{{short description|Parish in Louisiana, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = St. Tammany Parish | state = Louisiana | type = [[Louisiana parishes|Parish]] | founded year = 1810 | founded date = October 27 | seat wl = Covington | largest city wl = Slidell | area_total_sq_mi = 1124 | area_land_sq_mi = 846 | area_water_sq_mi = 279 | area percentage = 25 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 264570 | pop_est_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sttammanyparishlouisiana/PST045217 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana |publisher=Census.gov |date= |access-date=November 19, 2021}}</ref> | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 279108 {{gain}} | population_density_sq_mi = 312.73 | time zone = Central | named for = Indian Chief [[Tamanend]] | ex image = CovingtonJusticeCenterMarch2009.JPG | ex image cap = St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington | district = 1st | web = www.stpgov.org | footnotes = |image_seal=File:Seal of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.png|flag=File:Flag of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.jpg|official_name=Parish of St. Tammany<br />{{native name|fr|Paroisse de Saint-Tammany}}<br />{{native name|es|Parroquia de St. Tammany}}|name=St. Tammany Parish}} [[File:JusticeCenter.jpg|thumb|St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington]] [[Image:Madisonville lighthouse 2.JPG|thumb|[[Madisonville, Louisiana|Madisonville]]'s [[Tchefuncte River]] Lighthouse stands on the Saint Tammany Northshore of [[Lake Pontchartrain]]. This lighthouse was built in 1837.<ref>Brenda Brown Finnegan, [http://www.lighthousedepot.com/lite_digest.asp?action=get_article&sk=938&bhcd2=1264999296 ''Lighthouse Digest''.]</ref>]]

'''St. Tammany Parish''' ({{langx|fr|Paroisse de Saint-Tammany}}; {{langx|es|Parroquia de St. Tammany}}) is a [[Parish (administrative division)|parish]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]] named after [[Tamanend]],<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://hiddencityphila.org/2014/05/respectfully-remembering-the-affable-one/|title=Respectfully Remembering the Affable One|website=Hidden City Philadelphia}}</ref> the legendary [[Lenape]] Chief of Chiefs and the "Patron Saint of America."<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://delawaretribe.org/blog/2012/05/04/may-1-was-st-tammanys-day/|title=Official Site of the Delaware Tribe of Indians » May 1 was St. Tammany's Day}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesAmericas/NorthNative_TribalLeaders01_Tamanend.htm|title=Tribal Leaders: Tamanend the Affable of the Lenape|website=www.historyfiles.co.uk}}</ref> At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 264,570, making it the fourth-most populous parish in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|title=QuickFacts: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sttammanyparishlouisiana/POP010220}}</ref> The [[parish seat]] is [[Covington, Louisiana|Covington]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The parish was founded in 1810.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ccet.louisiana.edu/tourism/parishes/Florida_Parishes/sainttammany.html|title=St. Tammany Parish|publisher=Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism|access-date=September 6, 2014}}</ref>

St. Tammany Parish comprises the Slidell–Mandeville–Covington [[metropolitan statistical area]], which is also included in the [[New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell combined statistical area]]. St. Tammany Parish is one of the fastest-growing parishes in the state, along with [[Livingston Parish, Louisiana|Livingston]] and [[Ascension Parish, Louisiana|Ascension]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Projecting Louisiana's Future|url=http://louisiana.gov/Explore/presentations/Projecting%2520Louisianas%2520Future.ppt}}</ref> The population has quadrupled since 1970, and is expected to double again by 2030, expecting to diversify the population of the parish.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=McDonnell|first=Tim|title=Louisiana's population is already moving to escape climate catastrophe|url=https://qz.com/1895269/louisianas-population-is-moving-to-escape-climate-catastrophe/|access-date=September 18, 2020|website=Quartz|date=September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Though it was not heavily directly damaged by [[Hurricane Katrina]], the community is growing in large part due to subsequent displacement of populations, with many coming from the [[New Orleans metropolitan area]] seeking to avoid hurricane and weather-related threats, caused in part due to climate change.<ref name=":0" />

==History==

===Pre-history=== St. Tammany was originally inhabited by numerous Indian peoples, including the Colapissas, Bayou Goulas, Chickasaw, Biloxi, Choctaw and Pensacola nations (although Frederick S. Ellis, in his book ''St. Tammany Parish: L'autre Côté du Lac'', claims that the regionally prominent Choctaw tribe did not arrive in the area until after it had begun to be settled by Europeans).

