Where We
Practice Law: The History of Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana, Parish seat of Lincoln Parish, is located in
the North central part of the state about 35 miles south of
Arkansas. Ask anyone what the population is and you get a blank
look and the answer that it probably is about 25,000. The
confusion arises from the practice of counting the students
enrolled in Louisiana Tech University as part of the population.
Enrollment at the university fluctuates but probably stays close
to 10,500 resident students.Ruston sprang
to life in 1884 as a complete village when the Vicksburg,
Shreveport, and Pacific Railroad completed laying its tracks
across North Louisiana. Merchants from nearby communities built
tents and temporary shelters and supplied food, clothing, and
hardware to the railroad and to the construction crew. It seemed
there was profit to be gained by locating near the railroad and
they persuaded property owner, Robert E. Russ to supply a town
site.
Surveyors for
the railroad laid out the streets. Numbers drawn from a hat
assigned the town lots which were sold for $375 each. The
business district emerged and Russ Town was founded. Cotton was
the basic industry, with farmers hauling the cotton to Ruston to
be ginned and compressed. The railroad hauled the bales to
market. The town slowly grew.
Like most rural
communities of the last century, Ruston citizens had aspirations
for cultural improvement. A Chatauqua society brought in
speakers, musicians, and religious leaders. Churches became
social as well as religious centers. Ruston College was founded
and taught modern and classical languages, math, and science.
After ten years
of existence, a state college was located at Ruston and has
served as the economic basis for the town. Cotton disappeared
from the economy but natural gas and oil were exploited and
served to sustain the economic well being of the area. Peaches
have been added as a cash crop and give the area a reason to
hold an annual peach festival.
Ruston is a
conservative town but with public ownership of the utilities,
also has strong ties to Populism. Local ownership of the main
businesses is gradually being replaced with national chains and
absentee owners, particularly since alcohol was finally voted
into the city's restaurants last year. The railroad station is
gone, but Interstate 20 furnishes access to the larger cities in
the state.
Several lakes
provide fabulous fishing opportunities. A newly built Squire
Creek golf course supplies first class golfing recreation for
many. The surrounding forests are full of deer, wild turkeys,
and game birds. Change is afoot in Ruston, and good things are
soon to come.
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