Campti, Louisiana

Tradition maintains that the name "Campti" was derived from the name of a Natchitoches Indian chief, known as "Le Roi Campti" (The King Campti).[4] Church records in Natchitoches show that a French missionary, Père Valentin, visited the community of Campti around 1745; this was the first written record of Campti during the period of French Louisiana.

The parish was developed for large cotton plantations, and a majority of the population were enslaved African Americans in the antebellum years. But by the time of the Civil War, a number of free people of color also lived in Campti and the area. They were known to be related to several of the old white families, who acknowledged them, and they were generally well accepted. According to one authority on this area, they lived nearly as white. At least nine men of color, and likely more, enlisted in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and "easily entered a predominately white military company."[5]

Campti is located at 31°53′44″N 93°6′50″W (31.895511, -93.113966).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), all land.

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,057 people, 385 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,080.2 people per square mile (416.4/km²). There were 462 housing units at an average density of 472.1 per square mile (182.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 24.88% White, 74.46% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.28% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 385 households out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.4% were married couples living together, 35.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town, the population was spread out with 38.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $14,844, and the median income for a family was $15,781. Males had a median income of $25,750 versus $14,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $7,219. About 47.3% of families and 45.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.9% of those under age 18 and 33.0% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Campti had the eighth-lowest median household income of all places in the United States with a population over 1,000.[9]

Natchitoches Parish School Board operates public schools, including Fairview Alpha Elementary School and Lakeview Junior-Senior High School.[10]

Natchitoches Parish Library operates the Northeast Branch in Campti.[11]

• Maxine Brown Russell, Campti-born Country Music Hall of Fame inductee with her siblings, Jim Ed and Bonnie, performed as The Browns.[12]