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Ruston, Louisiana

Ruston is a small city and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States.[2] The 2020 population was 22,166.[3] Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Ruston is the principal city of the Ruston micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Lincoln Parish.

Ruston
Ville de Ruston de Louisiane
City of Ruston
Ruston City Hall
Nickname(s): 
Louisiana's College Town; The Peach City; Rus Vegas
Location of Ruston in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
Ruston
Ruston
Coordinates: 32°31′47″N 92°38′26″W / 32.52972°N 92.64056°W / 32.52972; -92.64056
Country United States
State Louisiana
ParishLincoln
Incorporated1885
Named forRobert Edwin Russ
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorRonny Walker (R)
Area
 • Total21.26 sq mi (55.05 km2)
 • Land21.19 sq mi (54.88 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation
331 ft (101 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total22,166
 • Density1,046.16/sq mi (403.92/km2)
 • µSA (2016)
47,745 (US: 229th)
 • CSA (2016)
253,286 (US: 117th)
Demonym(s)Rustonian, Rustonite
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
71270, 71272, 71273
Area code318
Interstate
U.S.
Louisiana
AirportRuston Regional Airport
Websiteruston.org

History edit

During the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, word soon reached the young parish near what is now Ruston, that the Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Pacific Railroad would begin to run across north Louisiana, linking the Deep South with the West (the current operator is Canadian Pacific Kansas City). Robert Edwin Russ, the Lincoln Parish sheriff from 1877–1880, donated 640 acres (2.6 km2) to the town and the area was eventually known as Ruston in his honor.[4]

In 1883, commercial and residential lots were created and sold for $375 apiece; and soon the sawing of lumber and clacking of hammers could be heard throughout the area.

As the town began to take shape, new churches, businesses, civic organizations and schools were being established. Cotton farming fueled the economy. In 1900 a second railroad, running north and south, was built through Ruston (the operator before the tracks were removed was Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad). This brought even more business and industry to the area and the population continued to provide a foundation for the local economy. By the time the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Ruston was established as a center for learning, a place of civic pride, and as an area of economic prosperity throughout the region.

In 1938 Ruston received national attention when an African-American teenager named R.C. Williams was lynched in one of the most brutal attacks of its type in many years.[5][6] The 19 year old Williams was accused by a mob of vigilantes of killing a white man and assaulting a white woman, although it was later determined to be highly unlikely that Williams was guilty of these, or any other crimes.[7] The vigilantes captured Williams and after torturing him with red-hot pokers (castration was also suspected)[8] and shooting him numerous times, he was hung from a tree. Although a local sheriff tried to stop the mob, they then threatened the sheriff's life, and the lynching continued. A grand jury of all white men later cleared all of the perpetrators of any wrongdoing. The crime had a significant and long lasting impact on state and national politics, and can be directly related to the rise of segregationist demagoguery in the south.[9]

Ruston grew steadily during the post-World War II years. The GI Bill of Rights sent war veterans to college, helped to fuel the local economy, brought growth to the two local universities, Louisiana Tech University and nearby historically black Grambling State University, and new families moved into Lincoln Parish. By the middle 1960s, Interstate 20 passed through the northern part of Ruston. This major interstate highway made Ruston more easily accessible, much as the railroad had done a century earlier. In the 1980s, the state of Louisiana economy declined as the oil industry went into a recession.

Ruston, however, continued growing steadily because of the rapid expansion of Louisiana Tech. The city also had its centennial celebration during this decade, and emphasis was placed on revitalizing the historic downtown district. A joint effort between the city and the Louisiana Main Street Program and the Louisiana Department of Historic Preservation brought forth beautification projects to rehabilitate the downtown district, and helped draw the community closer to its roots. More than fifteen buildings have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city has a new general aviation airport to serve existing business and industry, and the timber, poultry and cattle industries continue to expand.

The Arkansas Southern Railroad Company (ASRR), that became the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway (CRI&P), built a station named Chautauqua, north of Ruston that became part of the town.[10][11]

Geography edit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.2 square miles (47 km2), of which 18.1 square miles (47 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.44%) is water.

