Editing Chalmette, Louisiana

{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name     Thomas                 = Chalmette
| native_name                     = 
| other_name                      = 
| settlement_type                 = [[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline                   = Chalmette, LA.jpg
| image_caption                   = View of Chalmette residential area
| image_flag                      = 
| image_shield                    = 
| motto                           = 
| nickname                        = 
| etymology                       = <!-- location -->
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_name1               = [[Louisiana]]
| subdivision_type2               = Parish
| subdivision_name2               = [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard]]
| subdivision_type3               = 
| subdivision_name3               = <!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map                       = St. Bernard Parish Louisiana incorporated and unincorporated areas Chalmette highlighted.svg
| map_caption                     = Location in [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]] and the state of [[Louisiana]].
| pushpin_map                     = 
| pushpin_relief                  = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|29|56|44|N|89|57|42|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes           = <!-- established -->
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = <!-- area -->
| area_footnotes                  = <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>
| dunam_link                      = 
| area_total_km2                  = 20.63
| area_total_sq_mi                = 7.96
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 7.17
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.79
<!-- elevation -->| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 
| elevation_ft                    = 3
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 21562
| population_density_km2          = 1160.38
| population_density_sq_mi        = 3005.58
| population_demonym              = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1                       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1                     = -6
| timezone1_DST                   = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST                 = -5
| timezone2                       = 
| utc_offset2                     = 
| timezone2_DST                   = 
| utc_offset2_DST                 = <!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code                     = 70043, 70044
| area_code_type                  = 
| area_code                       = [[Area code 504|504]]
| geocode                         = 
| iso_code                        = <!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                         = 
| footnotes                       = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 22-14135
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_land_km2 = 18.58
|area_water_km2 = 2.04
}}
'''Chalmette''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|æ|l|ˈ|m|ɛ|t}} {{respell|shal|MET}}) is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in, and the [[parish seat]] of, [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]] in southeastern [[Louisiana]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |df=mdy-all |archive-date=2011-05-31}}</ref> The [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] reported that Chalmette had 16,751 people; 2011 population was listed as 17,119;<ref>
   "People in Chalmette, Louisiana", BestPlaces.com, 2011, webpage:
   [http://www.bestplaces.net/people/city/louisiana/chalmette BPch].
</ref> however, the pre-[[Hurricane Katrina|Katrina]] population was 32,069 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], its population rebounded to 21,562.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=QuickFacts: Chalmette CDP, Louisiana|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chalmettecdplouisiana/POP010220}}</ref> Chalmette is part of the [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]]&ndash;[[Metairie, Louisiana|Metairie]]&ndash;[[Kenner, Louisiana|Kenner]] [[New Orleans metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]]. Chalmette is located east of downtown New Orleans and south of [[Arabi, Louisiana|Arabi]], towards [[Lake Borgne]].

The community was named for [[plantation]] owner Louis-Xavier Martin de Lino de Chalmette. Chalmette was appended to the family name after acquiring their Louisiana plantation, in honour of Louis-Xavier Martin de Lino's paternal great-grandmother, Antoinette Chalmette (died 1711)<ref>[http://www.fichierorigine.com/app/recherche/detail.php?numero=242793 ''Fichier Origines'': "buried 6 Feb. 1711" — most sources mistakenly state 1731, when her son died.] "MARTIN / DELINO, François-Mathieu" No. 242793.</ref> "Chalmette," in French, means pasture, or fallow land, (and traces to the [[Proto-Celtic]] word "''kalm''").{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==History==
Chalmette was founded by [[Plantations in the American South|plantation owner]] Louis-Xavier Martin de Lino de Chalmette (1720–1755), a native of [[Quebec]] and grandson of [[René-Louis Chartier de Lotbinière]] of [[Duke of Kent House, Quebec|Maison Lotbinière]]. His eldest son, [[Louis Xavier Martin de Lino de Chalmette]] (1753–1814) was born there and married the sister of [[Antoine Philippe de Marigny]], grandfather of [[Bernard de Marigny]]. <!--keep size as "thumb" to auto-size on small screens-->

