Jefferson Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

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Jefferson Parish

Parish

City Hall in Gretna

Flag

Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana

Louisiana's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Louisiana

Founded

February 11, 1825

Largest community

Area

• Total

665 sq mi (1,720 km²)

• Land

296 sq mi (770 km²)

• Water

370 sq mi (1,000 km²) 56%

Population

(2020)

• Total

440,781

• Density

660/sq mi (250/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Area code

504,985

Congressional districts

1st, 2nd, 6th

Jefferson Parish is a special kind of county in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It's named after U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. In 2020, about 440,781 people lived here. The main government office, called the parish seat, is in Gretna. The biggest community is Metairie, and the largest city is Kenner. Jefferson Parish is part of the larger New Orleans area.

Exploring Jefferson Parish's Past

How Jefferson Parish Began

Barataria Bay Lighthouse, around 1903

Jefferson Parish was created on February 11, 1825. It was named to honor Thomas Jefferson, who was the third U.S. President. You can even see a bronze statue of him in Gretna, where the main government buildings are.

When it was first formed, Jefferson Parish was much bigger. It stretched from New Orleans all the way to the St. Charles Parish line. But over time, as New Orleans grew, it took over some of Jefferson Parish's towns. These towns became part of Orleans Parish. The current borders between Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish were set in 1874. That's also when Gretna became the parish seat.

Growth and Change from 1940 to 2000

From the 1940s to the 1970s, many families moved to Jefferson Parish from New Orleans. They were looking for more space and new homes. The population of the parish grew very quickly during these years.

New neighborhoods were built on the Eastbank of Jefferson Parish, often called "East Jefferson." These areas were easy to reach thanks to new roads like Veterans Highway and later I-10. On the Westbank, known as "West Jefferson," big new communities started to appear after the Greater New Orleans Bridge was built in 1958.

Over time, Jefferson Parish became more than just a place where people lived and worked in New Orleans. It started to have many jobs and businesses of its own. Areas like the Causeway Boulevard corridor became centers for offices, and the Elmwood area grew into a hub for factories and distribution. Today, Jefferson Parish is still a major shopping area for the entire New Orleans region.

Hurricane Katrina's Impact in 2005

A house in Gretna after Hurricane Katrina in 2005

A billboard in Terrytown after Hurricane Katrina in 2005

Metairie after Hurricane Katrina in 2005

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit Jefferson Parish hard. On the East Bank, there was a lot of flooding and wind damage. Schools were also badly damaged. The West Bank had less flooding but still suffered from strong winds. Because of the storm, the parish government temporarily moved its operations.

After the storm, many parts of Jefferson Parish recovered quickly. The parish's flood protection systems, like levees and floodwalls, mostly held strong. This helped water to be pumped out faster. By October 2006, Jefferson Parish had largely recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Many people who had left during the storm began to return.

Flooding Challenges During Katrina

Some areas on the East Bank experienced flooding because the stormwater pumps were turned off during the storm. This meant that rainwater and storm surge water stayed on the streets and in homes for a day and a half. Many homes that were not damaged by wind still had severe flood damage. Officials have since made plans to improve how they evacuate important workers and manage pumping stations during future storms.

Another area, Old Metairie, flooded because it relied on New Orleans' drainage system, which failed. This caused deep water damage to many expensive homes. Plans are being considered to improve drainage in this area.

Life After Katrina

By April 2007, Jefferson Parish was leading the nation in job growth. This showed how well the area was rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. The parish president believed that Jefferson Parish would soon have as many people as before the hurricane, or even more. This was because people who had moved out of New Orleans were returning to Jefferson Parish to be closer to their homes while they waited for help to repair them.

Geography and Natural Areas

The northern suburbs of Jefferson Parish, including parts of Kenner and Metairie

Jefferson Parish covers about 665 square miles. More than half of this area (56%) is water, including parts of Lake Pontchartrain to the north. The mighty Mississippi River flows through the middle of the parish.

Jefferson Parish is surrounded by other parishes. To the north across Lake Pontchartrain is St. Tammany Parish. To the west is St. Charles Parish. To the east is Orleans Parish. And to the southeast is Plaquemines Parish. Much of the southern part of Jefferson Parish is made up of marshland, except for towns like Grand Isle.

