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Around [[1910]], Slidell began a period of [[economic]] and [[industry|industrial]] growth. A large [[creosote]] plant was built, and Slidell became home to St Joe's, a major producer of [[brick]]s. A [[lumber]] mill and shipyard were also built. With the coming of [[Interstate highway]]s [[Interstate 10|10]] and [[Interstate 12|12]], Slidell found itself at a major [[Crossroads (culture)|crossroads]], becoming a popular overnight stop for travelers who did not want to stay in [[New Orleans]].
Around [[1910]], Slidell began a period of [[economic]] and [[industry|industrial]] growth. A large [[creosote]] plant was built, and Slidell became home to St Joe's, a major producer of [[brick]]s. A [[lumber]] mill and shipyard were also built. With the coming of [[Interstate highway]]s [[Interstate 10|10]] and [[Interstate 12|12]], Slidell found itself at a major [[Crossroads (culture)|crossroads]], becoming a popular overnight stop for travelers who did not want to stay in [[New Orleans]].


In [[1910]] the [[creosote]] plant burned to the ground killing 55 workers and 3 firefighters. The plant was rebuilt on [[Bayou Liberty]] road, closer to a water source and closer to a fire station. The [[creosote]] caused extreme pollution of the bayou which was a source of drinking water for many of Slidell's residents. The [[creosote]] plant was temporarily closed down by the [[EPA]] in [[1992]] and never reopened.
In [[1910]] the [[creosote]] plant burned to the ground killing 55 workers and 3 firefighters. The plant was rebuilt on [[Bayou Liberty]] road, closer to a water source and closer to a fire station. The [[creosote]] caused extreme pollution of the bayou which was a source of drinking water for many of Slidell's residents. The [[creosote]] plant was temporarily closed down by the [[EPA]] in [[1991]] and was closely monitored until [[2005]] when [[Hurrican Katrina]] closed it for the final time.


With the advent of the [[U.S.]] [[space program]] in the [[1960s]], the New Orleans area became a hotbed of activity. The opening of [[NASA]]'s [[Michoud Assembly Facility]], the [[John C. Stennis Space Center]] in nearby [[Bay St. Louis, Mississippi]], and a NASA computer center on Gause Boulevard nearly tripled Slidell's population over a period of ten years, as Slidell became a major [[suburb]].
With the advent of the [[U.S.]] [[space program]] in the [[1960s]], the New Orleans area became a hotbed of activity. The opening of [[NASA]]'s [[Michoud Assembly Facility]], the [[John C. Stennis Space Center]] in nearby [[Bay St. Louis, Mississippi]], and a NASA computer center on Gause Boulevard nearly tripled Slidell's population over a period of ten years, as Slidell became a major [[suburb]].

Revision as of 17:30, 10 July 2007

Template:Geobox City

Slidell is a city in St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana, situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain. [1] [2] As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 25,695. Slidell is a suburb of New Orleans.

Geography

Slidell is located at 30°16′45″N 89°46′40″W / 30.27917°N 89.77778°W / 30.27917; -89.77778Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (30.279040, -89.777744)Template:GR and has an elevation of Template:Ft to mTemplate:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.4 km² (12.1 mi²). 30.5 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (2.64%) is water.

Climate

The climate of Slidell is humid subtropical, with short, generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. Precipitation in winter usually accompanies the passing of a cold front. Hurricanes also pose a severe threat to the area, and the city is particularly vulnerable because of its low elevation.

Cityscape

Slidell is located at the southeastern tip of St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana's famous Ozone Belt. It is about three miles from the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and is surrounded by rivers and bayous.

History

The city of Slidell celebrated its centennial in 1998

Beginning

Slidell, Louisiana was founded around 1882 during construction of a major new railroad from New Orleans to Meridian, Mississippi, connecting there with Cincinnati, Ohio and eventually with New York, NY. The New Orleans and Northeastern (n.o.n.e.) Railroad established a building camp at first high ground north of Lake Pontchartrain which eventually grew into the city. Slidell was chartered as a town in 1888 by the Louisiana legislature.

Sometime prior to Slidell’s formal incorporation in 1888, its first streets were laid out in a grid pattern, mostly east of the railroad, running three blocks along the road by four blocks deep. Bonfouca Street, now Bayou Lane, lay in the short stretch between the railroad and the bayou. East of the tracks, the north-south streets were Bayou (now Front), First, Second, Third and Fourth. The east-west streets were Fremaux, Erlanger, Bouscaren and Cousin.

Erlanger, slightly wider than the others and designated as an avenue, was named by Baron Frederick Erlanger, head of the banking syndicate which financed the railway. Baron Erlanger named the town for his deceased father-in-law, John Slidell, who had been a prominent state, national and confederate political figure. Supposedly, John Slidell had never set foot in the town.

