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St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
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==History== ===17th century=== In 1682, French explorers [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]] and [[Henri de Tonti]] traveled the entire length of the [[Mississippi River]] and as their expedition passed what is present-day [[Hahnville, Louisiana|Hahnville]] on the west bank; they encountered indigenous [[Quinipissa]] villagers.<ref name="de La Salle">{{cite web|title=Exploration and Discovery (1542-1647)|url=https://scphistory.org/exploration-and-discovery/|publisher=scphistory.org/|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> In 1699, [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]], along with his younger brother, [[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville]] returned to the area claiming it for [[France]].<ref name="d’Iberville ImSet">{{cite web|title=Pieree le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville|url=https://scphistory.org/immigrationandsettlement/|publisher=scphistory.org/|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> They found an indigenous [[Bayagoula]] settlement near the river's intersection with a tributary at a site named ''L’Anse aux Outardes'' or ''Bustard’s Cove'' in present-day [[New Sarpy, Louisiana|New Sarpy]] on the east bank of the Mississippi River.<ref name="d’Iberville ImSet"/> It was discovered that the Quinapissa had joined the indigenous [[Mougoulacha]] and they later moved to the east bank of the river to form one village with the Bayougoula near L’Anse aux Outardes.<ref name="d’Iberville ImSet"/> ===18th century=== As early as 1718, [[John Law (economist)|John Law]] and the [[Mississippi Company|Company of the Indies]] began recruiting [[French people|French]] settlers to settle [[Louisiana (New France)]], though not specifically to what would become the [[German Coast]].<ref name="JohnLawsChrtr">{{cite web|title=John Law's Charter|url=https://scphistory.org/wp-content/grand-media/image/DSC_0266_LesAllemandsAAA_web.jpg|publisher=scphistory.org/|accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> The early French settlers were not suited or prepared for the harsh conditions in Louisiana.<ref name="JohnLawsChrtr"/> In 1719, [[Jean-Pierre Pury]], a director at the Company of the Indies, proposed recruiting Germans and German-speaking Swiss farmers to Louisiana and that same year with a twenty-five-year charter, Law merged the Company of the West with his Company of the Indies.<ref name="JohnLawsChrtr"/> Also in 1719, a small group of German settlers arrived in the Louisiana French colony and were transported by waterways thirty miles west of New Orleans to a location along the west bank of the [[Mississippi River]], north of [[Lake Salvador|Ouachas Lake]].<ref name="JohnLaw">{{cite web|title=John Law|url=http://www.acadian-cajun.com/germanc.htm|publisher=acadian-cajun.com|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> This area of German settlers was called ''les Allemands'' or ''the Germans''.<ref name="JohnLawsChrtr"/><ref name="les Allemands">{{cite web|title=les Allemands|url=https://scphistory.org/wp-content/grand-media/image/DSC_0266_LesAllemandsAAA_web.jpg|publisher=scphistory.org/|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> In 1720, Germans were recruited in early spring to settle in ''les Allemands''. Roughly four thousand individuals (four hundred and fifty families) mostly from the [[Rhineland]], but also from [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Bavaria]], [[Swedish Pomerania]], [[Alsace–Lorraine]], [[Belgium]], and [[Switzerland]] traveled across France to [[Lorient]] in [[Brittany (administrative region)|Brittany]] and then made the voyage to Louisiana on March 7, 1721.<ref name="FrnchLoui">{{cite book |last1=Cormier|first1=Steven A.|editor1-last=|title=French Louisiana|trans-title=|url=http://www.acadiansingray.com/Acadians%20of%20LA-history%205.htm|access-date=January 9, 2013|publisher=acadiansingray.com|location=|isbn=|page=}}</ref><ref name="EarlyVllgs">{{cite web|title=Karl Fredrick Darensbourg & Early Villages|url=https://scphistory.org/darensbourg/|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> The settlers arrived in [[Fort Maurepas|Old Biloxi]] on June 4, 1721, and on December 15, 1721, [[France|French]] [[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville|Governor Bienville]] issued an order for boats to transport the recently arrived German-speaking settlers including newly named Commandant [[Charles Frederick d'Arensbourg|Charles Frederic d'Arensbourg]], born Karl Friedrich von Arensburg, to the already established villages of [[Hoffen, Louisiana|Hoffen]], [[Marienthal, Louisiana|Marienthal]], and [[Augsburg, Louisiana|Augsburg]] on the west bank of the Mississippi River.