Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tangipahoa Parish
Parish
Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Founded	March 6, 1869
Named for	Acolapissa word meaning ear of corn or those who gather corn
Seat	Amite City
Largest city	Hammond
Area
• Total	823 sq mi (2,130 km2)
• Land	791 sq mi (2,050 km2)
• Water	32 sq mi (80 km2)  3.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	133,157
• Density	161.79/sq mi (62.47/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 5th

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 ( /ˌtændʒɪpəˈhoʊə/) is a parish located on the southeastern border of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 133,157. The parish seat is Amite City, while the largest city is Hammond. Southeastern Louisiana University is located in Hammond. Lake Pontchartrain borders the southeastern side of the parish.

The name Tangipahoa comes from an Acolapissa word meaning "ear of corn" or "those who gather corn." The parish was organized in 1869 during the Reconstruction era.

Tangipahoa Parish comprises the Hammond, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA Combined Statistical Area. It is one of what are called the Florida Parishes, at one time part of West Florida.

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

• Amite County, Mississippi (northwest)
• Pike County, Mississippi (northeast)
• St. Tammany Parish (east)
• Washington Parish (east)
• St. John the Baptist Parish (south)
• Livingston Parish (west)
• St. Helena Parish (west)

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. It continues to be busy.

Highways

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 133,157 people, 46,526 households, and 31,420 families residing in the parish.

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 people/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.

Education

The parish is served by the Tangipahoa Parish School System. Southeastern Louisiana University is located in Hammond.

On seven occasions, the American Civil Liberties Union has sued the Tangipahoa Parish School Board, along with other defendants, for having allegedly sponsored and promoted religion in teacher-led school activities.

School Board

The elected school board governs and oversees the Tangipahoa Parish School System (TPSS). The board appoints the superintendent of schools, who leads the school system and oversees is functioning. The current superintendent is Melissa M. Stilley. The president of the board is Sandra Bailey-Simmons, and the vice president is Tom Tolar.

Melissa M. Stilley, superintendent

Janice Fultz Richards (D), District A

Tom Tolar (R), District B

Robin Abrams (R), District C

Glenn Westmoreland (R), District D

Brett Duncan (I), District E

Randy Bush (R), District F

Jerry Moore (D), District G

Sandra Bailey-Simmons (R), District H

Rose Quave Dominguez (R), District I

The Board has a long history of racial discrimination in the hiring of teachers. In 1975, it was ordered to ensure one-third of the teaching staff were Black. Both the Board and the Court ignored the mandate for more than thirty years. During the period from 1998 to 2008, the Board hired fewer Black teachers than any other school system in the state. In 2010, a second ruling strengthened the first.

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

• Hammond
• Ponchatoula

Towns

• Amite City (parish seat)
• Independence
• Kentwood
• Roseland

Villages

• Tangipahoa
• Tickfaw

Census-designated place

• Natalbany

Other unincorporated places

Notable people

• Robert Alford, professional football player, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals
• Chris Broadwater, former District 86 state representative, resides in Hammond
• Nick Bruno, president of University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Hodding Carter, 20th-century journalist
• John L. Crain, president of Southeastern Louisiana University
• Donald Dykes, former professional football player, New York Jets and San Diego Chargers
• John Bel Edwards, former Governor of Louisiana; former Minority Leader of Louisiana House of Representatives; former District 72 state representative, resides in Amite
• C. B. Forgotston, political activist
• Barbara Forrest, critic of intelligent design
• Tim Gautreaux, writer
• Kevin Hughes, former professional football player, St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers
• Bolivar E. Kemp, U.S. representative, 1925–1933
• Bolivar Edwards Kemp, Jr., Louisiana Attorney General, 1948–1952
• Wade Miley, professional baseball pitcher
• Harlan Miller, professional football player, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins
• James H. Morrison, represented Louisiana's 6th congressional district from 1943 to 1967
• Kim Mulkey, college basketball player, United States Olympic Team, LSU head women's basketball coach
• Rufus Porter, former professional football player
• Billy Reid, fashion designer
• Weldon Russell, former state representative from Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes
• Britney Spears, entertainer
• Devonta Smith, professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles, 2020 Heisman Trophy Winner, Alabama Crimson Tide football
• Jackie Smith, former professional football player, St. Louis Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys, NFL Hall of Famer
• Irma Thomas, Grammy Award-winning singer
• LaBrandon Toefield, former professional football player, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers
• Earl Wilson, former major league baseball player for Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres
• Harry D. Wilson, Louisiana state representative and state agriculture commissioner; pushed for the establishment of the town of Independence in 1912
• Justin Wilson, chef and humorist

See also

In Spanish: Parroquia de Tangipahoa para niños