (extinct). (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 10/pp. 34-40)

CONCORDIA gained from WARREN (extinct). (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p.140)

CONCORDIA gained the portion of WARREN (extinct) lying south of the upper line of John Milliken's plantation; WARREN eliminated. (La. Acts 1814, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., p. 32-34)

CONCORDIA lost to creation of CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 100-106)

CONCORDIA lost to creation of MADISON. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 13-14)

CONCORDIA lost to creation of TENSAS. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 35-38)

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)

Non-parish area of Couba Island became part of JEFFERSON. (La. Rpts. 206, pp. 616-642; Swanson, 47-48; U.S.G.S. Louisiana 7.5 Minute Series, 1944, 1952)

DESOTO created from CADDO, NATCHITOCHES and SABINE. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 52-54)

DESOTO gained from CADDO. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 77-78)

DESOTO lost to creation of RED RIVER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)

Uncertainty over the relative locations of Grand Isle and the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula, and the course of the water boundaries surrounding them, resulted in disputed area. Cheniere Caminada and Grand Isle claimed by both LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) and ORLEANS. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 68; La. Acts 1830, 9th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 64)

Disputed Area between JEFFERSON and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) reduced to just the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula when JEFFERSON gained official jurisdiction over Grand Isle. (La. Acts 1830, 9th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 64; La. Rpts. 206, pp. 616-642)

Disputed Area between JEFFERSON and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) technically ended when the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula was officially annexed to JEFFERSON, however, the competing claims to area 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)

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)

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)

EAST BATON ROUGE Parish created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana County. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr., Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./pp. 210, 212 ;HRS, 23)

EAST BATON ROUGE lost to FELICIANA (extinct) (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)

Surveyor appointed to run the boundary line between EAST BATON ROUGE and FELICIANA [not mapped]. (La. Acts 1815, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 50-54)

EAST BATON ROUGE gained from EAST FELICIANA. (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 78-80)

EAST 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)

EAST CARROLL gained from WEST CARROLL. (La. Acts 1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 219-220)

EAST FELICIANA created from FELICIANA (extinct); FELICIANA eliminated. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 26-34)

EAST FELICIANA lost to EAST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 78-80)

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)

EVANGELINE created from ST. LANDRY. EVANGELINE not fully organized until 1 January 1911. (La. Acts 1910, reg. sess., pp. 23-28)

EVANGELINE fully organized. (La. Acts 1910, reg. sess., p. 25)

FELICIANA Parish (extinct) created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana County. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr., Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./pp. 210, 212; HRS, 23)

FELICIANA (extinct) gained from EAST BATON ROUGE. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)

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)

FELICIANA (extinct) lost to creation of EAST FELICIANA and WEST FELICIANA; FELICIANA eliminated. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 26-34)

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. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 210; HRS, 23)

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)

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)

PASCAGOULA Parish (extinct) boundary extended to the eastern limit of Feliciana County (Perdido River, present Alabama). No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 216)

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)

Feliciana County lost to Mississippi Territory when the United States created the state of Louisiana, with modern boundaries, from Orleans Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 50 [1812]/pp. 701-704; Van Zandt, 107)

Feliciana County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

FRANKLIN created from CATAHOULA, MADISON and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-24)

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)

FRANKLIN lost to OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., p. 8)

FRANKLIN lost to creation of RICHLAND. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 151)

FRANKLIN gained from TENSAS. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., extra sess., pp. 189-190)

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)

German Coast County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the parishes of Saint Charles and Saint John the Baptist, commonly called the first and second German coasts. The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parishes of ST. CHARLES and ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST created within German Coast County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

German Coast County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

GRANT created from RAPIDES and WINN. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 79-80)

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)

IBERIA created from ST. MARTIN and ST. MARY. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 272-273)

IBERIA boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

Iberville County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the Parish of St. Gabriel and such part of St. Bernard as lies within the Territory of Orleans." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parish of IBERVILLE created within Iberville County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Iberville County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

