Kentwood, Louisiana
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2008) |
Kentwood, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
| Town of Kentwood | |
 Kentwood residents observe a noontide Day of Prayer in front of the Town Hall in 2015 | |
| Motto: "The Foyer of Louisiana" | |
 Location of Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. | |
.svg) Location of Louisiana in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 30°55′50″N 90°30′25″W / 30.93056°N 90.50694°W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Tangipahoa |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.11 sq mi (18.42 km2) |
| • Land | 7.11 sq mi (18.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 223 ft (68 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,145 |
| • Density | 301.69/sq mi (116.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 70444[3] |
| Area code | 985 |
| FIPS code | 22-39545 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405939[1] |
Kentwood is a rural town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States, near the Mississippi state line. The population was 2,198 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hammond MSA.
History
[edit]Amos Kent assisted in laying out the town. The Postmaster named the town in honor of Kent on February 29, 1888.[4]
On August 30, 2012, damage was caused by pressure on the 2,300 foot Percy Quin dam, a dam on the Tangipahoa River north of Kentwood, as a result of Hurricane Isaac, led to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal calling for a mandatory evacuation of the town due to fears of large-scale flooding from Lake Tangipahoa. The evacuation order, which was amended twice, was later rescinded as the dam held. The lake was drawn down so repairs could be made.[5]
The 490-acre Lake Tangipahoa, which opened in 1939 and is located six miles south of McComb, Mississippi, was reopened in 2016. Repairs had been completed in 2014 and the lake restocked.[6]
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.9 square miles (18 km2), of which 6.9 square miles (18 km2) is land and 0.14% is water.
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1,313 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,609 | 174.9% | |
| 1920 | 3,059 | −15.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,726 | −43.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,854 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,417 | 30.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,607 | 7.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,736 | 4.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,667 | −2.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,468 | −7.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,205 | −10.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,198 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,145 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 414 | 19.3% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,642 | 76.55% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.05% |
| Asian | 4 | 0.19% |
| Other/Mixed | 60 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24 | 1.12% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,145 people, 771 households, and 421 families residing in the town.
Education
[edit]Tangipahoa Parish School Board operates public schools:
- Kentwood High Magnet School (7-12)
- O. W. Dillon Memorial Elementary School (K-6)
- Chesbrough Elementary (K-5)
- Spring Creek Elementary (K-5)
- Jewel M. Sumner Middle and High School
Notable people
[edit]- Roger Ballard, country music singer-songwriter
- Stacy Head (born 1969), New Orleans elected official born in nearby Greensburg but associated with Kentwood
- Michael "Mike" Jackson (1969–2017), former National Football League wide receiver
- Little Brother Montgomery (1906–85), jazz pianist
- Paul Gayten (1920-1991), R&B pianist, songwriter, record producer
- Clay Shaw (1913–74), New Orleans businessman and the only person prosecuted in connection with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was acquitted.
- Ann Alexander Smith, Louisiana educator
- Jackie Smith (born 1940), National Football League tight end and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Britney Spears (born 1981), singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress
- Collis Temple (born 1952), first African-American athlete at Louisiana State University
See also
[edit]- Camp Moore - a Confederate training base near Kentwood, now a museum.
- WEMX
References
[edit]- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kentwood, Louisiana
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "Kentwood LA ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "Kentwood History". Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ "Percy Quin's Lake Tangipahoa drained after Tropical Storm Isaac". Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ "Lake Tangipahoa (Percy Quin State Park)". Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
Municipalities and communities of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States | ||
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