Many, LA

The heart of Toledo Bend Country is the Town of Many, Louisiana. Many offers rich history, diverse culture, an expansive economy and continual progress ... all in one package.

The town, founded May 17, 1843 and named for Colonel John B. Many, who once commanded the garrison at Fort Jesup, has most of the modern conveniences of a large city while retaining the charm and safety of a small Southern town.

A visit to Many will uncover a rainbow of colorful assets ... from its friendly people to its splendid scenery; from its unique architecture to its recreational adventures; and from the enthusiastic spirit of cooperation amongst its residents to the progressive nature of its governing authorities.

Picture a city with a well-trained and highly active police force, quality paved roads, modern street lighting, sidewalks, fresh drinking water, sewage facilities, door-to-door trash collection, low cost recreation opportunities, many shopping opportunities and an active city government. Now imagine those big city conveniences without traffic hassles and high crime; in their place are low cost of living, safety and security, concerned government, even-paced living, and plenty of quiet, manicured neighborhoods. Add to that mild climate and lots of country charm, Southern hospitality and hometown pride, and you get a true flavor of living in Many.

The shopping hub of Sabine Parish, Many includes a variety of businesses, shops, stores and restaurants. Shopping in the downtown area is a pleasant experience, and consumers can park and walk from store to store to check out the sales.

The Town of Many has initiated its own Main Street program, parallel to the Main Street America program which is federally funded. The local program, which is in its early stages, aims to restore and renovate downtown buildings to provide an enjoyable shopping experience. The uniqueness of the Many Main Street program is that it does not rely on any federal or state dollars, rather is a completely independent program sponsored by the town with the cooperation of local merchants. That independent thinking is indicative of the way of the residents of the Town of Many - not waiting for Uncle Sam to take care of them.

Another feature of the Town of Many is its Hart Memorial Airport, a modern airport which offers air transportation in and out of Toledo Bend Country.

Many is proud of its churches and their dedicated congregations. Three of these churches can boast over 150 years of continuous service to the religious needs of the community.

The largest town in Sabine Parish, as well as the parish seat, Many offers quality education, with an elementary, junior high, high school and college situated on separate campuses.

Also noteworthy are the excellent medical services available. Sabine Medical Center is a modern hospital with up-to-date equipment and a highly-trained staff. Various medical clinics are situated in town offering an array of medical services, along with pharmacies, ambulance services and home health care. A reliable Emergency 911 system is also in place.

The Town of Many is centrally located to major metropolitan shopping areas. It is just over an hour driving time From Shreveport and Alexandria, two hours from Lake Charles, three hours from Houston, four hours from Dallas, and five hours from New Orleans.

Because of the great progress made in recent years, the Town of Many was listed in the top five percent of the fastest growing areas in the Mid-Southern United States, in a report published in 1995 by MapFacts.

Others are discovering Many's Southern charm and diversity. You can too! For more information on the Town of Many, call (318) 256-4010 or write P.O. Box 1330, Many, Louisiana 71449.

History

Many is situated in the heart of what was the Neutral Strip. Louisiana was owned by France, Spain, then France again and at last purchased by the United States when Thomas Jefferson was president. But there was a strip of land that was not defined in the sale that both the United States and Mexico claimed. Here was the land of no law and many renegades and outlaws came to escape the law.

A group of Belgians first settled the present site of Many in 1837. Six years later the town actually was founded. In 1843 Sabine Parish (we have Parishes instead of Counties in Louisiana, and our law is based upon the old Code of Napoleon instead of the Common Law of England) was created out of Natchitoches Parish, which was settled in 1717 by the French. Baldwin's Store was selected as the site for Many, and the town was named for Col. Many who was then commander of nearby Fort Jesup. Baldwin's Store was selected as it was a crossroads of the old El Camino Real (the Spanish King's Highway, built by the early Spanish settlers and which ran to Mexico) and several crossroads that ran north and south. At Baldwin's Store, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett stopped to water their horses and "have a drink" before going to Fort Jesup and on to the Alamo and Texas.

Fort Jesup, five miles away, was the largest fort in the United States, because the young United States feared war with Mexico. This war came during the time Zachary Taylor was in command of Fort Jesup. Here Phil Sheridan, U. S. Grant, and Jefferson Davis served as young officers, Jefferson Davis marrying Zachary Taylor's daughter. Later Jefferson Davis became the President of the Confederacy, and Zachary Taylor became President of the United States of America. Fort Jesup was the "trigger point" from which the war with Mexico was launched.

One of the most colorful pictures of our land is the naming of Sabine Parish. Long before Louisiana was settled and while France was its careless owner - soon after DeSoto, Iberville, Bienville, and other early explorers came - a boat of French explorers sailed up the Sabine River (then having no name). They stopped at an Indian village and one night invited the Indian braves and their beautiful Indian maidens aboard to feast. They served the braves wine, and after much wine had been served and the Indian braves were "quite full", the French explorers threw them overboard and sailed away with the beautiful Indian maidens. This story was so similar in history to the Roman story of the "Rape of the Sabines" that Sabine River (the boundary between Louisiana and Texas), Sabine Lake and Sabine Parish received their names.

We have a French, Spanish, and English heritage. Also, the only battles fought in the Revolutionary War outside the Thirteen Original Colonies were fought in Louisiana. The British wished to strike the Colonies from behind and planned to sail up the Mississippi River into the Ohio and and attack the Colonies from the rear. The shrimp boats, private boats, and gun boats under Galvez de Bernardo (who later became Governor of Louisiana) attacked and defeated the British at Manchac and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and drove the British from the Mississippi River. I like to think of Louisiana as the Fourteenth Original Colony!

Source: (Historic Information) Sabine Parish Library - paper by Virginia Godfrey

E-Mail the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce      Call Us: (318) 256-3523 - (800) 358-7802

Email the Sabine Parish Tourism Commission      Call Us: (318) 256-5880 - (800) 358-7802

Information Request Form - CLICK HERE
(c) Copyright 1999, 2003 by Sabine Parish Tourism Commission / Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce
NOTICE: Every effort is made to have accurate and current information, but we do not guarantee the accuracy of any information and you use the information presented here at your own risk.