Climate edit

Climate data for Ruston, Louisiana (Louisiana Tech University) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 65
(18)
88
(31)
95
(35)
96
(36)
102
(39)
107
(42)
108
(42)
109
(43)
108
(42)
100
(38)
95
(35)
87
(31)
109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 57.3
(14.1)
61.1
(16.2)
68.9
(20.5)
76.4
(24.7)
82.9
(28.3)
89.4
(31.9)
92.2
(33.4)
92.6
(33.7)
87.8
(31.0)
78.1
(25.6)
67.5
(19.7)
58.3
(14.6)
76.0
(24.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46.1
(7.8)
49.9
(9.9)
57.1
(13.9)
64.2
(17.9)
72.1
(22.3)
79.2
(26.2)
82.0
(27.8)
81.8
(27.7)
76.4
(24.7)
65.5
(18.6)
55.6
(13.1)
47.9
(8.8)
64.8
(18.2)
Average low °F (°C) 35.0
(1.7)
38.6
(3.7)
45.2
(7.3)
52.1
(11.2)
61.3
(16.3)
68.9
(20.5)
71.8
(22.1)
71.0
(21.7)
65.0
(18.3)
53.0
(11.7)
43.8
(6.6)
37.5
(3.1)
53.6
(12.0)
Record low °F (°C) −4
(−20)
−3
(−19)
14
(−10)
28
(−2)
35
(2)
46
(8)
55
(13)
49
(9)
37
(3)
25
(−4)
12
(−11)
0
(−18)
−4
(−20)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.55
(141)
5.24
(133)
5.38
(137)
5.51
(140)
4.35
(110)
3.85
(98)
3.61
(92)
3.81
(97)
3.80
(97)
4.79
(122)
4.27
(108)
5.45
(138)
55.61
(1,412)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.2
(0.51)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.4
(1.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.7 9.6 9.8 7.7 8.3 8.5 8.7 7.9 6.8 8.0 8.6 10.0 104.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2
Source: NOAA[12][13]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890767
19001,32472.6%
19103,377155.1%
19203,3890.4%
19304,40029.8%
19407,10761.5%
195010,37245.9%
196013,99134.9%
197017,36524.1%
198020,58518.5%
199020,027−2.7%
200020,5462.6%
201021,8596.4%
202022,1661.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
Ruston racial composition as of 2020[3]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 11,201 50.53%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,867 40.0%
Native American 86 0.39%
Asian 551 2.49%
Pacific Islander 5 0.02%
Other/Mixed 693 3.13%
Hispanic or Latino 763 3.44%

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 22,166 people, 7,970 households, and 3,938 families residing in the city.[3] In 2010, there were 21,859 people in the city; according to the census of 2000, there were 20,546 people, 7,621 households, and 4,244 families residing in the city with a population density of 1,136.4 people per square mile (438.8/km2).[15]

In 2000, the racial makeup of the city was 56.94% White, 38.92% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population. By 2020, the racial makeup of the city was 50.53% non-Hispanic white, 40% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.13% two or more races, and 3.44% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city was $23,001, and the median income for a family was $37,394. Males had a median income of $33,408 versus $20,413 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,573. About 22.1% of families and 32.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over. At the publication of the 2020 census, the median household income grew to $34,554.[16]

Arts and culture edit

 
Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston has graves from the American Civil War era. Notable interments include Robert Edwin Russ, founder of Ruston, and publisher Clarence Faulk.
 
Restored historic fire station in downtown Ruston
 
Dixie Theater in downtown Ruston
 
Ruston water tower off Interstate 20
 
Ruston Civic Center

Most cultural activities are offered through Louisiana Tech. Also there are shops downtown, chain restaurants in the city, and an eight-screen Celebrity Theater. Other university-based opportunities exist at Grambling (6 miles from Ruston) and Monroe (35 miles away). The Louisiana Tech University Arboretum interests many visitors.

Early in 2007, the city initiated a blueprint for future growth and development of the Ruston area. Known as "Ruston 21", the plan will evaluate the assets of the community and the ways to achieve goals. It will look citywide at residential development and neighborhoods, recreation planning, transportation issues, economic development, infrastructure concerns, quality of life, and working collaboratively with Louisiana Tech University.

Opened in 1928, the historic Dixie Theater serves as the visual and performing arts hub of Ruston as it houses the North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Piney Hills Gallery, Ruston Community Theatre, Ruston Civic Symphony Society, Troupe Dixie, independent film screenings, dance recitals, and music concerts.[17] Celebrity Theatres, an eight-screen movie theater with digital projection and sound with 3D capabilities and stadium seating in all auditoriums, opened in Ruston in 2006.[18] On campus at Louisiana Tech, Howard Auditorium and Stone Theatre serve as the university's home for the performing arts, and Louisiana Tech is home to two visual art galleries including the E. J. Bellocq Gallery and the Louisiana Tech Art Gallery.

The Louisiana Military Museum features uniforms, weapons, flags, training gear, aircraft, and vehicles from nearly every conflict in United States history.[19] Built in 1886, the Kidd-Davis house is home to the Lincoln Parish Museum, which exhibits early Ruston history.[20] Located on Louisiana Tech's main campus, The Idea Place Math and Science Discovery Center offers many interactive science exhibits including a planetarium.[21]

Ruston is located in the heart of North Louisiana, known as the Sportsman's Paradise, where outdoor activities like hunting and fishing are popular for residents. Located on the Louisiana Tech campus, Garland Gregory Hideaway Park has a seven-acre lake for fishing and canoeing, walking/running trails, pavilions, grills, ropes course, and an 18-hole frisbee golf course.[22] The North Louisiana Exhibition Center hosts rodeos, barrel races, horse and livestock shows, roping events, and antique car and tractor shows in Ruston.[23]