In 1699, [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]], a French explorer, was the first European to visit the area of present-day St. Tammany Parish. While exploring lakes [[Lake Pontchartrain|Pontchartrain]] and [[Lake Maurepas|Maurepas]], Iberville wrote in his journal, "The place where I am is one of the prettiest I have seen, fine level ground bare of canes. The land north of the lakes is a country of pine trees mixed with hard woods. The soil is sandy and many tracks of buffalo and deer can be seen."

===West Florida=== After the 18th-century founding and development of [[New Orleans]], [[French people|French]] settlers began to enter the region. The primary industry was the production of [[pitch (resin)|pitch]], [[tar]], [[turpentine]] and [[resin]] from the forests.

After [[early modern France|France]] was defeated in the [[French and Indian War]], St. Tammany (along with the other future "[[Florida Parishes]]") became part of [[British West Florida]]. During this period, the area comprising today's St. Tammany attracted British [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|loyalists]] who wanted to escape persecution in the [[Thirteen Colonies]]. After [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] was defeated in the [[American Revolutionary War]], West Florida was governed by [[Spanish West Florida|the Spanish]]. The West Florida period ended with [[Republic of West Florida|the West Florida revolt]], which precipitated annexation by the United States.

===Creation and naming of the parish=== In 1810, President [[James Madison]] annexed West Florida as part of the United States and had Governor [[William C. C. Claiborne]] incorporate the area into the [[Territory of Orleans]]. Claiborne established the boundaries of the [[Florida Parishes]] with the creation of its first four parishes: East Baton Rouge, Feliciana, St. Helena, and St. Tammany. St. Tammany Parish was named after the [[Lenape|Delaware Indian]] Chief [[Tamanend]] (c.1628-1698), who made peace with [[William Penn]] and was generally renowned for his goodness.<ref>[http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2006-05-02/blake.php Blake Ponchartrain: New Orleans Know-It-All, 2 May 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206085349/http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2006-05-02/blake.php |date=December 6, 2006 }}, bestofneworleans.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008.</ref> Among the nine [[List of parishes in Louisiana|Louisiana parishes]] named after saints, St. Tammany is the only one whose [[eponym]] is not a [[Canonization|saint]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]], the ecclesiastical parishes of which had formed the basis for the state's civil parishes. [[Tamanend]] is not known to have been Roman Catholic or Christian, but he had been popularly revered as a "Patron Saint of America"<ref>[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/knickerbocker/ Charles W. Jones: Knickerbocker Santa Claus, October 1954], stnicholascenter.org. Retrieved November 10, 2015.</ref> since the post-[[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary]] period, long after his death.

===19th century=== In the early 1830s, there were only two towns in St. Tammany: [[Covington, Louisiana|Covington]], a retreat with summer homes and hotels; and [[Madisonville, Louisiana|Madisonville]], a shipbuilding and sawmill town. The area south of Covington to Lake Pontchartrain's northern shore and extending eastwards to the [[Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana)|Pearl River]] border with the state of [[Mississippi]] was known as the Covington Lowlands. This region included the present-day towns of [[Mandeville, Louisiana|Mandeville]], [[Abita Springs, Louisiana|Abita Springs]], [[Lacombe, Louisiana|Lacombe]], [[Slidell, Louisiana|Slidell]], and [[Pearl River, Louisiana|Pearl River]].

Mandeville was founded in 1834 by [[Bernard de Marigny|Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville]] and was developed as a health resort for wealthy New Orleanians, because it was believed that [[ozone]] was both salutary and naturally emitted by the numerous trees in the area (both beliefs later proven false), giving rise to an early name for the region&nbsp;— the "Ozone Belt".

