Hammond, Louisiana
| Company type | City |
|---|---|
| Industry | Municipal government |
| Founded | 1818 |
| Founder | Peter Hammond |
| Headquarters | Hammond , United States |
Area served | Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana metropolitan area |
Hammond stands as the most populous city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States, situated to the east of Baton Rouge and northwest of New Orleans. According to the 2010 U.S. census, its population was 20,019, increasing to an estimated 21,359 by 2020.
Home to Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond functions as the central city within the Hammond metropolitan statistical area, which covers the entirety of Tangipahoa Parish. Additionally, it forms part of the Baton Rouge-Hammond combined statistical area.
19th century
The city derives its name from Peter Hammond (1798–1870), a Swedish immigrant and the area's first European settler who arrived circa 1818. Previously a sailor detained by British forces during the Napoleonic Wars, Hammond escaped captivity and eventually settled near New Orleans.
He utilized his savings to acquire affordable land northwest of Lake Pontchartrain, where he established a plantation producing masts, charcoal, and other maritime supplies for New Orleans. Transporting these goods by oxcart, he reached the Natalbany River’s navigable head at Springfield. Prior to the Civil War, Hammond owned at least 30 enslaved African Americans but suffered significant financial losses due to Union incursions during the conflict.
The arrival of the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad in 1854 (later known as Illinois Central Railroad and currently Canadian National Railway) positioned the area as a vital commercial and transportation junction. The railroad intersection was initially referred to as Hammond's Crossing.
During the Civil War period, Hammond became a production center for footwear supporting the Confederate Army. In 1860, Charles Emery Cate acquired land to construct his residence alongside a shoe factory, tannery, and sawmill. Cate also planned the town’s street layout parallel to the railway, naming several streets after his children; Cate Street commemorates him.
Following the war, Hammond experienced growth in light manufacturing and commerce. By the late 1800s, it served as an important stop for northern travelers heading south and for residents of New Orleans fleeing summer yellow fever epidemics. The city gained recognition as a major shipping point for strawberries, earning the nickname "Strawberry Capital of America," which is commemorated by a state historical marker downtown.
20th and 21st centuries
In the 1920s, David William Thomas edited a weekly newspaper based in Hammond before relocating to Minden, where he was elected mayor in 1936.
The Hammond Daily Courier was founded in 1932 by Hodding Carter, who departed in 1939 for Greenville, Mississippi, leading to its closure. Carter subsequently received a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on Civil Rights issues.
The Tangipahoa Parish Library's Hammond branch was established in 1944.
Since 1959, The Daily Star has served as Hammond’s daily newspaper.
During World War II, what is now Hammond Northshore Regional Airport functioned as a detention site for prisoners of war from Nazi Germany. The U.S. Army also managed the Hammond Bombing and Gunnery Range located east of the city; investigations by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 2000s searched for unexploded ordnance there.
Presently, Interstates 12 and 55 intersect within Hammond. The local airport features an extended runway that serves as an alternate landing location for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. It is an essential training facility for the Louisiana Army National Guard and houses the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 236th Combat Communications Squadron.
Approximately south lies Port Manchac, which provides waterway access through Lake Pontchartrain to the Gulf of Mexico. This multimodal connection of highway, rail, air, and sea has transformed Hammond from its strawberry-shipping roots into a significant transportation hub that hosts distribution centers for Walmart and other major corporations. Notably, Southeastern Louisiana University offers Louisiana’s sole academic program specializing in supply chain management.
In 1953, architect John Desmond established Hammond’s first architectural practice and served as chief architect for Tangipahoa Parish School Board before moving his practice to Baton Rouge.
Cultural highlights include the Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum, which is part of the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, alongside Southeastern’s restoration of the historic 1928 Columbia Theatre into a $5.6 million cultural venue located downtown.
On August 29, 2021, Hammond endured severe impacts from Hurricane Ida’s eastern eyewall with over of rainfall resulting in intense flash flooding and extensive wind damage.
Geography
Per data from the United States Census Bureau, the city spans a total area of , with land comprising nearly the entire expanse and water bodies making up just 0.08%.