IBERVILLE Parish created within Iberville County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

Surveyor appointed to run the boundary line between IBERVILLE and ASCENSION and to determine the limits of said parishes. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 140; HRS, 39)

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)

IBERVILLE gained from WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 178-180)

IBERVILLE / WEST BATON ROUGE line defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 92)

IBERVILLE gained from POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts 1835, 12th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-23)

IBERVILLE lost to ASCENSION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 7)

IBERVILLE exchanged with ST. MARTIN. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 95-96)

[by 1850] IBERVILLE gained from ASCENSION. (Thorndale & Dollarhide, p. 137)

IBERVILLE lost to POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts 1859, 4th Leg. 2nd sess., pp. 16-17)

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)

IBERVILLE lost to POINTE COUPEE 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)

JACKSON created from CLAIBORNE, OUACHITA and UNION. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 16-19)

JACKSON gained from CLAIBORNE and OUACHITA, exchanged with UNION. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 159-160)

JACKSON lost to creation of LINCOLN. (La. Acts 1873, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 67-70)

JACKSON gained from LINCOLN. (La. Acts 1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess., p.31)

Legislature authorized JACKSON to lose to LINCOLN. 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)

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)

JEFFERSON DAVIS created from CALCASIEU. (La. Acts 1912, reg. sess., pp. 10-13)

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)

JEFFERSON gained officially gained jurisdiction of the disputed Grand Isle from LA FOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE). (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., p. 156; La. Rpts. 206, pp. 616-642)

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)

Jurisdiction over part 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)

JEFFERSON lost small area to ORLEANS 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)

JEFFERSON boundary with ORLEANS redefined [no change]. (La. Acts 1850, 3rd. Leg., pp. 243-244)

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, 47-48, 100-101)

JEFFERSON lost to ORLEANS when the cities of New Orleans and Jefferson were consolidated. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., extra sess., pp. 30-49)

JEFFERSON lost to ORLEANS when the city of Carrollton was annexed to the City of New Orleans. (La. Acts 1874, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 119-122)

JEFFERSON gained Couba Island, and 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)

JEFFERSON boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

JEFFERSON lost Couba Island and parts of Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador to ST. CHARLES. (U.S.G.S. Louisiana 7.5 Minute Series, 1954, 1966)

JEFFERSON gained when boundaries through Lake Pontchartrain were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2054-2056)

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)

LA SALLE fully organized and detached from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1908, reg. sess., pp. 245-250)

LAFAYETTE created from ST. MARTIN. (La. Acts 1823, 6th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 6-10)

LAFAYETTE lost to creation of VERMILION. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 45-47)

LAFAYETTE exchanged with ACADIA. (La. Acts 1898, reg. sess., pp. 294-295)

Lafourche County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the parish of Assumption." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parishes of ASSUMPTION and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR created within Lafourche County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Lafourche County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR Parish created within Lafourche County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) lost to creation of TERREBONNE. (La. Acts 1822, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 74-76)

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)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) officially lost jurisdiction over the disputed Grand Isle to JEFFERSON. (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., p. 156)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) officially lost jurisdiction over the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula to JEFFERSON. Though this technically eliminated the dispute between JEFFERSON and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE), the competing claims to Cheniere Caminada 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)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) lost to ST. JAMES. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 134-135)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE) gained from TERREBONNE. (La. Acts 1850, 3rd Leg., p. 68)

LAFOURCHE INTERIOR renamed LAFOURCHE. (La. Acts 1853, 1st Leg., p. 42)

LAFOURCHE boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

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)

LINCOLN created from BIENVILLE, CLAIBORNE, JACKSON and UNION. (La. Acts 1873, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 67-70)

LINCOLN lost to JACKSON. (La. Acts 1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess., p.31)

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)

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)

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)

LIVINGSTON gained from ASCENSION. (La. Acts 1850, 3rd Leg., p. 67)

LIVINGSTON lost to creation of TANGIPAHOA. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 83-86)

