Covington, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Covington, Louisiana
City
City of Covington
St. Tammany Parish Offices
Location of Covington in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	St. Tammany
Founded	1813
Founded by	John Wharton Collins
Named for	Leonard Wailes Covington
Area
• Total	8.15 sq mi (21.12 km2)
• Land	8.02 sq mi (20.77 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.35 km2)
Elevation	26 ft (8 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,564
• Density	1,441.90/sq mi (556.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CDT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	70433, 70434, 70435
Area code(s)	985
FIPS code	22-18125
Website	http://www.covla.com

Covington is a city in Louisiana, United States. It's also the main city, or "parish seat," of St. Tammany Parish. In 2020, about 11,564 people lived there. Covington is located where two rivers, the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River, meet. It's part of a larger area that includes nearby cities like Slidell and Mandeville. Did you know Covington has been a filming location for over 30 movies in the last 20 years?

History of Covington

A train at Covington in 1907.

The first known European settlement in this area was in 1800. A person named Jacques Drieux started it when the area was called British West Florida.

In 1813, John Wharton Collins founded a town called Wharton. His burial place is in the city cemetery, right across from the police station. On March 11, 1816, Wharton was renamed Covington. There are different ideas about why. Many people think it was named after General Leonard Covington. He was a hero in the War of 1812 and sadly died in 1813.

However, some historians, like Judge Steve Ellis, have another idea. They suggest a local lawyer, Jesse Jones, wanted to name the city after a type of whiskey. This whiskey was made in Covington, Kentucky. Either way, both towns are named after General Leonard Covington.

Long ago, people used boats to bring goods to Covington. They traveled up the Bogue Falaya River and then through the Tchefuncte River to Lake Pontchartrain. Then, in 1888, the railroad came to town. Today, much of the old railroad path is now the Tammany Trace. This is a 31-mile bike trail that goes through several towns north of Lake Pontchartrain.

In the late 1900s, Louisiana's road system grew. Many people who worked in New Orleans started living in Covington. They would drive to work using the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. As the interstate highway system expanded, Covington grew a lot. Many people moved to the Northshore area. They found more affordable homes and larger yards. They also liked the small-town feel.

Geography of Covington

Covington covers about 8.15 square miles (21.12 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The city is divided into many neighborhoods. Some well-known ones include West 30s, West 20s, Ozone, River Forest, Covington Point, and Downtown Covington. Barkley Parc is another notable community.

Population and People

In 2020, there were 11,564 people living in Covington. This included 3,710 households and 2,546 families. The city's population grew from 8,765 people in 2010.

In 2000, about 77.45% of the people were White. About 20.17% were African American. A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander. About 1.56% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. By 2019, the numbers were similar. About 77.6% were White and 18.9% were Black or African American.

In 2000, about 33.8% of households had children under 18. About 46.8% were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.52 people. The average family had about 3.10 people.

The median age in the city was 38 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38 and half were older. About 26.8% of the population was under 18. About 14.5% were 65 or older.

In 2019, the average income for a household in Covington was $71,548. About 13.4% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Economy and Businesses

Covington is home to several important businesses. One is Zen-Noh Grain Corporation. This company is part of a large Japanese cooperative. Another is Globalstar, which is a satellite communications company. They operate satellites that orbit Earth. Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights also has a factory in Covington.

The Tulane National Primate Research Center is located here too. It's a research facility that studies health and diseases. It's connected with Tulane University.

Fun Things to Do and See

St. Peter Catholic Church

There's a tall statue of Ronald Reagan in Covington. It's about 10 feet (3 meters) tall and stands on a 6-foot (1.8-meter) base. Some say it's the world's largest statue of the former president!

The Covington trail head is the start of the Tammany Trace. This is a 31-mile paved path for hikers and bicyclists. It connects Covington with other towns like Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe, and Slidell. It's a great place to enjoy nature and get some exercise.

Schools in Covington

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools manages the public schools in Covington.

Some private schools are also located in the city:

Other private schools are just outside the city limits but have Covington addresses:

• Archbishop Hannan High School
• Christ Episcopal's main campus (grades 1-12)
• Northlake Christian School

Famous People from Covington

Many well-known people have lived in or are from Covington.

Covington in Movies

Covington has been a popular spot for filming movies! Here are some films that were made there:

• 1995 — Dead Man Walking
• 1995 — Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long
• 1997 — Eve's Bayou
• 2005 — Local Color
• 2008 — The Yellow Handkerchief
• 2009 — I Love You Phillip Morris
• 2010 — The Pregnancy Pact
• 2012 — The Lucky One
• 2013 — Beautiful Creatures
• 2014 — American Ultra
• 2015 — Joe Dirt 2
• 2019 — The Highwaymen
• 2023 — Five Nights at Freddy's

See also

In Spanish: Covington (Luisiana) para niños