Featured Area* Unincorporated areas:
- Summerfield
- Lake Claiborne*
- The former Arizona community
- The former Russellville community
The first act of the Louisiana General Assembly that met in 1807 was the subdivision of land in the state of Louisiana into seventeen divisions known as parishes. The parish of Natchitoches actually encompassed all of Northwest Louisiana from Natchitoches northward. With the influx of colonists, this became an unwieldy way to govern. In 1828, Claiborne Parish was carved out of the Natchitoches Parish.
On the grounds of the State Park once stood homes of some of the people who moved to settle in the area. Many of their names can still be found in today’s local population. Like early settlers everywhere these families came to lay down roots, to carve homes out of the forest, and to begin dynasties. Those who stayed here were survivors. They were tough, independent individualists who ran self-sufficient and self-sustaining farms. They farmed large acres of land, some of the products eventually found their way to market after all that was needed for the farm had been put up for use. Crops like cotton, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, peanuts and a variety of vegetables made up their saleable crops. There were orchards with various fruit including apples, peaches, figs, plums, and pomegranate. From the forests came a variety of furs, fish, meat, nuts and berries for their larder. Many of the women knowledgeable in healing could be found gathering leaves, roots, berries, and flowers for their many medicinal needs.This newly formed division included most of north-central and northwest Louisiana. It was named for W.C Claiborne who was the first territorial governor of Louisiana. In 1856, Claiborne Parish was the largest upland parish in the state. By 1865, however, Claiborne Parish had also become large in population. It also was sub-divided into smaller parishes. From being the largest upland parish, the boundaries shrunk to become the smallest northern parish.
Many of the houses in this area were known as a "dog trot" house. They personally called it an open-hall style. Dog trot houses got their name from the open “hallway” between the living areas on each side. This is where literally the dogs could trot through to the other side.
In the mid-1960’s, Most of the families sold their land willingly to the state government. The land then became the new lake and eventually the homesites became an important part of the State Park. Lake Claiborne State Park is not just a recreational area but it also holds the history for many of the areas earlier generations. People from all walks of life, different homes with different stories, come through the gates of the park each year. The beauty, peace, and contentment they found within its borders affect them. Perhaps in some small way, they carry them in their hearts and memories—a piece of the history of the families who came before there was a lake or a park.
