How Sarepta, LA Got Its Name & Why It’s Going Viral
Why is a tiny Northwest Louisiana town catching so much love on TikTok right now? If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you might have noticed Sarepta, Louisiana making the rounds, all thanks to a hilarious conversation between country legend Trace Adkins and comedian Theo Von.
During a recent podcast appearance, Von asked Adkins about his hometown, leading to a quick history lesson and a few laughs about how the Webster Parish town actually got its name.
If you’re from Sarepta, you probably already know the origin story: back around 1869, a local woman named Mrs. Sarepta Carter donated a large pulpit Bible to a newly built country church. The only catch? The church had to be named in her honor. The congregation agreed, and eventually, the surrounding settlement adopted the name, too.
Hearing the story, Adkins joked with Von that he might need to gift two Bibles to the town just so he could get the name changed.
The country star didn't stop there. He went on to share a funny story about his mother, Peggy Adkins (formerly Peggy Carraway). Before stepping into local politics, Peggy spent her career as a dedicated high school teacher. In November 2013, after serving as mayor pro tem, she took over as the full-time mayor of Sarepta when she ran unopposed, a position she has held for over a decade.
@mindtomind_9 Theo von podcast with trace adkins part 4. #theovon #podcast #interview #traceadkins #talkshow ♬ original sound - INFJ DETAILS
Adkins joked about how his mom gets to "play judge" in her mayoral duties, recalling a time she humorously sentenced someone to six months of Sunday school!
Whether it's a funny podcast clip or a quirky piece of local history, we always love seeing our small Northwest Louisiana towns get their moment in the viral spotlight!