Ouachita Parish | US Courthouses

Ouachita Parish is named for the Ouachita Native American people.

Created: April 10, 1805

Parish Seat :

Monroe 1807 – present

Parish Courthouse – Monroe

Location: 300 Saint John Street / Wood Street

Built: 1924 – 1925

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: J W Smith and H H Land

Contractor: Caldwell Brothers

Description: The building faces east and is a four story gray stone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Monroe. The east front has three central arches at the entrance on the first story. Above are eight columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story. The roof is green colored. The courtrooms are located on the fourth story and the Police Jury Chamber is located on the second story. The building was remodeled in 1956. The architect was H H Land and the contractor was W C Salley. The building was enlarged in 1967 to 1968. The architect was H H Land Architect Inc. and the contractor was Jessie F Heard & Sons Inc. Alterations were made on the fourth story in 2001. The architect was Herbert Land Architect Inc. and the contractor was Lincoln Builders Inc. On the south side of the building is the red colored brick Courthouse Annex.

See: The architect firm, J W Smith and Associates, designed many of the courthouses in Louisiana. These courthouses are found in Caldwell Parish, Catahoula Parish, East Carroll Parish, Jackson Parish, Madison Parish and Natchitoches Parish

Note: The first courthouse was a hand hewn log cabin built in 1805 on land donated by Jean Fihiol. The second courthouse was a brick structure built in 1816 at Fort Miro which changed name to Monroe. The building was destroyed during the Civil War and the court met in the Union Church in Monroe. The third courthouse was built in 1866 as the courthouse and city hall. The building burned in 1882. And the fourth courthouse was built by Hannan & Voss in 1883. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1924 to 1925.

Courthouses:

N – Union Parish and Morehouse Parish

E – Richland Parish

S – Caldwell Parish

W – Jackson Parish and Lincoln Parish