Jefferson, Louisiana

Jefferson is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the north side (referred to as the "East Bank") of the Mississippi River. Jefferson is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. The population was 11,193 at the 2010 census,[3] and 10,533 in 2020.[4][5] It is often known by locals as "Old Jefferson" (to distinguish itself from the rest of Jefferson Parish), but should not be confused with Old Jefferson in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Jefferson, Louisiana
Old Jefferson
Census-designated place
Old Jefferson welcome sign at the boundary with the City of New Orleans
Old Jefferson welcome sign at the boundary with the City of New Orleans
Jefferson, Louisiana is located in Louisiana
Jefferson, Louisiana
Jefferson, Louisiana
Location of Jefferson in Louisiana
Coordinates: 29°57′51″N 90°09′26″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishJefferson
Area
[1]
 • Total3.27 sq mi (8.48 km2)
 • Land2.71 sq mi (7.01 km2)
 • Water0.57 sq mi (1.47 km2)
Elevation
3 ft (0.9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,633
 • Density3,927.96/sq mi (1,516.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
70121
Area code504
FIPS code22-38145
GNIS code2402632[2]

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

Early French colonial documents show what would become Jefferson as part of the "Tchoupitoulas Coast" of Native American settlement. In the French and Spanish colonial era it was divided into a series of plantations with boundary lines perpendicular to the Mississippi River.

In the American Civil War, Camp Parapet was built originally by Confederate forces to defend New Orleans from an attack from the upriver side. After the Union liberated the city sailing up from downriver, U.S. troops expanded the fortifications to defend from Confederate counterattacks which never came.

What is now Jefferson includes formerly separate small communities dating back to the 19th century, including, Hoeyville, New Carrollon, Southport, and Shrewsbury, along with 20th century subdivisions/land developments including Azalea Gardens, Camellia Gardens, Jefferson Heights, and Rio Vista. Some of these names continue to sometimes be used locally to refer to neighborhoods.

The current 4 lane Jefferson Highway was inaugurated in 1928, accelerating development as a suburban area within Greater New Orleans.

Former landmarks included what is best remembered as "The Beverly". An old plantation house was first converted to a "road house" music venue called "Suburban Gardens" in the 1920s; Louis Armstrong and his band had a summer residency here in 1931. In 1945 it was expanded into a lush (but illegal) gambling casino under the name the Beverly Country Club. After Federal crackdowns, it became a dinner theater until it burned down in 1983.[6]

Geography

Jefferson is located in northern Jefferson Parish at 29°57′51″N 90°9′26″W (29.964132, -90.157170).[3] It is bordered to the north by Metairie, to the west by Elmwood, to the south, across the Mississippi River, by Bridge City, and to the east by the city of New Orleans in Orleans Parish. U.S. Route 90 (Jefferson Highway) runs through the center of the community, leading east 6 miles (10 km) to downtown New Orleans.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Jefferson CDP has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2), of which 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) are land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 17.46%, are water.[7] The western part of Jefferson's Census area was lost to Elmwood during the 2000 census.

The northern boundary is separated from Metairie by the triple barriers of a drainage canal, railroad tracks, and the Earhart Expressway. The only open public road crossings are Causeway Boulevard and Central Avenue. Many years ago, Labarre Road and Shrewsbury Road connected from River Road to Airline Dr. Many Residents in Old Jefferson prefer the route to continue to Airline Dr. Old Jefferson is now a tucked away neighborhood. It's largely expanding with new shops and businesses coming in. Landmarks include the Ochsner Medical Center complex.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
196019,353—
197016,489−14.8%
198015,550−5.7%
199014,521−6.6%
200011,843−18.4%
201011,193−5.5%
202010,533−5.9%
source:[8][9]
Jefferson racial composition as of 2020[10]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 6,281 59.07%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,317 21.79%
Native American 26 0.24%
Asian 148 1.39%
Pacific Islander 5 0.05%
Other/Mixed 407 3.83%
Hispanic or Latino 1,449 13.63%

