The Truth About Louisiana’s Lawless No-Man’s-Land

Lafayette, Louisiana (KMDL) - For nearly 15 years, a large section of western Louisiana existed without laws, government, or military control.

Officially known as The Neutral Strip, this mysterious and lawless region is one of the most fascinating chapters in Louisiana’s early history.

Also called Louisiana's No-Man’s-Land, The Neutral Ground, or The Neutral Zone, this territory stretched from Cameron Parish to just south of Shreveport, and between 1806 and 1821, it became a magnet for outlaws, exiles, deserters, and people looking to get rich.

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How Did the Neutral Strip in Louisiana Come to Be?

It all began with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. While the United States acquired this huge new territory from France, there was confusion and conflict over the western boundary of the new land.

Spain, which controlled nearby Texas, disputed where the border should be.

To avoid a war, the U.S. and Spain signed a temporary agreement in 1806, now known as the Neutral Ground Agreement.

This compromise created a buffer zone between American and Spanish territory with one important catch: neither side was allowed to occupy, patrol, or settle the land.

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In theory, the Neutral Strip was supposed to remain uninhabited. In reality, it quickly filled up with people looking to get away from any government control or laws.

Political refugees, army deserters, criminals, and risk-takers all looking for a new start began to move to this ungoverned area of Louisiana.

With no legal system in place, the area earned a reputation for lawlessness and became one of the most dangerous and unruly parts of the United States.

In 1810 and once again in 1812, the United States teamed up with Spain to send troops into Louisiana's lawless area and kick people out.

The Neutral Strip remained ungoverned until 1821 when Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and officially recognized American claims to the disputed land. It was then incorporated into the state of Louisiana.

Read more at louisianafolklife.com.