Gretna, Louisiana

Gretna is the second-largest city in, and parish seat of, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States.[4][5] Gretna lies on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just east and across the river from uptown New Orleans. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,736 at the 2010 census.[6]

Gretna, Louisiana
City
City of Gretna
Gretna City Hall
Location of Gretna in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 29°54′59″N 90°03′15″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishJefferson
Government
 • MayorBelinda Cambre Constant
Area
 • Total4.47 sq mi (11.57 km2)
 • Land4.00 sq mi (10.37 km2)
 • Water0.46 sq mi (1.20 km2)
Elevation0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17,736
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
17,647
 • RankJE: 2nd
 • Density4,469.78/sq mi (1,725.92/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
70053, 70056
Area code(s)504
FIPS code22-31915
Websitewww.gretnala.com

Geography
Gretna
French Quarter
Location of Gretna, across the Mississippi River from uptown New Orleans, south of the French Quarter

Gretna is located at 29°54′59″N 90°3′15″W (29.916459, -90.054260)[7] and has an elevation of 0 feet (0 m)[1] behind the levee along the Mississippi River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 km2), of which 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km2) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2) (9.33%) is water.

History

According to the history published by the city, Gretna's history can be traced to a plantation established by Jean de Pradel by 1750 (when the plantation house, Monplaisir, was built). [lower-alpha 1] By 1813, the plantation had passed into the hands of one Francois Bernoudy. John McDonogh, also spelled John McDonough, then a resident of New Orleans, bought the establishment, moved into the house and founded a settlement in 1815, that would be named McDonoughville. He subdivided the rest of the former plantation into regular city lots and 30-arpent farming strips. McDonoughville thus became the first subdivision in Jefferson Parish.[lower-alpha 2] McDonough either leased or sold these properties to white laborers or free people of color.[8]

Gretna was settled in 1836,[9] originally as Mechanikham, growing with a station on the Mississippi River for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Texas and Pacific Railway, and Southern Pacific Railroad, with a ferry across the River to New Orleans. The famous spice-maker Zatarain's was founded here in 1889. Gretna was incorporated in 1913, absorbing the section of McDonogh within the Jefferson Parish boundaries. In the 1940 census, Gretna had a population of 10,879.

Hurricane Katrina controversy
High water along the Mississippi River levee at Gretna, 2005

The city and its police received considerable press coverage when, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, people who attempted to escape from New Orleans by walking over the Crescent City Connection bridge over the Mississippi River were turned back at gunpoint by City of Gretna Police, along with Crescent City Connection Police and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputies, who set up a roadblock on the bridge in the days following the hurricane. According to eyewitnesses, some officers threatened to shoot those coming from New Orleans as they attempted to cross into Gretna on foot, and shots were fired overhead.[10][11][12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850717—
18802,396—
18903,33239.1%
19207,197—
19309,58433.2%
194010,87913.5%
195013,81327.0%
196021,96759.0%
197024,87513.2%
198020,615−17.1%
199017,208−16.5%
200017,4231.2%
201017,7361.8%
Est. 201917,647[3]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 17,734 people, 6,958 households, and 4,286 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,685 people per square mile (1,922.0/km²). There were 7,665 housing units at an average density of 2,082 per square mile (845.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.05% White, 20.43% African American, 1.20% Native American, 8.12% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 4.03% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.38% of the population.

There were 6,958 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 23.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years, higher than Louisiana's median age of 34.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,065, and the median income for a family was $31,881. Males had a median income of $28,259 versus $21,019 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,735. About 20.8% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
Gretna Post Office

The United States Postal Service operates the Gretna Post Office.[13]

Police

The city has a police department which was established in 1913.[14]

In 2016, press reports indicated the local police had arrested 6,566 in 2013. This is a rate about fourteen times that of a typical city. Such arrests may have generated over five million dollars in fines and other revenue for the city.[15][16]

In July 2019 it was reported that two officers of the Gretna Police were fired for threatening United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[17]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Gretna's public schools are operated by the Jefferson Parish Public Schools system. Schools serving portions of the city limits are in the City of Gretna unless otherwise noted.[18] Zoned elementary schools serving sections of Gretna include Shirley T. Johnson Gretna Park Elementary School, William Hart Elementary School, and McDonogh #26 Elementary School. George Cox Elementary School, which also serves a portion of Gretna, is in Timberlane, an unincorporated area.[19]

Most residents are zoned to Gretna Middle School, while some are zoned to Livaudais Middle School in Terrytown.[20] Most residents are zoned to West Jefferson High School in Harvey, an unincorporated area of Jefferson Parish, while some are zoned to Helen Cox High School, also located in Harvey.[21] In regards to advanced studies academies, residents are zoned to the Gretna Academy.[22]

Gretna #2 Academy for Advanced Studies a Pre-5 magnet school and L. W. Ruppel Academy, a Pre-K4 to 8th French Immersion magnet school, are in Gretna.[23] Thomas Jefferson High School is another magnet school in Gretna.