Regular ferry service commenced across [[Lake Pontchartrain]], and shortly thereafter another resort community was founded, Abita Springs. A railroad was constructed in the 1880s connecting Covington and Abita Springs to Mandeville and to [[New Orleans]], allowing for further growth, particularly in Abita Springs, where underground spring waters permitted supposedly healthful baths.

===20th century=== [[Image:StTammanyTrolleyTicket1915.jpg|thumb|Round-trip trolley ticket on the St. Tammany and New Orleans Railways and Ferry Co., punched to be good on the transit line between [[Mandeville, Louisiana|Mandeville]] and [[Covington, Louisiana|Covington]], Louisiana, for the date of December 30, 1915]]

With the completion of high-speed road connections to St. Tammany from [[New Orleans]] and its older suburbs ([[Lake Pontchartrain Causeway]], the [[I-10 Twin Span Bridge]]), the parish began to develop as a bedroom community. [[Suburb|Suburban sprawl]] first took root in and around [[Slidell, Louisiana]], in the eastern part of the parish. Though the Causeway was completed in 1956 and linked suburban [[Metairie, Louisiana|Metairie]] with western St. Tammany, growth in and around western St. Tammany towns like Mandeville, Covington, and Madisonville only gathered momentum in the late 1960s.

===21st century=== While St. Tammany was sparsely populated and almost wholly rural in the 1950s, its population exceeded 200,000 in the wake of [[Hurricane Katrina]]'s landfall in 2005.

A major event in the parish's transition from a bedroom community of commuters to a more diverse and independent economic unit occurred in 2008 with the relocation of [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron's]] regional corporate headquarters from [[New Orleans Central Business District|downtown New Orleans]] to an office park outside of Covington.

One of the parish's most powerful figures was Jack Strain, who served as St. Tammany sheriff from 1996 to 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain gets 4 life sentences for sex crimes |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/st-tammany-jack-strain-sentenced/39175824 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |work=WDSU |date=February 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> After losing his bid for a sixth term, Strain was the subject of a federal corruption investigation into his privatizing a parish work release program in exchange for kickbacks. After being charged with 16 federal counts, Strain agreed to plead guilty to one count of bribery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eastern District of Louisiana - Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain Sentenced to 120 Months Imprisonment After Previously Pleading Guilty to Soliciting and Receiving Bribes Involving Contract for Privatization of Work Release Program in St. Tammany Parish |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/former-st-tammany-parish-sheriff-jack-strain-sentenced-120-months-imprisonment-after |website=www.justice.gov |access-date=May 13, 2023 |language=en |date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> But the federal investigation also uncovered accusations of sexual abuse involving juveniles. Strain was charged with four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest and one count each of sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pagones |first1=Sara |title=Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain guilty on all sex crime charges |url=https://www.nola.com/news/courts/article_339b914a-4095-11ec-b26d-17006bd04e1b.html |access-date=May 13, 2023 |work=NOLA.com |date=November 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to four life terms in prison.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pagones |first1=Sara |title=Jack Strain formally sentenced to life behind bars for sex crimes |url=https://www.nola.com/news/courts/jack-strain-formally-sentenced-to-life-behind-bars-for-sex-crimes/article_a9dee4c2-9371-11ec-ac85-ff8c1e9ea8fe.html |access-date=May 13, 2023 |work=NOLA.com |date=February 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

