Profile

On August, 29, 2005  Hurricane Katrina pushed the marsh and the Gulf of Mexico in like a funnel through the Mississippi Gulf Outlet drowning every structure in St. Bernard in up to twelve feet of marsh muck that did not recede for up to over two weeks.  It left a community of 67,000 people in over 27,000 households an empty shell in what used to be weeks before a vibrant productive community.  Although many of it's citizens are gallantly attempting to repopulate the area the population remains well below its pre-storm population.  Below is our description of St. Bernard Parish before that day and hopefully again someday.

St. Bernard Parish is located just five miles from downtown New Orleans with easy access to all that the city offers, St. Bernard has much to offer on it's own as a place to live or visit.  St. Bernard has a rich history with it's most famous occurrence being the site of the Battle of New Orleans which effectively ended the War of 1812. 

Approximately two-thirds of the Parish is surrounded by water and it consists mostly  of marshlands in one of the largest and richest wetland ecosystems in North America. Portions of the parish adjacent to New Orleans along the banks of the Mississippi River and within current levee systems are where urbanized portions of the parish are today. 

For most of it's history St. Bernard culture, lifestyle and economy was primarily associated with wildlife, fisheries and agriculture due to its unique environment. As New Orleans developed, it's location adjacent to New Orleans caused it to also change with expansion of industry and suburbanization into St. Bernard Parish beginning in the 1940's.

Neighborhoods developed in the upper portion of the parish in communities such as Arabi, Chalmette, Meraux, Violet and Poydras.  This contrasted with the more traditional tranquil rural settings of lower St. Bernard which was characterized by life along the bayous and marshes in communities such as Reggio, Yscloskey, Hopedale, Verret, Shell Beach and Delacroix which housed descendants of St. Bernard's first settlers, the Isleneos from the Canary Islands (see history).  

St. Bernard Parish is accessed by multiple modes of transportation.. Louisiana Highway 46 (St. Bernard Highway)  and Louisiana Highway 39 (Judge Perez Drive) are the main arteries through St. Bernard beginning at it's boundary with the City of New Orleans and continuing to the lower portion of the parish.   Louisiana Highway 47 (Paris Road) begins at the Mississippi River where it provides access to a automobile ferry that provides for crossing the Mississippi River to Algiers on the west bank of the river.  Paris Road continues to the north into eastern New Orleans where it becomes Interstate 510 .  It intersects with Interstate 10 which is a major east west route across the southern portion of the United States from Los Angeles, California to Jacksonville, Florida.  St. Bernard has extensive river frontage along the Mississippi River from its western border with New Orleans to its boundary with the east bank portion of Plaquemines Parish at Caernarvon.  St. Bernard has railroad access along St. Bernard Highway and portions of the riverfront.

The majority of commercial development in St. Bernard occurs along Judge Perez Drive, St. Bernard Highway and Paris Road.  Several major shopping centers can be found along these routes primarily in Arabi, Chalmette and Meraux.  Industrial development is predominately located between the River and St. Bernard Highway where St. Bernard's Port area and major refining operations such as the American Sugar Refinery and Exxon Mobil are located.  Other industrial parks are located in areas such as upper portions of Paris Road.

St. Bernard's economy  has a mix of industrial base along with it's historic agricultural and fisheries economy.   wholesale and retail trade, government services, and contract construction are also major economic contributors.  A majority of St. Bernard's population is employed in the city of New Orleans and other portions of the metro area.

Government in St. Bernard Parish is provided by a parish council with seven district council members and a council president elected parishwide. In addition to its regulatory functions, the parish provides local services including water, sewer, drainage, parks and recreation and fire protection.  An elected sheriff directs the police department. A District Attorney and Judges are elected parishwide.  St. Bernard has one of the lowest crime rate of any parish in Louisiana .

Education is recognized as being vital to be economic and cultural growth of the parish.  St. Bernard Parish public schools are among the best in the metro area and above the state average according to statewide standardized tests indicate.  St. Bernard has 14 public schools and several excellent private and parochial schools.  Nunez Community College in St. Bernard Parish is Louisiana ’s only fully accredited combined community college and vo-tech school. 

Medical care facilities include the 228 bed  Chalmette Medical Center.   Located adjacent to the hospital are several medical office facilities  with a full range of medical specialties. Four nursing home facilities providing elderly care also operate in St. Bernard.  Ambulance Service is provided by private providers contracted by the parish accessed through available 911 service.

Art and entertainment are available in a number of forms.  A multi-screen movie theatre operates in Chalmette offering the latest movie releases.  The St. Bernard Civic Center hosts many performing arts events, shows and displays.  Several local art organizations host annual events  at the Civic Center and adjacent facilities.  Plays are performed by several local theatre groups throughout the year.

St. Bernard Parish is a sportsman's paradise offering some of the best fishing and hunting in the country.   Boaters, skiers, anglers and hunters are served by many marinas and many public boat launches.

Over 20 public parks run are located in St. Bernard including community tennis courts and ball fields which are also available. The parish's recreation department and various booster clubs provide  programs in all sports which are available year-round.

Sidney Torres Park located behind the Civic Center along Jean Laffite Parkway is approximately 20 acres and includes a lagoon, a jogging path, and playgrounds. Picnic tables, restrooms and a covered pavilion offer an ideal setting for family outings. A recent addition to the park is a children's playground and amphitheater built entirely by volunteers with privately raised funds. Val Riess Park located at end of Palmisano Blvd is approximately 23 Acres in area, has a 1 mile nature trail, a picnic area, playground, and sports fields.  St. Bernard State Park  provides outdoor recreation and camping on a 358-acre site just 18 miles away from New Orleans' French Quarter.

St. Bernard Parish Data and Information (Greater New Orleans Community Data Center)

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