The Best Small Town In Louisiana For Seniors

With safety and community among the major concerns for seniors planning a move, the small town of Natchitoches provides the perfect balance of both. For starters, the town is home to the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, which is the largest rural medical center in Louisiana. This is accompanied by a deep history, as Natchitoches is the oldest settlement of the Louisiana Purchase territory. This history is emphasized at sites such as the Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historical Site, which replicates a fort from the 1700s. The town also has access to relaxing spaces such as Sibley Lake and the Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery, which is home to more than 50 outdoor ponds. Natchitoches's combination of history and affordable housing options (a median house price of $198,000) makes it a great location for seniors.

History

Sitting just southeast of Shreveport, Natchitoches has a population of less than 20,000 and offers great opportunities to connect with the town's history. Natchitoches is actually the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana. Established in 1714 by the French as a trading center, Natchitoches has a history as broad and quirky as the territory itself, which changed hands through the Louisiana Purchase, giving the town an additional claim to the oldest permanent settlement of Purchase territory. In its three centuries of history, the “City of Lights” has shone on a growing array of cultural influences, including African, Native American, and Creole. In modern times, Natchitoches continues to etch itself into history as the filming location for the film Steel Magnolias and as the hometown of many notable stars in the arts and entertainment field, such as Clementine Hunter. There are plenty of places to explore history in Natchitoches, including the Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historical Site, where a historically authentic recreation of a European fort in the territory stands open for visitors.

Benefits for Seniors

Senior travelers have their own priorities when it comes to finding a small town to settle down in or explore in their golden years, such as affordability and access to good medical care; Natchitoches not only has both reasonable real estate and bountiful medical services, but also a strong sense of community, which will benefit new arrivals and visitors alike. To start, the median house price in Natchitoches and its surrounding areas is well below the state’s median of $206,946, with the town itself having a median of $179,034 and the wider Natchitoches Parish sitting even lower at $165,540, meaning finding a cozy home is far less expensive. And with Natchitoches Parish having the largest rural medical center in Louisiana, seniors in the area will be enjoying their home more and for longer.

The Natchitoches Regional Medical Center not only is a large economic factor in the area, but also operates 21 different health-related clinics and facilities, so no matter what a senior citizen’s medical needs might be, they won’t have to go far. And whether seniors plan to visit briefly or stay forever in what Oprah Winfrey called “the best little town in America,” the warm community offers not only a diverse and plentiful culture to settle into, but plenty to enjoy.

Nature

For those seniors who want to spend their time outdoors, the City of Lights offers visitors plenty of outdoor beauty and excitement, no matter what your physical activity level is, particularly along Sibley Lake to the West of town. A perfect place to start is the Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery. Dedicated to providing a variety of species of fish a safe place, the Hatchery’s over fifty outdoor ponds are open to the public, allowing you to wander at your leisure amidst the waters. It’s a perfect site for birdwatching, exercise, or just strolling, although be sure to leave the fishing poles at home. The Hatchery also has an indoor aquarium for those who want a more climate-controlled way to experience nature. If you’d rather be able to take the fish home with you after your day out, Sibley Lake sits along the western side of Natchitoches. In addition to serving as the primary source of drinking water for the town, it often hosts fishing tournaments, giving veteran fishermen a chance to reel in a juicy catfish or largemouth bass.

Food

While one of Louisiana’s sweeter nicknames is “the Sugar State,” there’s more than sweets available for a hungry senior citizen wandering Natchitoches. Louisiana is famed for its soul food, and Natchitoches is no exception. You won’t have to go far to find a soulful spot, but one of particular note is the Legacy Café. In addition to using locally sourced ingredients to make classic soul food, the Legacy Café also feeds the soul of Natchitoches through various community projects ranging from education to workforce development, including a community garden. And if you do want to put the nickname to the test, the Cane River Candy Shop is a highlight of the historical district, with chocolates, ice cream, sodas, and retro candy to take you back to a more vintage style of candy store. And when seniors need a place to sit and talk with friends over a strong coffee or soothing tea, coffee shops like Storybrew Coffee Café have rich flavors and richer atmospheres to soak in.

Further Explorations

Seniors freshly arriving in Natchitoches will find plenty to do not only in town, but also in its neighbors. Placed perfectly south of Shreveport and north-west of New Orleans, Natchitoches sits amidst countless other vibrant towns. Natchez, Louisiana, holds a population of less than six hundred, which belies its large place in the history of the region and the state itself. Across the Red River, Clarence has not only scenic landmarks such as the bridge, but also some of the best barbecue in Louisiana; Grayson’s Barbeque has been serving fantastically flavorful favorites for over fifty years.

Seniors will find Natchitoches an excellent place to start their next chapter. Its deep-rooted history and blend of cultures will wrap them up tight, and its affordability and easy access to medical care will help them leave their worries for another day. Once they’re settled in, they’ll be sure to find plenty to keep them comfortably active outdoors and indoors, with a wide variety of cuisines and options to keep them and their wallets full, while Natchitoches’ neighbors provide even more to explore and experience.