===Hurricane Katrina effects=== [[Hurricane Katrina]] made its final landfall in eastern St. Tammany Parish. The western [[eye wall]] passed directly over St. Tammany Parish as a [[Category 3 hurricane]] at about 9:45 AM CST, August 29, 2005.<ref>[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ms-word/TCR-AL122005_Katrina.doc] Richard D. Knabb, Jamie R. Rhome, and Daniel P. Brown, National Hurricane Center, "Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Katrina", August 23–30, 2005. Retrieved September 11, 2009.</ref> The communities of Slidell, Avery Estates, Lakeshore Estates, Oak Harbor, Eden Isles and Northshore Beach were inundated by the storm surge that extended over {{convert|6|mi|0}} inland. The storm surge impacted all {{convert|57|mi}} of St. Tammany Parish's coastline, including Lacombe, Mandeville and Madisonville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_la_sttammany.shtm |title=FEMA: Hurricane Katrina Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps |publisher=Fema.gov |date=June 4, 2009 |access-date=July 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710083558/http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_la_sttammany.shtm |archive-date=July 10, 2010 }}</ref> The storm surge in the area of the Rigolets Pass was estimated at {{convert|16|ft}}, not including wave action, declining to {{convert|7|ft}} at Madisonville. The surge had a second peak in eastern St. Tammany as the westerly winds from the southern eye wall pushed the surge to the east, backing up at the bottleneck of the Rigolets Pass.

The twin spans of I-10 bridges between Slidell and New Orleans East were virtually destroyed, and much of I-10 in New Orleans East was under water. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and the [[U.S. Route 11 in Louisiana|U.S. Highway 11]] bridge, connecting the north and south shores of Lake Pontchartrain, were open only to emergency traffic.

Initial search and rescue operations were conducted south of [[U.S. Route 190 (Louisiana)|U.S. Highway 190]] from Lacombe east to the state line.<ref>[http://www2.stpgov.org/news/2005/TuesdayAug30_9am.html] St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center Parish Status Update, Tuesday, August 30, 2005, 9:00 AM. Retrieved September 11, 2009.</ref> Fire District No. 1 and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's office evacuated over 3,000 people from flooded homes and rescued about 300 people in imminent danger.<ref>[http://www2.stpgov.org/news/2005/10272005-StateoftheParish.html] "State of the Parish" Speech, October 27, 2005, St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis. Retrieved September 11, 2009.</ref> Radio communications among first responders functioned throughout the rescue period, but the 9-1-1 system was not operational for ten days.<ref>[http://www2.stpgov.org/news/2005/09082005_Thur_5PM_status_update.html] St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center Parish Status Update, Thursday, September 8, 2005, 5:00 PM. Retrieved September 11, 2009.</ref> Utility services were not available anywhere in the parish. Generator power was available for hospitals and a special needs shelter. Hospitals were running at capacity on generator power.

The hurricane-force winds toppled trees and telephone poles parish-wide, blocking all transportation routes. Land debris cleanup continued into 2007, with over 6.6 million cubic yards (5&nbsp;million m<sup>3</sup>) collected.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stpgov.org/pdf/1179167900.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724015847/http://www.stpgov.org/pdf/1179167900.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }} "State of the Parish" Speech, October 27, 2005, St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis. Retrieved September 11, 2009.</ref> Debris cleaning in waterways continued at least through 2009. Hurricane Katrina damaged 48,792 housing units in St. Tammany Parish from flood waters, high winds, or both.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/GulfCoast_HousingDamageEstimates_021206.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305162439/http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/GulfCoast_HousingDamageEstimates_021206.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 }}"Current Housing Unit Damage Estimates, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma", February 12, 2006, Analysis by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Policy Development and Research</ref>

==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the parish has a total area of {{convert|1124|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|846|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|279|sqmi}} (25%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 1, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928155956/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> It is located to the north of [[Lake Pontchartrain]].

===Major highways=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}}

* [[Image:I-10.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 10]] * [[Image:I-12.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 12]] * [[Image:I-59.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 59 (Louisiana)|Interstate 59]] * [[Image:US 11.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 11 in Louisiana|U.S. Highway 11]] * [[Image:US 90.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 90 (Louisiana)|U.S. Highway 90]] * [[Image:US 190.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 190 (Louisiana)|U.S. Highway 190]] * [[Image:Louisiana 21 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 21]] * [[Image:Louisiana 22 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 22]] * [[Image:Louisiana 25 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 25]] * [[Image:Louisiana 36 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 36]] * [[Image:Louisiana 40 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 40]] * [[Image:Louisiana 41 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 41]] {{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties and parishes=== * [[Washington Parish, Louisiana|Washington Parish]] (north) * [[Pearl River County, Mississippi|Pearl River County]], [[Mississippi]] (northeast) * [[Hancock County, Mississippi|Hancock County]], [[Mississippi]] (east) * [[New Orleans|Orleans Parish]] (south) * [[Jefferson Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Parish]] (southwest) * [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]] (southeast) * [[Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana|Tangipahoa Parish]] (west)

