On March 14, 1832 an Act by the state legistlature was approved for the creation of the Carroll Parish. It was carved out of the northern part of the original Concordia Parish created in 1809 and the eastern part of Ouachita Parish. Carroll Parish was named in honor of Charles Carroll, a philanthropist, statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Lake Providence was the first seat of government.

In 1877, it was decided that Carroll Parish would be divided into two parishes, West Carroll and East Carroll. Bayou Macon formed the boundary between the two parishes. The division resolved a feud over the site of the seat of government. Oak Grove was named the parish seat of West Carroll Parish and Lake Providence became the parish seat of East Carroll Parish.

The history of the town of Lake Providence is varied and is quintessentially Louisiana. The name of the small village was derived from an odd source....Mississippi River pirates. Bunch and his band of pirates, occupying a critical bend in the river, terrorized travelers and merchants as they passed down the Mississippi. It was said that if a ship passed this bend with the lives of its' crew and its' merchandise in tact, it was surely an act of "Providence." The village below that bend became known as Providence. It remained that until the early 1900's when Lake was added to the title to decrease post office confusion with Providence, Rhode Island.

Lake Providence is the oldest town in Louisiana north of Natchitoches. Early on, it served as a stopping point for fur trappers and traders and other rough and rowdy types. The first permanent settlers were mostly from England, Scotland, Germany, and Ireland. Between 1803 and 1812, these folks migrated in from areas to the north and to the east of Louisiana. A settler named James Floyd claimed 640 acres along the Mississippi River. This land was to become the town of Lake Providence and surrounding areas.

Currently, the town of Lake Providence sits on a beautiful six mile long oxbow lake that was formed when the Mississippi River changed its' course many years ago. The town charter was adopted around 1812. The same year that Louisiana became a state. The town currently serves as the parish seat of East Carroll Parish. As you know, a parish is basically the same as a county; the term reflects Louisiana's French Napoleonic history.

The parish has a total area of 442  square miles, of which 421 square miles is land and 21 square mile (4.75%) is water. The population recorded in the 1900 Federal Census was 11,373. The 2010 census recorded 7,759 residents in the Parish.

Neigboring parishes and counties are Chicot County, AR (north), Issaquena County, MS (east), Warren County, MS (southeast), Madison Parish (south), Richland Parish (southwest), and West Carroll Parish (west). Communities in the parish include Lake Providence, Transylvania, Alsatia, Brunett (historical), Cottonwood, Lebanon (historical), Millikin, Panola, Shelburn, and Waddell.

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 East Carroll 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 East Carroll Parish Important Addresses page.