Destrehan, Louisiana

Destrehan is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. At the 2020 census, its population was 11,340.[1]

Destrehan
Census-designated place
Destrehan Plantation est.1780–1790
Destrehan
Location of Destrehan in Louisiana
Coordinates: 29°57′44″N 90°22′09″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishSt. Charles
Area
 • Total7.9 sq mi (20 km2)
 • Land6.9 sq mi (18 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,340
 • Density1,400/sq mi (550/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)985

Destrehan Plantation, his former home, is 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.

Etymology

The community is named after Jean Noël Destréhan (1754–1823), who was twice President of the Orleans Territory's legislative council during his service there in 1806 and 1811. He was elected to the United States Senate when Louisiana became a state in 1812, but he resigned after a month. He served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1812 to 1817.[2]

History

George Prince tragedy
Main article: MV George Prince ferry disaster

Before the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge 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 resulting in the MV George Prince ferry disaster. Seventy-eight passengers and crew died.

Gary Tyler case

Destrehan was briefly notorious in 1974 for the case of Gary Tyler, a 17 year old black student who was accused by local officials of the murder of 13 year old white student and the wounding of another, on a day of violent protests by white students at Destrehan High School. Many observers believe his conviction and trial were unfair and flawed. He was convicted and sentenced to prison. He was released from prison in 2016.[3]

Geography

Destrehan is located at 29°57′44″N 90°22′9″W (29.962307, -90.369160).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), of which 6.9 square miles (18 km2) are land and 1.0-square-mile (2.6 km2) (12.41%) is water.

Education
Destrehan High School

St. Charles Parish Public School System operates public schools:

  • Destrehan High School (9–12)
  • Harry M. Hurst Middle School (Formerly 7–8 & presently 6–8)
  • Ethel Schoeffner Elementary School (Formerly 4–6 & presently 3–5)
  • New Sarpy Elementary School (Formerly PK–3 & presently PK–2)

Destrehan Plantation was used as a set in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013).[5]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "2020 Race and Population Totals". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  2. "Dictionary of La. Biography". Archived from the original on 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  3. Bob Herbert, "Gary Tyler’s Lost Decades", The New York Times, 5 February 2007
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. Scott, Mike (September 9, 2013). "Following in the real footsteps of '12 Years a Slave' figure Solomon Northup: Mike's Movie Mailbag". The Times-Picayune. Advance Publications. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.