Climate
Hammond's climate is characterized by hot and humid summers alongside mild to cool winters, classified as a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification system.
Demographics
| Race | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 8,584 | 43.83% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 8,865 | 45.27% |
| Native American | 62 | 0.32% |
| Asian | 327 | 1.67% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 693 | 3.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,047 | 5.35% |
Based on the 2020 United States census, Hammond's population totaled 19,584 residents, distributed among 6,871 households and comprising 3,972 family units.
Education
Founded in 1925 by educator Linus A. Sims, Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) stands as a prominent regional institution and one of the city's principal employers. Additionally, Hammond is home to Northshore Technical Community College along with vocational institutions such as Petra College and Compass Career College, both providing certifications in allied health and medical fields.
The public education system is overseen by the Tangipahoa Parish School System, which includes Hammond High Magnet School, Hammond Junior High School, Eastside and Westside Elementary Schools, SLU Laboratory School, and Crystal Academy serving as an alternative education facility.
Private schooling options include Catholic schools like Holy Ghost Catholic School (pre-K through eighth grade) and Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, as well as Trafton Academy and Oaks Montessori School catering to pre-K through eighth grade students.
In 2018, only about 74% of Hammond’s population had earned a high school diploma, placing the city in the lower quartile nationwide; furthermore, just one-fifth possessed college degrees. Public schools within the area rank below the median statewide.
During the 2020–2021 school year, the Tangipahoa Parish School System enrolled roughly 19,500 students with an operating budget totaling $219 million.
Sports, parks, and recreation
Multiple facilities in Hammond serve as venues for the Southeastern Louisiana Lions athletic teams.
Chappapeela Sports Park accommodates activities including football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
The city’s public parks encompass Cate Square, Zemurray Park—which includes a public swimming pool—North Oaks, Mooney Avenue Park, Clarke Park, Martin Luther King Park, Jackson Park, and Hammond Dreamland Park. Recreational programs offer youth sports leagues and camps alongside adult leagues for flag football, basketball, kickball, and volleyball. Additional adult activities feature Line Dancing classes, Zumba sessions, and Crafting workshops.
Media
While Hammond receives media coverage from Baton Rouge and New Orleans markets, it also supports local outlets:
- Action News 17 available on Charter Communications Channel 197 with online streaming options
- The Daily Star newspaper publication
- Radio stations: KSLU 90.9 FM (affiliated with Southeastern Louisiana University), WZEN-LP 107.9 FM, WFPR 1400 AM, WHMD 107.1 FM ("Kajun Radio"), and WTGG 96.5 FM
Government and infrastructure
A regional office of the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice is situated in Hammond.
The United States Postal Service operates the Hammond Post Office, located at 105 NW Railroad Ave.
Law enforcement and crime
Law enforcement in Hammond is provided by five distinct agencies:
- Hammond Police Department (HPD) – the principal municipal police organization for the city
- Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office (TPSO) – responsible for law enforcement at the parish level
- Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department (SLUPD) – overseeing security on SLU campuses
- 7th Ward City Court Marshal's Office
- Louisiana State Police (LSP)
The headquarters of the Hammond Police Department is located at 120 S Oak St. Crime data for Hammond can be accessed via the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting system.
Hammond has consistently faced elevated crime levels. Louisiana holds the distinction of being the most violent state in the nation, with Hammond ranking as the fifth most violent city within Louisiana based on crimes per capita.
Crime Rates (per 100,000): US Average Compared to Hammond, Louisiana
| Year | US Violent Crime | Hammond Violent Crime | US Property Crime | Hammond Property Crime | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 264 | 1,393 | 317 | 1,737 | |
| 2007 | 1,985 | 1,342 | |||
| 2008 | 252 | 1,124 | 302 | 1,469 | |
| 2009 | 238 | 1,139 | 285 | 1,550 | |
| 2010 | 223 | 846 | 276 | 1,333 | |
| 2011 | 214 | 848 | 273 | 1,261 | |
| 2012 | 214 | 881 | 267 | 1,331 | |
| 2013 | 204 | 679 | 250 | 1,282 | |
| 2014 | 200 | 612 | 230 | 1,102 | |
| 2015 | 208 | 535 | 221 | 953 | |
| 2016 | 216 | 775 | 216 | 1,019 |
Health care
Several medical facilities serve Hammond and its surrounding areas, with North Oaks Medical Center prominently located along U.S. Route 51 in Louisiana#Business Route between Hammond and Ponchatoula. As one of Louisiana’s largest hospitals, North Oaks also supports Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences through its educational programs.