The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 10,501 people lived in the CDP, down from 11,193 at the 2010 United States census.[5] At the 2020 census, there were 10,533 people in the CDP.[4] In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup was 62% non-Hispanic white, 23.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% some other race, 1.7% two or more races, and 10.8% Hispanic and Latino American of any race. In 2020, its makeup was 59.07% non-Hispanic white, 21.79% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.83% two or more races, and 13.63% Hispanic and Latino American of any race.[10] From earlier census reports and estimates, 2019 and 2020 have revealed the continuous diversification of the United States overall, representing a stark rise against the non-Hispanic white population.[11][12] The median household income was $50,972 and 12.6% of the population lived at or below the poverty line according to 2019 census estimates.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Jefferson Parish Public Schools operates schools in the parish and serves Jefferson.[13]

Most residents are zoned to Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson, while some are zoned to Dolhonde Elementary in Metairie.[14] All students are zoned to Riverdale Middle School in Jefferson,[15] and Riverdale High School in Jefferson.[16] In regards to the advanced studies academies, students are zoned to Metairie Academy or Haynes Academy in Old Metairie.[17]

St. Agnes School a K-7 Catholic school of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, was previously in Jefferson. It was founded in 1941,[18] and closed in 2015.[19] In 2014 it had 161 students,[19] and then in 2015 it had 125 students. Principal Michael Buras stated that the school community gained an acceptance that the school will close.[20] The school accepted school vouchers.[21] As of 2020 Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy (JCFA) maintains a charter school for non-traditional students in the building.[18]

Public libraries
Rosedale branch library

Jefferson Parish Library operates the Rosedale Library in Jefferson.[13][22] A Greek revival plantation house named "Rosedale," established in 1838, used to occupy the present day site of the library. In 1978 two fires destroyed the house, which was 140 years old. The library was established in 1986.[22]

Healthcare
Ochsner Medical Center, which houses the administrative headquarters of Ochsner Health System

Ochsner Medical Center of the Ochsner Health System is in Jefferson CDP.[23]

Notable people

Old Jefferson was home to jazz musicians Johnny Wiggs and William "Baba" Ridgely.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old Jefferson, Louisiana.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Jefferson, Louisiana.
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. February 1, 2023.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. "QuickFacts: Jefferson CDP, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. "Geography Profile: Jefferson CDP, Louisiana". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  6. "Remembering the Beverly". Times-Picayune. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Jefferson CDP, Louisiana". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  8. "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  9. Census area returned as Jefferson Heights in 1960 & 1970.
  10. "2020 Race and Population Totals". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  11. "Census shows US is diversifying, white population shrinking". AP NEWS. August 12, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  12. "US census: Hispanic and Asian-American driving US population growth". BBC News. August 12, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  13. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Jefferson CDP, LA" (Archive). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  14. "Elementary School Districts 2012-2013 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana Archived 2013-09-05 at the Wayback Machine" (Archive). Jefferson Parish Public School System. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  15. "Middle School Districts 2012-2013 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana Archived 2013-09-05 at the Wayback Machine" (Archive) Jefferson Parish Public School System. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  16. "High School Districts 2012-2013 East Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana Archived 2013-09-05 at the Wayback Machine." (Archive) Jefferson Parish Public School System. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  17. "East Bank Advanced Studies Attendance Zones Archived 2013-09-05 at the Wayback Machine" (Archive). Jefferson Parish Public School System. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  18. "School". Jefferson, Louisiana: St. Agnes Church. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  19. "Closing of 3 New Orleans-area schools to displace hundreds of students in 2015". The Times Picayune. October 27, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  20. Williams, Jessica (May 14, 2015). "St. Agnes School at peace with closure, principal tells newspaper". The Times Picayune. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  21. Williams, Jessica (October 24, 2014). "Much discussion around New Orleans-area Catholic school closures, but some parents say not with them". The Times Picayune. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  22. "Rosedale Library." Jefferson Parish Library. Retrieved on September 29, 2010.
  23. "Ochsner Medical Center". Ochsner Health System. 1514 Jefferson Hwy. New Orleans, LA 70121 - Campus Map.
    Despite the "New Orleans, LA" address, it is outside of the New Orleans CDP and is in fact in the Jefferson census-designated place. Compare to this map: "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Jefferson CDP, LA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
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