Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish is often referred to as the gateway of New Orleans but actually has a history and flavor all it own.  Jefferson has a diversified economy, with job opportunities ranging from retail & sales to medical & research.  Early on, as New Orleans grew, Jefferson Parish served as a ‘vegetable basket’ for the city.  Sugar cane fields covered the rural parish and trains ran regularly toward the French Market delivering a bounty of crops.  After World War II, unincorporated Jefferson and the Eastbank communities of Harahan and Kenner blossomed as suburban development replaced farming communities.

In recent years, suburban growth has spread to the Westbank of the parish as many areas of the Eastbank were developed.  South of the Westbank communities of Gretna and Westwego, there are still vast areas of undeveloped land and coastal wetlands.  Many traditional Louisiana industries, such as shrimping, farming and commercial fishing, are still alive and well around the Town of Lafitte. Additionally, Lafitte is home to the Barataria Preserve in Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, providing recreation and education opportunities.  At the southern tip of the parish lies the Town of Grand Isle, home of the world-famous Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo and the Gulf Coast’s only permanently inhabited barrier island.

When asked what people value most about Jefferson Parish, residents’ responses include great local food (including seafood and crawfish boils), festivals, parades, and our Louisiana culture.