parish
Quick Summary
Louisiana is unique among U.S. states for using the term "parish" instead of "county" to designate its largest local administrative districts. This distinction stems from the state's historical ties to the Roman Catholic Church, particularly during French and Spanish colonial rule.1
The church established parishes as administrative units for religious and civil purposes. When Louisiana became a U.S. state, it initially adopted a system of counties but later reverted to using parishes, solidifying the terminology in its 1845 constitution. Today, Louisiana has 64 parishes, each with its own elected governing board, known as a "police jury". The term "parish seat" is the Louisiana equivalent of a county seat.123
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