Hornbeck is a town in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Hornbeck had a population of 430. It is part of the Fort Johnson South Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
As early as the 1830s people settled in the area now known as Hornbeck, but a town didn't begin to form until 1897, when an agent for the Arkansas Town Site Company named F.A. Hornbeck purchased land along the Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS) for $8,640. Structures necessary for servicing locomotives were constructed as well as a brick kiln to supply bricks for construction.
In 1897, the first Post Office opened in the area with Walter Carey as the first postmaster and later that same year he was succeeded by D.B. Pate.
As of the census of 2000, there were 435 people, 181 households, and 121 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 227 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 94.02% White, 2.30% African American, 2.07% Native American, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 181 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,446, and the median income for a family was $33,036. Males had a median income of $27,750 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,237. About 13.2% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 29.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Founded in 1897 and incorporated in 1902, Hornbeck is the northernmost community in Vernon Parish. The first town government was appointed by Governor William Wright Heard in 1902 and consisted of a Mayor, 3 Aldermen and a Town Marshal. Today Hornbeck's government (mayor-council system) consists of a Mayor, four councilmen and one councilwoman and a Chief of Police.
Under the mayor-council government, the mayor serves as the executive officer of the town. As the town's chief administrator and official representative, the mayor is responsible for the general management of the town and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced via the Chief of Police.
Notable people
- Bryan A. Poston, a Hornbeck businessman, was a member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1964 to 1992. He succeeded his father, Charles M. Poston Sr., who held the same seat from 1960 to 1964. Both were Democrats.
- Frank A. Howard, a former Vernon Parish Sheriff, has been representing the 24th district in the Louisiana House of Representatives since his election in 2007.
- William H. West was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1978 to 1984.
Gallery
<gallery class="center" widths="180px">
File:FBC Hornbeck 001.JPG|Hornbeck First Baptist Church 2010
File:New Gym Hornbeck Louisiana High School.jpg|The HHS New Gym 2010
File:Hornbeck High School Auditorium, Hornbeck, Louisiana.jpg|The HHS Auditorium 2010
File:Hornbeck High School, Hornbeck, Louisiana.jpg|The Hornbeck High School 2010
File:Elementary school at Hornbeck High School.jpg|The HHS Elementary School 2010
File:Old Gym Hornbeck Louisiana High School.jpg|The HHS Old Gym 2010
</gallery>