As home to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters of Conference USA, Ruston is a scene of major college sports. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team plays at Joe Aillet Stadium and has won three national championships, won 25 conference championships, and played in 24 postseason games including nine major college bowl games.[24] The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball and Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball teams play their games at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Dunkin' Dawgs have won 25 regular season conference championships, made seven NCAA Tournament appearances including one Sweet Sixteen, and nine NIT appearances.[25] The Lady Techsters have won three national championships and 20 regular season conference championships; have competed in 13 Final Fours, 23 Sweet Sixteens, and 27 NCAA Tournaments; and have the second most wins all-time of any women's college basketball program.[26] The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball team plays at J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, has won 21 regular season conference championships, and has participated in eight NCAA Tournaments.[27]

Peach Festival edit

Each June, Ruston hosts its annual Peach Festival, sponsored by the Squire Creek Country Club.

Until the 1940s, most area peach farming had been done on a small-scale family basis. In 1947, area peach growers organized the Louisiana Fruit Growers Association and held the first festival four years later on June 27–28, 1951. On that occasion, Justin Wilson, the popular south Louisiana chef and Cajun humorist entertained the audience at Howard Auditorium on the Louisiana Tech campus. Then State Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish, the promoter of the patent medicine known as Hadacol, was invited to crown the first Peach Festival Queen, Ann Colvin of Bernice in Union Parish.[28]

The festival sponsors races of 5K and 1M and a tennis tournament played on the Louisiana Tech courts.[28]

Railroad Fest edit

Railroad Fest is an annual makers, music, and culture festival held in Downtown Ruston each April since 2017.[29] The Makers Fair is held at the Historic Ruston Fire Station, and live music is performed at the amphitheater at Railroad Park.

Education edit

Primary and secondary education edit

Public schools are part of the Lincoln Parish School System.[30] Eight of the twelve Lincoln Parish Schools are located in Ruston. Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center operates the parish's preschool program in Ruston. Glen View Elementary School and Hillcrest Elementary School teach kindergarten through the second grade. Cypress Springs Elementary School and Ruston Elementary School teach third grade through fifth grade. I. A. Lewis School teaches only sixth grade, and Ruston Junior High School teaches seventh and eighth grades. Ruston High School teaches ninth through twelfth grades.

Located on Louisiana Tech's campus in Ruston, A. E. Phillips Laboratory School offers kindergarten through eighth grade.

Ruston is home to a few private schools. Cedar Creek School and Bethel Christian School are college preparatory schools that offer preschool through twelfth grade. New Living Word School also offers preschool through twelfth grade. Montessori School of Ruston offers preschool through eighth grade.

Lorraine Nobles Howard Education Center, known as Howard School, is an alternative school for the residents of the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home in Ruston.[31]

Higher education edit

Louisiana Tech University, a national research university, dominates the city of Ruston, providing the city with its distinctive college town character. Grambling State University is located in nearby Grambling, only four miles west of the Louisiana Tech campus. Additionally, Louisiana Delta Community College has a branch campus located in Ruston.[32]

Media edit

The Ruston Daily Leader is the newspaper serving Ruston and the rest of Lincoln Parish since 1894. The Daily Leader is published Sunday morning and Monday through Friday afternoons. Louisiana Tech University is served by several publications including The Tech Talk, the independent Louisiana Tech student newspaper that reports on local, state, and national issues in addition to campus news.

Radio edit

Infrastructure edit

The 527th Engineer Battalion (Triple Alpha) ("Anything, Anytime, Anywhere") is headquartered in Ruston. This battalion is part of the 225th Engineer Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard.

