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Slidell, LA

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Slidell, LA

Slidell is a city on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 28,781 at the 2020 census,  making it the sixteenth-most populous city in Louisiana. It is part of the New Orleans−Metairie−Kenner metropolitan statistical area.

One of the earlier settlers to the area was Foster Willie. Along with a younger brother, Wesley Coke Asbury Gause, Judge Wingate, and several others, he left Shallotte, North Carolina, on February 18, and arrived at Pearlington, Mississippi, on April 14, 1836. Wesley and his family remained there, while John and his family crossed the Pearl River and built a log cabin on the west bank, a little further south. He then began a lumber mill in the fledgling town later known as Slidell. His traveling back and forth from lumber yard to home created a road known today as Gause Boulevard, a major east-west street in the town. The lumber yard was where Gause Boulevard crosses the railroad track. The log cabin was built at the east end of the road, just a few yards from the river. The house stood until the late 1990s and a small family burial plot remain where John is buried between his two wives, Lydia Russ, and Johanna Frederica VanHeemskerk.

Slidell was founded on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in 1882 and 1883 during the construction of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad (N.O.N.E.). The N.O.N.E. line connected New Orleans to Meridian, Mississippi. The town was named in honor of American politician and Confederate ambassador to France John Slidell and was officially chartered by the Louisiana State Legislature in 1888.

Slidell is located at 30°16′45″N 89°46′40″W (30.279040, -89.777744), and has an elevation of 13 feet (4.0 m). It is in southeastern St. Tammany Parish, located approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of Lake Pontchartrain. The city forms part of the Greater New Orleans area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39.4 km²), of which 14.8 square miles (38.4 km²) is land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km²), or 2.39%, is water. 

Slidell places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Slidell Memorial Hospital offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Esporta Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. For fitness enthusiasts, Forged Steele CrossFit provides high-intensity training sessions to boost strength and endurance. Yoga lovers can find peace and flexibility at Blue Arrow Yoga or Yoga Julie of Slidell. Ochsner Fitness Center offers a range of exercise classes, personal training, and modern gym equipment. Pelican Park is another excellent spot for outdoor fitness with its sports fields and walking paths.

Top sites in Slidell, LA are Camp Salmen Nature Park, Heritage Park, and John Slidell Park.

Population: 28,440 (2024). ZIP codes: 70458–70461, 70469. Area code: 985. Elevation: 13 ft (4 m). Area: 15.1 square miles (39.1 km²).

FAQs

What are the demographics of Slidell, LA?

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,781 people, 9,818 households, and 6,430 families residing in the city. At the 2010 United States census, 27,068 people, 10,050 households, and 7,145 families resided in Slidell. In 2000, the population was 25,695. Per the 2019 American Community Survey, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the racial and ethnic makeup of the city as 71.8% non-Hispanic white, 16.9% Black and African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% some other race, 2.3% two or more races, and 7.1% Hispanic and Latin American of any race.

What is the history of Slidell, LA?

On March 28, 1699, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville, and his party camped at Goose Point on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, near what would someday become Slidell. This is the first recorded European presence in the Slidell area. New Orleans was founded in 1718 when 300+ settlers arrived and began the systematic clearing of land by the river. In the early 1700s, French trading posts and small settlements appeared along the north shore of the lake. These north shore trading posts were providing fresh meat and produce, traded from the local Acolapissa people, to help New Orleans survive those early fledgling years.

What is the crime rate in Slidell, LA?

With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Slidell has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32. Within Louisiana, more than 79% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Slidell.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Slidell

Neighborhood Scout

Camp Salmen Nature Park

Heritage Park

John Slidell Park

Slidell Memorial Hospital

Slidell Memorial Hospital

Esporta Fitness

Forged Steele CrossFit

Blue Arrow Yoga

Yoga Julie of Slidell

Ochsner Fitness Center 

Pelican Park

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