Covington, Louisiana
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Covington is a city in and the
parish seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equivalent term, shire town, is used in ...
of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,564 at the 2020 United States census. It is located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River. Covington is part of the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington statistical area.


History

The earliest known settlement by Europeans in the area was in 1800 by Jacques Drieux, during the
British West Florida British West Florida was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain from 1763 until 1783, when it was ceded to Kingdom of Spain, Spain as part of the Peace of Paris (1783), Peace of Paris. British West Florida comprised parts of the modern U.S ...
period. 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. 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 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
. Covington was killed late in 1813, having established his home in the
Mississippi Territory The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that was created under an organic act passed by the United States Congress, Congress of the United States. It was approved and signed into law by Presiden ...
. 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 Covington is a list of cities in Kentucky, home rule-class city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Licking River (Kentucky), Licking rivers, across from Cincinnati to the north ...
) enjoyed by town officials. In any case, Leonard Covington is the namesake of both towns. 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 Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
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 New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
moved to Covington, commuting to work via the
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (), also known simply as The Causeway, is a fixed link composed of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is long. The southern ...
. 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 The white flight, also known as white exodus, is the sudden or gradual large-scale migration of white people from areas becoming more racially or ethnoculturally diverse. Starting in the 1950s and 1960s, the terms became popular in the Racism ...
out of New Orleans, though the Jefferson Parish area had the most expansion during that period.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which , or 2.60%, is covered by water. 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.


Demographics

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, 8,483 people, 3,258 households, and 2,212 families lived in the city. The population density was . As of 2010, the 3,565 housing units had an average density of . 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. 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 Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $21,438. About 11.8% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 23.5% of those under 18 and 17.2% of those 65 or over. The 2019
American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...
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. 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 statue of
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
on a base is reputed to be the world's largest of the former president.


Parks and recreation

The Covington trail head is the start of Tammany Trace, a paved rails-to-trails path for hikers and bicyclists, which connects Covington with Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe, and Slidell.


Education

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools operates public schools in Covington. * Covington High School (9-12) * Pitcher Junior High School (7-8) * Pine View Middle School (4-6) * Covington Elementary School (K-3) * Lyon Elementary School (K-3) Private schools in the city limits include: * Saint Paul's School * Saint Scholastica Academy * St. Peter Catholic School (of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans)


Media

Movies filmed in Covington: * 1997 — '' Eve's Bayou'' * 2005 — '' Local Color'' * 2014 — '' American Ultra'' * 2019 — '' The Highwaymen''


Notable people

* Christian Bogle, racing driver * Peggy Caserta, businesswoman and memoirist * Edgerrin Cooper, professional football player with the Green Bay Packers * Peggy Dow (Peggy Varnadow Helmerich), film actress and philanthropist, lived much of her childhood in Covington. * Frank Burton Ellis, state senator (1940–1944), U.S. District Court judge, 1962–1965 *
Dave Fortman Dave Fortman (born July 11, 1967) is an American record producer and musician. He is the guitarist for rock band Ugly Kid Joe, and has done production work for bands such as Godsmack, Superjoint Ritual, Snot (band), Snot, Watership Down (band), ...
, guitarist for the band Ugly Kid Joe and current American music producer, graduated from Covington High School * Elizabeth Futral is an
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
soprano reared in Covington. Her father was minister of the Covington First
Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
Church for many years. * Daniel F. Galouye, science-fiction writer * Katherine Haik, Miss Teen USA 2015 * Heath B. Jones, 14th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard * Pete Maravich,
NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
all-star, lived in Covington until his death in 1988. * Walker Percy, author and essayist, lived in Covington until his death in 1990. * Harry Reeks, landscape painter and combat artist for the U.S. Marine Corps * Leon Rene, songwriter * Amy Serrano, filmmaker, poet, essayist, and humanitarian * Amanda Shaw, Cajun fiddler, singer, and actress * Ian Somerhalder, actor and model, born in Covington *
Stephen Stills Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Manassas (band ...
, musician * Hank Stram, NFL Hall of Fame coach, lived in Covington until his death in July 2005. * Theo Von, comedian and podcaster grew up in Covington


References


External links

*
Covington Business Association

''Inside Northside'' special issue, ''Covington 1813–2013''
{{authority control Cities in Louisiana Cities in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Cities in the New Orleans metropolitan area Parish seats in Louisiana Populated coastal places in Louisiana