Jefferson is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, su ...

(CDP) in Jefferson Parish,

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a U.S. state, state in the Deep South and South Central United States, South Central regions of the United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 20th-smal ...

, United States, on the north side (referred to as the "East Bank") of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it ...

. Jefferson is part of the

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Metairie– Kenner

metropolitan statistical area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

. The

population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using ...

was 11,193 at the 2010 census, and 10,533 in 2020. 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.

History

Magnolia_School_Whitehall_Plantation_House_Jefferson_Louisiana_Magnolia_Fest_2017_01

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 A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Th ...

with boundary lines perpendicular to the Mississippi River. In the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...

, 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 Shrewsbury ( , also ) is a market town, civil parish, and the county town of Shropshire, England, on the River Severn, north-west of London; at the 2021 census, it had a population of 76,782. The town's name can be pronounced as either 'S ...

, 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.

Geography

Jefferson is located in northern Jefferson Parish at (29.964132, -90.157170). 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 New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Orleans Parish New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

U.S. Route 90 (Jefferson Highway) runs through the center of the community, leading east to

downtown New Orleans In New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, downtown has historically referred to neighborhoods along the Mississippi River, downriver (roughly northeast) from Canal Street – including the French Quarter, Tremé, Faubourg Marigny, Bywater, t ...

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy An economy is an area of th ...

, the Jefferson CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 17.46%, are water. The western part of Jefferson's

Census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

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

The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 10,501 people lived in the CDP, down from 11,193 at the 2010 United States census. At the 2020 census, there were 10,533 people in the CDP. In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup was 62%

non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic whites or Non-Latino whites are Americans who are classified as "white", and are not of Hispanic (also known as "Latino") heritage. The United States Census Bureau defines ''white'' to include European Americans, Middle Eastern Am ...

, 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. 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. 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.2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Jefferson CDP, LA

Archive
. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 18, 2014. Most residents are zoned to Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson, while some are zoned to Dolhonde Elementary in Metairie. All students are zoned t
Riverdale Middle School
in Jefferson, and Riverdale High School in Jefferson. In regards to the advanced studies academies, students are zoned to Metairie Academy or Haynes Academy in Old Metairie.
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, and closed in 2015. In 2014 it had 161 students, and then in 2015 it had 125 students. Principal Michael Buras stated that the school community gained an acceptance that the school will close. The school accepted school vouchers.
Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy (JCFA)
maintains a

charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...

for non-traditional students in the building.

Public libraries

Jefferson Parish Library operates the Rosedale Library in Jefferson.Rosedale Library
" Jefferson Parish Library. Retrieved on September 29, 2010. 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.

Healthcare

Ochsner Garage View Jefferson Louisiana Dec 2016 13

Ochsner Medical Center of the Ochsner Health System is in Jefferson CDP.
Campus Map

Despite the "New Orleans, LA" address, it is outside of the New Orleans CDP and is in fact in the Jefferson

. Compare to this map:

Notable people

Old Jefferson was home to jazz musicians

Johnny Wiggs Johnny Wiggs (born John Wigginton Hyman, July 25, 1899 - October 10, 1977) was a jazz musician and band leader. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, Wiggs started his music career on the violin. He soon adopted the cornet and mov ...

and William "Baba" Ridgely.

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Louisiana Census-designated places in New Orleans metropolitan area Census-designated places in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River