Bonita is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 170 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 284 in 2010.
Not much is known on the early history of Bonita, but it is believed that the exstention of the Missouri Pacific Railroad through Morehouse Parish in the 1890s is what triggered the establishment of the town.[3] The construction of a post office around the same period solidifies this.
Bonita was incorporated as a village in 1901.[4]
Five churches serve the small village. St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, St. Luke Baptist Church, St. Joe Ame Church, the Bonita Church of God, and the Bonita Baptist Church.
Bonita is located in northeastern Morehouse Parish at 32°55′18″N 91°40′26″W / 32.92167°N 91.67389°W / 32.92167; -91.67389 (32.921780, -91.673838).[5] U.S. Route 165 passes through the village, leading southwest 12 miles (19 km) to Mer Rouge and 20 miles (32 km) to Bastrop, the parish seat, while to the northeast it leads 11 miles (18 km) to Wilmot, Arkansas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bonita has a total area of 1.35 square miles (3.50 km2), all of it recorded as land. Bayou Bonne Idee winds through the east side of the village, running south to the Boeuf River east of Oak Ridge. It is part of the Ouachita River watershed.
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 335 people, 122 households, and 87 families residing in the village. The population density was 247.0 inhabitants per square mile (95.4/km2). There were 143 housing units at an average density of 105.4 per square mile (40.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 42.69% White, 55.52% African American, 0.30% Asian, 1.49% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 122 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,727, and the median income for a family was $25,227. Males had a median income of $19,167 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income for the village was $25,029. About 25.0% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 27.0% of those age 65 or over.