===National protected areas=== * [[Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge]] * [[Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

===State protected areas=== * [[Pearl River Wildlife Management Area]] * Lake Ramsey Savannah Wildlife Management Area

===State parks=== * [[Fairview-Riverside State Park]] * [[Fontainebleau State Park]]

===Communities=== [[Image:Map of St. Tammany Parish Louisiana With Municipal Labels.PNG|thumb|upright=1.35|Map of St. Tammany Parish, with municipal labels]]

====Cities==== * [[Covington, Louisiana|Covington]] (parish seat) * [[Mandeville, Louisiana|Mandeville]] * [[Slidell, Louisiana|Slidell]] (largest municipality)

====Towns==== * [[Abita Springs, Louisiana|Abita Springs]] * [[Madisonville, Louisiana|Madisonville]] * [[Pearl River, Louisiana|Pearl River]]

====Villages==== * [[Folsom, Louisiana|Folsom]] * [[Sun, Louisiana|Sun]]

=====Census-designated places===== * [[Eden Isle, Louisiana|Eden Isle]] * [[Lacombe, Louisiana|Lacombe]] * [[Lewisburg, Louisiana|Lewisburg]]

=====Unincorporated communities===== {{div col|colwidth=12em}} * [[Alton, Louisiana|Alton]] * [[Audubon, Louisiana|Audubon]] * [[Barker's Corner, Louisiana|Barker's Corner]] * [[Big Branch, Louisiana|Big Branch]] * [[Blond, Louisiana|Blond]] * [[Bonfouca, Louisiana|Bonfouca]] * [[Bush, Louisiana|Bush]] * [[Chinchuba, Louisiana|Chinchuba]] * [[Colt, Louisiana|Colt]] * [[Crawford Landing, Louisiana|Crawford Landing]] * [[Dave, Louisiana|Dave]] * [[Davis Landing, Louisiana|Davis Landing]] * [[Florenville, Louisiana|Florenville]] * [[Goodbee, Louisiana|Goodbee]] * [[Haaswood, Louisiana|Haaswood]] * [[Houltonville, Louisiana|Houltonville]] * [[Hickory, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|Hickory]] * [[Maude, Louisiana|Maude]] * [[McClane City, Louisiana|McClane City]] * [[Morgan Bluff, Louisiana|Morgan Bluff]] * [[North Slidell, Louisiana|North Slidell]] * [[Oaklawn, Louisiana|Oaklawn]] * [[Saint Benedict, Louisiana|St. Benedict]] * [[St. Joe, Louisiana|St. Joe]] * [[St. Tammany, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|St. Tammany]] * [[St. Tammany Corner, Louisiana|St. Tammany Corner]] * [[Talisheek, Louisiana|Talisheek]] * [[Waldheim, Louisiana|Waldheim]] * [[White Kitchen, Louisiana|White Kitchen]]

