Covington, Louisiana Explained

Covington, Louisiana
Official Name:City of Covington
Settlement Type:City
Image Map1:Louisiana in United States (US48).svg
Map Caption1:Location of Louisiana in the United States
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Covington, Louisiana
Coordinates:30.4789°N -90.1042°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Louisiana
Subdivision Type2:Parish
Subdivision Name2:St. Tammany
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1813
Founder:John Wharton Collins
Named For:Leonard Wailes Covington
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Mark R. Johnson
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:21.12
Area Total Sq Mi:8.15
Area Land Km2:20.77
Area Land Sq Mi:8.02
Area Water Km2:0.35
Area Water Sq Mi:0.13
Elevation Ft:26
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:11564
Population Density Km2:556.74
Population Density Sq Mi:1441.90
Timezone1:CDT
Utc Offset1:-6
Timezone1 Dst:CDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:70433, 70434, 70435
Area Code:985
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:22-18125
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons
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]

History

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]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.2km2, of which 20.7km2 is land and 0.6km2, 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]

Demographics

Race!scope="col"
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, 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,[13] there were 8,483 people, 3,258 households, and 2,212 families residing in the city. The population density was 1248sp=usNaNsp=us. As of 2010, there were 3,565 housing units at an average density of 524.5sp=usNaNsp=us.

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.[14]

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%.

Economy

The city is home to Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, a subsidiary of the Japanese cooperative Zen-Noh.[15] 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.[16]

Recreation and tourism

A 10adj=midNaNadj=mid statue of Ronald Reagan on a 6feet base is reputed to be the world's largest of the former president.[17]

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.[18]

Education

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

Notable people

In cinema

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 20, 2022.
  2. Web site: Find a County . 2011-06-07 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 .
  3. Web site: QuickFacts: Covington city, Louisiana. August 12, 2021. United States Census Bureau.
  4. https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=Covington%2C+Louisiana%2C+USA
  5. Web site: Covington History: Fate of Covington Founder Researched . Covington Weekly . 7 January 2021.
  6. Web site: Covington History . 2022-03-22 . City of Covington Louisiana . en-US.
  7. Web site: Covington Historical Marker . StoppingPoints.com .
  8. Book: Leeper, Clare D'Artois. Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. 2012. LSU Press. 978-0-8071-4740-5. 75.
  9. Web site: History of the City of Covington . City of Covington (Homepage) .
  10. Web site: White Flight . Greater New Orleans Community Data Center . January 22, 2013 . December 14, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214173111/http://www.gnocdc.org/tertiary/white.html . dead .
  11. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Covington city, Louisiana . . February 17, 2012 .
  12. Web site: Covington, LA Neighborhoods, Subdivisions, and Developments .
  13. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  14. Web site: Geography profile: Covington city, Louisiana. live. 2021-07-22. data.census.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20210722192224/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2218125 . 2021-07-22 .
  15. Web site: Corporate Headquarters. Zen-Noh Grain Corporation. 2020-05-08.
  16. Web site: 2015-02-19 . The little-known Tulane primate center: What sort of research is done there, why; what’s its future? . 2024-05-10 . NOLA.com . en.
  17. Web site: World's Largest Ronald Reagan Statue, Covington, Louisiana.
  18. Web site: Things to do in Covington. 1stLake.com. 24 February 2015 . 17 March 2015.
  19. http://maps.stpsb.org/boundarieswebpage/images/CVH%209-12.jpg Covington High School Boundary
  20. Web site: Pitcher Junior High School map. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. 2020-05-08.
  21. Web site: Pine View Middle School. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. 2020-05-08.
  22. Web site: Covington Elementary School. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. 2020-05-08.
  23. Web site: Lyon Elementary School. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. 2020-05-08.
  24. Web site: Bellande . Ray L. . Harry Del Reeks (1920 - 1982) . Ocean Springs Archives . February 17, 2014.
  25. Web site: American Ultra . Backstage . September 27, 2014.