LIVINGSTON gained when boundaries through Lake Maurepas were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2049-2050)

MADISON created from CONCORDIA and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 13-14)

MADISON gained from CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., p. 82)

MADISON lost to creation of FRANKLIN. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-24)

MADISON lost to creation of TENSAS. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 35-38)

MADISON gained from CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 151-152)

MADISON lost to CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 74-75)

MADISON lost to TENSAS. (La. Acts 1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 161-162)

MOREHOUSE created from CARROLL (extinct) and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 77-79)

MOREHOUSE gained from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 91)

MOREHOUSE gained from CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts 1858, 4th Leg., 1st sess., p. 211)

MOREHOUSE boundary with CARROLL (extinct) defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 185)

MOREHOUSE lost to creation of RICHLAND. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 151)

Natchitoches County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the parish of Saint Francis." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. As a result, county boundary lines can only be estimated. After creation of civil parish system in 1807, 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)

Civil Parish of NATCHITOCHES created within Natchitoches County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Boundary between Natchitoches County and Rapides County defined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 16/p. 40)

Natchitoches County lost to Spain when the United States created the state of Louisiana, with modern boundaries, from Orleans Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 50 [1812]/pp. 701-704; Van Zandt, 107)

Natchitoches County boundaries defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1812, 1st Leg., 1st sess., ch. 12/p. 48)

Natchitoches County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

NATCHITOCHES Parish created within Natchitoches County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

NATCHITOCHES boundary with RAPIDES defined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 16/p. 40)

NATCHITOCHES lost to Spain when State of Louisiana created from Orleans Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 50 [1812]/pp. 701-704; Van Zandt, 107)

NATCHITOCHES redefined [no change]. (La. Acts 1812, 1st Leg., 1st sess., ch. 12/p. 48)

NATCHITOCHES exchanged with OUACHITA when eastern boundary of NATCHITOCHES was defined for the first time. (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., p. 30)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of CLAIBORNE, and lost very small area along Dugdemona River to OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 70-76)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of CADDO. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 11-13)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of SABINE. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 26-28)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of DESOTO, and lost very small area along the Red River to CADDO. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 52-54)

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)

NATCHITOCHES exchanged with RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 96-97)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of WINN. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 67-69)

NATCHITOCHES lost to RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 83-84)

NATCHITOCHES lost to SABINE. (La. Acts 1854, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., p. 141)

NATCHITOCHES gained from BIENVILLE. (La. Acts 1857, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p.47)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of RED RIVER. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)

NATCHITOCHES lost to creation of VERNON. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 175-176)

NATCHITOCHES exchanged with RAPIDES. (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)

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)

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)

Territory within Feliciana County did not initially contain any internal parish divisions. Known as West Florida entire area was under dispute, claimed by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase, but actually controlled by Spain. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 210; HRS, 23)

Non-parish area within Feliciana County lost to creation of EAST BATON ROUGE Parish, FELICIANA Parish, ST. HELENA Parish, and ST. TAMMANY Parish. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr., Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./pp. 210, 212; HRS, 23)

Non-parish area within Feliciana County lost to creation of BELOXY Parish (extinct), and PASCAGOULA Parish (extinct). (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 214; HRS, 23)

Non-parish area within Feliciana County eliminated when PASCAGOULA (extinct) extended to the eastern limit of Feliciana County (Perdido River, present Alabama). (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 216)

Opelousas County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the parish of St. Landry." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parish of ST. LANDRY created within Opelousas County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Part 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)

Boundary between Opelousas County and Attakapas County defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1816, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., p. 66-68)

Opelousas County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

Orleans County created by Orleans Territory 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." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parishes of ORLEANS, PLAQUEMINES and ST. BERNARD created within Orleans County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Orleans County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

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)

ORLEANS Parish created within Orleans County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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 or 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. 10; Calhoun, 85-93)

Part 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)

Part 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)

ORLEANS lost small area to ST. BERNARD 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)