{{div col end}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1820= 1723 |1830= 2864 |1840= 4598 |1850= 6364 |1860= 5406 |1870= 5586 |1880= 6887 |1890= 10160 |1900= 13335 |1910= 18917 |1920= 20645 |1930= 20929 |1940= 23624 |1950= 26988 |1960= 38643 |1970= 68585 |1980= 110869 |1990= 144508 |2000= 191268 |2010= 233740 |2020=264570 |estyear=2025 |estimate=279108 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> {{gain}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22103.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 18, 2013}}</ref> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small> !Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small> !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 15 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 20/12-20/20)|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_laABC-02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-2/cp-2-20-1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=15-38}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US22103&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US22103&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US22103&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH) |94,091 |124,191 |163,061 |188,317 |style='background: #ffffe6; |192,144 |84.87% |85.94% |85.25% |80.57% |style='background: #ffffe6; |72.63% |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH) |13,660 |15,778 |18,788 |26,430 |style='background: #ffffe6; |33,969 |12.32% |10.92% |9.82% |11.31% |style='background: #ffffe6; |12.84% |- |[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH) |305 |504 |788 |1,031 |style='background: #ffffe6; |876 |0.28% |0.35% |0.41% |0.44% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33% |- |[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) |346 |731 |1,413 |2,914 |style='background: #ffffe6; |3,814 |0.31% |0.51% |0.74% |1.25% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.44% |- |[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |52 |73 |style='background: #ffffe6; |105 |x |x |0.03% |0.03% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04% |- |[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH) |212 |134 |387 |606 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,352 |0.19% |0.09% |0.20% |0.26% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51% |- |[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |2,042 |3,399 |style='background: #ffffe6; |11,466 |x |x |1.07% |1.45% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.33% |- |[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race) |2,255 |3,170 |4,737 |10,970 |style='background: #ffffe6; |20,844 |2.03% |2.19% |2.48% |4.69% |style='background: #ffffe6; |7.88% |- |'''Total''' |'''110,869''' |'''144,508''' |'''191,268''' |'''233,740''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''264,570 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

Per the [[2020 United States census]], there were 264,570 people, 94,988 households, and 65,335 families residing in the parish. At the 2019 census estimates,<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Geography Profile: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US22103|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 255,155 people living in the parish, up from 233,740 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 U.S. census]], and 191,268 at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]]. There were 92,962 households spread out among 102.909 housing units. The racial and ethnic makeup of the parish was 82.8% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 12.1% [[African Americans|African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.6% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 1.0% some other race, and 1.9% [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. Approximately 5.6% of the population was [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic and Latin American]] of any race.

Among the households, the median age was 40.2, and 6.0% of the population were under 5 years of age; 75.9% were aged 18 and older, and 16.4% were aged 65 and older. Culturally, 16.4% of the population were of [[French Americans|French]] ancestry, and 15.5% were [[German Americans|German]]. [[Irish Americans|Irish]] heritage was 12.2% of the population, and [[Italian Americans|Italians]] made up 11.3% of the parish. [[Sub-Saharan African Americans|Sub-Saharan African]] heritage was 0.4% of the population in 2019. The second most-spoken language in St. Tammany Parish was [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (4.0%).

Among the population at the 2019 census estimates, 78.4% lived in owner-occupied housing units and the median home value was $218,500. The median gross rent was $1,086 and the median household income was $68,905. An estimated 11.5% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. The employment rate was 56.9%.

Religiously, Christianity has dominated the area since European colonization. Among the Christian denominations prevalent throughout the parish, [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] has remained the largest with 145,007 members, followed by [[Baptists]] and non/inter-denominational Protestants per the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 {{!}} U.S. Religion Census {{!}} Religious Statistics & Demographics |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=www.usreligioncensus.org}}</ref>

