Kenner, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kenner
City
City of Kenner
Rivertown district
Flag Seal
Location of Kenner in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Jefferson
Founded	March 2, 1855; 170 years ago (1855-03-02)
Incorporated	1867; 158 years ago (1867)
Reincorporated	April 1, 1873; 152 years ago (1873-04-01)
Reincorporated	December 13, 1913; 111 years ago (1913-12-13)
Area
• Total	15.11 sq mi (39.14 km2)
• Land	14.89 sq mi (38.56 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)  00.7%
Elevation	-7 ft (−2.1 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	66,448
• Rank	JE: 1st LA: 6th
• Density	4,462.89/sq mi (1,723.12/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	504
FIPS code	22-39475
GNIS feature ID	2404820

Kenner is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the biggest city in Jefferson Parish by population. Kenner is also the largest suburban city near New Orleans. In 2020, about 66,448 people lived there. This makes it the sixth-largest city in Louisiana.

History of Kenner

Kenner was started in 1855 by Minor Kenner. He bought three large farms called Oakland, Belle Grove, and Pasture. At that time, all the land north of what is now Airline Highway was a swamp.

A famous boxing match happened in Kenner on May 10, 1870. A boxer named "Gypsy" Jem Mace won the heavyweight championship. This was during the time of bare-knuckle boxing. You can find a monument near the river at Williams Boulevard that marks this spot.

From 1915 to 1931, a streetcar line connected New Orleans and Kenner. It ran from Canal Street in New Orleans to Williams Blvd and Jefferson Highway in Kenner.

Kenner started growing a lot in the late 1950s. Builders began to divide, drain, and fill the swampy land in the northern part of the city. In the 1960s, the building of Interstate 10 and better roads helped Kenner grow quickly. It became a popular suburb of New Orleans.

In 1982, a plane called Pan Am Flight 759 crashed in a neighborhood in Kenner. This happened because of a strong downdraft of wind. Sadly, all 145 people on the plane died, along with eight people on the ground. Six houses were completely destroyed.

In October 2017, there was an explosion on an oil rig platform. It happened in Lake Pontchartrain, near the Treasure Chest Casino. Seven people were hurt in this accident.

Where is Kenner?

Kenner is located on the west side of the Greater New Orleans region. It is part of Jefferson Parish.

The city's borders are:

• Lake Pontchartrain to the north
• The Mississippi River to the south
• Metairie and River Ridge to the east
• St. Charles Parish to the west

The city covers about 15.2 square miles (39.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

People in Kenner

Kenner's population has changed over the years. In 2000, there were 70,517 people living in the city. By 2020, the population had slightly decreased to 66,448 people.

Many different groups of people live in Kenner. In 2020, about 40% of the people were non-Hispanic white. About 21.5% were Black or African American. Around 4.7% were Asian. A large part of the population, about 30%, was Hispanic or Latino.

Kenner has a growing Hispanic and Latin American community. Some parts of north Kenner are even called "Little Honduras" because so many people from that region live there. The Kenner Hispanic Resource Center helps these communities. They offer classes to learn English and after-school programs for kids.

Economy and Jobs

Kenner is home to various businesses. For a time, L'Express Airlines had its main office in Kenner. The city's location near the airport and major highways helps its economy.

Fun Things to Do in Kenner

Libraries and Learning Centers

North Kenner Library

The Jefferson Parish Library has a branch called the North Kenner Library. It's a great place to find books and learn new things.

Places to Visit

Treasure Chest Casino

Lighthouse concession stand at Kenner's Laketown development

Kenner has many interesting places to visit and enjoy:

• A. J. Muss Bertolino Playground: This park has a 1,500-seat stadium called Ed Daniels Field. It hosts high school football, lacrosse, and soccer games. There's also a running track, a gym, and fields for baseball and softball.
• Chateau Golf and Country Club: A place for golf and other club activities.
• Coconut Beach Volleyball Complex: This is the largest man-made sand volleyball complex in the United States. It has 22 courts!
• The Esplanade Mall: This mall opened in 1983. While many stores have closed, a Target store and a Regal Cinema movie theater are still open. There are plans to make the mall new again.
• Laketown: A park by the water with a boat launch and two piers. It's perfect for jogging, biking, or just enjoying the view. There's also a snack stand.
• Pontchartrain Center: This is a large convention center that opened in 1991. It's the second-biggest in the New Orleans area.
• Rivertown: This is Kenner's historic district. You can find museums, shops, and cultural places here. It includes the Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Kenner Heritage Park, Kenner Planetarium, and Rivertown Science Center.
• Treasure Chest Casino: A casino located in Kenner.

Schools in Kenner

Public Schools

Kenner is part of the Jefferson Parish Public School System.

High Schools:

• Alfred Bonnabel High School: Most students in Kenner go to this high school.
• East Jefferson High School: Some students in southeast Kenner attend this school in Metairie.

Middle Schools:

• Theodore Roosevelt Middle School
• Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
• Other middle schools serving parts of Kenner include Adams Middle, Harris Middle, and Riverdale Middle.

Elementary Schools:

• A.C. Alexander Elementary School
• John James Audubon Elementary School
• Chateau Estates Elementary School
• John Clancy Elementary School
• Greenlawn Terrace Elementary School
• Walter Schneckenberger Elementary School
• Granville T. Woods Elementary

Students who want to join advanced studies programs usually go to Airline Park Academy.

Private Schools

Kenner also has several private schools:

• First Baptist Christian School
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (a Catholic school)
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (a Catholic school)
• Islamic School of Greater New Orleans (ISGNO)

News and Media

The Kenner Star is a free newspaper for the Kenner community. Most of Kenner's news and media come from outlets based in New Orleans.

Getting Around Kenner

Buses

Public transportation in Kenner is run by the Jefferson Parish Department of Transit Administration. This system, called Jefferson Transit, offers bus service within Kenner, Metairie, New Orleans, and other nearby areas.

Roads and Highways

Interstate 10 in Kenner

• Interstate 10: This major highway runs east-west through Kenner. It has exits for Power Blvd., Williams Blvd. (LA 49), the New Orleans International Airport, and Loyola Dr.
• U.S. Route 61 (Airline Drive): This highway also runs east-west through the southern part of the city.
• LA 49 (Williams Boulevard): This is the main road that goes north and south through Kenner.

Airport

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (IATA: MSY) is located right in Kenner. It is the main airport for the New Orleans area. The airport brings a lot of money to the city.

Famous People from Kenner

• Jon Batiste: A musician who even has a song called I'm from Kenner.
• Aaron Broussard: A former leader of Jefferson Parish.
• Chris Howard: An NFL football player.
• Chris Kenner: A rhythm and blues (R&B) singer and songwriter.
• Arthur Maulet: An NFL football player.
• Edmond J. Muniz: A former mayor of Kenner.
• Lloyd Price: An R&B singer known as "Mr. Personality."

See also

In Spanish: Kenner (Luisiana) para niños