Reserve, Louisiana

Reserve is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 9,111 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

In the early 20th century the plantation at Reserve had the largest sugarcane refinery in the United States.

President William Howard Taft visited Reserve in 1909. President Gerald Ford visited Reserve in 1976.

Reserve was the birthplace of jazz musicians Edmond Hall and Kid Thomas Valentine.

The Godchaux-Reserve home, the oldest portion of which dates to 1764, is a building on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, in 2005 Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church which dates back to 1937 was added to The Louisiana National Register of Historic Places (http://www.crt.state.la.us/hp/). Our Lady of Grace was built to serve the needs of the African American Catholic Community.

Geography

Reserve is located at 30°3′45″N 90°33′12″W (30.062566, -90.553296).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²), of which, 16.1 square miles (41.6 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (6.13%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,111 people, 3,068 households, and 2,347 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 567.1 people per square mile (218.9/km²). There were 3,385 housing units at an average density of 210.7 per square mile (81.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 44.17% White, 53.92% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.

There were 3,068 households out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 32.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males. An estimated 75.8% of the households own a golfcart.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,466, and the median income for a family was $40,191. Males had a median income of $33,297 versus $19,671 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,373. About 18.4% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board operates public schools in the community.

Two K-8 schools serve separate areas that have Reserve addresses:

• East St. John Elementary School
• Fifth Ward Elementary School

High schools:

• East St. John High School in Reserve serves the community.

Private schools:

• Riverside Academy is a small private school in Reserve.

Notable residents

• Demond "Tweety" Carter, Basketball player at Baylor University
• Ryan Perrilloux, Quarterback for Louisiana State University, Jacksonville State University and New York Giants

External links

• Godchaux-Reserve House Historical Society