Kentwood, Louisiana

Town of Kentwood
Town
Motto: "Wonderful Water, Woodlands, and Wildlife" [1]
Country United States
State Louisiana
Parish Tangipahoa
Elevation 225 ft (68.6 m)
Coordinates 30°56′10″N 90°30′55″W / 30.93611°N 90.51528°W / 30.93611; -90.51528Coordinates: 30°56′10″N 90°30′55″W / 30.93611°N 90.51528°W / 30.93611; -90.51528
Area 100.9 sq mi (261.3 km2)
 - land 10.9 sq mi (28 km2)
 - water 89.1 sq mi (231 km2), 88.31%
Population 2,205 (2000)
Density 318.4/sq mi (122.9/km2)
Founded 1893
Mayor Irma Gordon (D)
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code 985
Location of Kentwood in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Website: Town of Kentwood, Louisiana

Kentwood is a rural town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana near the Mississippi border. The population was 2,205 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Water from Kentwood is bottled and popularly marketed in New Orleans under the Kentwood Springs label. Kentwood is also known as "The Dairy Capital of the South." Kentwood formerly held a dairy parade each November where people sold crafts and miscellaneous items. The festival has not been held for several years due to the shutdown of the dairy plant in the 1970s and the subsequent decline of the town and its economy. Later, the parade and festival were moved to the summer months. Kentwood is best known as the hometown of singer Britney Spears.

History

This rural town was founded by Amos Kent in 1893.

On August 30, 2012, pressure on a dam on the Tangipahoa River to the north of the town 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evacuation of the town due to fears of large-scale flooding from Lake Tangipahoa.[2] The evacuation order was later rescinded and the dam held.

Geography

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

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19001,313—
19103,609174.9%
19203,059−15.2%
19301,726−43.6%
19401,8547.4%
19502,41730.4%
19602,6077.9%
19702,7364.9%
19802,667−2.5%
19902,468−7.5%
20002,205−10.7%
20102,198−0.3%
Est. 20152,340[3]6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,205 people, 850 households, and 559 families residing in the town. The population density was 318.4 people per square mile (123.0/km²). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile (54.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.85% African American, 34.42% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.

There were 850 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples living together, 28.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $17,297, and the median income for a family was $23,889. Males had a median income of $25,583 versus $15,200 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,171. About 29.5% of families and 37.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.2% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.

Kentwood residents observe a noontide Day of Prayer in front of the Town Hall during 2015.

Education

Tangipahoa Parish School Board operates public schools:

Notable people

See also

Camp Moore

References

  1. ↑ "Town of Kentwood, Louisiana". Town of Kentwood, Louisiana. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Tangipahoa-Parish-orders-immediate-evacuation-after-potential-levee-breach-167994886.html
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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