St. John the Baptist Parish

Nestled between the shores of Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain and halved by the mighty Mississippi River, St. John The Baptist Parish offers an incredible variety of untouched wetlands, naturally fertile soil, freshwater fishing and recreation, historic plantation homes and modern industrial and port facilities. The earliest European settlers were Germans who arrived in 1721 - even before the Acadians and just five years after the founding of New Orleans. Their hard work and farming skills fed the struggling French colony for many years. In the modern age, St John's prime river location and capable railways have attracted international chemical and refinery firms such as DuPont and Marathon Oil. Employment is steady and skilled, educated workers are generally available to expanding and relocating industries. Growing as a "bedroom" community to New Orleans, largest city LaPlace offers dining, shopping and retail. New businesses include a federal veterans' home and Baumer Foods, a regional maker of jams and sauces. The parish hosts two large annual festivals: celebrating Christmas bonfires on the river levee and andouille, a smoked pork sausage indispensible to Louisiana gumbo.

The recovery planning effort for St. John the Baptist Parish is underway. Watch for specifics in the near future.