Destrehan

Destrehan is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. At the 2020 census, its population was 11,340.[2]

Destrehan Plantation, his former home, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The main house has been restored and is one of the attractions on the Great River Road along the Mississippi River.

The community is named after Jean Noël Destréhan (1754–1823), who was twice President of the Orleans Territory's legislative council during his service there in 1806 and 1811. He was elected to the United States Senate when Louisiana became a state in 1812, but he resigned after a month. He served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1812 to 1817.[3]

Before the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge was completed connecting the communities of Destrehan and Luling, automobile ferries connected the towns. On October 20, 1976, one of these ferries, the George Prince, was struck by a tanker and capsized as it crossed the Mississippi River resulting in the MV George Prince ferry disaster. Seventy-eight passengers and crew died.

Destrehan was briefly notorious in 1974 for the case of Gary Tyler, a 17 year old black student who was accused by local officials of the murder of 13 year old white student and the wounding of another, on a day of violent protests by white students at Destrehan High School. Many observers believe his conviction and trial were unfair and flawed. He was convicted and sentenced to prison. He was released from prison in 2016.[4]

Destrehan is located at 29°57′44″N 90°22′9″W  /  29.96222°N 90.36917°W  / 29.96222; -90.36917 (29.962307, -90.369160).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), of which 6.9 square miles (18 km2) are land and 1.0-square-mile (2.6 km2) (12.41%) is water.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,340 people, 4,257 households, and 3,334 families residing in the CDP.

St. Charles Parish Public School System operates public schools:

Destrehan Plantation was used as a set in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013).[8]