<ref name="EarlyVllgs"/> The settlers left for the settlements in January 1722 and of the roughly four thousand individuals that initially began the trip in [[Europe]], when they reached their port of embarkation in March 1722, a Company of the Indies official counted only three hundred and thirty settlers because many of them perished due to the harsh conditions of their long journey to Louisiana.<ref name="FrnchLoui"/> d'Arensbourg's land grant concession on the west bank of the river near present-day [[Taft, Louisiana|Taft]], was named [[Karlstein, Louisiana|Karlstein]] after him and with its founding, the original four settlements in "les Allemands" were established.<ref name="EarlyVllgs"/> Besides the area being named "les Allemands", the collective name that the settlements were sometimes referred to as was Karlstein, also after Charles Frédérique d'Arensbourg or Karl Friedrich von Arensburg, who was the acknowledged leader of the settlements for more than 55 years.<ref name="EarlyVllgs"/> [[Image:Mapofgermancoast-1775.jpg|thumb|right|226x226px|Map of the German Coast, 1775. ''Carlstein'' and ''German Church'' are located on the westbank of the Mississippi River.<ref>[http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/g0411044.html "Course Of The River Mississippi, from the Balise to Fort Chartres. Ross, Lieut. 1775" rumsey.geogarage.com]</ref>]] Over time, "les Allemands" would come to be known as ''Côté des Allemands'' or ''[[German Coast]]'' and is located in present-day St. Charles and [[St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana|St. John the Baptist]] Parishes.<ref name="JohnLaw"/><ref name="EarlyVllgs"/> The German Coast Settlement established in 1722 was the third permanent settlement in what is now the state of Louisiana, after [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] (1714) and [[New Orleans]] (1718). Also in 1722, the "La Grand Ouragan" Hurricane devastated the German Coast and many Germans considered leaving.<ref name="Bstrd’s Cove Stlmnt">{{cite web|title=Bustard's Cove – L'Anse aux Outardes|url=https://scphistory.org/bustards-cove/|publisher=scphistory.org/|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> In order to prevent this exodus, Governor Bienville decided to grant the settlement of additional lands to settlers on the west bank in addition to the east bank of the river.<ref name="Bstrd’s Cove Stlmnt"/> Later in 1722 and 1723, some [[French people|French]] and German settlers along with newly arrived [[Canadians]] moved across the Mississippi River to establish the first east bank settlement at ''L’Anse aux Outardes'' or ''Bustard’s Cove''.<ref name="Bstrd’s Cove Stlmnt"/> The tributary at this site connected the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain via a previously discovered system of waterways through the [[LaBranche Wetlands]].<ref name="Bstrd’s Cove Stlmnt"/> The ecclesiastical parish and chapel, [[La Paroisse de St. Jean des Allemands]], was also founded in 1723 in Karlstein.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Becnel|first1=Joan|last2=Friloux|first2=Suzanne|last3=Richoux|first3=Marilyn|editor1-first=Anne|editor1-last=Cordry|title=St. Charles Parish Louisiana|date=June 2, 2024 |trans-title=A Pictorial History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hg9kbwAACAAJ&q=St.+Charles+Parish+Louisiana+A+Pictorial+History|access-date=January 9, 2013|publisher=Donning Company Publishers|location=Virginia Beach, VA|isbn=978-1578646388|page=26}}</ref><ref name="google1">{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/scblittleredchurch/church-history |title=Church History – St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church |date=May 22, 2005 |access-date=June 28, 2013}}</ref> A 1724 census revealed that the German families were not only harvesting enough food and raising enough cattle for their families, but they were bringing their surplus to New Orleans markets.<ref name="BreadBskt">{{cite web|title=Breadbasket of the Colony|url=https://scphistory.org/breadbasket-of-the-colony/|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> It is apparent from these records that from the beginning of their settlement, German Coast farmers were a major source of food for the city of New Orleans.<ref name="BreadBskt"/> The granting of additional lands in 1722 and 1723, led to the founding of the ''Second German Coast'' in 1730 and the establishment of officially having settlements on both banks of the Mississippi River.<ref name="Bstrd’s Cove Stlmnt"/> The year 1729 saw the first attack by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] on the German villages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/18thcenturytimeline/|title=18th Century Timeline|website=scphistory.org|access-date=September 9, 2022|language=en}}</ref> In 1731, as the first decade of settlement on the German Coast ended and the Company of the Indies charter was retrieved by France, Louisiana again became a French colony.