Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Geobox City
name = City of Ponchatoula
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = City

---

image_caption = Ponchatoula during the 2007 Strawberry Festival


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
symbol_type =
nickname = Strawberry Capital of the World
motto =
country = United States
state = Louisiana
region = Tangipahoa
region_type = Parish
area_imperial = 4.2
area_land_imperial = 4.2
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 30
lat_m = 26
lat_s = 21
lat_NS = N
long_d = 90
long_m = 26
long_s = 33
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 26
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 5180
population_density_imperial = 1226.7
population_density_round = 1
established_type =
established =
mayor =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 70454
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 985
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Ponchatoula in Louisiana
map_locator = Louisiana
map1 = Map of USA LA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Louisiana in the United States
website = http://www.ponchatoula.com

Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,180 at the 2000 census. Ponchatoula bills itself as "Strawberry Capital of the World". It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Ponchatoula is located at coor dms|30|26|21|N|90|26|33|W|city (30.439162, -90.442507)GR|1 and has an elevation of convert|26|ft|1GR|3. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.

Ponchatoula is located along Interstate 55 and Highway 22, in a position that puts it an equal distance between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. In the early 1900s, Ponchatoula was one of only two ways to get to New Orleans by land, giving it the title of "Gateway to New Orleans."

History

Ponchatoula was established as a logging camp in 1820, and incorporated as a town on February 12, 1861. Ponchatoula is a name signifying "falling hair" or "hanging hair" or "flowing hair" from the Choctaw "Pashi" "hair" and "itula" or "itola" "to fall" or "to hang" or "flowing". The Indian name "Ponchatoula" means "flowing hair", arrived at by the Indians as a way of expressing the beauty of the location with much moss hanging from the trees. "Ponche" is an Indian word meaning location, an object, or a person [http://ponchatoula.com] .

Tourism

Ponchatoula is a small town, but it has several tourist attractions. The old train depot has been converted into the Country Market, a series of booths for local craftsmen and artisans. Next door is the Art Car: a train car which has been turned into an art gallery for local painters. In the same block lives Ole' Hardhide, an alligator credited with "writing" a column in The Ponchatoula Times newspaper. The current Hardhide is the fourth by that name Fact|date=February 2007.

Across Highway 22 from Hardhide is the Collinswood School Museum, a former one room schoolhouse which now has local artifacts and quilts on display. Between Collinswood and the tracks stands the Strawberry Train, which is a steam engine and single car which is roped off in such a way that children can safely climb into the engine and car. The Chamber of Commerce's office is located on Highway 22 at the railroad tracks and has information of these and other local sights both in Ponchatoula and in the surrounding area.

Demographics

As of the 2000 censusGR|2, there were 5,180 people, 1,984 households, and 1,372 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,226.7 people per square mile (473.9/km²). There were 2,175 housing units at an average density of 515.1/sq mi (199.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.20% White, 36.83% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 1,984 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,244, and the median income for a family was $29,583. Males had a median income of $30,285 versus $18,952 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,157. About 27.9% of families and 31.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.9% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Events

Ponchatoula hosts the annual Strawberry Festival each April and the annual Oktoberfest each October.

Notable residents

* Lindsey Cardinale
* Marguerite Perrin
* Irma Thomas
* Katie Uter
* Angelina Harvey

References

External links

* [http://www.ponchatoula.com/ City of Ponchatoula] .
* [http://www.ponchatoula.com/ptimes/ Ponchatoula Times]