ORLEANS technically lost Grand Isle to LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE), and implicitly lost jurisdiction over the Cheniere Caminada Peninsula when LAFOURCHE INTERIOR boundary defined. Uncertainty over the relative locations of Grand Isle and Cheniere Caminada resulted in dispute when both ORLEANS and LAFOURCHE INTERIOR claimed control over the area. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 68; La. Acts 1830, 9th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 64)

ORLEANS lost to creation of JEFFERSON; loss included the disputed area of Cheniere Caminada and Grand Isle. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 108-112)

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)

ORLEANS boundary with JEFFERSON redefined [no change]. (La. Acts 1850, 3rd. Leg., pp. 243-244)

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)

ORLEANS gained from JEFFERSON when the cities of New Orleans and Jefferson were consolidated. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., extra sess., pp. 30-49)

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)

ORLEANS gained when boundaries through Lake Pontchartrain were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2043-2044)

Ouachita County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend all that country commonly called and known by the name of the Ouachita settlements." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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 (like Ouachita) the general limits 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)

Civil Parish of OUACHITA created within Ouachita County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Ouachita County lost to Concordia County. (Orleans Terr. Acts. 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 22/p. 54)

Ouachita County lost to Concordia County. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 10/pp. 34-40)

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)

Ouachita County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

OUACHITA Parish created within Ouachita County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

OUACHITA lost to CONCORDIA. (Orleans Terr. Acts. 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 22/p. 54)

OUACHITA lost to creation of WARREN (extinct). (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 10/pp. 34-40)

OUACHITA lost to CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp.138-140)

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 exchanged with NATCHITOCHES when the eastern boundary of NATCHITOCHES was defined for the first time. (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., p. 30)

OUACHITA lost to creation of CLAIBORNE, and gained very small area along Dugdemona River from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 70-76)

OUACHITA exchanged with CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1830, 9th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 36)

OUACHITA lost to creation of CARROLL (extinct). (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 100-106)

OUACHITA gained from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1833, 11th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 122)

OUACHITA lost to CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1835, 12th Leg., 1st sess., p. 160)

OUACHITA lost to creation of MADISON. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 13-14)

OUACHITA lost to creation of CALDWELL. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 38-41)

OUACHITA lost to creation of UNION. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-26)

OUACHITA gained from CATAHOULA; exchanged with CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 10-11)

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)

OUACHITA lost to creation of FRANKLIN. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-24)

OUACHITA lost to creation of MOREHOUSE. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 77-79)

OUACHITA lost to creation of JACKSON; OUACHITA divided into two parts as a result. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 16-19)

OUACHITA lost to CATAHOULA; OUACHITA remained divided into two parts. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., p. 68)

OUACHITA gained from UNION; lost to JACKSON. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 159-160)

OUACHITA lost to MOREHOUSE. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 91)

OUACHITA gained from FRANKLIN. (La. Acts 1848, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., p. 8)

OUACHITA lost to creation of RICHLAND. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 151)

PASCAGOULA Parish (extinct) created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana County. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 214; HRS, 23)

PASCAGOULA (extinct) boundary extended to the eastern limit of Feliciana County (Perdido River, present Alabama). (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 216)

PASCAGOULA (extinct) redefined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)

PASCAGOULA (extinct) eliminated from Louisiana when the United States created the state of Louisiana, with modern boundaries, from Orleans Territory. The remnant of Orleans Territory (including 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)

PLAQUEMINES Parish created within Orleans County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

Part of the boundary between PLAQUEMINES, ORLEANS and ST. BERNARD defined [no mappable change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 30/p. 80)

Part of the boundary between PLAQUEMINES, ORLEANS and ST. BERNARD defined [no mappable change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 19/p. 72)

PLAQUEMINES / ST. BERNARD boundary defined. This is the first actual definition of this line [no change]. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 20-22)

PLAQUEMINES boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

Pointe Coupee County created by Orleans Territory to "comprehend the parish of Saint Francis." The parish or parishes referred to in this Act of 10 April 1805 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. 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)

