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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