Waggaman, Louisiana

History

George Augustus Waggaman settled in the area with his wife, Camille Arnoult, who inherited a large tract of land there. The two built a considerable plantation which they named Avondale, which later succumbed to the Mississippi River in 1892. Today the Avondale area, an unincorporated community which abuts Waggaman, was home to Avondale Shipyards, one of the largest employers in Jefferson Parish.

Geography

Waggaman is located on the west side of Jefferson Parish at (29.929856, -90.230053), on the southwest side of the Mississippi River. It is bordered to the southeast by Avondale. Across the Mississippi, it is bordered to the north by Kenner, to the northeast by River Ridge, and to the east by Harahan. U.S. Route 90 forms the southern border of Waggaman and leads east 14 mi into New Orleans. Louisiana Highway 18 (River Road) runs along the river side of the community, leading east into Avondale and west (upriver) 10 mi to Interstate 310 in Luling.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Waggaman CDP has a total area of 17.0 km2, of which 14.2 km2 are land and 2.8 km2, or 16.29%, are water.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Waggaman was first listed as a census designated place in the 1980 United States census.

The 2019 American Community Survey determined 10,017 people lived in the CDP, an increase of 2 people since the 2010 U.S. census. At the 2020 census, there were 9,835 people in the CDP. In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of the CDP was 65.7% Black or African American, 24.8% non-Hispanic white, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% some other race, 2.4% multiracial, and 6.3% Hispanic and Latino American of any race. A year later, the racial and ethnic makeup was a tabulated 64.62% Black or African American, 23.41% non-Hispanic white, 0.48% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.27% Asian, 2.97% multiracial or of another race, and 7.26% Hispanic and Latino American of any race. The median household income was $46,075 and 30.1% of the population lived at or below the poverty line in 2019.

Education

Jefferson Parish Public School System serves Waggaman.

All residents are zoned to: Cherbonnier K-8 School in Waggaman CDP for elementary and middle school. Previously the school, then Lucille Cherbonnier/Norbert Rillieux Elementary School, was two separate campuses: Norbert Rillieux Elementary School and Cherbonnier Elementary School. In 2012 the superintendent recommended that the schools be consolidated with the Cherbonnier campus being used. The zoned high school is L.W. Higgins High School in Marrero.

When Cherbonnier/Rilieux was elementary-only, it had elementary grades, while Henry Ford Middle School in Avondale had middle school grades. Henry Ford later became Gilbert PreK-8 School.

In regards to advanced studies academies, residents are zoned to the Marrero Academy.

Jefferson Parish Library operates the Live Oak Library in Waggaman. The library, located adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Park, opened in 1989. It is designed to appear similar to an Acadian style cottage.

Public safety

Waggaman is served by the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Department and the Live Oak Manor Fire Department.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "QuickFacts: Waggaman CDP, Louisiana".
3. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Waggaman CDP, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau.
5. "Decennial Census by Decade".
6. (1960). "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Louisiana - Table 8 - Population of All Incorporated Places and Unincorporated Places of 1,000 or More: 1940 to 1960".
7. (1970). "1970 Census of Population - Louisiana - Characteristics of the Population - Table 6. Population of Places: 1970 and 1960".
8. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Louisiana - Table 14 - Summary of General Characteristics".
9. (1990). "1990 Census of Population - Louisiana - Table 1. Summary of General Characteristics of Persons: 1990".
10. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
11. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Louisiana".
12. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Waggaman CDP, Louisiana".
13. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Waggaman CDP, Louisiana".
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Waggaman CDP, Louisiana".
15. "Geography Profile: Waggaman CDP, Louisiana".
16. "2020 Race and Population Totals".
17. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson Parish, LA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
18. "[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st22_la/place/p2279100_waggaman/DC10BLK_P2279100_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Waggaman CDP, LA]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140519063901/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st22_la/place/p2279100_waggaman/DC10BLK_P2279100_001.pdf Archive]). [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on May 19, 2014. Compare this map to individual school attendance zones map.
19. "Elementary School Districts 2023-24 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana". [[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]].
20. "Middle School Districts 2023-24 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana". [[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]].
21. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20100423003140/http://www.jppss.k12.la.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2147491352 Elementary School Districts 2009-2010 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana]" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20100423003140/http://www.jppss.k12.la.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2147491352 Archive]). [[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
22. "[http://esbpublic.jppss.k12.la.us/com/print_item.aspx?itemId=5514 SR-3 School Closure, Consolidation, and Boundary Changes for the 2012/2013 School Year]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140519041128/http://esbpublic.jppss.k12.la.us/com/print_item.aspx?itemId=5514 Archive]) [[Jefferson Parish Public School System]]. Retrieved on April 1, 2013.
23. "[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-wb-high-dist.pdf High School Districts 2012-2013 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-09-05 " ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905105429/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-wb-high-dist.pdf Archive]). [[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.)
24. "[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-wb-middle-dist.pdf Middle School Districts 2012-2013 West Bank of Jefferson Parish Louisiana] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-09-05 " ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905133401/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12-13-wb-middle-dist.pdf Archive]). [[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.)
25. Broach, Drew. (2019-05-25). "Jefferson Parish is renaming two public schools for Tom Benson, Emmett Gilbert". [[The Times Picayune]].
26. "[http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/wb-elem-magnet-dist-ltr.pdf Westbank Advanced Studies Academies Attendance Zones] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-09-05 " ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130905102905/http://jpschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/wb-elem-magnet-dist-ltr.pdf Archive]). [[Jefferson Parish Public Schools]]. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.)
27. "[http://www.jefferson.lib.la.us/branches/jplpage.liveoak.html Live Oak Library]{{Dead link. (July 2025)
28. "Live Oak Manor Volunteer Fire Department | Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services".