Ironton, Louisiana facts for kids
Ironton is a small community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. It's not a big city, but more like a neighborhood or village. It sits right on the west side of the famous Mississippi River. You can find it between the river and a road called Louisiana Highway 23.
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Ironton: A Community in Louisiana
Ironton is known for its history and its strong community spirit. It has faced many challenges over the years. These challenges include getting basic services and recovering from powerful storms.
Where is Ironton?
Ironton is located in the state of Louisiana. It is part of Plaquemines Parish. This parish is a local government area, similar to a county. The community is on the west bank of the mighty Mississippi River. This river is one of the longest in North America. Ironton is also near Louisiana Highway 23. This road runs alongside the river.
A Look at Ironton's Past
For a long time, most people living in Ironton were African American. In the past, there was a time called segregation in the United States. During segregation, people were often treated differently because of their skin color. This meant that some communities did not get the same services as others.
For many years, Ironton did not have important services. For example, the community did not have running water in homes. This was a basic service that many other places had. People in Ironton had to work hard to get these services. In 1980, after news stories in Time Magazine and on CBS 60 Minutes shared their story, Ironton finally got running water. This was a big step forward for the community.
Facing the Storms
Like many places along the coast, Ironton has been hit by very strong hurricanes. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage. The storm brought a huge surge of water from the ocean. This water flooded and destroyed many homes and buildings in Ironton.
Just 16 years later, on August 29, 2021, another powerful storm hit. This was Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 hurricane. It came ashore just south of Ironton. Hurricane Ida caused a lot of damage again. The community had to rebuild for the second time in two decades. Despite these challenges, the people of Ironton continue to work together to rebuild their homes and their community.
