Winnsboro is a rural community with old-school charms
Despite being the biggest city in Franklin Parish, Winnsboro is proud of its small-town feel. The community of around 5,000 residents may not have the entertainment of a larger city like Monroe, around 45 miles away, but it has everything its residents need to get by — and to have a good time doing it. The area has several parks and is close to hunting and fishing opportunities, and people support the small businesses that line the region’s main strip. “It has a slow-moving, comfortable pace,” says Kayla Shirley, the director of the Franklin Parish Library. “There’s no glitz or glamor, but most people know everyone else in town. It’s almost like old times. You sit on the porch, waving to people as they drive by.”
Older traditional and ranch-style homes for below-median prices
Older ranch-style houses are predominant, but traditional homes can be found around the city’s Garden District. Most homes sit on lots between a half-acre and an acre in size. The median sale price is close to $180,000, well below the national median, and properties often sell after nearly 250 days on the market, more than triple the U.S. average of 70. The region’s neighborhoods have grid-like, narrow streets. Many properties have few plants in their yards, but some have trees or small bushes.
American and Cajun-style eateries alongside ice cream and coffee shops
Most of Winnsboro’s restaurants are off U.S. Route 425, known locally as Front Street. Cowboys Burgers & Grill serves classic American meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bamboo Gardens offers a Chinese buffet. Shay’s Restaurant uses Louisiana spices in its Cajun-style cooking. Downtown Scoops sells homemade ice cream, while The Coffee Shop provides cookies in addition to cups of joe. The city has Walmart and Dollar General locations. River of Life Church’s Fresh Start Pantry teams with the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana in handing out goods to the community.
Franklin Parish High School students choose between pathways
Students are served by the Franklin Parish School Board. Those in prekindergarten through eighth grade can attend Gilbert School, which holds a C-plus Niche grade. Franklin Parish High School offers both university and career pathways. It earns a B-minus grade.
The state’s LA GATOR Scholarship Program creates education scholarship accounts for participating families, who will then receive funds to pay for private school tuition or other expenses. The private Franklin Academy is for prekindergarten through 12th-grade students and has a C-plus rating. The area is also home to Louisiana Delta Community College’s Winnsboro campus.
Parks for sports and recreation, plus a resurgent arts scene
Davis Recreational Park received a new playground in 2022. The green space also has lighted tennis courts, baseball diamonds, a gazebo and a veterans memorial. Berry Park has a jungle gym, swing set and softball field. The J.W. McLemore Baseball Complex has additional places to play. To the east, the Big Lake Wildlife Management Area has space for hunting, with deer, squirrels and turkey among the most popular game. Camping, boating and fishing are also allowed, with bass, crappie and catfish being common catches.
The Winnsboro Main Street organization was formed to help redevelop Winnsboro’s Historic District and support its arts scene. The Princess Theatre hosts live performances and film screenings, and the Old Post Office Museum showcases works created by regional artists. The Franklin Parish Library hosts kids programming and sets up its “story walk” throughout downtown, placing pages of a book in various store windows, encouraging people to read the story while exploring the area.
Christmas celebrations and eclectic Mardi Gras festivities
Each holiday season, the Old Post Office Museum hosts its “Oh Christmas Tree” exhibit featuring trees decorated by local businesses. The city also throws a Christmas parade backed by live music. Winnsboro Main Street hosts a Mardi Gras celebration each spring, though the name and activities change; In 2025, the event included a “Carti Gras” golf cart parade and a children’s parade.
Access to U.S. Route 425 and Monroe Regional Airport
U.S. Route 425 runs north and south through the city. Shirley says there is not usually much traffic within the community, but Prairie Street can get hectic when events are about to begin. “We have some folks who can’t quite parallel park,” Shirley says with a laugh. Monroe is close to 45 miles away, while Monroe Regional Airport is about a 40-mile drive. Winnsboro is home to Franklin Medical Center, a hospital with nearly 40 beds. Shirley says residual effects from hurricanes can impact the area, but those storms are usually weakened when they arrive.
