River Ridge, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
River Ridge is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Jefferson Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
, and a suburb of New Orleans
. The population was 14,588 at the 2000 census.
Jefferson Parish.
The land that is now River Ridge was once composed of several large sugar plantations which lined the Mississippi River
in traditional French long lot fashion. These plantations were established by and large in the late 18th century-early 19th century. The alignment of the major streets in the area are vestiges of this era. Major landowners included the Trudeau and Sauve Plantations. Sauve Road to this day continues to be a main thoroughfare in River Ridge.
In 1849 a major flooding event known as Sauve's Crevasse
occurred. The then-crude river levee at the Sauve Plantation failed under the pressure of high water on the Mississippi, creating a massive flood which inundated much of the land to the east, including parts of New Orleans. This crevasse occurred where a former meander of the Mississippi River once branched to form the Metairie and Gentilly Ridges.
In the early 20th century an interurban line passed through this area linking the cities of New Orleans and Kenner, aligned along the present course of Jefferson Highway.
For many years the area remained rural farmland until large scale suburban development commenced in the early 1950s. By 1965 virtually all of the area along the Mississippi River between Harahan and Kenner was developed. This area at the time was largely known as Little Farms, a name which well described its pre-urban history; this was also the place name officially recognized by the Post Office. (To this day Little Farms Avenue remains a major River Ridge thoroughfare.) Other subdivision names such as "East Bank" and "Rural Acres" were used as place names for the area at the time. To eliminate confusion and create a unified sense of community identity, the area between Kenner, Harahan, Metairie, and the Mississippi River was officially renamed as "River Ridge" in 1974.
and its boundaries include Harahan
to the east, Kenner
to the west, Metairie
to the north, and the Mississippi River
to the south.
River Ridge is located at 29°57′43"N 90°13′4"W (29.961875, -90.217696). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (21.07%) is water.
of 2000, there were 14,588 people, 6,030 households, and 4,082 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 5,181.6 people per square mile (1,997.3/km²). There were 6,325 housing units at an average density of 2,246.6 per square mile (866.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.76% White, 10.99% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.
There were 6,030 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,286, and the median income for a family was $58,139. Males had a median income of $44,211 versus $28,285 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $27,088. About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
operates public schools. Riverdale High School is in the area.
St. Matthew Catholic School is in River Ridge. Many of the Catholic high schools are close by such as Archbishop Rummel High School
and Archbishop Chapelle. Non-Catholic schools located nearby include St. Martin's Episcopal School
, Kehoe-France, John Curtis
, and Ridgewood Preparatory School
,
Jefferson Parish Library
operates the River Ridge e-Branch in River Ridge. The library held its grand opening ceremony on Tuesday July 26, 2005.
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 Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
, 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...
, and a suburb of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The population was 14,588 at the 2000 census.
History
With the modern community being largely a suburban residential area of relatively recent origin, the history of River Ridge is thus fairly devoid of interesting events or drama, and is largely tied to the history of post-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Jefferson Parish.
The land that is now River Ridge was once composed of several large sugar plantations which lined 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...
in traditional French long lot fashion. These plantations were established by and large in the late 18th century-early 19th century. The alignment of the major streets in the area are vestiges of this era. Major landowners included the Trudeau and Sauve Plantations. Sauve Road to this day continues to be a main thoroughfare in River Ridge.
In 1849 a major flooding event known as Sauve's Crevasse
Sauvé's Crevasse
Sauvé's Crevasse was a Mississippi River levee failure that flooded much of New Orleans, Louisiana in 1849.In 1849 the Mississippi reached the highest water level observed in twenty-one years. Some seventeen miles up river from the city of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish lay a plantation belonging...
occurred. The then-crude river levee at the Sauve Plantation failed under the pressure of high water on the Mississippi, creating a massive flood which inundated much of the land to the east, including parts of New Orleans. This crevasse occurred where a former meander of the Mississippi River once branched to form the Metairie and Gentilly Ridges.
In the early 20th century an interurban line passed through this area linking the cities of New Orleans and Kenner, aligned along the present course of Jefferson Highway.
For many years the area remained rural farmland until large scale suburban development commenced in the early 1950s. By 1965 virtually all of the area along the Mississippi River between Harahan and Kenner was developed. This area at the time was largely known as Little Farms, a name which well described its pre-urban history; this was also the place name officially recognized by the Post Office. (To this day Little Farms Avenue remains a major River Ridge thoroughfare.) Other subdivision names such as "East Bank" and "Rural Acres" were used as place names for the area at the time. To eliminate confusion and create a unified sense of community identity, the area between Kenner, Harahan, Metairie, and the Mississippi River was officially renamed as "River Ridge" in 1974.
Geography
River Ridge is located along a 3 miles (4.8 km) stretch of Jefferson HighwayJefferson Highway
The Jefferson Highway was an automobile highway stretching through the central United States from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jefferson Highway was replaced with the new numbered US Highway system in the late 1920s...
and its boundaries include Harahan
Harahan, Louisiana
Harahan is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 9,885 at the 2000 census.Harahan was named in honor of James Theodore Harahan, president of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1906-1911...
to the east, Kenner
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
to the west, Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
to the north, and 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...
to the south.
River Ridge is located at 29°57′43"N 90°13′4"W (29.961875, -90.217696). 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 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (21.07%) 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 14,588 people, 6,030 households, and 4,082 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 5,181.6 people per square mile (1,997.3/km²). There were 6,325 housing units at an average density of 2,246.6 per square mile (866.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.76% White, 10.99% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.
There were 6,030 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% 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, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,286, and the median income for a family was $58,139. Males had a median income of $44,211 versus $28,285 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 $27,088. About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Culture
- Paradise Manor Community Club is the swimming and tennis club for River Ridge.
- According to Census 2000, River Ridge had 30 houses valued at $1,000,000 or more.
Education
Jefferson Parish Public SchoolsJefferson Parish Public Schools
Jefferson Parish Public Schools is a school district based in Harvey in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The district operates all public schools in Jefferson Parish...
operates public schools. Riverdale High School is in the area.
St. Matthew Catholic School is in River Ridge. Many of the Catholic high schools are close by such as Archbishop Rummel High School
Archbishop Rummel High School
Archbishop Rummel High School is a Catholic secondary school located in Metairie, a community in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The school is named after Archbishop Joseph Rummel, a former Archbishop in the Archdiocese of New Orleans....
and Archbishop Chapelle. Non-Catholic schools located nearby include St. Martin's Episcopal School
St. Martin's Episcopal School
St Martin's Episcopal School is a private school in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.Founded in 1947, St. Martin’s provides a college-preparatory education within a coeducational environment that features focus on academics, the arts, athletics, service learning, and religious...
, Kehoe-France, John Curtis
John Curtis Christian High School
John Curtis Christian High School is a co-ed private high school in River Ridge, Louisiana. The school colors are red, white, and blue. The mascot is a Patriot. John Curtis Christian High School was founded by John Curtis Senior in 1962.-Football:...
, and Ridgewood Preparatory School
Ridgewood Preparatory School
Ridgewood Preparatory School is a university preparatory school located in Metairie, an unincorporated community in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana....
,
Jefferson Parish Library
Jefferson Parish Library
Jefferson Parish Library is the library system of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It has its headquarters in the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie, an unincorporated area in the parish.-Branches:East Bank:...
operates the River Ridge e-Branch in River Ridge. The library held its grand opening ceremony on Tuesday July 26, 2005.