The History of Kinder Louisiana

This spot in southwest Louisiana, that we call home, is in Allen Parish, though the original name in 1804 was "Territory of Orleans".  In 1807 the territory was divided into nineteen parishes, we were included in the Calcasieu  with our parish seat in Lake Charles. People began to settle the area forming a wonderful mixed culture including Acadian French, French from France, Scotch-Irish, German, English and others. As the Parish became more heavily populated, it became necessary to make another division.  On June 12, 1912 almost 100 years after the Louisiana Purchase, three parishes were carved out of the Calcasieu- Jefferson Davis, Allen and Beauregard.  The rest remained the Calcasieu.  The Northeastern portion that became Allen, was named after the confederate governor of Louisiana, Henry Watkins Allen.

In 1769 Spain had made a concentrated effort to colonizing the are land grants, cattle provisions, and farm tools. That was the beginning of populating this new land, but when the Homestead act was passed, large numbers from Mississippi moved into this part of Louisiana.  One of the first persons to take advantage of the Homestead Act was James A. Kinder, who arrived July 9, 1889.  He took a soldier's claim of 138.97 acres on what is now the site of the town of Kinder.