Denham Springs, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denham Springs, Louisiana
City
City of Denham Springs
From top, left to right: Old Denham Springs City Hall, Old Brown Hotel, Denham Springs High School
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Bedroom of Baton Rouge
Denham Springs, Louisiana Location in Louisiana Show map of Louisiana Denham Springs, Louisiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States Denham Springs, Louisiana Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Livingston
Named for	Local spring and William Denham
Government
• Type	Mayor-council Government
• Body	Denham Springs City Council
Area
• Total	7.35 sq mi (19.05 km2)
• Land	7.29 sq mi (18.89 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,286
• Density	1,273.28/sq mi (491.64/km2)
Demonym(s)	Denhamite
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	70726
Area codes	225
FIPS code	22-20435

Denham Springs is a city in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a busy center for homes and businesses in Livingston Parish. Denham Springs and Walker are the only two places in the parish called cities.

In 2020, about 9,286 people lived in Denham Springs. Over the years, the city has been known by different names. These include Amite Springs and Hill's Springs, before it became Denham Springs.

History of Denham Springs

How Did Denham Springs Begin?

The city of Denham Springs started on land first claimed by John Noblet and Alexander Hogue. In 1828, William Denham married Mercy Hogue, Alexander Hogue's daughter. A few months later, he bought the land that belonged to his father-in-law. He paid $1,350 for the land.

Many people believe William Denham found the mineral springs on his land. They think a health resort quickly grew there. However, people like Hogue probably used these springs for drinking water long before Denham arrived.

In the 1850s, the area became known as Amite Springs.

The Health Resort Era

On May 1, 1855, William Denham sold his land to Stamaty Covas from New Orleans. Covas paid $3,050 for the property. Denham later moved to Baton Rouge and then to Texas.

It seems that a health resort did become popular at Amite Springs before the American Civil War. Old newspaper ads describe the hotel and its features. For example, a newspaper in 1856 mentioned a bridge of boats. This bridge helped people travel to Amite Springs across the Amite River.

The hotel is thought to have burned down during the Civil War. After the war, Covas lost the land because of unpaid taxes. George L. Minton bought it for $124.00.

Growth and New Names

Even though William Denham had moved away, his name stayed linked to the mineral spring area. George L. Minton became the first mayor of Denham Springs. He also started the Denham Springs News newspaper. Minton began dividing the land into smaller lots. He sold these lots for homes and businesses. This helped the village grow.

In 1879, a post office was planned north of the city. It was named Hill's Springs in 1880. By 1890, John R. Allen became the postmaster. The post office moved inside the current city limits. On May 9, 1898, its name officially changed to Denham Springs.

Another reason for the community's growth was the Denham Springs Collegiate Institute. This school was founded in 1895. It was a good school that attracted students from many miles away. These boarding students might have created a need for more hotels. The school was located where the Presbyterian Church is today.

Denham Springs in the 20th Century

George L. Minton was elected the first mayor of Denham Springs in 1903. He served until 1912.

The city grew for a few reasons in the early 1900s. One reason was the health springs. Hotel owners like Ivy Cockerham and J.B. Easterly built hotels near the public park. Some people believed the spring water could help sick people.

Around 1908, the Denham Springs Collegiate Institute became part of the public school system. A new brick building was built on the same site. This was the start of Denham Springs High School, which is now the largest high school in the parish.

Denham Springs officially became a village on May 8, 1903. Governor Huey Long made it a town in 1929. Then, in 1957, it was declared a city.

Modern Denham Springs

Several things helped Denham Springs grow after 1900. The building of a railroad line was important. The city of Baton Rouge also grew as a center for industry. Better roads made Denham Springs a good place for people who worked in Baton Rouge to live. The railroad helped businesses move toward the Range Avenue area. It also made Denham Springs a shipping center for farm crops.

The railroad line from Baton Rouge to Hammond was finished in February 1908. The first train ran on February 26. Good roads and cars, along with the growth of the petrochemical industry in Baton Rouge, made Denham Springs a popular place to live for Baton Rouge workers. It became known as the "bedroom of Baton Rouge." Denham Springs also became a banking and business hub for Livingston Parish.

The Denham Springs City Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Louisiana in 1993.

Recent Times: 21st Century

Denham Springs is located where major highways meet. These include US 190 and Interstate 12, which run east-west. La. Hwy. 16 is a main north-south road. The city is also on the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad line. This railroad was very important in the city's early days.

The Amite River forms part of the city's border. Ground-water springs, which give the city its name, come to the surface here.

In August 2016, a major flood hit the area. A state of emergency was declared. Denham Springs was heavily damaged. About 90% of homes in the Greater Baton Rouge area were damaged or destroyed. The Amite River, which flows through Denham Springs, was one of the rivers that flooded badly.

Today, downtown Denham Springs has changed a lot. It used to have hardware stores and doctors' offices. Now, it is full of unique antique shops and boutiques. You can also find popular local restaurants and cafes. This historic downtown area is now known as the Denham Springs Antique Village. It is recognized as a cultural arts district.

Geography

Denham Springs is located in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana. It is part of the larger Baton Rouge metropolitan area.

Climate

Denham Springs has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and mild winters. The city gets a lot of rain. It can also have strong thunderstorms and high winds throughout the year.

Who Lives in Denham Springs?

In 2020, there were 9,286 people living in Denham Springs. There were 3,615 households and 2,256 families. Most people were non-Hispanic white (81.6%). About 13.9% were Black or African American. The average household income was $53,435.

Education

Denham Springs is part of the Livingston Parish Public Schools system.

High Schools

• Denham Springs High School
• Denham Springs Freshman High School

Junior High Schools

• Denham Springs Junior High School
• Southside Junior High School
• Juban Parc Junior High School

Elementary Schools

• Denham Springs Elementary School
• Freshwater Elementary School
• Juban Parc Elementary School
• Lewis Vincent Elementary School
• Southside Elementary School

Notable People from Denham Springs

• Valarie Hodges (born 1955), a businesswoman and a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
• Jefferson D. Hughes, III, an associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court since 2013. He grew up in Denham Springs.
• Rosalie "Lady Tambourine" Washington (born 1957), a gospel musician known for playing the tambourine.
• Robert Pete Williams (1914-1980), a blues musician.

See also

In Spanish: Denham Springs para niños