Notable people edit

In popular culture edit

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  4. ^ . lahistory.org. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  5. ^ "NEGRO, 19, IS LYNCHED BY LOUISIANA MOB". The New York Times. Ruston, LA. October 14, 1938. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Lynching No. 3". Pathfinder Magazine. October 29, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Can the States Stop Lyncing?". The Crisis. The Crisis Publishing Company, Inc. 46 (1): 9. January 1939. ISSN 0011-1422.
  8. ^ Allen, James. "Picture 73". Without Sanctuary: Photographs and Postcards of Lynching in America. Twin Palms Publishers. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Gelpi, Paul (December 16, 2013). . Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology. ASC. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  10. ^ Farnsworth, Robert S. (December 11, 2017). The Grand Western Railroad Game: The History of the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroads: Volume I: The Empire Years: 1850 Up to the Great War. Dorrance Publishing. p. 236. ISBN 9781480927070. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  11. ^ Read, William A. (October 12, 2008). Louisiana Place Names of Indian Origin: A Collection of Words. University of Alabama Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780817355050. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  12. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  17. ^ . Dixie Center for the Arts. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  18. ^ "Ruston 8 in Ruston, LA - Cinema Treasures".
  19. ^ . LA Secretary of State - Historical Resources. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  20. ^ . The Lincoln Parish Museum & Historical Society. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  21. ^ "About Tech". Louisiana Tech University. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  22. ^ . Ruston Lincoln Parish CVB. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  23. ^ . Lincoln Parish. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  24. ^ "2016 Louisiana Tech Football Media Guide".
  25. ^ "2016-17 Louisiana Tech Men's Basketball Media Guide".
  26. ^ "2016-17 Louisiana Tech Women's Basketball Media Guide".
  27. ^ "2017 Louisiana Tech Baseball Media Guide".
  28. ^ a b "62nd Peach Festival in Ruston June 22", The Piney Woods Journal, June 2012, pp. 15, 17-18
  29. ^ "Railroad Fest – A Celebration of Makers & Music".
  30. ^ . Lincoln Parish Schools. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  31. ^ "Howard School | LUMCFS | Ruston, Louisiana | Top Gains School".
  32. ^ . Louisiana Delta Community College. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  33. ^ "Mary Beth Busbee". Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 5, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  34. ^ Henry E. Chambers, A History of Louisiana, Vol. 2 (Chicago and New York City: American Historical Society, 1925), pp. 53-54
  35. ^ Stolzenbach, Corey. "Ralph Garr". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  36. ^ "Braves Hall of Fame". mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  37. ^ Henry E. Chambers, A History of Louisiana, Vol. 2 (Chicago and New York City: American Historical Society, 1925), pp. 313-314
  38. ^ Ruston Daily Leader, October 11, 1933, p. 20
  39. ^ Mercer, Alfred. "Johnny Jam". The NewsStar. thenewsstar.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ Erin Toler, "The Dixie Theater of Ruston", North Louisiana History, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Winter 1999), pp. 3-15
  41. ^ Bolden, Bonnie (May 9, 2017). "Famous vlogger films show in Ruston". News Star. Retrieved January 5, 2021.