==Politics== St. Tammany Parish has heavily favored [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politicians. In 2020, Donald Trump won St. Tammany by a greater number of votes than he did any other county of Louisiana. The last [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential candidate to carry the parish was [[John F. Kennedy]] in [[1960 United States presidential election in Louisiana|1960]]. In [[2008 United States presidential election in Louisiana|2008]], [[John McCain]] received 76% of the vote (83,078 votes) in the parish, despite losing to Democrat [[Barack Obama]] nationally by a substantial margin. In the [[2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2008 U.S. Senate election]], incumbent Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] was re-elected, but lost the parish to Republican [[John Kennedy (Louisiana politician)|John Kennedy]], with Kennedy winning 61% of the vote (65,150 votes) in the parish to Landrieu's 36% (39,429 votes). In 2004, Republican [[George W. Bush]] won 75% of the vote (75,139 votes) to Democrat [[John F. Kerry|John Kerry]]’s 24% (24,662 votes). The increase in the Republican margin of victory since 2004 has been attributed in part to the relocation of numerous, typically Republican, [[St. Bernard Parish]] residents to St. Tammany Parish in the aftermath of post-[[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref name=Leip/> In the 2024 presidential election, [[Donald Trump]] won the parish with 71.1% of the vote to [[Kamala Harris]]'s 27.3%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=Louisiana Election Results 2024: Live Map - Races by County - POLITICO |url=https://www.politico.comundefined/ |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=www.politico.comundefined |language=en}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|source=<ref name=Leip>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|30|668|114|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|95|782|15|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|276|967|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|269|969|73|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1928|Democratic|945|1,811|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|178|3,206|5|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|594|3,477|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|668|4,475|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|703|3,450|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|790|1,164|3,087|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,598|4,465|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,965|3,373|301|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,850|5,179|3,034|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1964|Republican|7,883|6,694|0|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1968|American Independent|4,846|4,445|11,470|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|15,438|3,949|1,438|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|15,822|14,691|886|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|27,214|14,161|1,323|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|38,664|11,719|392|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|38,334|15,638|851|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|37,839|19,735|9,347|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|44,761|24,281|5,484|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|59,193|22,722|1,822|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|75,139|24,665|788|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|83,078|24,596|1,868|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|84,723|25,728|2,451|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|90,915|27,717|5,760|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|99,666|37,746|2,698|Louisiana}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|98,377|37,777|2,230|Louisiana}} {{PresFoot}}

==Education== ===K-12 education=== [[St. Tammany Parish Public Schools]] operates the public schools in all of the parish.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st22_la/schooldistrict_maps/c22103_st_tammany/DC20SD_C22103.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731232756/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st22_la/schooldistrict_maps/c22103_st_tammany/DC20SD_C22103.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: St. Tammany Parish, LA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 18, 2020 |accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st22_la/schooldistrict_maps/c22103_st_tammany/DC20SD_C22103_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> They are consistently rated as among the highest-performing in the state such as [[Mandeville High School]], [[Covington High School]], and [[Fontainebleau High School]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Roman Catholic parochial secondary schools of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans]] include: * [[Archbishop Hannan High School]] (unincorporated area, Covington address)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hannanhigh.org/|title=Home|publisher=[[Archbishop Hannan High School]]|access-date=2024-12-26|quote=71324 Highway 1077, Covington LA 70433}}<br>The school is in an [[unincorporated area]]: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st22_la/county/c22103_st_tammany/DC20BLK_C22103.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: St. Tammany Parish, LA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-26|page=17 (PDF p. 18/50)|quote=1077}} (Note the street name, compare to full location of the school)</ref> * [[Pope John Paul II Catholic High School (Louisiana)|Pope John Paul II Catholic High School]] (Slidell)

Other private schools include: {{div col}} * [[Christ Episcopal School]] (preschool/kindergarten in Covington, grades 1-12 in an unincorporated area)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://christepiscopalschool.org/|title=Home|publisher=Christ Episcopal School|access-date=2024-12-26|quote=Early Childhood Campus (Early Pre-k, Pre-k, and Kindergarten) 120 S. New Hampshire Street Covington, LA 70433 [...] Christwood Boulevard Campus (Grades 1 – 12) 80 Christwood Boulevard Covington, LA 70433}}<br>The preschool/kindergarten is in the Covington city limits while the grade 1-12 facility is in an [[unincorporated area]]: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st22_la/county/c22103_st_tammany/DC20BLK_C22103.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: St. Tammany Parish, LA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-26|page=18 (PDF p. 19/50)|quote=Christwood Blvd}} (Note the street name, compare to full location of the school)</ref> * [[St. Paul's School (Louisiana)|Saint Paul's School]] (Covington) * [[St. Scholastica Academy (Covington, Louisiana)|Saint Scholastica Academy]] (Covington) * Northlake Christian School (unincorporated, Covington postal address)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://northlakechristian.org|title=Home|publisher=Northlake Christian School|access-date=2024-12-26|quote=70104 Wolverine Drive Covington, LA 70433}}<br>The school is in an [[unincorporated area]]: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st22_la/county/c22103_st_tammany/DC20BLK_C22103.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: St. Tammany Parish, LA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-26|page=Inset 2 (PDF p. 41/50)|quote=Wolverine Dr}} (Note the street name, compare to full location of the school)</ref> {{div col end}}

