2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 237,848 people, 92,589 households, and 56,525 families residing in the parish.
At the 2010 U.S. census, there were 254,969 people, 119,502 households, and 68,900 families residing in the parish. According to 2012 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the Caddo Parish population was 257,093. As of 2010, the population density was 286 people per square mile (110/km2).
At the 2019 American Community Survey, the racial and ethnic makeup of the parish was 49.9% Black or African American, 44.3% non-Hispanic or Latino white, 0.4% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 0.3% some other race, 1.8% two or more races, and 2.9% Hispanic or Latin American of any race. In 2010, the racial makeup of the parish was 49.1% White, 40.0% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races; 5.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latin American.
In 2010, there were 119,502 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.20% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.11. In 2019, there were 92,589 households spread throughout 113,578 housing units; 59.8% of housing units were owner-occupied. The median gross rent was $810.
At the 2010 census, the parish the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.90 males. At the 2019 American Community Survey, 76.1% were aged 18 and older, and 6.8% of the population were age 5 and under. The median age was 38.8.
Economy
The parish includes some of the poorest areas in the state by ZIP code. Statistics from 2014 show:
West Shreveport (71103) was the poorest ZIP code in the state with a per capita income of just $22,267.
Queensborough, Shreveport (71109) was the fourth-poorest with $24,966.
Caddo Heights/South Highlands (71108) was the fifth-poorest with $25,334.
Rodessa (71069) was the twenty-fourth-poorest with $34,346.
The largest employers in the region are:
Law and government
As parish seat, Shreveport is the site of the parish courthouse. Caddo Parish comprises the 1st Judicial District. Located downtown on Texas Street, the courthouse contains both civil and criminal courts. The current elected judges are: Ramon Lafitte, Craig O. Marcotte, Michael A. Pitman, Karelia R. Stewart, Robert P. Waddell, Erin Leigh W. Garrett, Katherine C. Dorroh, John Mosely, Jr., Brady O'Callaghan, Ramona Emanuel, Charles G. Tutt, and Roy Brun. The Clerk of Court is Mike Spence. Caddo Parish like all parishes in Louisiana utilizes Justices of the Peace and Constables particularly when civil suits below $5000 or an eviction has been filed.
Politics
Since the late 20th century, most conservative whites in Louisiana have shifted into the Republican Party. Politics largely follows ethnic patterns, as most African Americans have supported national Democratic candidates since regaining the power to vote and other civil rights under Democratic national administrations. Some urban liberal whites also vote Democratic. Since 1980, Caddo Parish has voted for the overall national popular vote winner in presidential campaigns. Notably the city of Shreveport is the base for Democratic strength, while surrounding white-majority suburban areas are aligned with the Republican Party.
In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush won Caddo Parish. He received 51% of the vote and 54,292 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry received 48% of the vote and 51,739 votes.
In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama won 51% of the vote and 55,536 votes in the parish. John McCain trailed with 48% and 52,228 votes. Other candidates received about 1% of the vote. McCain carried the state of Louisiana.
In the U.S. Senate election in 2008, Democrat Mary Landrieu, who survived a hard challenge from Republican John Neely Kennedy, received 58% of the vote in Caddo Parish and 60,558 votes. John Kennedy won 40% of the vote and 41,348 votes. Other candidates received 2% of the vote.
In the 2016 US Senate election, Republican John Neely Kennedy defeated Democrat Foster Campbell in Caddo Parish. Kennedy also won the general statewide election, giving Louisiana two Republican senators.
Caddo Parish hasn't voted for a popular vote loser since 1976, tied for the longest streak in the country with St. Joseph County, Indiana, and Rockland County, New York. In 2000 and 2016, Caddo Parish voted for Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, respectively, both of whom won the popular vote but lost the electoral college. The longest bellwether county for electoral college victors is Clallam County, Washington.
Education
The Caddo Parish School Board operates public schools. The parish also has fourteen private schools.
It is in the service area of Bossier Parish Community College.
Correction center
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections operated the Forcht-Wade Correctional Center in Keithville, an unincorporated section of Caddo Parish. As the state succeeded in reducing the number of prisoners, it closed this facility in July 2012.
The Caddo Correctional Center is a full-service parish jail rated at a capacity of 1,500 beds. Constructed in 1994, this facility was designed to successfully manage a large number of inmates with a minimum of personnel. The Caddo Correctional Center is the largest jail in the Ark-La-Tex and the only "direct supervision" facility in the state.
