Destrehan, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Destrehan is a census-designated place
(CDP) in St. Charles Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census. It was named after Jean N. Destréhan
(1754–1823) who served as President of the Territorial Council and was appointed to the United States Senate
in 1812, but resigned before he took his seat.
Destrehan Plantation
, his former home, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The main house has been restored and is one of the attractions on the Great River Road
along the Mississippi River
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²), of which 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) are land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) (12.41%) is water.
of 2000, there were 11,260 people, 3,629 households, and 3,073 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,628.7 people per square mile (629.2/km²). There were 3,742 housing units at an average density of 541.3 per square mile (209.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.64% White, 12.78% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.57% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.
There were 3,629 households out of which 52.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $63,425, and the median income for a family was $68,870. Males had a median income of $49,839 versus $27,605 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $25,435. About 4.0% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.
was completed connecting the communities of Destrehan and Luling
, automobile ferries
connected the towns. On October 20, 1976, one of these ferries, the George Prince
, was struck by a tanker and capsized as it crossed the Mississippi River
. Seventy-eight passengers and crew died.
, a black student who was accused by local officials of a shooting in 1974. The case was highlighted by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert
as an egregious example of a racially motivated abuse of the justice system.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in St. Charles Parish
St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
St. Charles Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Hahnville. In 2010, its population was 52,780. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, this was part of the German Coast, an area along the Mississippi River settled by numerous German pioneers in the...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census. It was named after Jean N. Destréhan
Jean N. Destréhan
Jean Noel Destréhan was a Creole politician in Louisiana and one-time owner of Destréhan Plantation, one of Louisiana's most famous antebellum historical landmarks. The city of Destrehan, Louisiana is named after him....
(1754–1823) who served as President of the Territorial Council and was appointed to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1812, but resigned before he took his seat.
Destrehan Plantation
Destrehan Plantation
Destrehan Plantation is an antebellum Greek Revival house located near Destrehan, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. In the nineteenth century, the house was the center of a bustling slave plantation that produced sugar for export. The site hosted the notorious St...
, his former home, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The main house has been restored and is one of the attractions on the Great River Road
Great River Road
The Great River Road is a collection of state, provincial, federal, and local roads which follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States...
along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Geography
Destrehan is located at 29°57′44"N 90°22′9"W (29.962307, -90.369160).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²), of which 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) are land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) (12.41%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 11,260 people, 3,629 households, and 3,073 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,628.7 people per square mile (629.2/km²). There were 3,742 housing units at an average density of 541.3 per square mile (209.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.64% White, 12.78% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.57% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.
There were 3,629 households out of which 52.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $63,425, and the median income for a family was $68,870. Males had a median income of $49,839 versus $27,605 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $25,435. About 4.0% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.
George Prince tragedy
Before the Destrehan-Luling BridgeLuling Bridge
The Luling Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. It is named for the late United States Congressman Hale Boggs. The bridge was dedicated by Governor David C...
was completed connecting the communities of Destrehan and Luling
Luling, Louisiana
Luling is a census-designated place in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,512 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Luling is located at and has an elevation of ....
, automobile ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
connected the towns. On October 20, 1976, one of these ferries, the George Prince
MV George Prince ferry disaster
The MV George Prince ferry disaster was a nautical disaster that occurred in the Mississippi River in Louisiana, United States, on the morning of . The ferry George Prince was struck by the Norwegian tanker SS Frosta, which was traveling upriver...
, was struck by a tanker and capsized as it crossed the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Seventy-eight passengers and crew died.
Gary Tyler Case
Destrehan was briefly notorious for the case of Gary TylerGary Tyler
Gary Tyler has been a prisoner in Louisiana since 1975, when he was convicted at age 17 of the 1974 shooting death of a 13-year-old white boy. Tyler was originally sentenced to death because of the charge and was the youngest prisoner on death row. The Fifth Circuit US Court of Appeals ruled the...
, a black student who was accused by local officials of a shooting in 1974. The case was highlighted by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert
Bob Herbert
Robert “Bob” Herbert is an American journalist op-ed columnist who wrote for The New York Times. His column was syndicated to other newspapers around the country. Herbert frequently writes on poverty, the Iraq war, racism and American political apathy towards race issues...
as an egregious example of a racially motivated abuse of the justice system.
Notable residents
- Joel ChaissonJoel ChaissonJoel Thomas Chaisson, II , is an American Democratic politician who is the outgoing president of the Louisiana State Senate. He assumed the leadership position on January 14, 2008. A resident of Destrehan, Chaisson has represented Senate District 19 in St. Charles Parish since 2000...
, president of the Louisiana State SenateLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators... - Jesse DuplantisJesse DuplantisJesse Duplantis is an Evangelical Charismatic Christian minister based in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., and the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries.-Biography :...
, Televangelist - Shelley HennigShelley HennigShelley Catherine "Shell" Hennig is a beauty pageant titleholder from Destrehan, Louisiana who held the Miss Teen USA 2004 title. She is also an actress who played Stephanie Johnson on Days of our Lives...
, Miss Teen USAMiss Teen USAMiss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. The reigning titleholder is Danielle Doty of Texas....
2004, the only person from Louisiana to win this pageant - Joe HornJoe HornJoseph Horn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and also played for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
, NFL player - Mike Jennings, NBA player
- Ed ReedEd ReedEdward Earl Reed Jr. is an American football free safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens 24th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, NFL player - Mike ScifresMike ScifresMichael T. Scifres is a punter for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.-High school:Scifres attended Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana and lettered in football, soccer, and baseball. In football, he was an All-District selection...
, NFL player