Jefferson, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jefferson, Louisiana Old Jefferson
Census-designated place
Old Jefferson welcome sign at the boundary with the City of New Orleans
Jefferson, Louisiana Location in Louisiana
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Jefferson
Area
• Total	3.27 sq mi (8.48 km2)
• Land	2.71 sq mi (7.01 km2)
• Water	0.57 sq mi (1.47 km2)
Elevation	3 ft (0.9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,633
• Density	3,927.96/sq mi (1,516.44/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	70121
Area code(s)	504
FIPS code	22-38145
GNIS code	2402632

Jefferson is a community in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It's located on the "East Bank" of the mighty Mississippi River. Jefferson is part of the larger New Orleans area, which includes nearby cities like Metairie and Kenner. In 2020, about 10,533 people lived here. Locals often call it "Old Jefferson" to tell it apart from other parts of Jefferson Parish.

History of Jefferson

Whitehall Plantation House is a rare survivor from the area's plantation era

Long ago, French explorers found this area. Native American groups lived here along the "Tchoupitoulas Coast." During the French and Spanish rule, the land was divided into large farms called plantations. These farms stretched from the river inland.

During the American Civil War, a fort called Camp Parapet was built here. Confederate soldiers first built it to protect New Orleans from attacks coming up the river. Later, when Union troops took over New Orleans, they made the fort even stronger. They wanted to defend against any Confederate counterattacks, but these attacks never happened.

Jefferson today includes several older small communities. Some of these, like Hoeyville and Southport, date back to the 1800s. In the 1900s, new neighborhoods like Azalea Gardens were built. People in Jefferson sometimes still use these old names for their local areas.

In 1928, the four-lane Jefferson Highway opened. This new road helped Jefferson grow quickly. It became a popular suburban area near New Orleans.

A famous old landmark was "The Beverly." It started as an old plantation house. In the 1920s, it became a music spot called "Suburban Gardens." Famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong even played there in 1931. Later, in 1945, it became a fancy, but illegal, gambling casino called the Beverly Country Club. After the government stopped the gambling, it became a dinner theater. Sadly, it burned down in 1983.

Geography and Location

Jefferson is in the northern part of Jefferson Parish. It's located at 29°57′51″N 90°9′26″W / 29.96417°N 90.15722°W / 29.96417; -90.15722. To the north is Metairie, and to the west is Elmwood. Across the Mississippi River to the south is Bridge City. To the east, Jefferson borders the city of New Orleans.

U.S. Route 90, also known as Jefferson Highway, runs through the middle of the community. This highway leads east about 6 miles (10 km) to downtown New Orleans.

The community covers about 3.3 square miles (8.5 square kilometers). About 2.7 square miles (7.0 square kilometers) is land, and 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers) is water.

Jefferson's northern border with Metairie has three barriers: a drainage canal, railroad tracks, and the Earhart Expressway. Only two public roads, Causeway Boulevard and Central Avenue, cross these barriers. Many years ago, other roads connected the areas, but now Jefferson feels like a more tucked-away neighborhood. It is growing with new shops and businesses. A major landmark here is the Ochsner Medical Center.

Population and People

The population of Jefferson has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 11,193 people. By 2020, the population was 10,533.

In 2020, most people in Jefferson were White (59.07%). About 21.79% were Black or African American. Hispanic or Latino people made up 13.63% of the population. The community is becoming more diverse, with people from many different backgrounds living there. In 2019, the average household income was $50,972. About 12.6% of the people lived at or below the poverty line.

Education in Jefferson

Riverdale High School

Riverdale Middle School

Jefferson Elementary School

The Jefferson Parish Public Schools system runs the schools in Jefferson. Students living in Jefferson go to Jefferson K-8 School. This school was created in 2020 by combining Jefferson Elementary and Riverdale Middle schools. Students also attend Riverdale High School, which is located in Jefferson.

For students who want to join advanced study programs, they can go to Metairie Academy or Haynes Academy in Old Metairie.

There used to be a private Catholic school called St. Agnes School in Jefferson. It opened in 1941 but closed in 2015. Now, a charter school for students who need a different learning environment, called Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy (JCFA), uses the building.

Public Libraries

Rosedale branch library

The Jefferson Parish Library system has a branch in Jefferson called the Rosedale Library. This library is built on the site of an old plantation house named "Rosedale." The original house was built in 1838. It was destroyed by two fires in 1978. The current library building opened in 1986.

Healthcare Services

Ochsner Medical Center

Jefferson is home to the Ochsner Medical Center. This is a large hospital and the main headquarters for the Ochsner Health System. It provides many important medical services to the community.

Notable People from Jefferson

Some famous jazz musicians lived in Old Jefferson. These include Johnny Wiggs and William "Baba" Ridgely.

See also

In Spanish: Jefferson (Luisiana) para niños