WORK, LIVE and PLAY in Jefferson Parish
Transportation, Business and Industry, Entertainment and Recreation, Government

Area Map

Demographics

Education

Work, Live and Play

New Residents Guide

New Business guide

Transportation

Attributed to: Village Profile Many travelers reach our area by flying into the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, located in the city of Kenner in Jefferson Parish. Interstate 10 is the main thoroughfare through the parish’s eastbank region.  Highway 90, part of which is called the Westbank Expressway, is the major transportation artery on the westbank.

Stretching across the Mississippi River and connecting the area’s east and west banks are the Crescent City Connection and the Huey P. Long bridges.

Jefferson Parish maintains its own bus system along most of the major roadways throughout the parish.  For more information about our bus routes, contact (504) 818-1077 on the eastbank and (504) 367-7433 on the westbank.

Business and Industry

Many industries make use of the diverse transportation and shipping opportunities available in Jefferson Parish, which include large port operations on the Mississippi River and direct service from all major railroads.

Over 31,000 businesses operate in Jefferson Parish, an increase since Hurricane Katrina.  The predominant industries in the parish are health care, retail, and manufacturing professional services for the offshore oil and gas industry.  Other prominent industries include banking, food processing, and transportation and distribution.

The technology sector is also beginning to blossom in our parish.  Jefferson is currently home to 820 high-tech companies employing almost 10,000 workers.

Offering assistance to businesses and the community is the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO).  JEDCO’s services include: site location assistance, parish market data, tax incentives, tax-exempt bonds, business financing, business incubator programs, workforce development, waterway and marina development, strategic community planning and more.  For more information, visit JEDCO’s website at www.jedco.org or call (504) 833-1881.

Entertainment and Recreation

If you enjoy the arts and culture, love attending special events, and always like having something to do, the Jefferson Parish is the right community to be living in.

Jefferson Parish abounds with festivals and parades, recreational possibilities and plenty of opportunity for fun.
Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold decorate the town during the weeks preceding this yearly celebration, which occurs on varying dates during February or March. 

During this festive time, numerous family oriented parades “roll,” featuring decorative floats, costumed participants and free giveaways (beads, cups, colorful souvenir coins, stuffed animals and more) tossed to eager crowds that line the Jefferson Parish parade routes.

The Jefferson Performing Arts Society works to bring arts and culture to our parish.  They have also been successful on promoting the establishment of an arts center for Jefferson Parish, which will soon break ground in LaSalle Park (located in Metairie).  For more information, please visit www.jpas.org.

Performances and exhibits are also held at two Jefferson Parish auditoriums, the Pontchartrain Center on the eastbank and the Alario Center on the westbank.

Like sports?  Take in a baseball game at Zephyr Field.  The Zephyrs team is the AAA-affiliate of the Washington Nationals.  You can also watch the New Orleans Saints football team practice at their complex located adjacent to the baseball field in Jefferson Parish. And you might want to cheer our area’s professional basketball team, the New Orleans Hornets, on to victory.

If golf is your passion, there are plenty of public and private courses in the area.  Additionally, the PGA Tour visits the area annually and a newly opened PGA golf course is available for your use on the westbank in Avondale.

If indoor activities are more your style, you may enjoy the games of chance at the Treasure Chest Casino (on the eastbank in Kenner) and Boomtown Casino (on the westbank in Harvey).  Both offer deluxe buffets, concerts and other entertainment, and special promotions. Education and entertainment mingle at Rivertown. This 16-block historic complex in Kenner offers a host of cultural and family attractions,

And no description of the area would be complete without mentioning the dining possibilities.  World-class restaurants featuring local and global cuisine are in abundance.  Whether casual or sophisticated, you will never run out of great places to dine.

For details on area events and attractions, visit the Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau on the web at www.neworleansgateway.com.

Government

Elections are held every four years to select five district and two at-large representatives for Jefferson Parish Council seats.  Also elected is a parish president, who is the chief executive for the parish.  Other elected positions include sheriff, coroner, district attorney and the school board.

Detailed information about Jefferson Parish government can be found by accessing the parish’s Web site at www.jeffparish.net.

Parish Government Offices: