Covington, Louisiana

Last updated

Covington, Louisiana
City
JusticeCenter.jpg
St. Tammany Parish Offices
St. Tammany Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Covington Highlighted.svg
Location of Covington in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
Louisiana in United States (US48).svg
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°28′44″N90°06′15″W / 30.47889°N 90.10417°W / 30.47889; -90.10417
CountryUnited States
State Louisiana
Parish St. Tammany
Founded1813
Founded byJohn Wharton Collins
Named for Leonard Wailes Covington
Government
 • Mayor Mark R. Johnson
Area
[1]
 • Total
8.15 sq mi (21.12 km2)
 • Land8.02 sq mi (20.77 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.35 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,564
 • Density1,441.90/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 statistical area.

Contents

History

A train at Covington in 1907 Train at Covington LA 1907 Postcard.jpg
A train at Covington in 1907

The earliest known settlement by Europeans in the area was in 1800 by Jacques Drieux, during the British West Florida period. [4]

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 as Covington. [5] 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. [6] [7] 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. [8] In any case, Leonard Covington is the namesake of both towns. [7]

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 31-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 moved to 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 had the most expansion during that period. [9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km2), of which 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2), or 2.60%, is covered by water. [10] The city has many subdivisions. Notable ones include the communities of: West 30s, West 20s, Ozone, River Forest, Covington Point, Downtown Covington, and Barkley Parc. [11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870 585—
1880 567−3.1%
1890 97672.1%
1900 1,20523.5%
1910 2,601115.9%
1920 2,94213.1%
1930 3,2089.0%
1940 4,12328.5%
1950 5,11324.0%
1960 6,75432.1%
1970 7,1706.2%
1980 7,89210.1%
1990 7,691−2.5%
2000 8,48310.3%
2010 8,7653.3%
2020 11,56431.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]
Covington racial composition as of 2020 [13]
Race NumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)8,20870.98%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)1,94116.78%
Native American310.27%
Asian990.86%
Pacific Islander70.06%
Other/mixed5064.38%
Hispanic or Latino7726.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, 11,564 people, 3,710 households, and 2,546 families resided in the city. In 2010, the population of Covington was 8,765. At the 2000 United States census, [14] 8,483 people, 3,258 households, and 2,212 families lived in the city. The population density was 1,248.0 inhabitants per square mile (481.9/km2). As of 2010, the 3,565 housing units had 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. Hispanics or Latinos 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. [15]

At the 2000 U.S. census, of 3,258 households, 33.8% had children under 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 not families. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.8% under 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 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,949, and 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 18 and 17.2% of those 65 or over. The 2019 American Community Survey determined the city had a median income of $71,548 and poverty rate of 13.4%. [15]

Economy

The city is home to Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, a subsidiary of the Japanese cooperative Zen-Noh. [16] and the satellite communications company that operates a low Earth orbit satellite constellation, Globalstar. Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights has a manufacturing facility in Covington.

Arts and culture

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. [17]

Parks and recreation

The Covington trail head is the start of Tammany Trace, a 31-mile (50 km) paved rails-to-trails path for hikers and bicyclists, which connects Covington with Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe, and Slidell. [18]

Education

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools operates public schools in Covington. [19]

Private schools in the city limits include:

Media

Movies filmed in Covington:

Notable people


Related Research Articles

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Parish, Louisiana</span> Parish in Louisiana, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana</span> Parish in Louisiana, United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abita Springs, Louisiana</span> Town in Louisiana, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folsom, Louisiana</span> Village in Louisiana, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandeville, Louisiana</span> City in the United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearl River, Louisiana</span> Town in Louisiana, United States

Pearl River is a town in St. Tammany Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 2,506 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 2,618 at the 2020 population estimates program. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slidell, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, United States

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The Tchefuncte River drains into Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana in the United States. It is about 70.0 miles (112.7 km) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bogue Falaya</span> River in Louisiana, United States

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.

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The New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell combined statistical area is made up of nine parishes in southeastern Louisiana and one county in Mississippi. The statistical area consists of the New Orleans metropolitan statistical area (MSA), Slidell–Mandeville–Covington, LA MSA, Picayune micropolitan statistical area (μSA), and the Bogalusa μSA. As of the 2020 census estimates, the CSA had a population of 1,510,672. In 2023, the Office of Management and Budget updated the Core Based Statistical Areas, removing St. Tammany Parish from the New Orleans–Metairie MSA to create the Slidell–Mandeville–Covington MSA.

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Louisiana Highway 3114 was a state highway in Louisiana that served St. Tammany Parish. It spanned a total of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) along the present route of U.S. 190 on the north side of Covington.

Lewisburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community is located 7 miles south of Covington, Louisiana. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 420.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "QuickFacts: Covington city, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Covington History: Fate of Covington Founder Researched". Covington Weekly. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Covington History". City of Covington Louisiana. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ StoppingPoints.com. "Covington Historical Marker".
  7. 1 2 Leeper, Clare D'Artois (2012). Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. LSU Press. p. 75. ISBN   978-0-8071-4740-5.
  8. ↑ City of Covington (Homepage). "History of the City of Covington".
  9. ↑ Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. "White Flight". Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Covington city, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Covington, LA Neighborhoods, Subdivisions, and Developments".
  12. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. 1 2 "Geography profile: Covington city, Louisiana". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Corporate Headquarters". Zen-Noh Grain Corporation. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "World's Largest Ronald Reagan Statue, Covington, Louisiana".
  18. ↑ "Things to do in Covington". 1stLake.com. February 24, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  19. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: St. Tammany Parish, LA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 25, 2024. - Text list
  20. ↑ Covington High School Boundary. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. Retrieved on July 7, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Pitcher Junior High School map". St. Tammany Parish Public Schools . Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Pine View Middle School". St. Tammany Parish Public Schools . Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Covington Elementary School". St. Tammany Parish Public Schools . Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Lyon Elementary School". St. Tammany Parish Public Schools . Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Home". St. Peter Catholic School. Retrieved December 26, 2024. 130 E. Temperance St. Covington, LA 70433
  26. ↑ "American Ultra". Backstage. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  27. ↑ Bellande, Ray L. "Harry Del Reeks (1920 - 1982)". Ocean Springs Archives. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
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