Ouachita Parish bears the name of the river on which Spanish explorers traveled north to establish the settlement of Fort Miro. The city would be later renamed Monroe after the first steamboat to travel upriver to open the city to more commerce. Today the City of Monroe and neighboring City of West Monroe continue to rely on the Ouachita River for commerce and recreation.
Ouachita Parish Represents the Economic Hub for Northeast Louisiana
Ranked # 4 nationally in economic development by Site Selection magazine (2011), Ouachita Parish acts as a population center and economic hub for northeast Louisiana. Recently, Ouachita Parish has seen a flurry of locations and expansions. CenturyLink, the third largest telecommunications company in the U.S., expanded its national headquarters in Ouachita Parish. The Fortune 150 company will add another 800 new jobs, increasing the total number of new jobs created at its Louisiana headquarters to nearly 1,200.
JP Morgan Chase, Gardner Denver Thomas and other companies have all announced expansions in Monroe, the parish seat for Ouachita Parish- a testament to the competitive advantages businesses will find here. Ouachita offers a diverse and thriving economy with:
-
a multimodal transportation system of interstate, Class 1 rail, air, and port service
-
a civilian labor force of 69,015 (August 2019)
-
five nearby universities, colleges and vocational schools
-
an estimated 2019 population of 155,624 residents, earning a median household income of $39.627.
-
unemployment rate of 5.4% (August 2019)
-
a stable and thriving housing market
-
numerous industrial parks and certified sites
Ouachtia Parish Communities
Ouachita Parish Demographics
Ouachita Parish Workplace Statistics
Ouachita Parish Transportation Infrastructure
Ouachita Parish Major Employers
Tax Structure: Cost of Business

• Monroe - Parish Seat |
• Brownsville-Bawcomville |
• Richwood |
• Claiborne |
• Sterlington |
• Swartz |
• West Monroe |
• Calhoun |
Demographics |
|
2010 Census |
2019 Estimate |
2024 Estimate |
Population |
153,720 |
155,624 |
157,120 |
Households |
58,691 |
60,151 |
61,007 |
Median Age (2019) |
35.6 |
5-Year Population Growth Projection (2024) |
0.96% |
Race (2019 Estimate) |
White |
58.77% |
African American |
37.64% |
American Indian or Alaska Native |
0.29% |
Asian |
0.93% |
Other |
2.74% |
Income (2019 Estimate) |
Median Household Income |
$39,627 |
Average Household Income |
$59,122 |
Educational Attainment (2019 Estimate) |
Some High School, No Diploma |
12.07% |
High School Graduate |
35.70% |
Some College or Associate Degree |
26.27% |
Bachelor's Degree |
14.45% |
Master's, Professional or Doctorate |
8.19%
|
Average Weekly Wage (Q1 2019) |
Average Weekly Wage |
$800 |
Source: Nielsen Segementation & Market Solutions, Pop-Fact Demographics 2019; Louisiana Workforce Commission
Major Interstates |
Interstate 20 |
Major Highways |
US 80, US 165, LA 2, LA 15, LA 34 |
Ports |
-
Red River Port - 111 miles
-
Port of Shreveport-Bossier - 113 miles
-
Port of Natchitoches - 89.6 miles
-
Greater Ouachita Port - 2.1 miles
|
Class 1 Railroads |
-
Arkansas & Louisiana Mississippi Railroad (ALM)
-
Kansas City Railroad (KCS)
-
Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
|
Airports |
-
Monroe Regional Airport - 5.9 miles
|
State Corporate Income Tax
|
-
4% on the first $25,000 of net income
-
5% on the next $25,000
-
6% on the next $50,000
-
7% on the next $100,000
-
8% on the excess of $200,000
-
Louisiana uses single sales factor
|
State Corporate Franchise Tax
|
-
$1.50 per $1,000 or major fraction thereof up to $300,000
-
$3.00 per $1,000 or major fraction thereof in excess of $300,000
-
The initial corporation franchise tax is $110
|
Unemployment Insurance Tax
|
-
The 2017 wage base is $7,700
-
Standard rate range is .10% - 6.2%
-
Rate for new employers is the average rate for the particular industry
-
Maximum unemployment weekly benefit is 1/2 of the claimant's previous wage earnings for 26 weeks
|
2018 Parishwide Millage (Property Tax) Rate
|
92.4 mills*
|
Total Sales Taxes in Unincorporated Ouachita Parish**
|
East Ouachita Parish - 10.44%
West Ouachita Parish - 10.44%
|
Total Sales Taxes in City of Monroe
|
Food and Drugs - 9.44%
All other sales - 10.44%
|
Total Sales Taxes in Town of Richwood
|
9.95%
|
Total Sales Taxes in Town of Sterlington
|
10.95%
|
Total Sales Taxes in City of West Monroe
|
City of West Monroe - 10.44%
West Monroe EDD - 11.44%
|
* To calculate property tax, multiply the assessed value of the property by the appropriate millage rate. The assessed value is the fair market value of the property times 10% for real property or 15% for personal property.
** Sales taxes include a 5% state tax along with a local portion