Colonel Leon J. Fremaux, a prominent Louisiana engineer and planner, drew the original plans for Slidell and named Fremaux Avenue for himself. In the original plans for the city, Leon Fremaux names the largest street for Erlanger and the smaller street for himself. Ironically, Fremaux Avenue is now a major artery, far overshadowing Erlanger Avenue. Bouscaren Street was named for G. Bouscaren, the chief engineering officer of the railroad. Cousin Street took its name from the locally prominent Cousin family.

Twentieth Century

Slidell (right center) is northeast of New Orleans, near I-10 & I-12.

Around 1910, Slidell began a period of economic and industrial growth. A large creosote plant was built, and Slidell became home to St Joe's, a major producer of bricks. A lumber mill and shipyard were also built. With the coming of Interstate highways 10 and 12, Slidell found itself at a major crossroads, becoming a popular overnight stop for travelers who did not want to stay in New Orleans.

In 1910 the creosote plant burned to the ground killing 55 workers and 3 firefighters. The plant was rebuilt on Bayou Liberty road, closer to a water source and closer to a fire station. The creosote caused extreme pollution of the bayou which was a source of drinking water for many of Slidell's residents. The creosote plant was temporarily closed down by the EPA in 1991 and was closely monitored until 2005 when Hurrican Katrina closed it for the final time.

With the advent of the U.S. space program in the 1960s, the New Orleans area became a hotbed of activity. The opening of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, the John C. Stennis Space Center in nearby Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and a NASA computer center on Gause Boulevard nearly tripled Slidell's population over a period of ten years, as Slidell became a major suburb.

Slidell hosts several parade krewes each Carnival season, and is the westernmost outpost of the moon pie as a significant Mardi Gras throw.

Slidell is also the location of the National Weather Service forecast office for greater New Orleans. Rather than using the airport codes of ASD and KASD for the existing Slidell Airport, or NEW and KNEW for the original downtown airport, or even MSY and KMSY for the international airport, NWSFO Slidell uses IATA airport code "LIX" and ICAO airport code "KLIX" despite not corresponding to any actual airport.

Slidell suffered extensive damage from the effects of Hurricane Katrina which hit the region on August 29 2005. The city is said to have experienced sustained winds of 176 mph with gusts up to 190+ mph and a 23' - 26' storm surge from Lake Pontchartrain.[1]

The city is currently being sued by the ACLU because of the painting of Jesus in the courthouse lobby.[citation needed]

Transportation

Amtrak's daily Crescent connects Slidell with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 1827 Front Street. 20 Arrives At 8:17 Departs At 8:17 60 Bolt-0 Nose 47 Bolt-0 Nose

Slidell is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of I-10, I-12 and I-59, between I-10 and U.S. Highway 11. "The Twin Span" is the name given to the two bridges, each part of I-10, that run from Slidell over Lake Pontchartrain to New Orleans East. They were built in the 1960s, and because of extensive damage to the west-bound span in Hurricane Katrina, plans of new construction are underway and set to begin in the latter part of 2006. The new bridges will be built alongside the existing span and is expected to be completed in 2010. Each span will consist of three lanes instead of two and be 30 feet above sea level.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 25,695 people, 9,480 households, and 7,157 families residing in the city. The population density was 841.5/km² (2,178.5/mi²). There were 10,133 housing units at an average density of 131.8/km² (859.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.13% White, 13.56% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 2.05% Hungarian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.67% of the population.

There were 9,480 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,856, and the median income for a family was $48,298. Males had a median income of $40,211 versus $26,050 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,947. About 9.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in Slidell are operated by the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools.

There are four high schools in Slidell: the public schools Northshore High School, Salmen High School, and Slidell High School and the private Pope John Paul II High School (Slidell, Louisiana).

Famous Slidellians

Slidell in the media

  • The Irish Bayou along Slidell is featured in a boat chase scene in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die when James Bond is chased in a motor boat by Dr. Kananga's henchmen in motor launches.
  • Bayou Liberty was also used in the "Live and Let Die" boat chase scene. One of the jumps was made directly across the bayou from Tranquility Plantation (formerly owned by Desi and Lucille Arnez) on the homestead of the Treadways.[2]
  • Chacko George, who was a high school student in Slidell at the time, won the 2000 Jeopardy! Teen Tournament championship.[3]
  • The location is named in the Lucinda Williams song "Joy."

References

  1. ^ "Slidell, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes), City Data, 2007, webpage: C-Slidell.
  2. ^ "Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list), US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage: C2000-LA.
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