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Gretna, Louisiana

Gretna is the second-largest city in, and parish seat of, Jefferson Parish in the U.S.
Population 17,814

Top Events in Gretna History

1
1750Government
== History == According to the history published by the city, Gretna's history can be traced to a plantation established by Jean-Charles de Pradel by 1750 (when the plantation h...
2
1813Economy
By 1813, the plantation had passed into the hands of one François Bernoudy.
3
1815Government
John McDonogh (also spelled John McDonough), then a resident of New Orleans, bought the establishment, moved into the house and founded a settlement in 1815, that would be named...
4
1836Government
Gretna was settled in 1836, originally as Mechanikham, growing with a station on the Mississippi River for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Texas and Pacific Railway, and Southern...
5
1889Government
The famous food and spice company Zatarain's, founded in 1889 in New Orleans, has been located in Gretna since 1963.
6
1913Government
Gretna was incorporated in 1913, absorbing the section of McDonogh within the Jefferson Parish boundaries.
7
1957Culture
=== Cultural References to Gretna, Louisiana === In his 1957 novel, On the Road, author Jack Kerouac mentions Gretna.
8
1988Government
Long Avenue, was founded in 1988.
9
2005History
program, September 16, 2005
10
2010History
In 2010, there were 17,736 people, 6,958 households, and 4,286 families residing in the city.

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Historical Timeline

1750Government
== History == According to the history published by the city, Gretna's history can be traced to a plantation established by Jean-Charles de Pradel by 1750 (when the plantation h...
1813Economy
By 1813, the plantation had passed into the hands of one François Bernoudy.
1815Government
John McDonogh (also spelled John McDonough), then a resident of New Orleans, bought the establishment, moved into the house and founded a settlement in 1815, that would be named...
1836Government
Gretna was settled in 1836, originally as Mechanikham, growing with a station on the Mississippi River for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Texas and Pacific Railway, and Southern...
1889Government
The famous food and spice company Zatarain's, founded in 1889 in New Orleans, has been located in Gretna since 1963.
1913Government
Gretna was incorporated in 1913, absorbing the section of McDonogh within the Jefferson Parish boundaries.
1957Culture
=== Cultural References to Gretna, Louisiana === In his 1957 novel, On the Road, author Jack Kerouac mentions Gretna.
1988Government
Long Avenue, was founded in 1988.
2005History
program, September 16, 2005
2010History
In 2010, there were 17,736 people, 6,958 households, and 4,286 families residing in the city.
2011Infrastructure
A fourth federal case, involving Regional Transit Authority workers, was scheduled to go to trial in April 2011.
2012Infrastructure
Previously Kate Middleton Elementary in Terrytown served a portion of Gretna; it closed in 2012.
2016Crime
In 2016, press reports indicated that local police made 6,566 adult arrests in 2013, a rate about fourteen times that of a typical city.
2019History
The 2019 American Community Survey determined there were 7,156 households and 3,954 families residing in the city limits.
2023Education
It closed in 2023, with Thomas Jefferson High scheduled to move there for the following school year.

Did You Know?

1
Gretna is located in the state of Louisiana.
2
Gretna has a population of 17,814 residents.
3
Gretna lies on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just east and across the river from uptown New Orleans.

Other Cities in Louisiana

View all Louisiana cities →
NO
New Orleans
Pop. 383,997
BR
Baton Rouge
Pop. 218,223
S
Shreveport
Pop. 171,469
L
Lafayette
Pop. 126,000
LC
Lake Charles
Pop. 83,000
BC
Bossier City
Pop. 68,000

Famous People from Gretna, Louisiana

IT
Ike Taylor
Football Player · Born May 5, 1980 · Age 45
MO
Mel Ott
Baseball Player, Manager · Born Mar 2, 1909 · Died Nov 21, 1958 (age 49)
LF
Louis Joseph Fortier
Us Army General
SM
Sammy Martin
Football Player · Born Aug 21, 1965 · Age 60
MV
Marlain Veal
Basketball Player · Born Apr 21, 1996 · Age 29
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