Civil Parishes of BATON ROUGE and POINTE COUPEE created within Point Coupee County. No change to county boundary lines. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Pointe Coupee County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

POINTE COUPEE Parish created within Pointe Coupee County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

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., p. 4)

POINTE COUPEE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 82-86)

POINTE COUPEE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE, lost to IBERVILLE. (La. Acts 1835, 13th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-23)

POINTE COUPEE gained from WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 21-22)

POINTE COUPEE exchanged with WEST BATON ROUGE. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 143-144)

POINTE COUPEE gained from IBERVILLE. (La. Acts 1859, 4th Leg. 2nd sess., pp. 16-17)

POINTE COUPEE lost to IBERVILLE 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)

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)

Rapides County created by Orleans Territory 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." In cases where no ecclesiastical parish existed (like Rapides) the general limits 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)

Civil Parishes of AVOYELLES and RAPIDES created within Rapides County. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1807, 1st. Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 1, sec. 9/ p. 12; Calhoun, 85-93)

Boundary between Rapides County and Natchitoches County defined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 16/p. 40)

Part of the boundary between Rapides County and Opelousas County defined. No change to line as previously estimated. (La. Acts 1816, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 18; HRS, 31)

Rapides County eliminated when the new constitution shifted all previous county functions to the control of the civil parishes. (Goins and Caldwell, 41; Swindler, 94-108)

RAPIDES Parish created within Rapides County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

RAPIDES lost to creation of CATAHOULA. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1808, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., ch. 10/p. 30)

RAPIDES boundary with NATCHITOCHES defined [no change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 16/p. 40)

RAPIDES lost to CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp.138-140)

RAPIDES exchanged with AVOYELLES. (La. Act. 1818, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 10)

RAPIDES authorized to gained from NATCHITOCHES. 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)

RAPIDES exchanged with NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 96-97)

RAPIDES exchanged with AVOYELLES. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 113)

RAPIDES lost to creation of WINN; gained very small areas along the Dugdemona River from CATAHOULA. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 67-69)

RAPIDES gained from CALCASIEU and NATCHITOCHES, exchanged with ST. LANDRY. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 83-84, 87-88)

RAPIDES lost to creation of GRANT. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 79-80)

RAPIDES lost to creation of VERNON. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 175-176)

RAPIDES exchanged with NATCHITOCHES and VERNON, lost to CALCASIEU. (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)

Legislature authorized creation of RED RIVER (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)

Legislature authorized creation of RED RIVER (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)

RED RIVER created from BIENVILLE, BOSSIER, CADDO, DESOTO and NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 86-88)

RED RIVER boundaries clarified [no change]. (La. Acts 1872, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 147)

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)

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)

RICHLAND created from CARROLL (extinct), FRANKLIN, MOREHOUSE and OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., p. 151)

SABINE created from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 26-28)

SABINE gained from CADDO; lost to creation of DESOTO. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 52-54)

SABINE gained from NATCHITOCHES. (La. Acts 1854, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., p. 141)

SABINE lost to creation of VERNON. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 175-176)

ST. BERNARD Parish created within Orleans County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

Part of the boundary between ST. BERNARD, ORLEANS and PLAQUEMINES defined [no mappable change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1809, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 30/p. 80)

Part of the boundary between ST. BERNARD, ORLEANS and PLAQUEMINES defined [no mappable change]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 19/p. 72)

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)

ST. BERNARD / PLAQUEMINES boundary defined. This was the first actual definition of this line [no change]. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 20-22)

ST. BERNARD boundary through New Orleans defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1875, 4th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 54-55)

ST. BERNARD boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

ST. CHARLES Parish created within German Coast County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

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)

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)

ST. CHARLES gained when boundaries through Lake Pontchartrain were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2053-2054)

ST. HELENA Parish created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana County. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr., Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./pp. 210, 212; HRS, 23)

ST. HELENA gained from ST. TAMMANY. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)

