Parishes with the most pre-war homes in Louisiana
Parishes with the most pre-war homes in Louisiana
Pre-war homes—those built before 1939—are architectural gems. They are sturdy, charming, and often what people are referring to when they look at the prevalent colorless, linear designs of today and lament "they just don't make them like they used to."
In some ways, that's a good thing. Pre-war homes often contained materials we know to be hazardous today, like asbestos and lead. But their signature characteristics, including hardwood floors, nickel accents, ornate crown molding, and high ceilings, are among the features many people look for in a dream home.
Preserving the history of these properties, many of which you'll find on the National Register of Historic Places, is labor that often extends beyond the scope of an individual homeowner. Depending on where these homes are located, special permission by local historic commissions may be required before renovations can be done in an effort to preserve their historic architectural integrity.
Stacker compiled a list of parishes in Louisiana with the most pre-war homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Parishes are ranked by the highest percent of homes that were built in 1939 or earlier based on 2023 5-year estimates.
#50. West Carroll Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.6% (120 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1978
- National rank: #2,891
- Total homes built: 4,691
#49. Claiborne Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.7% (181 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (53 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1973
- National rank: #2,866
- Total homes built: 6,821
#48. Webster Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.7% (504 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (150 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1974
- National rank: #2,853
- Total homes built: 18,341
#47. St. Landry Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.9% (1,072 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (168 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,826
- Total homes built: 37,001
#46. Jefferson Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.0% (5,886 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (688 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1975
- National rank: #2,802
- Total homes built: 194,109
#45. Ouachita Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.1% (2,168 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (601 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #2,800
- Total homes built: 70,667
#44. St. John the Baptist Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.1% (550 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (157 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #2,793
- Total homes built: 17,790
#43. Concordia Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.2% (289 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (44 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #2,766
- Total homes built: 9,026
#42. East Baton Rouge Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.3% (6,773 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (2,155 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #2,747
- Total homes built: 205,518
#41. St. Charles Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.4% (695 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (150 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #2,731
- Total homes built: 20,595
#40. Richland Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.4% (296 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (172 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,729
- Total homes built: 8,698
#39. Sabine Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.5% (479 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (146 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,709
- Total homes built: 13,618
#38. St. Helena Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.6% (191 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1986
- National rank: #2,692
- Total homes built: 5,310
#37. Morehouse Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.8% (448 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (103 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #2,654
- Total homes built: 11,895
#36. St. Martin Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.8% (908 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.6% (369 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1987
- National rank: #2,647
- Total homes built: 23,704
#35. De Soto Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.9% (490 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.7% (208 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1989
- National rank: #2,635
- Total homes built: 12,560
#34. Grant Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.1% (374 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (126 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1989
- National rank: #2,582
- Total homes built: 9,054
#33. Calcasieu Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.2% (3,979 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.8% (2,660 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1988
- National rank: #2,567
- Total homes built: 94,462
#32. East Carroll Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.4% (150 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (13 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1975
- National rank: #2,539
- Total homes built: 3,408
#31. Rapides Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.5% (2,597 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (620 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #2,525
- Total homes built: 58,321
#30. Catahoula Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.5% (199 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,517
- Total homes built: 4,447
#29. Terrebonne Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.6% (2,162 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (352 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #2,496
- Total homes built: 47,236
#28. Lafourche Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.6% (1,902 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (294 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #2,488
- Total homes built: 41,164
#27. Beauregard Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.8% (761 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (226 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1992
- National rank: #2,461
- Total homes built: 15,968
#26. Pointe Coupee Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.9% (537 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (49 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #2,438
- Total homes built: 11,044
#25. Franklin Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.0% (446 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (63 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1977
- National rank: #2,416
- Total homes built: 8,937
#24. Bienville Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.1% (350 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (76 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,402
- Total homes built: 6,874
#23. Caddo Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.1% (5,750 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (326 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1975
- National rank: #2,399
- Total homes built: 112,568
#22. Tensas Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.1% (144 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (15 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1973
- National rank: #2,393
- Total homes built: 2,804
#21. Evangeline Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.1% (747 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (158 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #2,391
- Total homes built: 14,523
#20. West Baton Rouge Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.4% (635 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.3% (274 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1993
- National rank: #2,352
- Total homes built: 11,827
#19. Caldwell Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.4% (253 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (25 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1988
- National rank: #2,339
- Total homes built: 4,644
#18. Jackson Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.5% (398 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (53 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,325
- Total homes built: 7,223
#17. West Feliciana Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.5% (283 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.8% (145 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1991
- National rank: #2,324
- Total homes built: 5,127
#16. St. James Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.9% (510 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.6% (55 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1985
- National rank: #2,238
- Total homes built: 8,651
#15. Jefferson Davis Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.9% (838 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (57 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #2,226
- Total homes built: 14,107
#14. Washington Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.1% (1,313 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (191 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #2,190
- Total homes built: 21,422
#13. Avoyelles Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.2% (1,129 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (207 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #2,184
- Total homes built: 18,323
#12. Iberia Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.3% (1,953 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (102 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1981
- National rank: #2,169
- Total homes built: 31,215
#11. Madison Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.5% (286 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (46 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #2,122
- Total homes built: 4,388
#10. St. Mary Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.5% (1,468 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (48 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1976
- National rank: #2,121
- Total homes built: 22,510
#9. Acadia Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.5% (1,635 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (178 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #2,118
- Total homes built: 25,036
#8. Vermilion Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.8% (1,762 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (310 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #2,065
- Total homes built: 25,924
#7. Natchitoches Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.1% (1,321 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (190 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1983
- National rank: #2,014
- Total homes built: 18,663
#6. Assumption Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.4% (743 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (35 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1982
- National rank: #1,957
- Total homes built: 10,039
#5. Iberville Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (1,016 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (272 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1984
- National rank: #1,933
- Total homes built: 13,419
#4. East Feliciana Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (628 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (90 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1988
- National rank: #1,916
- Total homes built: 8,171
#3. Allen Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.9% (848 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.5% (44 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1979
- National rank: #1,765
- Total homes built: 9,543
#2. LaSalle Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.0% (684 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.0% (65 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1980
- National rank: #1,529
- Total homes built: 6,203
#1. Orleans Parish
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 32.1% (62,561 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (809 homes)
- Median year homes built: 1959
- National rank: #266
- Total homes built: 194,758