External links edit

  • City of Ruston
  • Ruston-Lincoln Convention And Visitors Bureau

ruston, louisiana, ruston, small, city, parish, seat, lincoln, parish, louisiana, united, states, 2020, population, ruston, near, eastern, border, region, home, louisiana, tech, university, ruston, principal, city, ruston, micropolitan, statistical, area, whic. Ruston is a small city and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish Louisiana United States 2 The 2020 population was 22 166 3 Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark La Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University Ruston is the principal city of the Ruston micropolitan statistical area which includes all of Lincoln Parish Ruston Ville de Ruston de LouisianeCityCity of RustonRuston City HallNickname s Louisiana s College Town The Peach City Rus VegasLocation of Ruston in Lincoln Parish Louisiana RustonShow map of LouisianaRustonShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 32 31 47 N 92 38 26 W 32 52972 N 92 64056 W 32 52972 92 64056Country United StatesState LouisianaParishLincolnIncorporated1885Named forRobert Edwin RussGovernment TypeMayor Council MayorRonny Walker R Area 1 Total21 26 sq mi 55 05 km2 Land21 19 sq mi 54 88 km2 Water0 07 sq mi 0 18 km2 Elevation331 ft 101 m Population 2020 Total22 166 Density1 046 16 sq mi 403 92 km2 µSA 2016 47 745 US 229th CSA 2016 253 286 US 117th Demonym s Rustonian RustoniteTime zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP code71270 71272 71273Area code318InterstateU S LouisianaAirportRuston Regional AirportWebsiteruston wbr org Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demographics 4 Arts and culture 4 1 Peach Festival 4 2 Railroad Fest 5 Education 5 1 Primary and secondary education 5 2 Higher education 6 Media 6 1 Radio 7 Infrastructure 8 Notable people 9 In popular culture 10 Notes 11 References 12 External linksHistory editDuring the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War word soon reached the young parish near what is now Ruston that the Vicksburg Shreveport and Pacific Railroad would begin to run across north Louisiana linking the Deep South with the West the current operator is Canadian Pacific Kansas City Robert Edwin Russ the Lincoln Parish sheriff from 1877 1880 donated 640 acres 2 6 km2 to the town and the area was eventually known as Ruston in his honor 4 In 1883 commercial and residential lots were created and sold for 375 apiece and soon the sawing of lumber and clacking of hammers could be heard throughout the area As the town began to take shape new churches businesses civic organizations and schools were being established Cotton farming fueled the economy In 1900 a second railroad running north and south was built through Ruston the operator before the tracks were removed was Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad This brought even more business and industry to the area and the population continued to provide a foundation for the local economy By the time the U S entered World War I in 1917 Ruston was established as a center for learning a place of civic pride and as an area of economic prosperity throughout the region In 1938 Ruston received national attention when an African American teenager named R C Williams was lynched in one of the most brutal attacks of its type in many years 5 6 The 19 year old Williams was accused by a mob of vigilantes of killing a white man and assaulting a white woman although it was later determined to be highly unlikely that Williams was guilty of these or any other crimes 7 The vigilantes captured Williams and after torturing him with red hot pokers castration was also suspected 8 and shooting him numerous times he was hung from a tree Although a local sheriff tried to stop the mob they then threatened the sheriff s life and the lynching continued A grand jury of all white men later cleared all of the perpetrators of any wrongdoing The crime had a significant and long lasting impact on state and national politics and can be directly related to the rise of segregationist demagoguery in the south 9 Ruston grew steadily during the post World War II years The GI Bill of Rights sent war veterans to college helped to fuel the local economy brought growth to the two local universities Louisiana Tech University and nearby historically black Grambling State University and new families moved into Lincoln Parish By the middle 1960s Interstate 20 passed through the northern part of Ruston This major interstate highway made Ruston more easily accessible much as the railroad had done a century earlier In the 1980s the state of Louisiana economy declined as the oil industry went into a recession Ruston however continued growing steadily because of the rapid expansion of Louisiana Tech The city also had its centennial celebration during this decade and emphasis was placed on revitalizing the historic downtown district A joint effort between the city and the Louisiana Main Street Program and the Louisiana Department of Historic Preservation brought forth beautification projects to rehabilitate the downtown district and helped draw the community closer to its roots More than fifteen buildings have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places The city has a new general aviation airport to serve existing business and industry and the timber poultry and cattle industries continue to expand The Arkansas Southern Railroad Company ASRR that became the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railway CRI amp P built a station named Chautauqua north of Ruston that became part of the town 10 11 Geography editAccording to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 18 2 square miles 47 km2 of which 18 1 square miles 47 km2 is land and 0 1 square miles 0 26 km2 0 44 is water Climate edit Climate data for Ruston Louisiana Louisiana Tech University 1991 2020 normals extremes 1895 2020 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 65 18 88 31 95 35 96 36 102 39 107 42 108 42 109 43 108 42 100 38 95 35 87 31 109 43 Average high F C 57 3 14 1 61 1 16 2 68 9 20 5 76 4 24 7 82 9 28 3 89 4 31 9 92 2 33 4 92 6 33 7 87 8 31 0 78 1 25 6 67 5 19 7 58 3 14 6 76 0 24 4 Daily mean F C 46 1 7 8 49 9 9 9 57 1 13 9 64 2 17 9 72 1 22 3 79 2 26 2 82 0 27 8 81 8 27 7 76 4 24 7 65 5 18 6 55 6 13 1 47 9 8 8 64 8 18 2 Average low F C 35 0 1 7 38 