Table of contents for this post
- Find yourself on the Lincoln Parish map
- A couple useful definitions
- Lincoln Parish Census Tract Info
- Census Tract 9601 – Dubach/Vienna/Mitcham Orchard area
- Census Tract 9602 – Simsboro area
- Census Tract 9603 – Grambling/RJHS area
- Census Tract 9604.01 – Tech area north of Railroad Ave and south of I-20 to Tarbutton Rd, RHS area, north of I-20 Glenview area to W Kentucky Ave
- Census Tract 9604.02 – North of I-20, East of Cooktown Rd, North of W. Kentucky
- Census Tract 9605 – Hillcrest area, North of I-20 between 146/167 and 33
- Census Tract 9606 – Ruston Elementary/LPECC area, North of Eastland and 146, S of 33 to Chandler/Hogan
- Census Tract 9607.01 – Choudrant Squire Creek and Hwy 80 area and Downsville
- Census Tract 9607.2 – Far northeast Ruston/Stow Creek area and north Choudrant
- Census Tract 9608 – S Vienna, West Side, I.A. Lewis/Headstart area, Tech Farm area, South of MLK/Chatham Hwy and W. Vaughn, 167 South
- Census Tract 9609 – South of Eastland Ave, E California area, North of W. Vaughn and Hwy 146
- Census Tract 9610 – Cypress Springs area, Tech campus south of Railroad Ave, South of town, Hwy 818, Harper Bottom, Rodeo Rd
- Tracts with the highest and lowest median incomes
- Same neighborhood, different numbers
- Okay, but why?
- No, I mean why is it like that?
- Okay, but what do we do with this?
- There’s more, isn’t there?
- Data sources
Find yourself on the Lincoln Parish map
Behold a map of Lincoln Parish census tracts. It comes with a comparison map where you can slide back and forth to see the tracts color coded. So, for instance, if you’re thinking, “Hey, I live near the theatre,” then congratulations, you’re a 9605-er which is the royal blue color.
If you have trouble seeing where you are and you need to zoom in closer, either of the images below links to a big picture of either map version you can zoom in on. You can also put your address in the search on this interactive map on the Census Bureau site and zoom out to see what tract it’s in (though the borders are harder to see).
Is this map just for fun “where am I?” games. Yes! But also it works really well paired with the census tract fun facts to follow. I’ve tried to provide some general geographic descriptions in the headings to help explain where each tract is, but they’re not precise. Ready to learn some number things about Lincoln Parish – like what parts have the most kids or highest income or what the average age is in your neck of the woods? Let’s go!
A couple useful definitions
The U.S. Census Bureau uses a couple terms in its reports that can be confusing. So here’s what they mean:
Family: a household where two or more people are related by birth, marriage, or adoption
Lincoln Parish Census Tract Info
Census Tract 9601 – Dubach/Vienna/Mitcham Orchard area
- Total population: 3,690
- Average household size: 2.09 people
- Average family size: 2.85 people
- Median household income: $51,300
- Population under 18: 20.3%
- Population over 65: 24.2%
- Median age: 46.5 years
- Average life expectancy: 78.6 years
- Population with a disability: 16.2%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 2.82%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 80.24%
- Black or African American population: 12.98%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.16%
- Asian population: 0.3%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: .08%
- Population two or more races: 3.41%
Census Tract 9602 – Simsboro area
- Total population: 3,883
- Average household size: 2.51 people
- Average family size: 3.29 people
- Median household income: $39,496
- Population under 18: 18.7%
- Population over 65: 18.7%
- Median age: 39.9 years
- Average life expectancy: 79.7 years
- Population with a disability: 23.5%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 4.74%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 52.87%
- Black or African American population: 12.98%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.16%
- Asian population: 0.3%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: .08%
- Population two or more races: 3.41%
Census Tract 9603 – Grambling/RJHS area
- Total population: 5,574
- Average household size: 2.35 people
- Average family size: 3.42 people
- Median household income: $23,333
- Population under 18: 22.7%
- Population over 65: 14.2%
- Median age: 24.3 years
- Average life Expectancy: 80.3 years
- Population with a disability: 11.9%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 1.54%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 5.54%
- Black or African American population: 90.51%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.14%
- Asian population: 0.2%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: .13%
- Population two or more races: 1.94%
Census Tract 9604.01 – Tech area north of Railroad Ave and south of I-20 to Tarbutton Rd, RHS area, north of I-20 Glenview area to W Kentucky Ave
- Total population: 2,568
- Average household size: 2.96 people
- Average family size: 4.22 people
- Median household income: $24,148
- Population under 18: 8.6%
- Population over 65: 5%
- Median age: 21.3 years
- Average life expectancy: no data available
- Population with a disability: 14%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 4.32%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 57.55%
- Black or African American population: 29.63%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.23%
- Asian population: 4.4%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0.16%
- Population some other race: 0.12%
- Population two or more races: 3.58%
Census Tract 9604.02 – North of I-20, East of Cooktown Rd, North of W. Kentucky
- Total population: 2,467
- Average household size: 2.35 people
- Average family size: 2.59 people
- Median household income: $42,569
- Population under 18: 14.5%
- Population over 65: 15.3%
- Median age: 24.9 years
- Average life expectancy: no data available
- Population with a disability: 11.5%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 4.01%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 72.96%
