Ferriday’s roots in music and agriculture shape its identity
Ferriday is a small city in eastern Louisiana that began as a timber town in the early 1900s. By the midcentury, much of the lumber had been removed, though agriculture is present today. Beyond the heart of town lie cultivated fields and pastures supporting a farming economy. The Cotton Warehouse of Concordia stands off U.S. Highway 145. Donna Verdel, an agent with River Park Realty and a former Ferriday school teacher, notes that the area is similar to other Concordia Parish towns, with a few distinguishing features. "Ferriday has Concordia Lake, Lake St. John and the country club. Those homes [near the country club] are usually priced considerably higher," she says. Over the years, the local government has focused on the region's cultural history to attract tourism. Arcade Theater first opened as a cinema in the 1920s. The building was renovated in the early 21st century after it shuttered in the 1980s. Today, the established building holds exhibits and the Ferriday Song Festival. The area's artistic roots are celebrated through annual events.
Brick ranch homes and lakefront properties with limited listings
Gridline streets are along the town's center, where metal fences mark property lines. The area becomes more rural closer to the outskirts. These homes may have front yards with vine-covered trees or sit across from open fields. Some properties have gravel or paved driveways and backyards with workshops. Many dwellings along Lake Concordia include piers stretching into the water; however, these properties don't often hit the market. Ferriday offers primarily brick ranch-styles and manufactured homes. Housing prices range from around $60,000 to $160,000. Plots of land are also available on the market.
Concordia Parish is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes, which can cause damaging winds and tornadoes. Ferriday also has some risks of flooding.
Historic venues and tributes celebrate the region's musical history
Ferriday has been home to distinguished residents such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame & Arcade Theatre commemorates regional artists and showcases donated artifacts and memorabilia. From the 1940s through the 1960s, Haney's Big House was a vibrant barbecue and blues venue for the Black community, featuring renowned R&B and blues artists. Though destroyed in the 1960s under suspicious circumstances, the museum showcases its legacy. Today, an event space with a historic marker stands near the original site of Haney's Big House.
Students can attend public schools or Delta Charter
Families can apply for a school transfer request within the district through the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Children may attend Ferriday Lower Elementary, which has a B rating on Niche. Students in grades three to five can enroll in the C-rated Ferriday Upper Elementary. Ferriday Junior High and Ferriday High have C-minus ratings. Teens entering high school take classes in Ferriday Freshman Academy, a separate building on the campus. Delta Charter School accepts all grade levels and has a B rating. The local high school and charter school compete against each other during football season. Central Louisiana Technical Community College offers a satellite campus in Ferriday.
Outdoor recreation includes a refuge, lake access and a 9-hole course
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge, about 5 miles away, attracts locals for hiking, fishing and deer hunting. Ferriday's location supports outdoor activities across its waterways and woodlands; the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries manages several nearby public sites. There is a boat ramp off Wildlife Fisheries Road into Lake Concordia, and a launch site on the Mississippi River via State Route 3196. The Panola Woods Country Club has a 9-hole golf course and monthly tournaments.
Locals shop nearby and dine at eateries serving Southern-style items
Local businesses include Ferriday Market, the community grocer and Budget Build Lumber & Supply Inc. There are also manufacturers and small industrial sites in town. The dining scene leans toward casual options serving Southern-style comfort food. "I love Big John's Bar-B-Que. And the Ducks Nest is on the lake [is popular]," Verdel says. For more shopping, locals can travel about 8 miles to Vidalia, which has a Walmart Supercenter and more restaurants.
Churches, highways and a 24-hour hospital serve Ferriday locals
Ferriday is a car-dependent community, and locals travel along Highways 425 and 84. Although the area is small, it is home to over 10 places of worship, including The Harvest Baptist Church and First United Pentecostal Church. The city's hospital, Trinity Medical, operates 24 hours a day.
Written By
Ashley Kennedy