6 3 7 45 2 7 3 52 1 11 2 61 3 16 3 68 9 20 5 71 8 22 1 71 0 21 7 65 0 18 3 53 0 11 7 43 8 6 6 37 5 3 1 53 6 12 0 Record low F C 4 20 3 19 14 10 28 2 35 2 46 8 55 13 49 9 37 3 25 4 12 11 0 18 4 20 Average precipitation inches mm 5 55 141 5 24 133 5 38 137 5 51 140 4 35 110 3 85 98 3 61 92 3 81 97 3 80 97 4 79 122 4 27 108 5 45 138 55 61 1 412 Average snowfall inches cm 0 2 0 51 0 2 0 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 10 7 9 6 9 8 7 7 8 3 8 5 8 7 7 9 6 8 8 0 8 6 10 0 104 6Average snowy days 0 1 in 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2Source NOAA 12 13 Demographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 1890767 19001 32472 6 19103 377155 1 19203 3890 4 19304 40029 8 19407 10761 5 195010 37245 9 196013 99134 9 197017 36524 1 198020 58518 5 199020 027 2 7 200020 5462 6 201021 8596 4 202022 1661 4 U S Decennial Census 14 Ruston racial composition as of 2020 3 Race Number PercentageWhite non Hispanic 11 201 50 53 Black or African American non Hispanic 8 867 40 0 Native American 86 0 39 Asian 551 2 49 Pacific Islander 5 0 02 Other Mixed 693 3 13 Hispanic or Latino 763 3 44 According to the 2020 United States census there were 22 166 people 7 970 households and 3 938 families residing in the city 3 In 2010 there were 21 859 people in the city according to the census of 2000 there were 20 546 people 7 621 households and 4 244 families residing in the city with a population density of 1 136 4 people per square mile 438 8 km2 15 In 2000 the racial makeup of the city was 56 94 White 38 92 African American 0 17 Native American 2 41 Asian 0 02 Pacific Islander 0 63 from other races and 0 90 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 29 of the population By 2020 the racial makeup of the city was 50 53 non Hispanic white 40 African American 0 39 Native American 2 49 Asian 0 02 Pacific Islander 3 13 two or more races and 3 44 Hispanic or Latino of any race According to the 2000 census the median income for a household in the city was 23 001 and the median income for a family was 37 394 Males had a median income of 33 408 versus 20 413 for females The per capita income for the city was 14 573 About 22 1 of families and 32 1 of the population were below the poverty line including 34 1 of those under age 18 and 17 6 of those age 65 or over At the publication of the 2020 census the median household income grew to 34 554 16 Arts and culture edit nbsp Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston has graves from the American Civil War era Notable interments include Robert Edwin Russ founder of Ruston and publisher Clarence Faulk nbsp Restored historic fire station in downtown Ruston nbsp Dixie Theater in downtown Ruston nbsp Ruston water tower off Interstate 20 nbsp Ruston Civic CenterMost cultural activities are offered through Louisiana Tech Also there are shops downtown chain restaurants in the city and an eight screen Celebrity Theater Other university based opportunities exist at Grambling 6 miles from Ruston and Monroe 35 miles away The Louisiana Tech University Arboretum interests many visitors Early in 2007 the city initiated a blueprint for future growth and development of the Ruston area Known as Ruston 21 the plan will evaluate the assets of the community and the ways to achieve goals It will look citywide at residential development and neighborhoods recreation planning transportation issues economic development infrastructure concerns quality of life and working collaboratively with Louisiana Tech University Opened in 1928 the historic Dixie Theater serves as the visual and performing arts hub of Ruston as it houses the North Central Louisiana Arts Council Piney Hills Gallery Ruston Community Theatre Ruston Civic Symphony Society Troupe Dixie independent film screenings dance recitals and music concerts 17 Celebrity Theatres an eight screen movie theater with digital projection and sound with 3D capabilities and stadium seating in all auditoriums opened in Ruston in 2006 18 On campus at Louisiana Tech Howard Auditorium and Stone Theatre serve as the university s home for the performing arts and Louisiana Tech is home to two visual art galleries including the E J Bellocq Gallery and the Louisiana Tech Art Gallery The Louisiana Military Museum features uniforms weapons flags training gear aircraft and vehicles from nearly every conflict in United States history 19 Built in 1886 the Kidd Davis house is home to the Lincoln Parish Museum which exhibits early Ruston history 20 Located on Louisiana Tech s main campus The Idea Place Math and Science Discovery Center offers many interactive science exhibits including a planetarium 21 Ruston is located in the heart of North Louisiana known as the Sportsman s Paradise where outdoor activities like hunting and fishing are popular for residents Located on the Louisiana Tech campus Garland Gregory Hideaway Park has a seven acre lake for fishing and canoeing walking running trails pavilions grills ropes course and an 18 hole frisbee golf course 22 The North Louisiana Exhibition Center hosts rodeos barrel races horse and livestock shows roping events and antique car and tractor shows in Ruston 23 As home to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters of Conference USA Ruston is a scene of major college sports The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team plays at Joe Aillet Stadium and has won three national championships won 25 conference championships and played in 24 postseason games including nine major college bowl games 24 The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball and Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball teams play their games at the Thomas Assembly Center The Dunkin Dawgs have won 25 regular season conference championships made seven NCAA Tournament appearances including one Sweet Sixteen and nine NIT appearances 25 The Lady Techsters have won three national championships and 20 regular season conference championships have competed in 13 Final Fours 23 Sweet Sixteens and 27 NCAA Tournaments and have the second most wins all time of any women s college basketball program 26 The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball team plays at J C Love Field at Pat Patterson Park has won 21 regular season conference championships and has participated in eight NCAA Tournaments 27 Peach Festival edit Each June Ruston