Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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 Location in the state of Louisiana |
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| Formed | |||
| Seat | Gretna | ||
| Area - Total - Water |
1,664 km² (642 mi²) 870 km² (336 mi²) 52.29% |
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| Population - (2000) - Density |
455,466 574/km² |
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| Official Website www.jeffparish.net |
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Jefferson Parish is a parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Gretna and as of 2000, the population is 455,466.
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Geography
The parish has a total area of 1,664 km2 (642 mi2). 794 km2 (307 mi2) of it is land and 870 km2 (336 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 52.29% water.
Adjacent parishes
- Lake Pontchartrain (north)
- Orleans Parish (northeast)
- Plaquemines Parish (east)
- Gulf of Mexico (south)
- Lafourche Parish (southwest)
- St. Charles Parish (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 455,466 people, 176,234 households, and 120,191 families residing in the parish. The population density is 574/km2 (1,486/mi2). There are 187,907 housing units at an average density of 237/km2 (613/mi2). The racial makeup of the parish is 69.82% White, 22.86% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 3.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. 7.12% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Households
There are 176,234 households out of which 31.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.20% are married couples living together, 15.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% are non-families. 26.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.56 and the average family size is 3.13.
Ages
In the parish the population is spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.60 males.
Income
The median income for a household in the parish is $38,435, and the median income for a family is $45,834. Males have a median income of $35,081 versus $24,921 for females. The per capita income for the parish is $19,953. 13.70% of the population and 10.80% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.00% of those under the age of 18 and 9.80% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Public High Schools
Hurricane Katrina
With the passing of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, Jefferson Parish took a hard hit. On the East Bank, massive flooding was reported as well as much wind damage. Schools were also reported to have been severely damaged. On the West Bank, the flooding was not as severe; however, there was still much wind damage. As a result, the Jefferson Parish Council has temporarily moved the parish government to Baton Rouge. Evacuees of Jefferson Parish have been told that they can expect to be able to go back to their homes starting Monday, September 5, 2005 between the hours of 6 am CDT and 6 pm CDT. For the month of September, a 6 pm curfew has been put into effect.
Aaron Broussard, the parish president, issued the following statement, which was posted on the parish's website:
Jefferson Parish is not a safe place to return to at this time. Therefore, I am exercising my authority under the Louisiana Disaster Act and issuing a 'lock out' order for all Jefferson Parish citizens until 6 a.m. on Monday, September 5th.
I have asked the Governor to utilize the State Police and National Guard for assistance in this mandatory lockout. This time will be needed to clear debris from streets so people can enter Jefferson Parish at their own risk.
We are at a catastrophic, disastrous impasse. There are a tremendous amount of trees down, gas leaks, low water pressure, and downed electrical lines which could start a fire that we have no way of putting out. There are no traffic controls. Many places are still flooded and this standing water will become toxic.
Jefferson Parish emergency managers will need this time to at least clear major East/West thoroughfares so that you can enter Jefferson Parish. However, I strongly suggest that you just come here to gather more belongings and leave, as it will still be a dangerous place. I cannot stress strongly enough that there will be no stores to purchase food or supplies so please do so prior to coming back to Jefferson Parish.
Try to stay with friends and relatives out of the hurricane affected area during the weeks to come. We cannot sustain any viable quality of life in Jefferson Parish at this time or for some time to come.
On September 4, Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard broke down on "Meet The Press"
RUSSERT: You just heard the director of homeland security’s explanation of what has happened this last week. What is your reaction?
BROUSSARD: We have been abandoned by our own country. Hurricane Katrina will go down in history as one of the worst storms ever to hit an American coast. But the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will go down as one of the worst abandonments of Americans on American soil ever in U.S. history. … Whoever is at the top of this totem pole, that totem pole needs to be chainsawed off and we’ve got to start with some new leadership. It’s not just Katrina that caused all these deaths in New Orleans here. Bureaucracy has committed murder here in the greater New Orleans area and bureaucracy has to stand trial before Congress now....
Three quick examples. We had Wal-Mart deliver three trucks of water. FEMA turned them back. They said we didn’t need them. This was a week ago. FEMA, we had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a Coast Guard vessel docked in my parish. When we got there with our trucks, FEMA says don’t give you the fuel. Yesterday — yesterday — FEMA comes in and cuts all of our emergency communication lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in, he reconnects the line. He posts armed guards and said no one is getting near these lines…
I want to give you one last story and I’ll shut up and let you tell me whatever you want to tell me. The guy who runs this building I’m in, Emergency Management, he’s responsible for everything. His mother was trapped in St. Bernard nursing home and every day she called him and said, “Are you coming, son? Is somebody coming?” and he said, "Yeah, Mama, somebody's coming to get you." Somebody's coming to get you on Tuesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Wednesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Thursday. Somebody's coming to get you on Friday… and she drowned Friday night. She drowned Friday night! [Sobbing] Nobody's coming to get us. Nobody's coming to get us… (Video: WMV MOV)
City of Gretna Controversy
The City of Gretna, located in Jefferson Parish, made news after its police force participated in a road block on the Greater New Orleans Bridge after Hurricane Katrina. The purpose was to stop evacuees from crossing over into the secured community from New Orleans. Some have alleged racism; officials in Gretna have stressed that they had nothing to offer the fleeing masses.
The Gretna City Council susequently passed a resolution supporting the decision.;
"This wasn't just one man's decision," Mayor Ronnie C. Harris said. "The whole community backs it."
Cities and towns
External links
- Official website
- Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
- Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court's Office
- Jefferson Historical Society of Louisiana