<ref name="BreadBskt"/> The land farmed by settlers on the German Coast technically belonged to the Company of the Indies until France retrieved its charter.<ref name="BreadBskt"/> After France once again owned the land, more landholders began to petition France for individual ownership of property.<ref name="BreadBskt"/> In 1740, the ecclesiastical parish and chapel relocated to the present-day site of the church in [[Destrehan, Louisiana|Destrehan]] on the east bank of the Mississippi River.<ref name="StCharChapel'">{{cite book |last1=Becnel|first1=Joan|last2=Friloux|first2=Suzanne|last3=Richoux|first3=Marilyn|editor1-first=Anne|editor1-last=Cordry|title=St. Charles Parish Louisiana|date=June 2, 2024 |trans-title=A Pictorial History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hg9kbwAACAAJ&q=St.+Charles+Parish+Louisiana+A+Pictorial+History|access-date=January 9, 2013|publisher=Donning Company Publishers|location=Virginia Beach, VA|isbn=978-1578646388|page=30}}</ref> A [[log cabin]] structure was built and both the ecclesiastical parish and chapel were renamed St. Charles in honor of [[Charles Borromeo|St. Charles Borromeo]].<ref name="StCharChapel'"/> The [[Louisiana (New France)|Territory of Louisiana]] remained under French rule until 1763, when France ceded Louisiana to [[Spain]] after losing the [[Seven Years' War]] to [[Great Britain]]. The [[French and Indian War]] was a North American theater of this war. At the beginning of the Spanish colonial period, many [[Acadians]], people of French descent, began arriving in south Louisiana after being expelled by the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] from what is now [[Nova Scotia]] after the British took over French territory in [[Canada]] along with North American territory east of the Mississippi river. The first French Acadian village was established in present-day [[Wallace, Louisiana|Wallace]] in the German Coast. The [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] settlers of the German Coast and French Acadians of what would become [[Acadiana]] thrived alongside each another with [[French language|French]] becoming the dominant language. The intermingling and marriage between these two groups and influence from additional groups and cultures led to the formation of what was to become Louisiana [[Cajun culture]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://64parishes.org/entry/cajuns|title=Cajuns|website=64 Parishes|access-date=November 21, 2021|language=en}}</ref> The early 18th century settlers in the area received land grants from the Spanish or French royal governments, depending upon which country ruled the territory at the time of application. The French style of property allotments was made up of narrow frontage on the river so that each [[Plantation complexes in the Southern United States|plantation]] had access to high ground for ground transportation of goods to and from New Orleans and world markets. In addition to ground transportation, goods were mainly shipped by boat on [[bayou]]s and lakes and also via the Mississippi River. The main house and supporting outbuildings were constructed near the river. The remaining property extended away from the river into the wetlands, where land was cleared for cultivation of [[sugar cane]] and [[Indigo dye|indigo]]. Homes still existing in St. Charles Parish include [[Destrehan Plantation]], [[Homeplace Plantation House]], and [[Ormond Plantation House]]. [[LaBranche Plantation Dependency|Labranche Plantation]] no longer exists, but the Creole dependency house, known in French as a garconnière still exists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/84000145|title = LaBranche Plantation Dependency|publisher=nps.gov|access-date=August 27, 2022}}</ref> ===19th century=== In 1800, [[Napoleon]], the First Consul of the [[French First Republic|French Republic]], [[Third Treaty of San Ildefonso|regained control]] over Louisiana for France. Following the [[Louisiana Purchase]] in 1803, the [[Territory of Orleans]] was established in 1804 and the following year on April 10, 1805, it was divided into twelve counties with one of them being the [[German Coast, Orleans Territory|County of the German Coast]].<ref name="TerrOrlns">{{cite web|title=County of the German Coast|url=https://scphistory.org/territory-of-orleans/|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> The first courthouse was established in 1804, in a community then known as “St. Charles Courthouse".<ref name="Hahnvle">{{cite web|title=Hahnville Town History|url=https://scphistory.org/hahnville-town-history/|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> The town was later renamed [[Hahnville, Louisiana|Hahnville]] and became the parish seat.<ref name="Hahnvle"/> In 1806, the log cabin [[St. Charles Chapel]] in Destrehan burned.<ref name="StCharChapel'"/> That same year, a wood-framed church painted red was built at the site of the former chapel.