- Black or African American population: 17.02%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.2%
- Asian population: 3.61%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: 0.2%
- Population two or more races: 1.99%
Census Tract 9605 – Hillcrest area, North of I-20 between 146/167 and 33
- Total population: 4,815
- Average household size: 2.41 people
- Average family size: 3.08 people
- Median household income: $65,368
- Population under 18: 17.7%
- Population over 65: 15.1%
- Median age: 33.6 years
- Average life expectancy: 81.7 years
- Population with a disability: 10.5%
- Hispanic/Latinx population: 5.79%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 69.33%
- Black or African American population: 18.28%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: .17%
- Asian population: 2.55%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: .06%
- Population two or more races: 3.82%
Census Tract 9606 – Ruston Elementary/LPECC area, North of Eastland and 146, S of 33 to Chandler/Hogan
- Total population: 4,815
- Average household size: 2.44 people
- Average family size: 3.11 people
- Median household income: $65,368
- Population under 18: 17.7%
- Population over 65: 15.1%
- Median age: 33.6 years
- Average life expectancy: 81.7
- Population with a disability: 13.1%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 1.78%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx
- white population: 58.41%
- Black or African American population: 31.94%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.22%
- Asian population: 1.61%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: 0.56%
- Population two or more races: 2.5%
Census Tract 9607.01 – Choudrant Squire Creek and Hwy 80 area and Downsville
- Total population: 3,677
- Average household size: 2.84 people
- Average family size: 3.64 people
- Median household income: $52,942
- Population under 18: 33%
- Population over 65: 21.3%
- Median age: 34.5 years
- Average life expectancy: 80.2 years* (data combined with tract 9607.2)
- Population with a disability: 18.9%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 3.32%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 85.72%
- Black or African American population: 6.66%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.16%
- Asian population: 0.41%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: .05%
- Population two or more races: 3.67%
Census Tract 9607.2 – Far northeast Ruston/Stow Creek area and north Choudrant
- Total population: 2,917
- Average household size: 2.73 people
- Average family size: 3.46 people
- Median household income: $96,167
- Population under 18: 26.3%
- Population over 65: 13.6%
- Median age: 42.3 years
- Average life expectancy: 80.2 years* (data combined with tract 9607.1)
- Population with a disability: 7.8%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 5.73%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 86.77%
- Black or African American population: 3.84%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.17%
- Asian population: 0.75%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: 0%
- Population two or more races: 2.74%
Census Tract 9608 – S Vienna, West Side, I.A. Lewis/Headstart area, Tech Farm area, South of MLK/Chatham Hwy and W. Vaughn, 167 South
- Total population: 3,902
- Average household size: 2.56 people
- Average family size: 3.21 people
- Median household income: $25,061
- Population under 18: 26.8%
- Population over 65: 12.9%
- Median age: 27.4 years
- Average life expectancy: 70.2
- Population with a disability: 15.2%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 2.2%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 22.5%
- Black or African American population: 70.27%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.18%
- Asian population: 0.92%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: 0.36%
- Population two or more races: 3.56%
Census Tract 9609 – South of Eastland Ave, E California area, North of W. Vaughn and Hwy 146
- Total population: 2,369
- Average household size: 2.43 people
- Average family size: 3.37 people
- Median household income: $18,020
- Population under 18: 16.8%
- Population over 65: 9.3%
- Median age: 24.8 years
- Average life expectancy: 72.5
- Population with a disability: 16.5%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 1.18%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 14.48%
- Black or African American population: 79.65%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.42%
- Asian population: 1.56%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0%
- Population some other race: 0.63%
- Population two or more races: 2.07%
Census Tract 9610 – Cypress Springs area, Tech campus south of Railroad Ave, South of town, Hwy 818, Harper Bottom, Rodeo Rd
- Total population: 7,490
- Average household size: 2.35 people
- Average family size: 2.76 people
- Median household income: $31,694
- Population under 18: 12.3%
- Population over 65: 4.4%
- Median age: 22.4 years
- Average life expectancy: 78.2 years
- Population with a disability: 11.4%
- Hispanic/Latinx population (any race): 3.3%
- Non-Hispanic/Latinx:
- white population: 51.84%
- Black or African American population: 39.92%
- American Indian and Alaska Native population: 0.63%
- Asian population: 1.8%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: .01%
- Population some other race: .2%
- Population two or more races: 2.3%
Tracts with the highest and lowest median incomes
A breathtaking gap in median income between census tract 9607.02 (far northeast Ruston/Stow Creek area & north Choudrant) and tract 9609 (South of Eastland, E California area, North of W. Vaughn and Hwy 146 stood out. The difference between them is more than $78,000 a year – or more than four times the average income in 9609. Other than the fact that 9609 lies wholly within the heart of Ruston while 9607.02 is far to the northeast of town and also includes the northern chunk of Choudrant, I wanted to look at a few other contrasts and comparisons of these two areas.
