About the Parish

History & Establishment

Tensas Parish is in northeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River. It was officially established on March 17, 1843, carved from the northern portion of Concordia Parish. The parish later gained land from Madison Parish in 1861 and lost a small portion to Franklin Parish in 1870.
The parish takes its name from the Taensa (Tensas) Native American people, who inhabited the region when French explorers first arrived. Early accounts from the 1700s describe the Tensas as a prominent Indigenous group living west of the Mississippi River.

Geography & Demographics

Tensas Parish covers 641 square miles, with 603 square miles of land and 38 square miles of water. As of the 2020 census, the population is 4,147, making it the least populated parish in Louisiana. The parish is comprised of 3 towns: Waterproof, St. Joseph, and Newellton. St. Joseph is the parish seat.

The landscape is defined by fertile alluvial soils, oxbow lakes, hardwood forests, and abundant wildlife—features that have shaped both its agricultural identity and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agriculture is the backbone of Tensas Parish. Approximately 181,000 acres are dedicated to crop production, with major commodities including:

• Cotton
• Corn
• Soybeans
• Grain sorghum
• Rice

Hardwood forests cover the remaining acreage, supporting timber and wildlife habitats.

Tensas Parish is also home to innovative farming operations that collaborate with the LSU AgCenter on precision agriculture, remote sensing, and sustainable production practices. Local producers benefit from research-driven improvements in yield, input efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

The parish’s natural beauty and historic sites make it a destination for outdoor enthusiasts and heritage travelers. Key attractions include:

• Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge – Known for its diverse ecosystems, birdwatching, black bear habitat, and hiking opportunities.
• Buckhorn Wildlife Management Area – Offers hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
• Lake Bruin State Park – A popular spot for fishing, boating, and family recreation.
• Winter Quarters State Historic Site – A preserved plantation home used during the Civil War.
• Lake Bruin, Lake St. Joseph, and Yucatan Lake – 3 oxbow lakes located in Tensas parish that offer a variety of recreational activities including fishing, boating, and swimming.
• Tensas Parish Public Library & Museum - Built in 1858, the ground floor contains the Tensas Parish Library while the main floor is home to the Plantation Museum.
• Historic Downtown St. Joseph – Tensas Parish seat since parish created in 1843. Rare example, for Deep South, of town planned and constructed around New England style village green. Historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Features historic architecture and a revitalization of businesses, shops, galleries and restaurants.
• Ancient Mounds Trail - The State of Louisiana has placed markers at 39 Indian mound sites in northeast Louisiana that form the mound trail. Mounds of Tensas Parish include Mayflower, Sundown, Balmoral, Ghost Site, Shackleford, Flowery, and Mound Plantation.

The LSU AgCenter Tensas Parish Extension provides research-based programs and services that support:

• Agriculture & Natural Resources
• 4‑H Youth Development
• Nutrition & Community Health, including initiatives promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention.

The Extension office works closely with local producers, families, and community leaders to strengthen economic development, environmental stewardship, and quality of life throughout the parish.

Tensas Parish is also home to the Northeast Research Station. Northeast Louisiana's economy depends on the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station, which is located on some of Louisiana’s richest soil near the Mississippi River near St. Joseph. The station serves as a hub of agricultural knowledge for the region, which is agriculture-based. Farmers seek advice on how to grow cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum and rice. Scientists conduct research on variety development, conservation tillage, integrated pest management, weed control, irrigation, disease prevention and precision agriculture. Their research helps keep the land productive while protecting and preserving the environment.