city, seat of Lincoln parish, northern Louisiana, U.S., 33 miles (53 km) west of Monroe. It was founded in 1883 by Robert E. Russ, for whom the town was named, on the Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Pacific Railroad (now part of the Illinois Central Railroad Company (Illinois Central Railroad)). Its economy is largely agricultural (cattle, peaches, poultry) but is augmented by light manufacturing and services for nearby oil and gas fields. Ruston is the seat of Louisiana Tech University (founded 1894). Grambling State University (1901) is in Grambling, 5 miles (8 km) west. Inc. 1884. Pop. (1990) 20,027; (2000) 20,546.