Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Tangipahoa Parish
	Quick facts for kidsTangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
	Map
	; Location in the state of Louisiana
	; Louisiana's location in the U.S.
	Statistics
Founded	6 March, 1869
Seat	Amite City
Largest City	Hammond
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 823 sq mi (2,132 km²); 791 sq mi (2,049 km²); 32 sq mi (83 km²), 3.9%
PopulationEst.; - (2015); - Density	; 128,755; 153/sq mi (59/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
	Website: www.tangipahoa.org
	Named for: Acolapissa word meaning ear of corn or those who gather corn

Footbridge across a tributary of Ponchatoula Creek leading to North Oak Street Park on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Tangipahoa Parish.

Tangipahoa Parish (pronunciation: /ˌtændʒᵻpəˈhoʊə/; French: Paroisse de Tangipahoa) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 121,097. The parish seat is Amite City, but the largest city is Hammond. Tangipahoa comes from an Acolapissa word meaning "ear of corn" or "those who gather corn." The parish was founded in 1869.

Tangipahoa Parish comprises the Hammond, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the New Orleans-Metairie-Hammond, LA-MS Combined Statistical Area. It is one of the Florida Parishes.

History

Tangipahoa Parish began in 1869, when it was carved from Livingston Parish, St. Helena Parish, St. Tammany Parish, and Washington Parish. It was flooded in 1932.

The name comes from the Tangipahoa River and the historic Tangipahoa Native American people.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 823 square miles (2,130 km²), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km²) is land and 32 square miles (83 km²) (3.9%) is water. Lake Pontchartrain lies on the southeast side of the parish.

Most of the parish south of Ponchatoula consists of Holocene coastal swamp and marsh—gray-to-black clays of high organic content and thick peat beds underlying freshwater marsh and swamp.

Adjacent counties and parishes

Transportation

Railroads

Amtrak's daily City of New Orleans long distance train stops in Hammond, both northbound (to Chicago) and southbound. It serves about 15,000 riders a year, and Hammond-Chicago is the ninth busiest city pair on the route.

The historic main line of the Illinois Central that carries freight through the parish is now part of CN, and it is as busy as ever.

Highways

Interstate 12
Interstate 55
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 190
Louisiana Highway 10
Louisiana Highway 16
Louisiana Highway 22
Louisiana Highway 38
Louisiana Highway 40
Louisiana Highway 440
Louisiana Highway 442
Louisiana Highway 443
Louisiana Highway 445
Louisiana Highway 1040
Louisiana Highway 1045
Louisiana Highway 1046
Louisiana Highway 1048
Louisiana Highway 1049
Louisiana Highway 1050
Louisiana Highway 1051
Louisiana Highway 1053
Louisiana Highway 1054
Louisiana Highway 1055
Louisiana Highway 1056
Louisiana Highway 1057
Louisiana Highway 1061
Louisiana Highway 1062
Louisiana Highway 1063
Louisiana Highway 1064
Louisiana Highway 1065
Louisiana Highway 1067
Louisiana Highway 1249
Louisiana Highway 3158
Louisiana Highway 3234
Louisiana Highway 3260

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	7,928	—
1880	9,638	21.6%
1890	12,655	31.3%
1900	17,625	39.3%
1910	29,160	65.4%
1920	31,440	7.8%
1930	46,227	47.0%
1940	45,519	−1.5%
1950	53,218	16.9%
1960	59,434	11.7%
1970	65,875	10.8%
1980	80,698	22.5%
1990	85,709	6.2%
2000	100,588	17.4%
2010	121,097	20.4%
Est. 2015	128,755	6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the census of 2000, there were 100,588 people, 36,558 households, and 25,773 families residing in the parish. The population density was 127 people per square mile (49/km²). There were 40,794 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 69.76% White, 28.35% Black or African American, 0.39% Asian, 0.24% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 36,558 households out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 16.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the parish the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 12.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $29,412, and the median income for a family was $36,731. Males had a median income of $31,576 versus $20,066 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,461. About 18.00% of families and 22.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

National Guard

The parish is home to the 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group and the Forward Support Company of the 205th Engineer Battalion. This 205th Engineer Battalion is a component of the 225th Engineer Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard. These units reside within the city of Hammond. A detachment of the 1021st Engineer Company (Vertical) resides in Independence, Louisiana. The 236th Combat Communications Squadron of the Louisiana Air National Guard also resides at the Hammond Airport.

Communities

Map of Tangipahoa Parish, depicting municipal boundaries

Cities

Towns

Villages

Census-designated place

Natalbany

Other unincorporated places

Images for kids

Many records and statistics for Tangipahoa Parish flow through the office of Clerk of Court Julian Dufreche (pictured), president of the Tangipahoa Parish Board of Election Supervisors.