In January 1815, the [[Battle of New Orleans]] was fought at the [[Chalmette plantation]], then owned by his second son, Ignace Martin de Lino de Chalmette (1755–1815), a maternal half-brother of Col. Pierre Denis de La Ronde (founder of [[Versailles, Louisiana]]), who commanded the Louisiana [[militia (United States)|militia]]'s Third Regiment during the battle.<ref>[http://www.lahistory.org/site21.php Pierre Denis de la Ronde, ''fils''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925003659/http://www.lahistory.org/site21.php |df=mdy-all |date=2016-09-25}} at the ''Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'', retrieved April 10, 2017.</ref> The [[United States|American]] forces under Major General [[Andrew Jackson]] defeated the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] forces (led by brevet Lieutenant General Sir [[Edward Pakenham]]). On [[Andrew Jackson]]'s orders, the Chalmette plantation was completely destroyed during the battle to prevent the British from using it for cover.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

[[File:Chalmette Battlefield Monument.jpg|thumb|Chalmette Battlefield Monument|left]]
The battlefield is preserved as a [[National monument (United States)|national monument]] complete with [[visitor center]], and the [[Chalmette National Cemetery]] is adjacent. Since the mid-1970s, the site has been part of the [[Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve]], a multi-site National Park Service property with its headquarters located in the [[French Quarter]] of [[New Orleans]].

The [[Greek Revival]]-style plantation house next to the Chalmette battlefield, named the Malus-Beauregard House, was built in 1830 and is open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.experienceneworleans.com/chalmette-battlefield-beauregard.html|title=Chalmette Battlefield & Beauregard House - Experience New Orleans!|website=experienceneworleans.com}}</ref>

From 1951 to 1983, Chalmette was the location of a major [[Kaiser Aluminum]] plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/0202/binczewski-0202.html|title=The Energy Crisis and the Aluminum Industry: Can We Learn from History?|last=Binczewski|first=George J. |date=February 2002|publisher=[[JOM (journal)|JOM Magazine]] |df=mdy-all|access-date=2014-05-31}}</ref>

===Hurricane Katrina===
[[Image:Hurricane-Katrina-Chalmette-oil-spill-arial-EPA.jpg|thumb|right|Hurricane Katrina: aerial photo of oil spill in Chalmette, showing oil slick on streets (September 2005).]]On August 29, 2005, a {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=on}} [[storm surge]] from [[Hurricane Katrina]] overflowed through the [[Mississippi River–Gulf Outlet Canal]] (commonly known as MRGO) — a commercial channel dug by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] in the 1960s — and flooded most of the town, with waters as high as 14 to 15&nbsp;feet (4.9&nbsp;m) in some places.<ref name="coeur">
   "Six months Later&mdash;A Vision of Chaos, Determination,
   Courage, and Generosity" (report), Heidi (health care worker),
   St. Bernard Parish Medical HHS Clinic, Chalmette, LA, webpage:
   [http://www.affairedecoeur.com/www2/articles/Heidi.html ADC] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927062252/http://www.affairedecoeur.com/www2/articles/Heidi.html |date=September 27, 2007}}:
   notes how flood trapped people in attics, in standing water.
</ref> As a result, Chalmette was extensively swamped and destroyed. A majority of the population evacuated shortly before the storm hit, but there was still significant loss of life.

As of October 25, 2005, most of the buildings were deemed unsalvageable. Despite findings published by the U.S. [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]], the toxic chemicals in the water from local oil refineries have been postulated to be an ongoing health hazard by several civilian ecological groups. Especially notable was the large [[oil spill]] originating in Chalmette's [[Murphy Oil]] facility, where the storm surge knocked over a huge oil tank (''see photo below'').<ref name="Meiners">{{cite news |last1=Meiners |first1=Joan |last2=The Times-Picayune |last3=The Advocate |title=How Oil Companies Avoided Environmental Accountability After 10.8 Million Gallons Spilled |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-oil-companies-avoided-environmental-accountability-after-10.8-million-gallons-spilled |access-date=December 29, 2019 |work=ProPublica |date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>

{{nowrap|The parish administrative}} headquarters served as the site for a [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) [[trailer park]] for numerous civil servants who were laboring in the rebuilding effort. A year later, parish employees were still working shifts around the clock to bring the community back to life.

Another center in the rebuilding effort was centered at the church of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, which served the congregations of the seven other Roman Catholic parishes as well as the main office of [[Catholic Relief Services]]. It also served as the only place to hold funerals for the first 12 months after Katrina.

Deputies working for the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff stated in early December 2005 that the oil tank floated in the flood. When the water receded, the tank settled on uneven ground. Its structural integrity was compromised, and then the oil spill occurred. By late November, the Murphy facility was functional, as was a small cluster of businesses around the intersection of Paris Road and St. Bernard Highway, on the least damaged River side of Chalmette. The devastated residential areas farther away from the River were open during daylight hours, for residents to salvage belongings from their damaged homes. The majority of people staying in Chalmette full-time were living in trailers, which began to be supplied by FEMA or private enterprises on October 12; although many who had been promised [[FEMA trailer]] housing were still waiting as late as March 2006, seven months after the hurricane.

"Camp Premier," renamed "Camp Hope," was established as a base camp for the community's rebuilding efforts, facilitating the work of relief organizations, the National Guard, and private individuals. As of August 2007, the camp is located at P.G.T. Beauregard Middle School and operated by [[Habitat for Humanity]], to provide for relief volunteers in St. Bernard Parish. Other organizations, such as the [[SBP (nonprofit organization)|St. Bernard Project]], have also participated in the rebuilding of Chalmette, from distributing supplies, to clearing debris, to repairing damaged houses.

The Chalmette Battlefield was also partially flooded in low-lying areas, destroying the visitor center, which has since been rebuilt.

===Gradual recovery===
[[Image:NemesisChalm19Feb06F.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Mardi Gras 2006 in Chalmette: float #10 "The FEMA Ship"]]

[[St. Bernard Parish]] has celebrated [[Mardi Gras]] with parades in Chalmette. In February 2006, the [[krewe]] of the ''Knights of Nemesis'' held a parade, past many buildings still in ruins, along the streets of Chalmette.

As of early 2008, many businesses have returned to the area, schools have reopened, although the population remains significantly below pre-Katrina levels.

Due to Hurricane Katrina, the St. Bernard Parish School Board succeeded in getting a school open despite considerable difficulties, including telling FEMA that it would not wait for the agency. The parish opened the St. Bernard Unified School as a K-12 school in late 2005.

With the opening of the 2006–2007 school year, the Unified school reverted to [[Chalmette High School]] and now houses grades 9-12. The former Andrew Jackson High School has been repaired and now houses grades 6–8. Trist Middle School houses grades 6 through 8.

The Catholic and private school sector was lost to Katrina. The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans]] has consolidated all local schools into one, on the Our Lady of Prompt Succor campus. It has grades PK-8.

==Geography==
Chalmette is located at {{Coord|29|56|44|N|89|57|42|W|type:city}} (29.945504, -89.961602),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |df=mdy-all|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along the [[Mississippi River]] and has an elevation of {{convert|3|ft|1}}.<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |df=mdy-all|date=2007-10-25}}</ref> It is located east of [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]], and is part of the [[Greater New Orleans|Greater New Orleans area]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|7.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|7.3|sqmi|km2}} is land, and {{convert|0.6|sqmi|km2}} (7.56%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1980= 33847
|1990= 31860
|2000= 32069
|2010= 16751
|2020= 21562
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/ U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Chalmette, 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 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Old Chalmette CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US2214135|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</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) – Chalmette CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2214135&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|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) – Chalmette CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2214135&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|28,606
|11,868
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,953
|89.20%
|70.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |50.80%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|756
|2,165
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,567
|2.36%
|12.92%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25.82%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|133
|62
|style='background: #ffffe6; |90
|0.41%
|0.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|573
|493
|style='background: #ffffe6; |633
|1.79%
|2.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.94%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|4
|8
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.01%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|22
|86
|style='background: #ffffe6; |182
|0.07%
|0.51%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.84%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|432
|343
|style='background: #ffffe6; |892
|1.35%
|2.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.14%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,543
|1,726
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,239
|4.81%
|10.30%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.02%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''32,069'''
|'''16,751'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''21,562'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

At the [[2020 United States census]], there were 21,562 people, 7,544 households, and 5,116 families residing in the CDP. At the 2019 [[American Community Survey]], the racial and ethnic makeup of the census-designated place was 68.8% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 22.2% [[African Americans|African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 3.4% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.1% [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and other [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% some other race, and 3.1% [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Geography Profile: Chalmette CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2214135|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-02|website=data.census.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802161438/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2214135 |archive-date=August 2, 2021 }}</ref> Hispanics and Latin Americans of any race made up 10.6% of the population. Of the population, 11.5% spoke a language other than [[English language|English]] at home; [[Spanish language|Spanish]] was the second most-spoken language. In 2019, the median household income was $43,976 and an estimated 22.4% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. By 2020, the racial and ethnic composition of the CDP was 50.8% non-Hispanic white, 25.82% Black or African American, 0.42% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.94% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.98% multiracial or some other race, and 15.02% Hispanic or Latin American of any race.<ref name=2020CensusP2/>

== Sports and recreation ==
[[File:Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center Ballroom and Auditorium Chalmette LA 2010.jpg|thumb|right|115px|Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center]]
* [[Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center]] - Auditorium and ballroom<ref>{{cite web|title=Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center|publisher=frenchquarter.com|url=http://www.frenchquarter.com/nola/frederick-j.-sigur-civic-center/16106/advertisingfrenchquarter.com/advertisingfrenchquarter.com/ |df=mdy-all|access-date=2018-03-13}}</ref>
* [[Val Riess Recreation Complex]] - baseball fields, softball fields and multi-purpose building<ref>{{cite web|title=Val Riess Recreation Complex|publisher=visitstbernard.com|url=http://www.visitstbernard.com/listings/play/val-riess-recreation-complex#.WqYsSOjwaM9 |df=mdy-all|access-date=2018-03-12}}</ref>

==Education==
It is in the [[St. Bernard Parish School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st22_la/schooldistrict_maps/c22087_st_bernard/DC20SD_C22087.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: St. Bernard Parish, LA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-07-31}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st22_la/schooldistrict_maps/c22087_st_bernard/DC20SD_C22087_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
*[[Chalmette High School]]

==Notable people==
<!--people with existing wikipedia articles. Maintain alphabetical order. -->
* [[Walter Boasso]], former [[Louisiana State Legislature|state senator]]
* [[Jimmy Messa]], popular New Orleans musician, bass player for Americana band The Subdudes.
* [[Kevin Northcutt]], professional wrestler
* [[Mitchell Robinson]], American basketball player for the [[New York Knicks]] of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
* [[Norris Weese]], quarterback for [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]] and the [[Denver Broncos]]
* [[Tommy Wiseau]], film director, producer, and actor.<ref>[https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/the-truth-about-the-room-star-tommy-wiseaus-new-orleans-roots/article_e42d9542-b142-5e73-9656-445227a22b94.html "Kimmel then pressed Wiseau to name the street in New Orleans on which he grew up, to which he responded with "Chalmette" before adding a street name that gets largely swallowed up in cross-talk."]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
*[[Andrew Jackson Fundamental Magnet High School]]
*[[Chalmette National Cemetery]]
*[[Samuel B. Nunez, Jr.]]
*[[Leander Perez]]
*[[Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve]]
*[[The Colony (U.S. season 2)|''The Colony'' U.S. TV series]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.nps.gov/jela/chalmette-battlefield.htm Chalmette Battlefield - Visitor Information]: from National Park Service, nps.gov.
*[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hurricane_Katrina_aftermath_in_Chalmette Chalmette photos after Hurricane Katrina], photos of Katrina damage in Wikimedia Commons.
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312185257/http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/v/jesstalamo/Hurricane%2BKatrina%2Bin%2BChalmette%2B090.jpg.html Chalmette photos after Hurricane Katrina]}} on KatrinaDestruction.com, from late September 2005.

{{St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana}}
{{Louisiana parish seats}}
{{Louisiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in the New Orleans metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Parish seats in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River]]