Protected Natural Spaces

Jefferson Parish is home to some important natural areas:

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (a part of it is in Marrero)
Bayou Segnette State Park
Grand Isle State Park

Neighboring Parishes

Orleans Parish (east)
St. Bernard Parish (east)
Plaquemines Parish (east)
Lafourche Parish (west)
St. Charles Parish (west)
St. Tammany Parish (north)

Towns and Communities

Jefferson Memorial Arch and Gretna Courthouse

Jefferson Parish has several cities, towns, and other communities:

Cities

Gretna (this is where the parish government is located)
Harahan
Kenner (the largest city in the parish)
Westwego

Towns

Other Communities

Who Lives in Jefferson Parish?

Jefferson Parish is a place where many people speak Louisiana Creole.

In 2020, about 440,781 people lived in Jefferson Parish. The population has changed over the years. For example, between 2000 and 2010, the total population went down a bit. However, the number of Hispanic and Latino residents increased. This might be because many Hispanic and Latino people came to the area after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to help with rebuilding.

Jefferson Parish is a diverse place. In 2020, about 47% of residents were non-Hispanic white, and about 26% were Black or African American. About 18% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Most people in Jefferson Parish identify as Christian. The largest Christian group is Catholic, served by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. There are also many Baptist churches and Pentecostal churches in the parish.

Jefferson Parish's Economy

The economy of Jefferson Parish is closely connected to that of New Orleans, as it's part of the same big metropolitan area.

Many people work for large organizations and companies in the parish. Here are some of the top employers:

Ochsner Health System (a large healthcare provider)
Jefferson Parish Public Schools
Superior Energy Services
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Jefferson Parish government
ACME Truck Line
East Jefferson General Hospital
Planet Beach
West Jefferson Medical Center
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office

Other important businesses include Friedrich Custom Manufacturing, which makes police barricades, and Starr Textiles. After the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, the parish began working on plans to bring even more businesses to the area and make its economy stronger.

Learning and Libraries

The Jane O'Brein Chatelein Westbank Regional Library in Harvey

Public schools in Jefferson Parish are run by Jefferson Parish Public Schools. The Jefferson Parish Library system provides public libraries for everyone to use.

Many students in the parish have also attended private schools, especially Catholic schools. In 2014, over 25% of school-aged children in Jefferson Parish went to private schools. However, the number of students in private schools has slowly gone down. This is partly because more charter schools have opened, and the public schools have improved. Events like Hurricane Katrina and the 2008 recession also played a role.

Getting Around Jefferson Parish

A Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office unit in 2013

Jefferson Parish has a good network of roads, including an interstate highway and many U.S. and state highways.

Major Roads

East Bank Roads

Interstate 10: This highway connects the East Bank to St. Charles Parish (upriver) and New Orleans (downriver).
U.S. Highway 61: Also connects the East Bank to St. Charles Parish and New Orleans.
U.S. Highway 90: This road links the East Bank to the West Bank using the Huey P. Long Bridge. It also goes to New Orleans.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway: This very long bridge connects the East Bank to St. Tammany Parish across Lake Pontchartrain.

West Bank Roads

U.S. Highway 90: Connects the West Bank to the East Bank via the Huey P. Long Bridge and also goes to St. Charles Parish.
U.S. Highway 90 Business: Connects the West Bank to New Orleans.
Louisiana Highway 18: Connects the West Bank to St. Charles Parish.
Louisiana Highway 23: Connects the West Bank to Plaquemines Parish.
Louisiana Highway 45: This highway connects the West Bank to towns in the southern part of Jefferson Parish, like Jean Lafitte and Barataria.

Grand Isle Road

Louisiana Highway 1: This road connects Grand Isle to Lafourche Parish.

Public Transportation

Jefferson Parish Transit (also known as JeT) offers bus routes and other services to help people get around the parish. They even have a special "Hurricane Evacuation System" to help people leave the area safely if a big hurricane is coming.

Famous People from Jefferson Parish

Many interesting people have connections to Jefferson Parish, including:

Amy Coney Barrett: A current justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Ellen DeGeneres: A well-known comedian, TV host, and actress, born in Jefferson Parish.
Mel Ott: A famous baseball player who is in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He was born in Gretna.
Salman "Sal" Khan: The founder of Khan Academy, a popular online learning platform.
Steven Seagal: An actor who has also served as a Reserve Deputy Chief in Jefferson Parish.
David C. Treen: A former U.S. Congressman and governor of Louisiana.