<ref name="LtlRedChrch">{{cite book |last1=Becnel|first1=Joan|last2=Friloux|first2=Suzanne|last3=Richoux|first3=Marilyn|editor1-first=Anne|editor1-last=Cordry|title=St. Charles Parish Louisiana|date=June 2, 2024 |trans-title=A Pictorial History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hg9kbwAACAAJ&q=St.+Charles+Parish+Louisiana+A+Pictorial+History|access-date=January 9, 2013|publisher=Donning Company Publishers|location=Virginia Beach, VA|isbn=978-1578646388|page=62}}</ref> The church became known as the "[[Little Red Church]]".<ref name="LtlRedChrch"/> It was a famous [[riverboat]] [[landmark]] where [[Sea captain|boat captains]] traditionally paid off their [[Seafarers|crews]]. In 1807, St. Charles Parish was "officially" established.<ref name="Founding">{{cite web|title=The Birth of St. Charles Parish (1807)|url=https://scphistory.org/birth-of-st-charles-parish/|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 24, 2022}}</ref> In 1811, part of the [[1811 German Coast uprising|German Coast uprising]] took place in St. Charles Parish.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/16/132839717/american-rising-when-slaves-took-on-new-orleans|title='American Rising': When Slaves Attacked New Orleans|work=[[NPR]]|date=January 16, 2011|access-date=January 16, 2011 }}</ref> The first two [[State school|public schools]] in St. Charles Parish opened in 1850.<ref name="SCPPSHis Prt1 1803–1900">{{cite web|title=St. Charles Parish Public Schools Part 1: 1803–1900|publisher=scphistory.org|url=https://scphistory.org/st-charles-parish-public-schools-history/|page=4|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> During the [[American Civil War]], three [[skirmish]]es took place in St. Charles Parish. They were the "Battle of Hahnville Courthouse", "Skirmish of Boutte Station" and the "Battle of Des Allemands".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/major-parish-skirmishes/|title=Three Major Skirmishes Took Place in St. Charles Parish|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> Louisiana and therefore St. Charles Parish were part of the [[Fifth Military District]] during the [[Reconstruction era]] from 1865 to 1877.<ref>{{cite web |title=Landmark Legislation: The Reconstruction Act of 1867 |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Civil_War_AdmissionReadmission.htm |website=United States Senate |access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref> [[Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church (Hahnville, Louisiana)|Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church]] was originally built in 1877 in Taft.<ref name="LdyHlyRsry">{{cite web|url=https://olhrhahnville.org/|title=A Little History of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary|publisher=olhrhahnville.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> Towards the end of 19th century, [[ferry]] regulation throughout the parish would now be implemented with parish oversight.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/parish-ferries/|title=Parish Ferries|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> ===20th century=== [[File:St. Charles Parish with Mississippi River, Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge, LaBranche Wetlands and Lake Pontchartrain from Air.jpg|thumb|right|226x226px|Aerial photograph of St. Charles Parish, Louisiana]] Starting in the 20th century, the area of the German Coast and location of the first permanent settlement of [[Acadians]] in Louisiana began to be referred to as the "[[River Parishes]]".<ref name="RvrParishes">{{cite web|url=https://www.louisianatravel.com/parks-nature/louisianas-river-parishes|title=Louisiana's River Parishes|publisher=louisianatravel.com|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> The River Parishes are those parishes in Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that span both banks of the Mississippi River, and are part of the larger Acadiana region.<ref name="RvrParishes"/> Traditionally they are considered to be St. Charles Parish, [[St. James Parish, Louisiana|St. James Parish]], and [[St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana|St. John the Baptist Parish]].<ref name="RvrParishes"/> Industry came to St. Charles Parish in the early 20th century as the [[energy industry]] moved to the east bank of the parish to access the Mississippi River, rail and air services.<ref name="Industry EB">{{cite web|title=Industrial Growth on the East Bank|publisher=scphistory.org|url=https://scphistory.org/plantations-to-petroleum-eastbank/|access-date=August 27, 2022}}</ref> In 1914, land in [[Destrehan, Louisiana|Destrehan]] was sold to the [[Mexican Petroleum Company]], which began operating an [[oil refinery]] in 1918, marking the first appearance of heavy industry in the parish.<ref name="Industry EB"/> In 1916, the [[New Orleans Refining Company]] purchased land in what was then [[Sellers, Louisiana|Sellers]], leading to the town to be renamed [[Norco, Louisiana|Norco]].