National Register Listings in
East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

1903 Clinton High School 1938 Clinton High School Asphodel Plantation and Cemetery Avondale Plantation Home Bank of Slaughter Boatner House Brame-Bennett House Carroll House Centenary College Center Building of East Louisiana State Hospital Clear Creek AME Church Courthouse and Lawyers' Row East Feliciana Parish Courthouse Fairview Plantation House Heyman-Stewart House Holly Grove Hope Terrace Jackson Historic District Lane Plantation House Linwood Marston House Oakland Plantation House Port Hudson Richland Plantation Shades, The Silliman Institute St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Taylor House Thompson House Wall House Wildwood Plantation House Woodside
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Historic Photos of Louisiana Hardcover – February 1, 2010
Historic Photos of Louisiana

The Mississippi River carries the mud of thirty states and two provinces 500 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico, but the Gulf is too shallow and has too heavy a current to clear itself of sediment that is dropped into it. As a consequence, the Mississippi delta is extending out into the Gulf 300 feet a year.
Will Durant in The Story of Civilization, Part XI: The Age of Napoleon
East Feliciana Parish is located in the state of Louisiana and was established in 1824. The area that is now East Feliciana Parish was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Houma, Bayou Goula, and Choctaw. The first European explorers arrived in the 18th century, with French, Spanish, and English colonizers all laying claim to the land at various times.

The parish takes its name from Felicite de Gálvez, the wife of Spanish colonial Governor Bernardo de Gálvez. The Spanish influence on the region can still be seen today in the architecture and cultural traditions of East Feliciana Parish. In the early 19th century, the area experienced an influx of settlers, mostly from other parts of the United States, attracted by the fertile soil and favorable climate for agriculture.

During the American Civil War, East Feliciana Parish was the site of several significant battles and military actions. The town of Clinton, the parish seat, was occupied by Union forces for much of the war, while the Confederate Army made strategic use of the area to control access to the Mississippi River. Many historic homes and buildings in the parish still bear the scars of this turbulent period in history.

Today, East Feliciana Parish preserves its rich heritage through a variety of cultural and historical attractions. Visitors can explore the numerous antebellum homes, visit the East Feliciana Historical Society Museum, or attend local festivals and events that showcase the traditions and customs of the area. The parish continues to be primarily rural, with agriculture playing a significant role in the local economy.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.

  • 1805 - East Feliciana Parish is established on December 17.
  • 1818 - The Town of Clinton is incorporated on February 19.
  • 1865 - The Civil War ends, and East Feliciana Parish begins to rebuild from the destruction.
  • 1871 - The East Louisiana State Hospital opens in Jackson.
  • 1886 - The East Feliciana Railroad is completed, connecting Clinton and Jackson.
  • 1935 - The Dual-State River Toll Bridge is built, connecting East Feliciana Parish with Wilkinson County, Mississippi.
  • 1984 - The East Feliciana Parish Courthouse, originally built in 1890, is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2008 - Hurricane Gustav causes significant damage to the parish.
  • 2019 - East Feliciana Parish celebrates its bicentennial.