Few outsiders move to Arcadia, where locals tend to stay
Arcadia, the unassuming seat of Bienville Parish, made headlines in 1934. Bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde died in a shootout just outside its limits, and law enforcement officials brought their bodies to Conger's Furniture Store and Funeral Parlor in Arcadia for embalming. At the time, the population was just under 2,000, but the infamous criminals’ deaths drew tens of thousands to the sleepy northern Louisiana town and the nearby crime scene. Today, the community’s population has grown to about 3,000, but that number is steadily declining. “Usually, people wanting to live there are already living there,” says Realtor Kim Brasher with the Brasher Group, who has sold homes throughout the parish. “They’re getting married, downsizing, that kind of thing. It’s a small city with a small population in a small parish. They don’t have a lot of new people moving in.”
Parks, museums and churches offer history and community events
Henderson Jordan Park is a small green space downtown with shaded picnic tables, a central fountain and short paved trails today. But in the 1930s, the site housed the part-time furniture store, part-time funeral parlor that embalmed Bonnie and Clyde. Both a historical marker and the park’s name honor the sheriff at the time. The Bienville Depot Museum sits across the street in an early 20th-century passenger and freight train station. It contains the city’s Chamber of Commerce and exhibits on the region’s history. Locals can rent the nearby Arcadia Event Center for family reunions, weddings and other gatherings. The Bienville Parish Library and the community’s multiple churches host various community events and volunteer opportunities. Arcadia Park features a basketball court, a playground and picnic tables, and Trails End Golf Course offers an 18-hole layout that is open to the public. On the west side of town, there are lighted sports fields within walking distance of some homes. For a larger outdoor space, Lake Claiborne State Park is about 15 miles north and has boating, fishing, camping and hiking opportunities.
Downtown Arcadia has local restaurants and historic charm
Backroads lead to downtown Arcadia, a modest commercial hub amid farmland and fields. Turn-of-the-20th-century architecture houses second-hand stores, restaurants and local businesses; however, many storefronts are empty. Kenny’s Place has a rotating menu featuring comfort food, Luigi’s Restaurant offers Italian favorites and Sharon’s Café dishes breakfast and lunch classics. In the northern part of town, there’s a Brookshire’s grocery store, as well as more dining options from well-known chains like Subway and McDonald’s to local spots like El Jarrito, a Mexican eatery, and Super Donuts JR . For more commercial options, Ruston is about 20 miles away. “If people want more of a dining experience, they will have to travel,” Brasher says.
Homes range from fixer-uppers to spacious two-story houses
Arcadia is the highest-elevated incorporated municipality in the state, with gently rolling terrain and soft slopes. Mature live oak and pine trees dot shaded lawns, and residential roads are quiet. Houses in need of repairs can cost under $100,000. Move-in-ready single-story cottages and ranch-style homes can range from $110,000 to $200,000, while two-story houses can cost $260,000 to $380,000. Plots of land are also available, and Brasher notes that they’re usually used recreationally. “We sell more hunting land in Arcadia than anything else,” she says. “There’s a lot of wooded areas.”
Elementary and high school share a single campus in town
Students attend schools within the Bienville Parish School District. Crawford Elementary, which gets a C-plus from Niche, educates prekindergarten through fifth-grade students. Arcadia High School, which gets a C, serves sixth to 12th graders. Both schools are located within the Arcadia School Complex, and the high school has a 4-H program.
U.S. Interstate 20 connects Arcadia to nearby cities and airports
The Bienville Council on Aging offers public transit services to the community’s senior citizens. Arcadia has easy access to U.S. Interstate 20, which leads east-west from Texas to South Carolina. Shreveport, home of the Shreveport Regional Airport, is about 50 miles west. Alexandria, about 100 miles south, is the site of the Alexandria International Airport. In case of emergency, Bienville Medical Center is in Arcadia.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