Transportation
Hammond benefits from a comprehensive network of railroads, highways, and air transportation.
Passenger rail
The City of New Orleans, which runs daily in both southbound and northbound directions, stops in Hammond and serves approximately 15,000 passengers annually. Many riders travel to or from Baton Rouge, situated about 40 miles west. The centrally located historic station, built in 1912 in the Queen Anne architectural style, underwent refurbishment in 2008 with an ADA-accessible platform added shortly thereafter.
Highways
Hammond’s advantageous location at the crossroads of two major interstate highways significantly contributes to its economic vitality:
- Interstate 12 connects Baton Rouge to Slidell, Louisiana, providing an alternative route that bypasses New Orleans for Interstate 10 traffic.
- Interstate 55 in Louisiana extends from Laplace, Louisiana, near New Orleans, up to Chicago and passes through prominent cities including Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Louis.
The city is approximately 40 miles from Baton Rouge, 46 miles from New Orleans, 89 miles from Gulfport, Mississippi, and 125 miles from Jackson, Mississippi.
Two U.S. highways traverse Hammond:
- U.S. Route 51 in Louisiana (Morrison Boulevard) splits from I-55 between Hammond and Ponchatoula and runs parallel to I-55 along the western part of Hammond. The U.S. 51 Business route follows the original path through downtown.
- U.S. Route 190 in Louisiana (Thomas Street / Morris Avenue) crosses east–west through the city’s commercial district and historic downtown area.
State highways serving Hammond include:
- LA 443 (Morris Road)
- LA 1040 (Chauvin Drive / Old Baton Rouge Highway)
- LA 1064 (Natalbany Road / River Road)
- LA 1065 (North Cherry Street)
- LA 1249 (Pumpkin Center Road)
- LA 3158 (Airport Road)
- LA 3234 (University Avenue; provides access to Southeastern Louisiana University)
Previously designated routes such as LA 1067 and LA 3260 have been retired.
Airport
The Hammond Northshore Regional Airport possesses a runway suitable for the Concorde (1976–2003) and functions as an alternate facility for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. It accommodates the largest contingent of the Louisiana Army National Guard and houses the 236th Combat Communications Squadron of the Louisiana Air National Guard. Although it does not provide regular commercial passenger flights, the airport facilitates charter services and supports corporate aviation activities.
Notable people
- Robert Alford, cornerback with the Arizona Cardinals
- Kayla Ard, head coach of the Utah State University Women's Basketball team
- George W. Bond, president of Louisiana Tech University from 1928 to 1936
- George S. Bowman Jr., U.S. Marine Corps major general and veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam
- Josh Brooks, athletic director at the University of Georgia
- Alyssa Carson, aspiring astronaut and space enthusiast
- Sally Clausen, president of Southeastern Louisiana University between 1995 and 2001
- Wade Miley, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
- James H. Morrison, U.S. Representative for Louisiana from 1943 to 1967
- Kim Mulkey, head coach for the women's basketball team at LSU Tigers
- Jimmy Noone, musician and bandleader
- Todd O'Neill, vocalist
- Cindy Robbins, actress
- Robin Roberts, host of Good Morning America
- Dr. Charles Smith, visual artist
- Jamie Lynn Spears, actress and country music performer
- Tyjae Spears, running back with the Tennessee Titans
In popular media
- The city was utilized as the filming location for the inaugural season of the NBC television series In the Heat of the Night (1988), featuring Carroll O'Connor. This show is based on the 1967 motion picture In the Heat of the Night.
- "Hammond Song," written by Maggie Roche of The Roches, expresses her experience relocating to Hammond after becoming disenchanted with her music career.
See also
- The Daily Star newspaper
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
- Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum