December 18, 2023
For a town founded in a region that was once called "No Man's Land," DeRiddersure was welcoming. No Man's Land described the neutral area between Texas andLouisiana belonging neither to Spain nor the United States after the LouisianaPurchase, when the two countries disagreed on the boundary. Far from isolatedor desolate, the town of about 10,000 located in Southwest Louisiana near theTexas border emits an aura of connectedness and vibrancy. To be sure, the townhas its share of economic challenges, yet the spirit of resiliency that shapedDeRidder's history is certain to be its future as well.
As I approached DeRidder in my car, the landscape was striking and somehowfamiliar, even though this was my first visit to the area. It resembledsouthern Georgia or Alabama: the occasional water tower to greet you, hamletsyou wish you had time to visit, and pines as far as the horizon, accompaniedby the seemingly accidental hardwoods shouting for attention with their fallcolors.
My visit in early November—as part of the Atlanta Fed's mission toengage directly with the people we serve—included talks with localcommunity and civic groups as well as a roundtable discussion hosted by thelocal chamber of commerce. Why DeRidder? The Atlanta Fed engages with smallertowns and rural areas to ensure that these important voices are incorporatedinto our understanding of the regional economy. (The Atlanta Fed isresponsible for the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which includes Alabama,Florida, and Georgia and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.)DeRidder is also home to Janelle Frost, past member and chair of our NewOrleans Branch's board of directors. Jannelle is CEO of AMERISAFE, a providerof specialty workers' compensation insurance. When we described our efforts tospend time in smaller towns, she championed a visit to DeRidder.
"You will not be a stranger for long in DeRidder'" Janelle said. "Whetheryou are just passing through or have generational roots here, you willfind a friendly face in DeRidder, a place that prides itself oncommunity."
Railroads and natural resources
Like many small cities in the Southeast, the railroad that runs throughthe center of town speaks to its history. Originally settled in the late1800s by track layers working to connect Kansas City with Port Arthur,DeRidder was incorporated in 1903. Ella de Ridder, the sister-in-law ofthe Dutch railroad financier who was behind the project, is the town'snamesake. The town grew quickly, driven in large part by the longleaf pineindustry that produced lumber and many byproducts like resins, whichremain central to the area's manufacturing industry. It also serves as theseat of Beauregard Parish.
Spain and the United States eventually agreed on the Louisiana-Texasborder, well before the railroad was established. But the region had bythen developed a reputation of being a tough, remote place, attractingonly the hardiest pioneers and occasional vagabonds. Some of thatindependent and hardened spirit remains today, but over the years, it'sbeen softened with an openness and connection that makes visitors feel notonly welcome, but also part of the community.
Local businesses contribute to community events downtown. I thought thatthe AMERISAFE scarecrow, which was part of the town's Halloweenfestivities, was a friendly local helping me find a parking space!
I sensed that openness and connection as soon as I got to town. Dropping bythe Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce, where I would be hearing frombusiness and community leaders the following day, I met Lisa Adams, thechamber's executive director, and executive assistant Stephanie Carroll. Aquick hello turned into a conversation about the town, its people, and itsfuture. Both were busy planning multiple business and community events, butthey dropped what they were doing to welcome me.
The railroad runs through downtown DeRidder. Rail played a big part in thetown's early development.
"People here are loyal—loyal to the town and loyal to theiremployer. I think that makes DeRidder so special." Lisa said. "Theinterest in our community events is growing. People want to be a part ofwhat's happening here."
As if on cue, a gentleman walked in during our chat to inquire about theupcoming holiday festivities. "We'll have all that posted soon. Drop bynext week and I'll have the whole schedule done." Lisa and Stephanie seemto have a knack for making everyone feel like they are special.
Looking forward with an eye to the past
All the small towns I've visited have historic buildings, and most areoccupied. The chamber, for example, is housed in the old City Drug Store,and a recent renovation led to the discovery of a mosaic that now welcomesvisitors as they enter. One of Lisa's many projects is placing plaques onhistoric buildings that tell a story—when they were built and whohas occupied them—a very special touch, especially for history nerdslike me.