<ref name="Industry EB"/> Additional industrial facilities in the energy industry or supporting the industry were built in New Sarpy, [[Good Hope, Louisiana|Good Hope]], and [[St. Rose, Louisiana|St. Rose]].<ref name="Industry EB"/> In 1921, the "Little Red Church" burned and [[St. Charles Borromeo Church (Destrehan, Louisiana)|St. Charles Borromeo Church]] was built on the property that same year with the formal dedication taking place on January 25, 1922.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Becnel|first1=Joan|last2=Friloux|first2=Suzanne|last3=Richoux|first3=Marilyn|editor1-first=Anne|editor1-last=Cordry|title=St. Charles Parish Louisiana|date=June 2, 2024 |trans-title=A Pictorial History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hg9kbwAACAAJ&q=St.+Charles+Parish+Louisiana+A+Pictorial+History|access-date=January 9, 2013|publisher=Donning Company Publishers|location=Virginia Beach, VA|isbn=978-1578646388|page=135}}</ref> In 1924, the first public high schools in the parish opened.<ref name="SCPPSHis Prt2 01–50">{{cite web|title=St. Charles Parish Public Schools Part 2: 1901–1950|publisher=scphistory.org|url=https://scphistory.org/st-charles-parish-public-schools-history/|pages=19|access-date=July 26, 2022}}</ref> [[Destrehan High School]] opened on the east bank and [[Hahnville High School]] opened on the west bank of the parish.<ref name="SCPPSHis Prt2 01–50"/> Since the establishment of the German Coast, [[levee]]s were the responsibility of landowners and breaches in these levees called "[[Levee breach|crevasses]]" were always a major concern due to the extensive flooding they caused.<ref name="FloodContrl">{{cite web|title=Flooding—A Constant Springtime Concern|publisher=scphistory.org|url=https://scphistory.org/floodcontrol/|access-date=August 27, 2022}}</ref> Previous crevasses in the areas of Hymelia and [[Bonnet Carré Crevasse|Bonnet Carré]] caused extensive damage to the area.<ref name="FloodContrl"/> Another crevasse during the [[Great Mississippi Flood of 1927]] between the towns of [[Montz, Louisiana|Montz]] and [[LaPlace, Louisiana|LaPlace]] badly damaged Montz.<ref name="FloodContrl"/> Flood Control Acts had previously been passed, but because of the size of the devastation in [[Arkansas]], [[Mississippi (U.S. state)|Mississippi]] and [[Louisiana]], authorization of the [[Mississippi River and Tributaries Project]] in the [[Flood Control Act of 1928]] was passed.<ref name="FloodContrl"/> The act called for the “levees only” policy that failed to be discarded and allowed for improved levees and [[Flood bypass|floodways]] or "[[spillway]]s" to be built.<ref name="FloodContrl"/> Between 1929 and 1931, the [[Bonnet Carré Spillway]], a [[Flood#Flood defences, planning, and management|flood control structure]] was built and allows floodwaters from the [[Mississippi River]] to flow into [[Lake Pontchartrain]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Thibodeaux |first=Anna |date=December 26, 2017 |title=Parish's 'Hidden Jewel' Makes History |url=https://www.heraldguide.com/news/parishs-hidden-jewel-makes-history/|work=St. Charles Herald-Guide|access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> This site was chosen because four major crevasses had previously occurred at this location.<ref name="FloodContrl"/> The first appearance of industry on the west bank came in 1952 when the [[Lion Oil|Lion Oil Company]] began construction of their facility in [[Luling, Louisiana|Luling]].<ref name="MidCenty">{{cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/plantations-to-petroleum-westbank-eastbank-expansion/|title=Plantations to Petroleum Westbank-Eastbank expansion|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> In 1955, [[Royal Dutch Shell]] opened the Shell Chemical Plant in Norco after their forerunner, Shell Petroleum Corporation, previously acquired the New Orleans Refining Company oil refinery in 1929.<ref name="ShellHist">{{cite web|title=Norco Fact Sheet Early History|publisher=shell.us|url=https://www.shell.us/about-us/projects-and-locations/norco-manufacturing-complex/shell-norco-manufacturing-complex.html#|accessdate=September 7, 2022}}</ref> The 1960s saw a new industry come to St. Charles Parish as [[grain elevator]]s were built in [[Ama, Louisiana|Ama]] and Destrehan. Additionally, [[chemical plant]]s were built in Taft in the 1960s.<ref name="MidCenty"/> In 1963, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church moved to Hahnville with the building being completed in 1964.<ref name="LdyHlyRsry"/> In 1971, the [[Louisiana State Legislature]] officially recognized 22 Louisiana parishes, including St. Charles Parish, and "other parishes of similar cultural environment" for their "strong French Acadian cultural aspects" (House Concurrent Resolution No. 496, June 6, 1971, authored by [[Carl W. Bauer]] of [[St. Mary Parish, Louisiana|St. Mary Parish]]), and made the "Heart of Acadiana" the official name of the region. The public, however, prefers the one-word place name ''Acadiana'' to refer to the region.