Covington, Louisiana | |
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City of Covington | |
![]() St. Tammany Parish Offices | |
![]() Location of Covington in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. | |
![]() Location of Louisiana in the United States | |
Coordinates: 30°28′44″N90°06′15″W / 30.47889°N 90.10417°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Louisiana |
Parish | St. Tammany |
Founded | 1813 |
Founded by | John Wharton Collins |
Named for | Leonard Wailes Covington |
Government | |
• Mayor | Mark R. Johnson |
Area | |
• Total | 8.15 sq mi (21.12 km2) |
• Land | 8.02 sq mi (20.77 km2) |
• Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.35 km2) |
Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,564 |
• Density | 1,441.90/sq mi (556.74/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CD T) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP codes | 70433, 70434, 70435 |
Area code | 985 |
FIPS code | 22-18125 |
Website | http://www.covla.com |
Covington is a city in, and the parish seat of, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. [2] The population was 11,564 at the 2020 United States census. [3] It is located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River. Covington is part of the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metropolitan statistical area. Covington has played a large role in movie making over the past 20 years, featuring in over 30 films. [4]
The earliest known settlement by Europeans in the area was in 1800 by Jacques Drieux, during the British West Florida period. [5]
In 1813, John Wharton Collins established a town with the name of Wharton. He is buried on the corner of the city cemetery directly across from the Covington Police Department. On March 11, 1816, the town of Wharton was renamed to that of Covington. [6] There are conflicting stories about how the city came to be named Covington. Many historians believe the city was renamed for General Leonard Covington, a hero of the War of 1812. [7] [8] Covington was killed late in 1813, having established his home in the Mississippi Territory.
Local historian Judge Steve Ellis floats another theory centered on the suggestion by Jesse Jones, a local attorney, that the city be named in honor of the Blue Grass whiskey (made in Covington, Kentucky) enjoyed by town officials. [9] In any case, Leonard Covington is the namesake of both towns. [8]
Originally, commerce was brought to Covington via boat up the Bogue Falaya River, which used the Tchefuncte River as a means of passage to and from Lake Pontchartrain. Then in 1888, the railroad came to town. Much of the former railroad right-of-way is now occupied by the Tammany Trace, a thirty-one mile bike trail running east and west through several communities on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain.
In the late 20th century, with the expansion of Louisiana's road system, many people who worked in New Orleans started living in Covington, commuting to work via the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. With the expansion of the interstate system, Covington experienced a boom of growth. Many people moved to the Northshore for more affordable housing, larger lot size and a small town feeling. This is considered to be associated with white flight out of New Orleans, though the Jefferson Parish area saw the most expansion during that period. [10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km2), of which 8.0 square miles (20.7 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2), or 2.60%, is water. [11] The city is divided into many subdivisions. Notable ones include the communities of: West 30s, West 20s, Ozone, River Forest, Covington Point, Downtown Covington, as well as Barkley Parc. [12]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 585 | — | |
1880 | 567 | −3.1% | |
1890 | 976 | 72.1% | |
1900 | 1,205 | 23.5% | |
1910 | 2,601 | 115.9% | |
1920 | 2,942 | 13.1% | |
1930 | 3,208 | 9.0% | |
1940 | 4,123 | 28.5% | |
1950 | 5,113 | 24.0% | |
1960 | 6,754 | 32.1% | |
1970 | 7,170 | 6.2% | |
1980 | 7,892 | 10.1% | |
1990 | 7,691 | −2.5% | |
2000 | 8,483 | 10.3% | |
2010 | 8,765 | 3.3% | |
2020 | 11,564 | 31.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [13] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 8,208 | 70.98% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,941 | 16.78% |
Native American | 31 | 0.27% |
Asian | 99 | 0.86% |
Pacific Islander | 7 | 0.06% |
Other/Mixed | 506 | 4.38% |
Hispanic or Latino | 772 | 6.68% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,564 people, 3,710 households, and 2,546 families residing in the city. In 2010, the population of Covington was 8,765. At the 2000 United States census, [15] there were 8,483 people, 3,258 households, and 2,212 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,248.0 inhabitants per square mile (481.9/km2). As of 2010, there were 3,565 housing units at an average density of 524.5 per square mile (202.5/km2).
