Oberlin is a town in and the parish seat of Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States.[2] The population was 1,770 at the 2010 census.[3] The town is named after Johann Friedrich Oberlin.

Oberlin, Louisiana
Town
Downtown Oberlin with the Allen Parish Courthouse in the background
Downtown Oberlin with the Allen Parish Courthouse in the background
Location of Oberlin in Allen Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Oberlin in Allen Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°37′10″N 92°45′51″W / 30.61944°N 92.76417°W / 30.61944; -92.76417
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishAllen
Government
 • MayorLarry Alexander
Area
 • Total
4.38 sq mi (11.35 km2)
 • Land4.38 sq mi (11.35 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
69 ft (21 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,402
 • Density320.02/sq mi (123.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
70655
Area code337
FIPS code22-57450

Oberlin was the home of Ernest S. Clements, a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate and, later, the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He ran unsuccessfully in 1944 for governor of Louisiana.

Geography

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Oberlin is located at 30°37′10″N 92°45′51″W / 30.61944°N 92.76417°W / 30.61944; -92.76417 (30.619560, -92.764058).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km2), all land.[3] Oberlin is located on U.S. Route 165 at LA 26.

Climate

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Climate data for Oberlin, Louisiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1953–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 82
(28)
85
(29)
89
(32)
93
(34)
99
(37)
102
(39)
102
(39)
106
(41)
108
(42)
96
(36)
90
(32)
83
(28)
108
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 59.2
(15.1)
63.4
(17.4)
70.2
(21.2)
76.7
(24.8)
83.3
(28.5)
88.5
(31.4)
90.3
(32.4)
91.1
(32.8)
86.9
(30.5)
78.6
(25.9)
68.6
(20.3)
61.3
(16.3)
76.5
(24.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 49.2
(9.6)
53.3
(11.8)
60.0
(15.6)
66.3
(19.1)
73.5
(23.1)
79.1
(26.2)
81.1
(27.3)
81.3
(27.4)
76.9
(24.9)
67.6
(19.8)
57.8
(14.3)
51.4
(10.8)
66.5
(19.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 39.2
(4.0)
43.3
(6.3)
49.7
(9.8)
56.0
(13.3)
63.7
(17.6)
69.8
(21.0)
71.9
(22.2)
71.5
(21.9)
66.9
(19.4)
56.5
(13.6)
47.1
(8.4)
41.5
(5.3)
56.4
(13.6)
Record low °F (°C) 9
(−13)
16
(−9)
21
(−6)
31
(−1)
39
(4)
49
(9)
56
(13)
56
(13)
40
(4)
28
(−2)
20
(−7)
8
(−13)
8
(−13)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 6.42
(163)
4.66
(118)
4.09
(104)
5.10
(130)
5.12
(130)
5.75
(146)
5.57
(141)
5.08
(129)
5.06
(129)
4.58
(116)
4.81
(122)
5.51
(140)
61.75
(1,568)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 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)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.1
(0.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.8 9.3 8.3 7.5 7.8 11.1 10.6 10.3 8.8 6.9 7.8 10.1 109.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
Source: NOAA[5][6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1900213
19102328.9%
1920623168.5%
193079026.8%
194096221.8%
19501,54460.5%
19601,79416.2%
19701,8573.5%
19801,764−5.0%
19901,8082.5%
20001,8532.5%
20101,770−4.5%
20201,402−20.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

2020 census

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Oberlin racial composition[8]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 700 49.93%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 528 37.66%
Native American 17 1.21%
Asian 16 1.14%
Pacific Islander 3 0.21%
Other/Mixed 55 3.92%
Hispanic or Latino 83 5.92%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,402 people, 496 households, and 313 families residing in the town.

2000 census

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As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,853 people, 702 households, and 464 families residing in the town. The population density was 602.0 inhabitants per square mile (232.4/km2). There were 789 housing units at an average density of 256.3 per square mile (99.0/km2).

The racial makeup of the town was 60.28% White, 37.61% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 702 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,333, and the median income for a family was $30,583. Males had a median income of $28,558 versus $16,923 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,050. About 18.3% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 31.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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Allen Parish School Board operates Oberlin High School and Oberlin Elementary School in Oberlin.[10]

There is a private school, Oberlin Covenant School, which opened circa 1986. In 1992, two people worked to operate the school, and there were five teachers who worked full time. That year, its enrollment was 40, and there were six students per teacher, a ratio lower than those of public schools.[11]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Oberlin town, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Station: Oberlin Fire TWR, LA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ^ Home page. Oberlin Elementary School. Retrieved on December 10, 2016.
  11. ^ "Oberlin Covenant School is different in many ways". The Kinder Courier News. Vol. 27, no. 18. Kinder, Louisiana. April 23, 1992. pp. 1 and 11.
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