<ref>Shane K. Bernard, ''The Cajuns: Americanization of a People'' (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2003), p. 80.</ref> The official term appears on regional maps and highway markers. On October 20, 1976, the [[MV George Prince ferry disaster]] occurred on the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name="St.CharlesGovt">{{cite web|title=George Prince Ferry Disaster|publisher=stcharlesparish-la.gov|url=http://www.stcharlesparish-la.gov/departments/economic-development-and-tourism/parish-history/george-prince-ferry-disaster|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> The [[Luling–Destrehan Ferry]] ''George Prince'' was struck by the [[Norway|Norwegian]] tanker {{SS|Frosta}}. Ninety-six passengers and crew were aboard the ferry when it was struck, and seventy-eight perished.<ref name="alibris">{{cite web|title=Ferries of Louisiana: Mv George Prince Ferry Disaster|accessdate=February 20, 2013|publisher=Alibris|url=http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qsort=&page=1&matches=0&qwork=12919241&full=1}}</ref><ref name="StCharlesParish">{{cite web|title=Worst ferry disaster in U.S. history|accessdate=February 20, 2013|publisher=St Charles Herald|url=http://www.heraldguide.com/details.php?id=1054}}</ref><ref name="Groups">{{cite web|title=30 years ago: 78 die in worst ferry disaster in U.S. history|accessdate=February 20, 2013|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/alt.obituaries/jXBJwNn_hXE}}</ref> On October 6, 1983, seven-years after the ferry disaster, the [[Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge]] opened.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weeks III|first=John A.|publisher=John A. Weeks III|title=I-310 Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge|url=http://www.johnweeks.com/lower_mississippi/pages/lmiss15.html|access-date=July 5, 2014}}</ref> The bridge, originally named the Luling–Destrehan Bridge, connected the east bank and west bank of the parish by bridge for the first time. 1983 also saw the end of ferry service in the parish, marking the first time since the 1800s this service was not available.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/ferry-service-ends/|title=Ferry Service Ends-1983|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> In 1985, the [[Louisiana Power and Light Company]] began operation of the [[Waterford Nuclear Generating Station]] on Charles Frédérique d'Arensbourg's original land grant of Karlstein.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/nuclear-power/|title=Sugar Cane to Nuclear Power — Waterford|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> ===21st century=== On September 5, 2000, the town of Good Hope was annexed by Norco.<ref name="GdHp">{{Cite web|title=Good Hope Buyout|url=https://scphistory.org/good-hope-buyout/|publisher=scphistory.org|language=en|access-date=August 27, 2022}}</ref> This was the eventual result of a 1983 buyout of all residential and commercial property by [[Good Hope Refinery]]; the town is listed as a [[List of ghost towns in Louisiana|ghost town]].<ref name="GdHp"/> Also in 2000, Taft had a population of zero residents and is now also listed as a ghost town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref> On March 26, 2002, the [[Caernarvon, Louisiana#Davis Pond Freshwater diversion canal|Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project]] dedication ceremony was held near Luling after construction began on the project in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scphistory.org/davis-pond-freshwater-diversion-project/|title=Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project|publisher=scphistory.org|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> In 2007, the East Bank Hurricane Protection Levee was completed.<ref name="HurrLevees2007">{{cite web|title=East and west bank levee protection update|url=https://www.heraldguide.com/news/east-and-west-bank-levee-protection-update/|publisher=heraldguide.com|date=July 19, 2007|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> The levee protects the majority of the east bank from [[Lake Pontchartrain]] and Labranche Wetlands flood waters.<ref name="HurrLeveesGov">{{cite web|title=Levees East Bank Overview|url=https://www.stcharlesparish.gov/residents/public-works-and-wastewater/levee-update|publisher=stcharlesparish.gov|accessdate=August 27, 2022}}</ref> On August 29, 2021, St. Charles Parish was devastated by [[Hurricane Ida]]. Parish President Matthew Jewel stated that "Nearly every structure in the parish has damage ranging from cosmetic damage to a total collapse of a home or building."<ref>{{Citation|title=St. Charles Parish President: Nearly every structure has damage after Hurricane Ida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StPSr0hj4uw|language=en|access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref>
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