| Tract 9607.02: Far northeast Ruston/Stow Creek area, north Choudrant | Tract 9609: South of Eastland, E California area, North of W. Vaughn and Hwy 146 | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tract population (people) | 2,917 | 2,369 | -548 |
| Average household size (people) | 2.73 | 2.43 | -0.30 |
| Average family size (people) | 3.46 | 3.37 | -0.09 |
| Median Income | $96,167 | $18,020 | -$78,147 |
| Population 16+ civilian labor force unemployment | 0.70% | 6.8% | 6.1% |
| % Children | 26.3% | 16.8% | -9.5% |
| % 65+ | 13.60% | 9.30% | -4.30% |
| Median age | 42.3 | 24.8 | -17.5 |
| Life expectancy | 80.2* | 72.5 | -7.7* |
| % with a disability | 7.8% | 16.5% | 8.7% |
| % Hispanic or Latinx (any race) | 5.73% | 1.18% | -4.54% |
| % White alone | 86.77% | 14.48% | -72.29% |
| % Black or African American alone | 3.84% | 79.65% | 75.81% |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | 0.17% | 0.42% | 0.25% |
| Asian | 0.75% | 1.56% | 0.81% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Some other race | 0.00% | 0.63% | 0.63% |
| 2 or more races | 2.74% | 2.07% | -0.67% |
Though 9607.02 is a much larger area than 9609 geographically, they are fairly close in population with 9609 only having 548 fewer residents. Even though we are a rural parish, it tracks that the core of the parish seat is more densely populated than the outskirts. The northeast Ruston/Choudrant tract has slightly larger household and family sizes, but again, the two tracts are extremely similar here with about 2-3 people in each household and just over 3 people per family.
I hypothesized that the percentage of children (under 18) or older adults (65 and up) could possibly speak to the differences with higher percentages of children or older adults being found with lower incomes because children and older adults are disproportionately affected by poverty nationally. What I found, however, was that the more financially-strapped 9609 had lower percentages (and also lower numbers) of children and older adults than 9607.02! I was wrong there, but that’s part of exploration. On a similar train of thought, I considered disabled people are also disproportionately put at risk for poverty, so let’s check that out. Interesting finding there is that 9609 in the heart of Ruston has more than twice the disability rate of 9607.02. This also makes sense because resources – such as Independence Meadows assisted living, the Louisiana Center for the Blind, medical facilities, pharmacies, grocery stores, schools, retail, etc. – are more accessible at the Ruston core than further out. So there’s a possibly disability is a factor in the income disparity between the two areas.
The more financially-strapped 9609 had lower percentages (and also lower numbers) of children and older adults than 9607.02!
While child and older adult percentages were a no-go and disability rates offered a “hmm, maybe there’s something there,” those both tie into unemployment. These are groups less likely to be employed due to needs of developmental stages, restrictions, labor laws, ableism, or ageism. The civilian unemployment rate for people over age 16 in the labor force was a tiny 0.7% for the north Ruston/Choudrant tract and nearly 10 times that for the core 9609 tract. But remember that 9607.02 tract had higher percentages and numbers of children and older adults than 9609. And only about 17% of 9609 is disabled (according to the census), so that doesn’t explain the gulf between the incomes of these two tracts.
