Kentwood, Louisiana
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Kentwood is a rural town in Tangipahoa Parish,
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
, United States, near the
Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...
state line. The population was 2,198 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hammond MSA. Kentwood is best known as the hometown of singer
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...
.


History

Amos Kent assisted in laying out the town. The Postmaster named the town in honor of Kent on February 29, 1888. On August 30, 2012, damage was caused by pressure on the 2,300 foot Percy Quin dam, a dam on the Tangipahoa River north of Kentwood, as a result of Hurricane Isaac, led to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal calling for a mandatory evacuation of the town due to fears of large-scale flooding from Lake Tangipahoa. The evacuation order, which was amended twice, was later rescinded as the dam held. The lake was drawn down so repairs could be made. The 490-acre Lake Tangipahoa, which opened in 1939 and is located six miles south of McComb, Mississippi, was reopened in 2016. Repairs had been completed in 2014 and the lake restocked.


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 town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.14% is water.


Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,145 people, 771 households, and 421 families residing in the town.


Education

Tangipahoa Parish School Board operates public schools: * Kentwood High Magnet School (7-12) *O. W. Dillon Memorial Elementary School (K-6) *Chesbrough Elementary (K-5) *Spring Creek Elementary (K-5) *Jewel M. Sumner Middle and High School


Notable people

* Roger Ballard, country music singer-songwriter * Stacy Head (born 1969), New Orleans elected official born in nearby Greensburg but associated with Kentwood * Michael "Mike" Jackson (1969–2017), former
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wide receiver * Little Brother Montgomery (1906–85), jazz pianist * Paul Gayten (1920-1991), R&B pianist, songwriter, record producer * Clay Shaw (1913–74),
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 ...
businessman and the only person prosecuted in connection with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was acquitted. * Ann Alexander Smith, Louisiana educator * Jackie Smith (born 1940),
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tight end and member of the
Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...
*
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...
(born 1981), singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress * Collis Temple (born 1952), first African-American athlete at
Louisiana State University Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...


See also

* Camp Moore - a Confederate training base near Kentwood, now a museum. * WEMX


References

{{authority control Populated places established in 1893 Towns in Louisiana Towns in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana