Editing Hammond, Louisiana (section)

===19th century===
The city is named for Peter Hammond (1798–1870), the surname anglicized from Peter av [[Hammerdal]] (Peter of Hammerdal) — a [[Sweden|Swedish]] immigrant known as the first European settler, arriving around 1818. Peter, a sailor, had been briefly imprisoned by the [[Great Britain|British]] at [[Dartmoor Prison]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. He escaped during a prison riot, made his way back to sea, and later reached [[New Orleans]].

Hammond used his savings to buy then-inexpensive land northwest of [[Lake Pontchartrain]]. He developed a plantation to cultivate trees, which he made into masts, charcoal, and other products for the maritime industry in New Orleans. He transported the goods by [[ox]]cart to the [[head of navigation]] on the [[Natalbany River]] at [[Springfield, Louisiana|Springfield]]. He held at least 30 [[History of slavery in Louisiana|enslaved African Americans]] before the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Hammond lost his wealth during the war, as [[Union Army|Union soldiers]] [[raid (military)|raided]] his property.<ref>[http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm/ref/collection/npu_sahq/id/3205 ''Swedish-American Historical Quarterly'', October 1967] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082641/http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm/ref/collection/npu_sahq/id/3205 |date=2015-12-22 }}. Accessed 08 October 2015.</ref><ref>[http://lahistory.org/site25.php Hammond, Peter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225173835/http://lahistory.org/site25.php |date=2010-02-25 }} in ''Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'', retrieved 02 August 2017.</ref>

In 1854, the [[New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad]] (later the [[Illinois Central Railroad]], now [[Canadian National Railway]]) came through the area, launching the town's emergence as a commercial and transport center. The point where the railroad met the trail to Springfield was at first known as '''Hammond's Crossing'''.

During the Civil War, the city was a shoe-making center for the [[Confederate States Army]]. [[Charles Emery Cate]] developed the shoe industry after buying land in the city in 1860 for his home, a shoe factory, a tannery, and a sawmill. Toward the end of the war, Cate laid out the town's grid, using the rail line as a guide and naming several of the streets after his sons. Also, Cate Street is named for him.

After the Civil War, light industry and commercial activities were attracted to the town.  By the end of the 19th century, Hammond had become a stopping point for northern rail passengers traveling south and for New Orleanians heading north to escape seasonal summer [[History of yellow fever|yellow fever]] outbreaks. The city later became a shipping point for [[Strawberry|strawberries]]. A state historical [[Commemorative plaque|plaque]] downtown marks it as "Strawberry Capital of America".<ref>{{cite web |title=Hammond, Louisiana historical marker |author=StoppingPoints.com |url=http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/Tangipahoa/Hammond/ |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206140713/http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/Tangipahoa/Hammond/ |url-status=live }}</ref>