Previously Kate Middleton Elementary in Terrytown served a portion of Gretna.[24] In 2012 Kate Middleton Elementary closed.[25]

Milestone Sabis Academy, a K-8 charter school, is in Gretna.

Public libraries

Jefferson Parish Library operates the Gretna Public Library in Gretna. The current facility, with more than 5,800 square feet (540 m2) of space, opened on March 17, 2010. The library includes a 1,000-square-foot (93 m2) meeting room that can accommodate 58 people. The library is almost twice the size of the previous 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) facility.[26]

Gretna Police Department

Culture

German American Cultural Center

The German American Cultural Center (GACC), headquartered at 519 Huey P. Long Avenue, was founded in 1988. It strives to interpret the contribution of German immigrants to Louisiana's history by presenting educational opportunities such as exhibits, lectures and other programs. GACC has sponsored special events such as Maifest and Oktoberfest. The latter is a 3-day event held during the first weekend of October each year [lower-alpha 3] at the Center.[27]

Cultural References to Gretna, Louisiana

Notable people

See also

Notes
  1. Monplaisir and its associated outbuildings were destroyed by a flood of the Mississippi River in the late 19th Century.[8]
  2. McDonogh (1779-1850) became quite wealthy and owned a great deal of real estate around the New Orleans area.
  3. However, the current GACC calendar shows that Gretna's Oktoberfest will start on October 10, 2020.

References
  1. "Gretna, Louisiana". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. June 4, 1980. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  2. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 2, 2017.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  4. "Gretna, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes), City Data, 2007, webpage: C-Gretna.
  5. "Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list), US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage: C2000-LA.
  6. "Gretna (city), Louisiana". quickfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. "History of Gretna". City of Gretna. Undated. Accessed January 25, 2020.
  9. "City of Gretna". City of Gretna. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
  10. "Police in Suburbs Blocked Evacuees, Witnesses Report". New York Times. 2005-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  11. "March to Gretna". Archived from the original on 2005-11-25. Retrieved 2005-11-08.
  12. ""The Bridge to Gretna" story from CBS News 60 Minutes program, December 18, 2005".
  13. "Post Office Location - GRETNA Archived 2010-07-22 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 27, 2010.
  14. Curry, Mary Grace. "Gretna Police History". Gretna Police Department. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  15. Gimein, Mark (22 June 2016). "Welcome to the arrest capital of the United States". Fusion. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  16. "Gretna is 'arrest capital' of the U.S., website says". The Times-Picayune. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  17. ""
  18. "Map" (Archive). City of Gretna. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  19. "Westbank Elementary." (Archive) Jefferson Parish Public School System. Retrieved on September 26, 2010.
  20. "Middle School Districts 2012-2013 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana" (Archive). Jefferson Parish Public Schools. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  21. "High School Districts 2012-2013 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana" (Archive). Jefferson Parish Public Schools. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  22. "Westbank Advanced Studies Academies Attendance Zones" (Archive). Jefferson Parish Public Schools. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  23. "L. W. Ruppel Academy Archived 2010-11-23 at the Wayback Machine." City of Gretna. Retrieved on September 26, 2010.
  24. "Elementary School Districts 2009-2010 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana." () Jefferson Parish Public School System. Retrieved on September 26, 2010.
  25. Waller, Mark. "Group of schools shuts down as Jefferson Parish adjourns for the summer Archived 2012-05-26 at the Wayback Machine." The Times-Picayune. May 25, 2012. Retrieved on April 4, 2013.
  26. "The New Gretna Library Opens." Jefferson Parish Library. Retrieved on September 28, 2010.
  27. "German American Cultural Center." Undated. Accessed January 28, 2020.
  28. "Joseph J. Bouie". intelius.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  29. "James St. Raymond". intelius.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.

Schools

Audio and video
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