Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city of 22,284 people in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, founded in 1885.
Why visit Ruston
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 106 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Celebrity Theatres, Grambling State University, Dixie Center for the Arts and Federal Building.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 35°F.
Weather in Ruston
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ruston
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The 2020 population was 22,166. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Ruston is the principal city of the Ruston micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Lincoln Parish.
From the Wikipedia article Ruston, Louisiana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Celebrity Theatres
Cinema and theater · 0.8 mi
900 Celebrity Drive, Ruston
Grambling State University
School · 4.7 mi
Historically black university in Louisiana
Louisiana Tech University
School · 0.8 mi
University in Ruston, Louisiana, USA
Museums and landmarks23
Dixie Center for the Arts
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Theater and former movie theater in Ruston, Louisiana, United States
Federal Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Post office in Ruston, Louisiana
201 North Vienna Street, Ruston
Lewis House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Ruston, Louisiana, United States
210 East Alabama Avenue, Ruston
Ruston Central Fire Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Fire station in Ruston, Louisiana, United States
200 East Mississippi Avenue
Ruston High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
High school in Louisiana, United States
900 Bearcat Drive, Ruston
Ruston State Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic building in Ruston, Louisiana, United States
107 North Trenton Street, Ruston
T.L. James House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Louisiana, United States
504 North Vienna Street, Ruston
Calhoun Farmhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.1 mi
Farmhouse in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Charles P. Adams House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
United States historic place
Downtown
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district and central business district in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States
Grambling State University Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Historic district located in Grambling State University campus, in Grambling, Louisiana
Kidd-Davis House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in Louisiana
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds18
Lincoln Parish Park
Park · 3.8 mi
211 Parish Park Road, Ruston
Mar-May,Sep-Oct 08:00-19:00; May-Aug 08:00-20:00; Nov-Feb 08:00-17:00
J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park
Sports field and stadium · 1.0 mi
6 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes106
Beau Vines Steakhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 2.1 mi
2647 South Service Road West, Ruston
Mo-Th 17:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:00; Su 10:30-14:00
Black Rifle Coffee Company
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.8 mi
1913 East Kentucky Avenue, Ruston
Su-Th 06:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-19:00
Common Goods Co.
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.4 mi
301 North Monroe Street, Ruston
Mo-Fr 06:30-17:00; Sa 08:00-15:00
El Jarrito Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.6 mi
2017 Farmerville Highway, Ruston
Su-Th 10:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 10:30-23:00
Johnny's Pizza House
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 mi
1109 Cooktown Road, Ruston
Su-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
Johnny's Pizza House
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.9 mi
2029 East Kentucky Avenue, Ruston
Su-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-12:00
Mi Casa Latin Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.7 mi
601 South Vienna Street, Ruston
Mo-Sa 07:30-21:00; Su 09:00-21:00
Osaka Express
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 0.9 mi
1419 Eagle Drive
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:00-20:00
PJ's Coffee of New Orleans
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
1736 Farmerville Highway, Ruston
Mo-Fr 05:30-19:00; Sa 06:00-18:00; Su 07:00-17:00
Ponchatoulas
Restaurant · Cajun, Seafood, Sandwich, American, Louisianian
109 East Park Avenue, Ruston
Mo-Sa 10:30-21:00; Su 10:30-20:00
94 more on the map.
History
During the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, word soon reached the young parish near what is now Ruston, that the Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Pacific Railroad would begin to run across north Louisiana, linking the Deep South with the West (the current operator is Canadian Pacific Kansas City). Robert Edwin Russ, the Lincoln Parish sheriff from 1877–1880, donated 640 acres (2.6 km2) to the town and the area was eventually known as Ruston in his honor.
In 1883, commercial and residential lots were created and sold for $375 apiece; and soon the sawing of lumber and clacking of hammers could be heard throughout the area.
Vienna was the parish seat of Lincoln Parish from its creation in 1873 until 1884, when a parish-wide vote moved it to the new town of Ruston.
From the History section of Ruston, Louisiana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay12
The Lewis House Victorian Bed & Breakfast
Motel and hotel
210 East Alabama Avenue, Ruston
Churches and places of worship43
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · National Register of Historic Places
212 North Bonner Street, Ruston
Cathedral of Praise Worship Center
Church · Assemblies Of God · 3.5 mi
2877 Farmerville Highway, Ruston
Grace Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 2.3 mi
3401 North Trenton Street, Ruston
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Church · Greek Orthodox · 2.1 mi
2508 Kavanaugh Road, Ruston
Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ
Church · Church Of God In Christ · 1.5 mi
1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston
Shopping19
Gas and EV charging22
Schools, colleges and libraries20
Healthcare19
Fresenius Ruston Dialysis Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
760 South Farmerville Street, Ruston
Map of Ruston
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 35°F | 5.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 39°F | 5.2 in | 0.2 in |
| Mar | 69°F | 45°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 52°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 83°F | 61°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 69°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 93°F | 71°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 88°F | 65°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 78°F | 53°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 68°F | 44°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 38°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ruston La Tech (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lincoln Parish has had 29 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-02-18: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-10: Tropical Storm Francine (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-13: Tropical Storm Nicholas (Coastal Storm)
- 2021-08-29: Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-08-27: Tropical Storm Ida (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ruston Regional Airport (RSN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Grambling 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Vienna 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Choudrant 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Simsboro 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Dubach 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
- Quitman 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Claiborne 26 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Monroe 33 mi east, about 52 min by car
- Minden 38 mi west, about 1 h by car
- El Dorado 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Presbyterian Church of Ruston, LA IMG 3783, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ruston, LA 71270, USA - panoramio, Clotee Pridgen Alloc…, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ruston, Louisiana, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Ruston High 2024, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Ruston High School main steps 2024, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Various Ruston high photos 1947, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Joe Aillet Stadium, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Ruston, Louisiana, AllisonFoley, Public domain
- Historic fire station, Ruston, LA IMG 3790, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Front view of Ruston, LA, High School IMG 3837, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Federal Building - Ruston Louisiana, Dylan Dewenter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dixie Theater in Ruston, LA IMG 3778, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ruston State Bank, Dylan Dewenter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ruston Louisiana June 2016 Trenton Street, Lindsay Attaway, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Louisiana Tech University campus, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Martineziana dutertrei 185965554, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Keeny Hall, Dylan Dewenter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center side, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Wyly Tower of Learning, Louisiana Tech Campus, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- George T. Madison Hall, Louisiana Tech, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Dicerca spreta, Joseph Aubert, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center side entrance, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Wyly Tower from mid campus, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Side of the Louisiana tech Student Center, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center side entrance, aka “the tonk”, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Bookstore, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech “The Tonk”, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Howard Auditorium and Belltower at Louisiana Tech University, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Bell tower, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center aka. “The Tonk”, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech ballpark, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center or “The Tonk”, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Louisiana Tech Student Center and Wyly Tower, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Robinson Hall, Louisiana Tech, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Woodard Hall entrance , Louisiana Tech Campus, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Woodard Hall Complex, Louisiana Tech Campus, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Woodard Hall, Louisiana Tech Campus, Jmjm0110, CC BY 4.0
- Joe Aillet Stadium, Louisiana Tech Football, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Military Order of the Purple Heart IMG 0758, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Public domain
- ISS029-E-37646 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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