History :

Winn Parish and Winnfield have a fascinating history. Indians of the Pascagoula and Choctaw tribes, as well as bands of the Tunicas found that rivers and forests of this parish were very pleasant and profitable hunting and fishing grounds. French settlers founded colonies on Red River and Saline Bayou. St. Maurice, a small town in the sw corner of the parish, became an important boat landing on the Red River. Winn Parish was officially formed by the state legislature in 1852. Winnfield was established as the parish seat. There is an ongoing debate regarding the naming of Winn Pairsh, some say it was named after Walter O. Winn the representative who sponsored the legislation to establish the parish and some say it was named after Winfield Scott, a hero of the War of Mexico.