Jump to: Quality of Life • Medical • Education • Utilities • Recreation • Cultural
Festivals & Events • Retiring in Morehouse Parish

QUALITY OF LIFE
Morehouse Parish possesses all that’s needed for a healthy, active and safe lifestyle plus an array of scenic and outdoor recreation opportunities. These include hunting, fishing, water sports, camping and biking. In addition, the northeast Louisiana area is rich with museums, historical sites and other cultural activities. Life is relaxing, sincere and secure, with all the metro attractions in Monroe approximately 20 minutes away.

MEDICAL
The hospitals and medical facilities in Morehouse Parish and surrounding area have grown with the medical needs of the region.  Morehouse General Hospital has nearly 40 physicians on staff offering expertise in numerous specializations, and there is also a rehabilitation facility and retirement manor in the parish. 

EDUCATION  
The Northeast region is home to two universities that not only provide a broad curriculum, but research institutions that are the catalyst for business start-ups and expansions.  The University of Louisiana at Monroe and the Louisiana Tech University have an enrollment of nearly 20,000 students in such degree programs as business, pharmacy, chemistry, and nursing as well as research in the areas of micro manufacturing, biomedical engineering, pharmacy and more.

Additional training can be found at the area’s 8 community and technical college campuses in office systems technology, computer science, business, drafting and design, nursing, welding and many others that meet the needs of business.

For more information, visit the Workforce page.

UTILITIES

• Electricity – Entergy, Northeast LA Power Coop
• Natural Gas – Atmos Energy LA
• Water – Municipalities; People’s Water Service
• Sewerage – Rotating biological treatment plant
• Telephone -  CenturyTel; AT&T/BellSouth
• Fiber Optic – Fiber optic infrastructure in the parish and region along I-20, U.S. Hwy. 425 and U.S. Hwy 80

• Bastrop Country Club
• Bayou Bend Golf Course

• Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge
• Chemin-a-Haut State Park
• Handy Break National Wildlife Refuge

• Ouachita River
• Bayou Bartholomew
• Bonne Idee Bayou

CULTURAL

Museums

• Snyder Museum

• The Rose Theater
• Bastrop Municipal Center

• Mainstreet Bastrop
• Mainstreet Mer Rouge
• Simmon’s – region’s largest sportsman’s store

• Crawfish Festival
• Music on Main Street
• Black History Parade
• ‘Strop City Blues Festival
• North Louisiana Cotton Festival and Fair
• Bastrop Fall Arts & Crafts Festival

1. 20 miles to Monroe, a major metro area;
2. 20 minutes to Interstate-20;
3. 25 minutes to a regional airport;
4. Low sales and property taxes;
5. A moderate climate;
6. Activities such as hunting, fishing, golfing, and historical parks and other sites;
7. 7 hospitals and other medical care in the region including numerous specialists;
8. (4) four-year and (2) two-year colleges and universities in the region;
9. Affordable housing and land;
10. Close proximity to shopping including Simmon’s a major sportsman’s store in Bastrop; and
11. Employment opportunities if desired.

Morehouse Parish fairs well in comparison to similar communities across the southeastern U.S. in terms of cost of living and amenities it offers to retirees.  

And so does the state of Louisiana.  The state has consistently maintained a very high “retiree friendly” rating among the states in Bloomberg’s Personal Finance Magazine.   In 2000, 2001, and 2002 it ranked 2nd in” tax friendliness” for retirees and in 2000 and 2001 was ranked 8th and 7th in overall “wealth friendliness. “ (SOURCE:  Retire Louisiana, Retirement Ready Community:  Self-Assessment and Planning Handbook, October 2002)

Morehouse Tourism Commission
Telephone: 318-281-3794
Morehouse-Bastrop Chamber of Commerce -  The Chamber is a non-profit action association designed to advance the interests of the community and work together to make Morehouse Parish a better place to live, work and play.
Bastrop Main Street, City of Bastrop Main Street Program developed and maintains a truly revitalized downtown with businesses, shopping, farmer’s market and dining. 
Louisiana Main to Main -  Annual November event throughout Louisiana, showcasing Main Street Communities, including Bastrop. 
Morehouse Parish on NELEA -  Morehouse Parish profiled on the Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance, a 13-parish regional entity focused on growth in the region including parish, city and state contact information, education, recreation, healthcare and more in the region. 
Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism -  The Lt. Governor of Louisiana oversees the division of culture, recreation and tourism, including all the resources and activities throughout the state.