Bossier Parish is located in northwest Louisiana along the east side of Red River, and is bordered on the north by the State of Arkansas. Bossier Parish was created on February 24, 1843, from an area cut out of Claiborne Parish by Act 33 of 1843. Prior to 1828, Claiborne Parish was part of Natchitoches Parish, one of the original nineteen parishes established in 1807. Bossier Parish was named for General Pierre Evariste John Baptiste Bossier, who was elected to congress from this district the same year Bossier Parish was created. General Bossier, who received his title as a general of the Louisiana Militia, was born in Natchitoches in 1797 of a Creole family which was one of the first to settle in this community.

The first parish seat was Freedonia; however, within a short time it was renamed Society Hill, and finally Bellevue. The first police jury was organized on June 19, 1843. In the early days of Bossier Parish, the police jury exercised powers of government long since taken away from the parishes. In 1850 the first official census was taken and the population of Bossier Parish was listed as 6,952. Benton has been the parish seat of government since 1888, when the courthouse at Bellevue was partly burned. Since Bellevue had no railroad, it became necessary that the parish seat be moved to a place where transportation could be utilized to the best advantage of the public. At that time there arose much rivalry between Haughton, Benton and Cane's Landing (modern-day Bossier City). The necessary steps were taken by the police jury to authorize relocating the parish seat, and eventually election results showed that the majority favored Benton. However, some members of the police jury, being disgruntled at the outcome, refused to meet and promulgate the official returns of the election. While this controversy was being carried on, a wide-awake citizenry from Benton slipped into Bellevue at the crack of dawn and loaded the remains of the records belonging in the courthouse and successfully transported them to Benton. After some time, the police jury met and authorized the construction of a courthouse, and in 1890 moved into the structure. This courthouse, with the addition of a jail and several adjacent structures, served the parish until its age and overcrowding necessitated a change.

A new Bossier Parish Courthouse was constructed in the early 1970’s at a cost of approximately $2.5 million. The five-story structure comprised 106,000 square feet, housed all parish offices and contained a 130-bed maximum-security jail on the fifth floor. A ½ cent sales tax approved in 2000 funded the renovation of this structure, and the addition of 76,800 square feet, at a cost of $28 million. The maximum-security jail was moved to a new 132,000 s.f. building on Old Plain Dealing Road, alongside the minimum-security jail which was constructed in 1994. Along with the medium-security jail built by the Bossier Parish Sheriff, the total inmate capacity is approximately 1350.

The population of Bossier Parish has increased from 7,000 in 1840 to approximately 100,000 in the 2000 census. Bossier has long been regarded as one of the fastest growing parishes in the state of Louisiana.

The parish has a total area of 867 square miles, of which 839 square miles is land and 28 square mile (3.19%) is water. The population recorded in the 1850 Federal Census was 6,962. The 2010 census recorded 158,200 residents in the Parish.

Neigboring parishes and counties are Miller County, AR (northwest), Lafayette County, AR (north), Webster Parish (east), Bienville Parish (southeast), Red River Parish (south), and Caddo Parish (west). Communities in the parish include Benton, Bossier City, Eastwood, Haughton, Plain Dealing, and Red Chute.

Birth Records - The Louisiana State office maintains records for 100 years after the date of birth. Birth records are considered confidential for the first 100 years. For current information on who may obtain a birth record as well as how to submit a request visit the Office of Public Health, Vital Records Registry website or write to them at PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160.

Birth records older than 100 years are available through the Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. (225) 922-1000.

Death Records - The Louisiana State office maintains records for 100 years after the date of death. Death records are considered confidential for the first 100 years. For current information on who may obtain a death record as well as how to submit a request visit the Office of Public Health, Vital Records Registry website or write to them at PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160.

Death records older than 100 years are available through the Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. (225) 922-1000.

Marriage Records - For current information on how to submit a request for a certified copy of an Orleans Parish marriage record less than 50 years old, see the Louisiana Office of Public Health Director, Vital Records and Statistics website or write to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160.

Certified copies for the parish are issued by Clerk of Court. For the address of the parish Clerk of Court visit the Bossier Parish Important Addresses page.

Marriage records over 50 years are stored by the Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. (225) 922-1000.

Divorce Records - To obtain current information on how to submit a request for a certified copy of divorce records contact the Clerk of Court. For the address of the parish Clerk of Court visit the Bossier Parish Important Addresses page.