Natchitoches Parish | Regional Resources Map for East Texas History | Center for Regional Heritage Research

Natchitoches parish, located in northwest Louisiana, not only has a colorful history but abounds with natural beauty and scenery. Natchitoches, pronounced "nackatish," is also the name of the parish seat. The word Natchitoches is an Indian word meaning 'place of the Paw-paw or Chinquapin' (referring to the local flora). Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement of Europeans and Africans in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. It was established as a French trading post on the Red River in 1713. On April 10, 1805, Louisiana's first governor, William Claiborne, signed an act that divided the Louisiana Purchase Territory into 12 parishes. Natchitoches parish, still one of the largest parishes in the state, was then composed of what is now eight other Louisiana parishes (including Red River, Caddo, De Soto, Sabine and Bossier Parishes) as well as parts of five others. By 1890, Natchitoches Parish was ranked 3rd in population (due to the arrival of new American immigrants) and 5th in cot...