===Tertiary education=== [[File:Southeastern main entrance LA 3234.JPG|thumb|left|Saint Tammany Hall (background) is the first building students pass on going through the main entrance to [[Southeastern Louisiana University]] in [[Hammond, Louisiana]].]] St. Tammany Parish is within the service areas of two community colleges: [[Northshore Technical Community College]] and [[Delgado Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lctcs.edu/our-colleges|title=Our Colleges|publisher=[[Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges]]|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref> Northshore Technical Community College has its main campus in Lacombe; this campus was established in January 2017. Additionally [[Nunez Community College]] in [[Chalmette, Louisiana|Chalmette]],<ref name=Fox8Slidellclosed>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox8live.com/story/32844129/delgados-slidell-campus-closing-students-will-have-alternatives/|title=Delgado's Slidell campus closing; students will have alternatives|publisher=Fox 8 News|date=August 25, 2016|access-date=May 19, 2021|quote=[...]Northshore Technical Community College or Nunez Community College, starting immediately.[...]}}</ref> and the Sidney Collier Campus in [[East New Orleans]] of [[Delgado Community College]] are in proximity to the parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dcc.edu/about/locations/default.aspx|title=Locations|publisher=[[Delgado Community College]]|access-date=May 19, 2021|quote=The Sidney Collier Site [...] as well as St. Tammany and St. Bernard parishes.}}</ref> Previously Covington and Slidell hosted campuses of Delgado Community College, with Slidell having the Slidell Learning Center and later the Northshore-Slidell campus, and with Covington having the Northshore-Covington Campus. The latter opened in summer 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.dcc.edu/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=607|title=The College and the Locations|publisher=[[Delgado Community College]]|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref> The Slidell campus closed in 2016 due to financial issues.<ref name=Fox8Slidellclosed/>

The parish is the eponym of Saint Tammany Hall on the campus of [[Southeastern Louisiana University]], in neighboring [[Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana|Tangipahoa Parish]].

==See also== {{Portal|United States}} * [[Lake Pontchartrain]] * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana]] * [[Tammany Trace]]

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} * [http://www.stpgov.org/ St. Tammany Parish Government official website] * [http://www.stpsb.org/ St. Tammany Parish Public Schools] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070703054115/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/louisiana/ Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary] * [https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo19089 Water Resources of St. Tammany Parish] [[United States Geological Survey]] * [https://www.stpso.com/ St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office]

===Geology=== * Heinrich, P. V., R. P. McCulloh, and J. Snead, 2007, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628130626/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Bogalusa%20100K.pdf ''Bogalusa 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle''], Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. * Heinrich, P. V., R. P. McCulloh, and J. Snead, 2004, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628131806/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Gulfport%20100K.pdf ''Gulfport 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle''], Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. * McCulloh, R. P., P. V. Heinrich, and J. Snead, 2003, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628131228/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Ponchatoula%20100K.pdf ''Ponchatoula 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle''], Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

{{Geographic Location |Centre = St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana |North = [[Washington Parish, Louisiana|Washington Parish]] |Northeast = [[Pearl River County, Mississippi]] |East = [[Hancock County, Mississippi]] |Southeast = [[New Orleans|Orleans Parish]] |South = [[New Orleans|Orleans Parish]] and [[Lake Pontchartrain]] |Southwest = [[Jefferson Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Parish]] |West = [[Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana|Tangipahoa Parish]] |Northwest = }}

{{St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana}} {{Louisiana parishes}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|30.40|-89.96|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-LA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana| ]] [[Category:Louisiana parishes]] [[Category:Louisiana placenames of Native American origin]] [[Category:Parishes in the New Orleans metropolitan area]] [[Category:1810 establishments in the Territory of Orleans]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1810]]