In 2000, the racial makeup of the city was 77.45% White, 20.17% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population. In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 77.6% White, 18.9% Black and African American, 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% some other race, and 2.3% two or more races. [16]
At the 2000 U.S. census, there were 3,258 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,949, and the median income for a family was $50,332. Males had a median income of $36,434 versus $23,859 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,438. About 11.8% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over. The 2019 American Community Survey determined the city had a median income of $71,548 and poverty rate of 13.4%. [16]
The city is home to Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, a subsidiary of the Japanese cooperative Zen-Noh. [17] as well as the satellite communications company that operates a low Earth orbit satellite constellation, Globalstar. Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights has a manufacturing facility in Covington.
The Tulane National Primate Research Center, a federally funded biomedical research facility affiliated with Tulane University, is situated on 500 acres of land in Covington. [18]
A 10-foot-tall (3.0 m) statue of Ronald Reagan on a 6-foot (1.8 m) base is reputed to be the world's largest of the former president. [19]
The Covington trail head is the start of Tammany Trace, a 31-mile paved rails-to-trails path for hikers and bicyclists, which connects Covington with Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe and Slidell. [20]
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools operates public schools in Covington.
Lee Road Junior High School and Fontainebleau Schools Fontainebleau High/Jr. High also serve a portion of area in Covington.
Private schools
Interstate 12 (I-12) is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the US state of Louisiana. It spans a total of 85.59 miles (137.74 km) in an east–west direction from I-10 in Baton Rouge to an interchange with both I-10 and I-59 in Slidell. Along the way, it passes through the city of Hammond, where it intersects I-55 and US Route 51 (US 51). It also serves the cities of Ponchatoula and Denham Springs, as well as the St. Tammany Parish cities of Covington and Mandeville.
Washington Parish is a parish located in the interior southeast corner of the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,463. Its parish seat is Franklinton. Its largest city is Bogalusa. The parish was founded in 1819.
Tangipahoa Parish 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.
St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana named after Tamanend, the legendary Lenape Chief of Chiefs and the "Patron Saint of America." At the 2020 census, the population was 264,570, making it the fourth-most populous parish in Louisiana. The parish seat is Covington. The parish was founded in 1810.
Springfield is a town in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 487 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area.
LaPlace is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States, situated along the east bank of the Mississippi River, in the New Orleans metropolitan area. In 2020, it had a population of 28,841.
Reserve is an unincorporated community in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 9,111 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Reserve as a census-designated place (CDP).
Berwick is a town in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,946 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Abita Springs is a town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,365 at the 2010 census, up from 1,957 in 2000. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area.
Eden Isle is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The population was 7,041 at the 2010 census, and 7,782 in 2020. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. The area is a residential community with homes built on a system of canals connecting to eastern Lake Pontchartrain, which also includes businesses along the Interstate-10 corridor as well as restaurants and marina services within the residential section.
Folsom is a village in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 716 at the 2010 census, and 769 in 2020. The town is named after the wife of Grover Cleveland, Frances Folsom. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area.
Madisonville is a town in St. Tammany Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 748 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 850 at the 2020 U.S. census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. The ZIP code is 70447.
Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 13,192. Mandeville is located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is located directly across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs. Mandeville is part of the New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan statistical area.
Slidell is a city on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 28,781 at the 2020 census, making it the sixteenth-most populous city in Louisiana. It is part of the New Orleans−Metairie−Kenner metropolitan statistical area.
Sun is a village in the northeastern corner of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 470 at the 2010 census, and 392 in 2020. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area.
The Tchefuncte River drains into Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana in the United States. It is about 70.0 miles (112.7 km) long.
The Bogue Falaya, also known as the Bogue Falaya River, is a 28-mile-long (45 km) river in southeastern Louisiana in the United States. It is a tributary of the Tchefuncte River, which flows to Lake Pontchartrain. The river flows through an area of mixed pine-hardwood and bottomland hardwood forests on the Gulf Coastal Plain.
The Abita River is a 9.3-mile-long (15.0 km) river in southeastern Louisiana in the United States. It is a tributary of the Bogue Falaya, which flows to the Tchefuncte River and then onto Lake Pontchartrain.
Louisiana Highway 1077 (LA 1077) is a state highway located in southeastern Louisiana. It runs 20.61 miles (33.17 km) in a general north–south direction from a dead end at Lake Pontchartrain in Madisonville to a junction with LA 25 south of Folsom.
Franklinton is a town in, and the parish seat of Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,857 at the 2010 census. The elevation is an average of 155 feet (47 m) above sea level. Franklinton is located 61 miles (98 km) north of New Orleans.