This next part is a bit of a cheat since I dug it up while doing community assessments for my specialist year internship: I knew 9609 had the lowest average life expectancy at birth in Lincoln Parish (based on 2010-2015 data from the National Center for Health Statistics). The average life span there is 72.5 years. The NCHS data combined 9607.02 with the other Choudrant tract (9607.01) and showed that 9607 had a life expectancy of 80.2 years. So we’re looking at a 7.7 year difference in how long people will live who live 10-15 minutes apart. This provides more questions, but we know from research that poverty and low-income are associated with shorter life expectancies. (That’s also a bit of a cheat from my policy analysis project, but work smart, right?)
When we talk about low-income and health disparities that can bring a lot of things and groups to mind. But the Census Bureau and NCHS only gather certain data at the tract level. One of those bits of info is ethnicity – are you Hispanic/Latinx or not. You can even break it down to how many people are of Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Bolivian, Colombian, etc. origin. Interesting stuff, but it would have been too granular of the purpose of this because only 4% of the parish population is Latinx – about 6% of 9607.02 and 1% of core tract 9609 or roughly 400 people total. So that doesn’t tell us much about the gap.
We’re looking at a 7.7 year difference in how long people will live who live 10-15 minutes apart.
Meanwhile 93.4% of all Lincoln Parish residents identified as (Non-Hispanic or Latino) white alone or Black alone on the 2020 Census. And here the data for north Ruston/Choudrant and core Ruston go in opposite directions. North Ruston/Choudrant (9607.02) is 87% non-Hispanic/Latinx white and 4% non-Hispanic/Latinx Black. The middle of Ruston tract (9609) is 80% non-Hispanic/Latinx Black and 14% non-Hispanic/Latinx white. The only larger gap in the parish is between north Ruston/Choudrant (9607.02) and the Grambling/Ruston Jr. High tract (9603) which is 91% non-Hispanic/Latinx Black and 6% non-Hispanic/Latinx white. (This tract mostly consists of Grambling which is home to an HBCU and has a yearly median income about $5,000 higher than 9609.) We only have 12 data points (tracts), but if we plot income and the two most populous races for the parish overall we can see a bit of a positive linear correlation (everyone scream, “CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION!”) peeking through in the scatter plot of median income vs. white alone race and a negative linear correlation in the median income vs. Black alone scatter plot
Same neighborhood, different numbers
While some tracts are doing better off financially, even within the same tract there are stark differences. The charts below illustrate how white incomes within a tract outpace Black incomes in the same place every time. (Some estimates could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations. Basically, some tracts had a whole of white people and statistically not enough Black people to get Black income numbers or a whole lot of Black people and statistically not enough white people to get white income numbers.)
Bar chart of white and Black median incomes in each parish tract
Table of white and Black Median incomes in each parish tract
| White median income | Black median income | |
|---|---|---|
| 9601 | $52,210 | $27,656 |
| 9602 | $50,219 | $29,388 |
| 9603 | – | $23,233 |
| 9604.01 | $27,404 | – |
| 9604.02 | $63,295 | $37,527 |
| 9605 | $69,500 | – |
| 9606 | $34,351 | $30,182 |
| 9607.01 | $54,335 | $29,531 |
| 9607.02 | $96,417 | – |
| 9608 | $52,572 | $23,477 |
| 9609 | – | $19,215 |
| 9610 | $44,569 | $24,451 |
Okay, but why?
It’s what I do. I find information, analyze it, and try to figure out how to use it for good. Plus, I had already gotten into this some on no less than three projects for my internship and classes in 2021 and this year. Economic hardship in Louisiana (and particularly north Louisiana and more specifically Lincoln Parish) have been big on my mind in recent years… all the years.
No, I mean why is it like that?
That is a question whose answer requires collecting qualitative data. It asks to go beyond the very useful exploration and analysis of numbers on the page into experiences, feelings, descriptions, stories.
Okay, but what do we do with this?
Hopefully, we get into the why. We have conversations, we share stories, we talk about what assets we have (gifts of the hands, head, and heart; natural, cultural, physical, etc.) and what has been tried or not, we connect and collaborate to prototype solutions, we implement them, evaluate, make adjustments, keep going. We try to figure out how to make sure everybody eats*.
There’s more, isn’t there?
Oh, yes. I have so much data. This talked about where the money is and isn’t. (I almost said something else, but I think it’s trademarked, word to Relly B.) You want to get into what money is needed and why? Or what are some of the community assets (individual, associational, institutional, land and environmental, exchange, cultural) we can leverage to make sure everybody eats*? Bet. That’s coming.
*”Everybody eats” here is a metaphor for everyone’s needs being met, everyone being whole, sustained, and thriving.
Data sources
U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Age and Sex.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Households and Families.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Median Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation Adjusted Dollars).
US. Census Bureau, 2020 Census – Census Tract Reference Map.
joi chadwick 
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