Catahoula Parish is named for Catahoula Lake which is named for the Tensas Native American word meaning “big, clear lake”.
Surrounding Parish Courthouses:
N – Caldwell Parish and Franklin Parish
E – Tensas Parish and Concordia Parish
S – Avoyelles Parish
W – La Salle Parish
Created: March 23, 1808 
Parish Seat:
Harrisonburg 1808 – present
County Courthouse – Harrisonburg
Location: 301 Bushley Street / Pine Street
Built: 1930 – 1931
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: J W Smith and Associates
Contractor: Tudor & Ratcliff
Description: The building faces east and is a four story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Harrisonburg. On the east and west sides are three arches on the first story which is faced with stone, and above are six columns rising to the top of the third story. A wide stone band runs below the third story roof line which has a balustrade. The fourth story is recessed. In the interior, the Parish District Court courtroom is located on the east side of the second story. The building houses the Parish District Court of the 7th Judicial District. The building was renovated in 1958. The architect was H H Land and the contractor was T J Owen. An addition has been constructed on the south side in 1974 to 1976. The architect was Barron Heinberg & Brocato of Alexandria and the contractor was Westerchil Construction Company of Alexandria.
See: The architect firm, J W Smith and Associates, designed many of the courthouses in Louisiana. These courthouses are found in Caldwell Parish, East Carroll Parish, Jackson Parish, Madison Parish, Natchitoches Parish and Ouachita Parish
See: National Register of Historic Places – Catahoula Parish Courthouse
See: The 7th Judicial District includes Concordia Parish.
History: The parish was created in 1808 and Harrisonburg was selected as the parish seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built in Harrisonburg in 1808. In 1818, the second courthouse was a frame structure and in 1843, the third courthouse was a two story brick structure. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1930 to 1931.
Parish Couthouse – Harrisonburg
Parish District Court courtroom
Photos taken 2011 and 2019