ST. HELENA lost to creation of LIVINGSTON. (La. Acts 1832, 10th Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 130-132)

ST. HELENA lost to creation of TANGIPAHOA. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 83-86)

ST. JAMES Parish created within Acadia County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

ST. JAMES lost to ASCENSION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 1st sess., p. 7)

ST. JAMES exchanged with ASSUMPTION. (La. Acts 1841, 15th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 514)

ST. JAMES gained from LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE). (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 134-135)

ST. JAMES lost to ST. JOHN the BAPTIST. (U.S.G.S. 7.5 Minute Series [topographic], 1962, 1998, 2005)

ST. JOHN the BAPTIST Parish created within German Coast County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

ST. JOHN the BAPTIST gained from ASCENSION and ST. JAMES. (U.S.G.S. 7.5 Minute Series [topographic], 1962, 1998, 2005)

ST. JOHN the BAPTIST gained when boundaries through Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2050-2053)

ST. LANDRY Parish created within Opelousas County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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. 14; Calhoun, 85-93)

ST. LANDRY exchanged with AVOYELLES. (La. Act. 1818, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 10)

ST. LANDRY lost to creation of CALCASIEU. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 72-75)

ST. LANDRY exchanged with RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 87-88)

ST. LANDRY lost to creation of ACADIA. (La. Acts 1886, reg. sess., pp. 48-52)

ST. LANDRY lost to creation of EVANGELINE. (La. Acts 1910, reg. sess., pp. 23-28)

ST. MARTIN Parish created within Attakapas County from ATTAKAPAS Parish (extinct), which was eliminated. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 24/pp. 104-106)

ST. MARTIN lost to ST. MARY. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 134)

ST. MARTIN lost to creation of LAFAYETTE. (La. Acts 1823, 6th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 6-10)

ST. MARTIN exchanged with IBERVILLE. (La. Acts 1847, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 95-96)

ST. MARTIN lost to creation of IBERIA. The IBERIA creation cut through ST. MARTIN, resulting in the two-part configuration of the modern parish. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 272-273)

ST. MARY Parish created within Attakapas County from ATTAKAPAS Parish (extinct), which was eliminated. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 24/pp. 104-106)

ST. MARY gained from ST. MARTIN. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 134)

ST. MARY boundary with ASSUMPTION redefined [no mappable change]. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 1st sess., p. 22-23)

ST. MARY lost to creation of IBERIA. (La. Acts 1868, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 272-273)

ST. MARY boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

ST. TAMMANY Parish created by proclamation of the Territorial Governor from non-parish area within Feliciana County. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr., Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./pp. 210, 212; HRS, 23)

ST. TAMMANY lost to ST. HELENA. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 28/pp. 120-124)

ST. TAMMANY lost to creation of WASHINGTON. (La. Acts 1819, 4th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 80-82)

Part of the boundary between ST. TAMMANY and WASHINGTON defined [change too small to map]. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 38-40)

ST. TAMMANY lost to creation of TANGIPAHOA. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 83-86)

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)

ST. TAMMANY gained when boundaries through Lake Pontchartrain were defined. (La. Acts 1979, vol. 2, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2044-2046)

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)

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)

The portion of present Louisiana east of the Mississippi River was claimed by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase, but was under the actual control of Spain. (Parry, 48:481, 487, 491-492; Van Zandt, 12)

[Sept. - Dec.] 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. (Goins and Caldwell, 32)

Feliciana County created by proclamation of the Governor of Orleans Territory from the area also claimed by Spanish West Florida. Territory within Feliciana County did not initially contain any internal parish divisions [non-parish area]. (Gov. Proc. in Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess./p. 210; HRS, 23)

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)

TANGIPAHOA created from LIVINGSTON, ST. HELENA, ST. TAMMANY and WASHINGTON. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 83-86)

TANGIPAHOA gained when boundaries through Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain defined. (La. Acts 1979, reg. sess., pp. 2042, 2046-2049)

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)

TENSAS created from CONCORDIA and MADISON. (La. Acts 1843, 16th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 35-38)

TENSAS gained from MADISON. (La. Acts 1861, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 161-162)

TENSAS lost to FRANKLIN. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., extra sess., pp. 189-190)

TERREBONNE created from LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE). (La. Acts 1822, 5th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 74-76)

TERREBONNE lost to LAFOURCHE INTERIOR (now LAFOURCHE). (La. Acts 1850, 3rd Leg., p. 68)

TERREBONNE boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

TERREBONNE boundary with LAFOURCHE, 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)

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.)

