Emerson is located in southern Columbia County and is located along U.S. Route 79, 12 miles (19 km) south of Magnolia, the county seat, and 9 miles (14 km) north of Haynesville, Louisiana.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Emerson has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the town was 66% White, 32.60% Black or African American, and 0.3% from other races.

Major industries in the area are timber, bromine and bromine-based products, and oil.

[citation needed] Each year since 1990, on the last Saturday of June, Emerson hosts the Purple Hull Peas Festival & World Championship Rotary Tiller Race.