hosts its annual Peach Festival sponsored by the Squire Creek Country Club Until the 1940s most area peach farming had been done on a small scale family basis In 1947 area peach growers organized the Louisiana Fruit Growers Association and held the first festival four years later on June 27 28 1951 On that occasion Justin Wilson the popular south Louisiana chef and Cajun humorist entertained the audience at Howard Auditorium on the Louisiana Tech campus Then State Senator Dudley J LeBlanc of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish the promoter of the patent medicine known as Hadacol was invited to crown the first Peach Festival Queen Ann Colvin of Bernice in Union Parish 28 The festival sponsors races of 5K and 1M and a tennis tournament played on the Louisiana Tech courts 28 Railroad Fest edit Railroad Fest is an annual makers music and culture festival held in Downtown Ruston each April since 2017 29 The Makers Fair is held at the Historic Ruston Fire Station and live music is performed at the amphitheater at Railroad Park Education editPrimary and secondary education edit Public schools are part of the Lincoln Parish School System 30 Eight of the twelve Lincoln Parish Schools are located in Ruston Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center operates the parish s preschool program in Ruston Glen View Elementary School and Hillcrest Elementary School teach kindergarten through the second grade Cypress Springs Elementary School and Ruston Elementary School teach third grade through fifth grade I A Lewis School teaches only sixth grade and Ruston Junior High School teaches seventh and eighth grades Ruston High School teaches ninth through twelfth grades Located on Louisiana Tech s campus in Ruston A E Phillips Laboratory School offers kindergarten through eighth grade Ruston is home to a few private schools Cedar Creek School and Bethel Christian School are college preparatory schools that offer preschool through twelfth grade New Living Word School also offers preschool through twelfth grade Montessori School of Ruston offers preschool through eighth grade Lorraine Nobles Howard Education Center known as Howard School is an alternative school for the residents of the Louisiana Methodist Children s Home in Ruston 31 Higher education edit Louisiana Tech University a national research university dominates the city of Ruston providing the city with its distinctive college town character Grambling State University is located in nearby Grambling only four miles west of the Louisiana Tech campus Additionally Louisiana Delta Community College has a branch campus located in Ruston 32 Media editThe Ruston Daily Leader is the newspaper serving Ruston and the rest of Lincoln Parish since 1894 The Daily Leader is published Sunday morning and Monday through Friday afternoons Louisiana Tech University is served by several publications including The Tech Talk the independent Louisiana Tech student newspaper that reports on local state and national issues in addition to campus news Radio editInfrastructure editThe 527th Engineer Battalion Triple Alpha Anything Anytime Anywhere is headquartered in Ruston This battalion is part of the 225th Engineer Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard Notable people editTrace Adkins country singer who attended Louisiana Tech originally from Sarepta Leon Barmore Hall of Fame NCAA basketball coach played basketball at Louisiana Tech and Ruston High School George W Bond president of Louisiana Tech University from 1929 to 1936 Terry Bradshaw member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame attended Louisiana Tech Kix Brooks country music singer who attended Louisiana Tech P J Brown retired NBA player attended Louisiana Tech Mary Elizabeth Talbot Busbee the First Lady of Georgia from 1975 to 1983 was born and reared in Ruston Known as Mary Beth she was a medical technologist and a graduate of Louisiana Tech Her husband was the late Democratic Governor George D Busbee 33 John R Conniff educator president of Louisiana Tech from 1926 to 1928 34 Martie Cordaro president and general manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers baseball club Fred Dean NFL Hall of Famer attended Ruston High and Louisiana Tech Clarence Faulk newspaper publisher radio broadcaster businessman Tim Floyd NCAA and NBA basketball coach attended Louisiana Tech Vic Frazier MLB pitcher during the 1930s W C Friley founder of Ruston College in the late 1880s a forerunner of Louisiana Tech later president of Hardin Simmons University in Abilene Texas and Louisiana College in Pineville succeeded there in 1910 by Claybrook Cottingham Ralph Garr former Major League Baseball player and member of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame attended Lincoln High School 35 36 Andy Hamilton NFL player Aaron Holiday NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks Will Cullen Hart indie rock musician visual artist and founding member of the Elephant Six Collective and The Olivia Tremor Control and leader of Circulatory System attended Ruston High School and was a disc jockey at Louisiana Tech s radio station KLPI Sonja Hogg founding coach of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters Bert Jones former NFL quarterback attended Ruston High School Dub Jones former NFL halfback attended Ruston High School Karl Malone Basketball Hall of Famer attended Louisiana Tech currently lives in Ruston Jeff Mangum indie rock musician and founding member of the Elephant Six Collective and Neutral Milk Hotel attended Ruston High School and was a disc jockey at Louisiana Tech s radio station KLPI Monica Maxwell former WNBA player 1999 2002 played in two Final Fours for the Lady Techsters 1998 1999 Luke McCown former NFL quarterback attended Louisiana Tech Garnie W McGinty Louisiana historian Paul Millsap current NBA player attended Louisiana Tech Ryan Moats athlete attended Louisiana Tech Kim Mulkey head women s basketball coach of LSU Tigers Virgil Orr former state representative Louisiana Tech vice president Joe Raymond Peace former football coach of Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Ruston resident Arthur T Prescott educator and founding president from 1894 to 1899 of Louisiana Tech University 37 Patrick Ramsey former NFL quarterback attended Ruston High School Willie Roaf NFL Hall of Fame player attended