UNION created from OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1839, 14th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-26)

UNION lost to creation of JACKSON. (La. Acts 1845, 17th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 16-19)

UNION exchanged with JACKSON; lost to OUACHITA. (La. Acts 1846, 1st Leg., 1st sess., pp. 159-160)

UNION gained from CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1867, 2nd Leg., 2nd sess., p. 201)

UNION lost to creation of LINCOLN. (La. Acts 1873, 3rd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 67-70)

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)

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)

VERMILION created from LAFAYETTE. (La. Acts 1844, 16th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 45-47)

VERMILION lost to creation of CAMERON. (La. Acts 1870, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., pp. 168-169)

VERMILION boundary extended three marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico making the parish boundary 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)

VERNON created from NATCHITOCHES, RAPIDES and SABINE. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 175-176)

VERNON exchanged with RAPIDES. (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)

WARREN (extinct) created within Concordia County from CONCORDIA. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 3rd Leg., 2nd sess., ch. 10/pp. 34-40)

WARREN (extinct) lost to CONCORDIA. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p.140)

WARREN (extinct) lost all territory to CONCORDIA and OUACHITA; WARREN eliminated. (La. Acts 1814, 1st Leg., 3rd sess., p. 32-34)

WASHINGTON created from ST. TAMMANY. (La. Acts 1819, 4th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 80-82)

Part of the boundary between WASHINGTON and ST. TAMMANY defined [change too small to map]. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 38-40)

WASHINGTON lost to creation of TANGIPAHOA. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 83-86)

WASHINGTON boundary with ST. TAMMANY 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)

WEBSTER created from BIENVILLE, BOSSIER and CLAIBORNE. (La. Acts 1871, 2nd Leg., 1st sess., pp. 59-68)

BATON ROUGE (now WEST BATON ROUGE) Parish created within Pointe Coupee County. The nineteen parishes created on 14 April 1807 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)

[by Dec] BATON ROUGE renamed WEST BATON ROUGE though no formal change of name was declared by the Louisiana legislature. WEST BATON ROUGE lost small area (approx. 40 acres) to POINTE COUPEE [exact location uncertain, not mapped]. (La. Acts 1812-1813, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., p. 4)

WEST BATON ROUGE exchanged with POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts 1825, 7th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 82-86)

WEST BATON ROUGE exchanged with IBERVILLE 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)

WEST BATON ROUGE lost to IBERVILLE. (La. Acts 1827, 8th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 178-180)

WEST BATON ROUGE / IBERVILLE line defined [no change]. (La. Acts 1828, 8th Leg., 2nd sess., p. 92)

WEST BATON ROUGE exchanged with POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts 1835, 13th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 22-23)

WEST BATON ROUGE lost to POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts 1837, 13th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 21-22)

WEST BATON ROUGE exchanged with POINTE COUPEE. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 143-144)

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)

WEST CARROLL lost to EAST CARROLL. (La. Acts 1877, 5th Leg., 1st sess., pp. 219-220)

WEST FELICIANA created from FELICIANA (extinct); FELICIANA eliminated. (La. Acts 1824, 6th Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 26-34)

WINN created from CATAHOULA, NATCHITOCHES and RAPIDES. (La. Acts 1852, 4th Leg., pp. 67-69)

WINN lost to creation of GRANT. (La. Acts 1869, 1st Leg., 2nd sess., pp. 79-80)

Louisiana: Individual County Chronologies