History
The community was originally named Baron when first settled 1722 to 1739. It was the location of the St. Michael's Convent (Order of the Sacred Heart) from 1825 to 1932 and the location of Jefferson College, 1831 to 1931. St. Michael's Church Historic District and Jefferson College (Louisiana), Jefferson College (now a Society of Jesus, Jesuit Retreat (spiritual), retreat center called Manresa House of Retreats), along with several historic homes in Convent, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in St. James Parish, Louisiana, National Register of Historic Places. The former Jefferson College operated in Convent. Among its alumni was Etienne J. Caire, who owned the E. J. Caire Store in Edgard, Louisiana, Edgard and was the Republican Party (United States), Republican governor of Louisiana, gubernatorial Nomination, nominee in Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1928, 1928 against Huey Long. Caire founded the Manresa retreat center in 1922. The town sustained damage during Hurricane Katrina, disrupting parish government activities for several months. On February 23, 2016, an extremely large wedge tornado hit the Sugar Hill RV park with two dead and several people injured.Industry
The town of Convent is home to a Royal Dutch Shell, Cracking (chemistry), Hydrogen cracking refinery that can produce 210k barrels of day of consumer petroleum products. As of July 2020, Shell was considering selling the plant. The plant produces 129,000 kg of annual air emissions that are high risk, including Cobalt and cobalt compounds.Geography
Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, the town is only 16 feet (5 meters) above sea level. Convent has an area of , of which is land and is water.Demographics
Notable person
* Jarvis Landry is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He also played college football at LSU.References
{{authority control Census-designated places in St. James Parish, Louisiana New Orleans metropolitan area Parish seats in Louisiana Census-designated places in Louisiana Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River