Springhill is a city in northern Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,439 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Minden Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Webster Parish was first permanently settled about 1818. According to genealogical findings, William Farmer, Samuel Monzingo, J. A. Byrnes, and Joseph Murrell were the first settlers in the area. These settlers formed an area that was initially referred to informally as "Piney Woods." In 1894, though still unincorporated, what would eventually become Springhill took the name "Barefoot, Louisiana" on the notions of a Mrs. Maxwell, who assigned the name based on her observations that many men in the community went to work without shoes. The town that is today Springhill was finally incorporated in 1902. The first mayor was N.B. Taylor, who followed a year thereafter by B.D. Wilson.

Recent mayors included Charles Emmett McConnell (1954-1958), Jesse L. Boucher (1958-1962), James Allen (1962-1974), M.A. Gleason, Jr. (1974-1978), Johnny D. Herrington (1978-1986 and 1995-2006), a brother-in-law of Boucher, James Curtis Smith (1987-1994), and Carroll Breaux, who assumed office on January 1, 2007. Breaux, an Independent, is the first non-Democrat to serve as Springhill mayor. He unseated Herrington, 973-782, in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on September 30, 2006.

The 1979 film Five Days from Home, which was directed by and starred George Peppard, was filmed primarily in Springhill. Peppard's third wife, Sherry Boucher, is a Springhill native.

Timber Industry

Springhill's close association with the timber industry began in 1896 with the arrival of the Pine Woods Lumber Company. The Pine Woods Lumber Company's venture in what was soon to be Springhill began a relationship with the timber industry that defines the town to this day, as evidenced by the local high school's mascot which is the "Lumberjacks." The town prospered due to the timber company and became a bit of a boom town. The Pine Woods Lumber Company went out of business during the depression and Springhill quickly surrendered its boom town status as the population dwindled. The Pine Woods Lumber Company's facility was purchased by the Frost Lumber Company which eventually sold out to Springhill Lumber Company. The Springhill Lumber Company later became Anthony Forest Products and remained in the timber industry in the Springhill area until 1972. The most significant local economic force in Springhill's timber industry, however, was established with the construction of a massive paper mill in 1937 by International Paper. The construction of the paper mill greatly expanded the regional economic importance of Springhill and further cemented the town's ties to the timber industry. Though technically within the town of Cullen, which borders Springhill, the facility is and was generally associated with Springhill. The later addition of a wood products plant and container (box) plant by International Paper further established Springhill as one of the most important manufacturing and processing centers in Northern Louisiana. In 1979, International Paper closed the paper mill, which along with a significant general downturn in the petroleum industry which was soon to follow, had a significant effect on the economy, population and future prospects of the community. Though the paper mill was closed, International Paper maintained its wood products and container producing facilities continuing IP's presence in the area. During 2006-2007, however, IP sold the wood products plant to its main rival, Georgia Pacific, and liquidated its significant land holdings in the Springhill area leaving the container division (box plant) as the last remnant of International Paper's presence in the Springhill area.There is a new sawmill, crosstie trimming and end-plate plant on the north border of Springhill. Its called Tucker Lumber Company. It goes to show you Springhill is stilltied to the timber industry.

Springhill today

Springhill has in recent years experienced a moderate rebound from an earlier economic downturn. There has been an expansion of the retail and service industries and improvement in the municipal infrastructure. There was, for instance, a revitalization of Main Street with aesthetic improvements, new businesses, and renovation of the library.

A formerly abandoned grocery store was converted into the Frank Anthony Community Activity Center, which hosts community events and concerts by such music icons as Willie Nelson and Springhill native Joe Stampley.

Springhill has built a new state-of-the-art junior high/high school facility. Construction is underway at Browning Elementary, with the addition of a new wing with several classrooms and a library and general updates to air conditioning and lighting systems. Brown Middle School will also be renovated.

Geography

Springhill is located at (33.001234, -93.461448) and has an elevation of .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.80%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,439 people, 2,258 households, and 1,485 families residing in the city. The population density was 872.9 people per square mile (337.1/km²). There were 2,551 housing units at an average density of 409.4/sq mi (158.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.49% White, 25.13% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,258 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,102, and the median income for a family was $35,540. Males had a median income of $29,757 versus $17,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,447. About 14.6% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

• Springhill hosts an annual Lumberjack Festival, which includes log cutting contests, Louisiana food, live music, and a parade.

Education

Springhill High School. The mascot is a lumberjack.

Image:Springhillcoach.jpg|Pep rally, getting ready for the game.

On March 3, 2009, the Springhill high school basketball team coached by head coach Kermit Walker and assistant coach Martika Jennings, were in the class 2A state championship game at the Cajundome in Lafayette. Seniors Antonious "Pooby" Markray, Trent Brantly, and junior Ken Cooper led the Lumberjacks to a 70 to 66 victory over the Many Tigers of Many. Markray received the "Player of the Game" award.

Notable people

• Trace Adkins- country music singer
• Drayton R. Boucher - former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana State Senate from Springhill
• Jesse L. Boucher (1912-2004) - former Springhill mayor, insurance agent and developer
• Savannah Smith Boucher - actress
• Sherry Boucher - former Hollywood actress and Realtor in Bossier Parish; formerly married to George Peppard
• Shannen W. Coffin - Georgetown University law school graduate who clerked on the federal bench. Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States. Resigned in October 2007 as General Counsel for the Office of the Vice President of the United States, Richard B. Cheney.
• John David Crow - Winner of the 1957 Heisman Trophy. He played for eleven seasons in the National Football League and played in four NFL Pro Bowls. He also served as athletic director of Texas A&M University in College Station.
• Eugene Eason (1928-2007) - Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1991-1992 and former member of the Springhill City Council.
• John Willard "Jack" Montgomery, Sr. - Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1968-1972; preceded by and succeeded by Harold Montgomery, no relation.
• Danny D. Scott (1929-2007) - Publisher of Springhill Press-News Journal and the Plain Dealing Post in Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish. Scott made the Press-News Journal a central printing location for some forty area publications. He was the youngest president in history of the Louisiana Press Association and served on committees for the National Newspaper Association. He graduated from Springhill High School and Southern Arkansas University.
• Joe Stampley - Country music artist who headed the former "The Uniques" and was part of a duo with Moe Bandy. In 1976, Stampley had eight singles which charted in Billboard Magazine and was awarded "Billboard's Single Artist of the Year".
• John Milton Stephens (1966-2009) - 1st Rd. 17th pick of the 1988 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year and member of the Northwestern State University Football Hall Of Fame.
• Duval Cortez Wimberly, Sr. (1917-2007) - a prisoner of war from 1944-1945 in Germany. He was liberated by the Russians and then escaped on May 9, 1945. He was subsequently an officer of American Ex-Prisoners of War, an organization based in Arlington, Texas, chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1942. Wimberly, a graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge was principal of four Webster Parish schools during his career as an educator.

References