Clarks, LA

Clarks is a quiet community in north-central Louisiana, located in Caldwell Parish right along U.S. Route 165. Home to roughly a thousand people, it is actually the parish's largest town, giving residents a relaxed, small-town setting about seven miles south of Columbia. The community originally took shape in the early 1900s, when the Louisiana Central Lumber Company built a complete company town along the railroad to support the local timber industry.

ATTRDonna Fricker / Public domain

In its 1920s heyday, the mill supported everything from neighborhood housing and schools to churches, a commissary, and a town ball field. The mill closed in the 1950s, but that original street layout still gives Clarks a close-knit feel. A few historic landmarks, including a preserved community lodge called The Oasis, still stand as reminders of the town's past. Today, Clarks offers affordable living, plenty of open space, and a peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle with an easy drive to neighboring towns.