The historic plaque at the entrance to the Greater Beauregard Chamber ofCommerce greets visitors. DeRidder residents believe that embracing the town'shistory is key to building the future. (Yes, those are my well-worn shoes inthe photo!)
I had two other encounters when I first got to town that solidified my viewthat DeRidder was an exceptional place, one during a visit to the DeRidderUSO/War Memorial Civic Center and the other at the Beauregard Museum. Theformer place is the first off-base USO center in the United States, built toserve World War II soldiers training in nearby Fort Polk and since renamedFort Johnson. In addition to hosting an amazing collection of artifacts, thecenter puts on community events. During my visit, the civic center held anevent to honor the town's veterans. It was a gift to chat with some of thembefore the ceremony.
DeRidder residents are proud of their support of our heroic service men andwomen.
The Beauregard Museum, located in the historic train depot, has artifacts fromcity and parish history. This is where I met Elona Weston, the museum'sdirector. Like Lisa, she dropped what she was doing to welcome me and answermy questions. Also like Lisa, she gave her immediate attention to a residentfrom a nearby town who came in to ask about the Lois Loftin Doll Museum, whichis in the nearby Beauregard Parish Welcome Center. (It's an incrediblecollection, by the way—more than 3,000 dolls on display!)
The museum posts regular blogs about the area's history and has a calendarfull of cultural events from bluegrass jams to children's events. Elona toldme about a unique town project that involves building an oral history byrecording thoughts and memories of the parish's longtime residents.
DeRidder's economic story is one of resilience
Something that business and community leaders shared with me was their beliefthat economic activity was already slowing. Home improvement firms noted aslowdown, and people in real estate said home sales and new construction wereoff. Energy exploration offers some opportunity, some noted, but in a regionthat focuses on fossil fuels, the long-term outlook is uncertain.
DeRidder was once part of an isolated no man's land, but business andcommunity leaders today recognize they are part of a global community, whereindependence and isolation no longer serve the town's best interests. Theeconomic opportunities of tomorrow's generation will be guided by decisionsthese leaders make today, and everyone in DeRidder is keenly aware of thisresponsibility.
The ample pine forests that have always surrounded the town remain acenterpiece of the local economy, but the industry doesn't employ nearly asmany people as in the past. Sawmills and paper production are present, but thetown was reeling when I arrived from the recent announcement that IngevityCorporation would be closing its DeRidder manufacturing complex, which usedpine byproducts from paper manufacturing to create industrial materials. Closeto 200 jobs will be lost. This might not sound so large in a town of 10,000,but the loss of these positions will have a significant impact on localhousing, retail, health care, and education.
Understanding and accepting the past is key to unlocking the future. Themuseum was being renovated when I took this photo.
As Janelle said, "DeRidder is not immune to economic downturn. Mike'svisit coincided with an announcement of a manufacturing facility closure,the second such announcement in a year's time. Jobs lost will be mostlywell-paying skilled labor jobs that are difficult to replace in DeRidder,thus forcing families to consider employment with a two-plus-hour commute,or relocation. In addition, there is the ripple effect to our educationand health care systems, and the housing market. For a family-orientedcommunity like ours, the power to educate and employ our residents andtheir children is a primary focus."
Ingevity has also been a leading contributor to local charities, so theeffect on those agencies' ability to meet the needs of the community willbe immediate. The announcement comes on the heels of the closing of aplastics plant earlier in the year, so the town's history of resilience iscertainly being put to the test.
The Fed listens
The Federal Reserve's ability to achieve its mission depends on thesupport of the people we serve. Getting out into these communities iscritical to understanding how our policy decisions are affecting people'slives. Visiting places like DeRidder, learning about their past,understanding their present circ*mstances, and thinking about their futureis how we will achieve this mission.
As a former Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta director, Janelle has seenfirsthand how the Bank weaves what it learns through its outreach efforts intothe policymaking process. About my recent visit, she said, "It was a privilegeto welcome Mike to DeRidder. We appreciated the opportunity to be heard andthe Bank's eagerness to understand from our business leaders what is importantto our region's economy."
Mike Chriszt
Atlanta Fed's vice president for regional outreach