Louisiana Tech Kramer Robertson current MLB player for St Louis Cardinals Scotty Robertson high school college and professional basketball coach died in Ruston in 2011 W C Robinson mathematics professor and second president of Louisiana Tech from 1899 to 1900 38 Robert Schneider Indie rock musician record producer founding member of the Elephant Six Collective and frontman of The Apples in Stereo attended Ruston High School Josh Scobee current NFL player attended Louisiana Tech John Simoneaux blues singer songwriter and guitarist graduate of LA Tech memorial jam held in his memory annually to raise scholarship money 39 Mickey Slaughter former NFL quarterback attended and later coached football for Louisiana Tech Polly Smith photographer George Stone former National League pitcher with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets Scotty Thurman former basketball player attended Arkansas made the game winning shot in the 1994 NCAA National Championship against Duke attended Ruston High School A L Williams retired football coach Kyle Williams former NFL player attended Ruston High School Clint Williamson US Ambassador White House policy official and international prosecutor John D Winters historian of the American Civil War Kenny Wright former NFL defensive back Minnesota Vikings 1999 2001 Houston Texans 2002 2004 Jacksonville Jaguars 2005 Washington Redskins 2006 and Cleveland Browns 2007 In popular culture editJack Kerouac refers to Ruston in his book On the Road Indie rock band Neutral Milk Hotel was formed in Ruston The longstanding Dixie Theater in Ruston is featured in a 1999 article in the publication North Louisiana History 40 Ruston is also the hometown of Robert Schneider frontman of The Apples in Stereo He attended Ruston High School Ruston is mentioned several times in the HBO series True Blood A vampire on the series is seen wearing a Louisiana Tech Bulldogs sweatshirt Social media personality Logan Paul acted as mayor of Ruston for two days for his online streaming show Logan Paul VS 41 Ruston was featured in a first season episode of HBO s We re Here Notes editReferences edit 2020 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved March 20 2022 Find a County National Association of Counties Retrieved June 7 2011 a b c Explore Census Data data census gov Retrieved December 29 2021 Robert E Russ lahistory org Archived from the original on February 2 2015 Retrieved October 5 2010 NEGRO 19 IS LYNCHED BY LOUISIANA MOB The New York Times Ruston LA October 14 1938 p 12 Lynching No 3 Pathfinder Magazine October 29 1938 p 6 Retrieved January 5 2021 Can the States Stop Lyncing The Crisis The Crisis Publishing Company Inc 46 1 9 January 1939 ISSN 0011 1422 Allen James Picture 73 Without Sanctuary Photographs and Postcards of Lynching in America Twin Palms Publishers Retrieved January 5 2021 Gelpi Paul December 16 2013 The Consequences of a Small Town Murder The Lynching of W C Williams and Louisiana Politics Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology ASC Archived from the original on March 19 2014 Retrieved January 5 2021 Farnsworth Robert S December 11 2017 The Grand Western Railroad Game The History of the Chicago Rock Island amp Pacific Railroads Volume I The Empire Years 1850 Up to the Great War Dorrance Publishing p 236 ISBN 9781480927070 Retrieved May 19 2019 Read William A October 12 2008 Louisiana Place Names of Indian Origin A Collection of Words University of Alabama Press p 28 ISBN 9780817355050 Retrieved May 19 2019 NOWData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved November 2 2023 Summary of Monthly Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved November 2 2023 Census of Population and Housing Census gov Retrieved June 4 2015 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 Explore Census Data data census gov Retrieved December 30 2022 History About Us Dixie Center for the Arts Archived from the original on April 27 2017 Retrieved April 27 2017 Ruston 8 in Ruston LA Cinema Treasures Louisiana Military Museum LA Secretary of State Historical Resources Archived from the original on April 27 2017 Retrieved December 14 2018 Collection The Lincoln Parish Museum amp Historical Society Archived from the original on April 26 2017 Retrieved April 26 2017 About Tech Louisiana Tech University Retrieved January 5 2021 Garland Gregory Hideaway Park Ruston Lincoln Parish CVB Archived from the original on April 27 2017 Retrieved April 27 2017 North Louisiana Exhibition Center Lincoln Parish Archived from the original on August 17 2016 Retrieved April 26 2017 2016 Louisiana Tech Football Media Guide 2016 17 Louisiana Tech Men s Basketball Media Guide 2016 17 Louisiana Tech Women s Basketball Media Guide 2017 Louisiana Tech Baseball Media Guide a b 62nd Peach Festival in Ruston June 22 The Piney Woods Journal June 2012 pp 15 17 18 Railroad Fest A Celebration of Makers amp Music LPSB Overvier Lincoln Parish Schools Archived from the original on December 28 2017 Retrieved April 4 2017 Howard School LUMCFS Ruston Louisiana Top Gains School Ruston Louisiana Delta Community College Archived from the original on May 9 2017 Retrieved December 14 2018 Mary Beth Busbee Atlanta Journal Constitution March 5 2012 Retrieved April 19 2013 Henry E Chambers A History of Louisiana Vol 2 Chicago and New York City American Historical Society 1925 pp 53 54 Stolzenbach Corey Ralph Garr sabr org Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved March 3 2021 Braves Hall of Fame mlb com Major League Baseball Retrieved March 3 2021 Henry E Chambers A History of Louisiana Vol 2 Chicago and New York City American Historical Society 1925 pp 313 314 Ruston Daily Leader October 11 1933 p 20 Mercer Alfred Johnny Jam The NewsStar thenewsstar com Retrieved May 6 2015 permanent dead link Erin Toler The Dixie Theater of Ruston North Louisiana History Vol 30 No 1 Winter 1999 pp 3 15 Bolden Bonnie May 9 2017 Famous vlogger films show in Ruston News Star Retrieved January 5 2021 External links editRuston Louisiana at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Travel information from Wikivoyage City of Ruston Ruston Lincoln Convention And Visitors Bureau Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruston Louisiana amp oldid 1186134746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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