Pearl River, Louisiana

Pearl River is a town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,432 at the 2010 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Pearl River is located at 30°22′16″N 89°45′4″W (30.371096, -89.751139).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²), or 2.27%, is water.

History

The community that is today Pearl River was originally known as Halloo, a moniker it reputedly garnered from loggers yelling to one another as they labored along the nearby Pearl River. The town was founded in 1859. Early Halloo was a small railroad town, located at the junction of the Northeastern and Poitevent and Favre's East Louisiana Railroads. In 1886 a train station was constructed at the site, and two years later Samuel Russ Poitevent (June 4, 1852 - June 3, 1904), established the first store in the village. The community's name was first changed from Halloo to Pearl, later to Pearlville, and eventually Pearl River, in 1888, after the train station built in the town.

On July 13, 1898, the 200 citizens of Pearl River voted to petition the state of Louisiana for incorporation as the "Village of Pearl River", a request which was granted nearly a decade later, on May 24, 1906, by governor Newton Crain Blanchard, with G.W. Fuller as the first mayor. The village slowly modernized over the course of the next half century, acquiring the land for a courthouse in 1935 and a town hall ten years later. Pearl River Junior High was opened in 1963, but the building was made into a police training academy in 2005. In 1964, the village insignia was replaced, as the newly minted "town" laid claim to 1,500 residents, a designation that lives on today, in the town of about 2,500. In 1968 Pearl River High School was established on Taylor Drive with Mr. Rowley as principal. The school is now a major success with over 700 students total. Mr. Mike Winkler resides as principal. Mr. James "Jim" Lavigne served as Mayor of Pearl River from 1992 to 2014. Mr. Lavigne served as Mayor longer than anyone in Pearl River before. He lost the Mayor elections in November 2014 to David McQueen.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	277		—
1920	364		31.4%
1930	264		−27.5%
1940	612		131.8%
1950	637		4.1%
1960	964		51.3%
1970	1,361		41.2%
1980	1,693		24.4%
1990	1,507		−11.0%
2000	1,839		22.0%
2010	2,506		36.3%
2014 (est.)	2,472		−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,839 people, 708 households, and 513 families residing in the town. The population density was 737.7 people per square mile (285.2/km²). There were 788 housing units at an average density of 316.1 per square mile (122.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.38% White, 1.36% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.

There were 708 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,296, and the median income for a family was $40,647. Males had a median income of $31,855 versus $19,637 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,542. About 12.0% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Residents are zoned to St. Tammany Parish Public Schools schools.

• 1-5: Riverside Elementary School (unincorporated St. Tammany Parish)

Riverside was first opened in 1987 and originally only had grades PreK through 3rd grade. Mrs. Mary Lou Jordan has served as Principal of the school since 1992. Mrs. Jordan started at Riverside its opening year as a second grade teacher.

• 6-8: Creekside Junior High School (unincorporated St. Tammany Parish)

Creekside was opened in 2003 when the town decided to turn Pearl River Junior High into a police training academy. Lisa Virga has been the principal since 2006. Adam Barrois has served as the Vice Principal since 2011.

• 9-12: Pearl River High School (Pearl River)

Pearl River High School was first opened in 1968 and Mr. E.W. Rowley served as principal until 1982. And PRHS would see 5 more principals through its time. Mr. Michael "Mike" Winkler has served as principal since 2000. Linda Fussell has been a vice president since 2011. Peggy Redmond has been the other vice principal since 2007.

Notable person

• A. G. Crowe, Louisiana state senator

References

• Ellis, Dan (1999). Slidell: "Camellia City". Pass Christian, Mississippi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)