In 1854, the first post office was established at Fordoche, with Thomas Farrar designated as its first postmaster. There are two conflicting stories about how the town's name was derived. One story suggests that it received its name from a Caddo Indian word meaning "wild animal lair" (i.e., the bed of a wild beast) and the other claims that it is named after a Louisiana French term for underbrush found in bayou bottom.[3]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 933 people, 341 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density was 383.8 inhabitants per square mile (148.2/km2). There were 361 housing units at an average density of 148.5 per square mile (57.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.68% White, 8.57% African American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 341 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,364, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $32,400 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,223. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
^"Boundary Changes". Geographic Change Notes: Louisiana. Population Division, United States Census Bureau. May 19, 2006. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
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