The Architecture of the North Louisiana River Parishes, Volume 1: Ouachita Parish

by Louisiana Tech University. Department of Architecture

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE TWIN CITIES

Field research of the buildings of Ouachita Parish has revealed that there are three distinct characteristic types of architecture. In the western hilly region of the parish is the small farm type, and in the eastern river delta region the rural plantation type prevailed. Both of these have been previously described. The third category of architecture is the urban type, found within the environs of Monroe and West Monroe.

Whereas the rural architecture, with the exception of the plantation owner’s house, tended to be utilitarian and unconcerned with stylistic trends, the urban architecture very often was reflective of the currently popular national architectural styles. The styles most evident in extant residences in Monroe and West Monroe include Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and California Bungalow.

Styles found in ecclesiastical, civic and commercial buildings include Victorian Gothic and the Classic Revivals of the twentieth century.

Following is a sampling of the various folk and styled architecture found within the city limits of Monroe and West Monroe.