Demographics

The region’s population has experienced significant changes during the last 50 years. Population increased dramatically during the 1960s and 1970s, primarily due to the growth of the oil and gas industry. Then, in the early 1980s the region encountered a significant decline in population, attributed to the oil bust. Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in 2005, the region maintained a population of approximately 1.3 million. Katrina and Rita amplified pre-existing shifts in population: Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes endured dramatic population losses, whereas Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes gained residents. The current population of the region is approximately 1.2 million.

	Total Population Estimates for the Greater New Orleans Region Parish Population – 2000 Census Population from the 2009 or 2006-08 ACS* Jefferson 455,466 443,342 Orleans 484,674 354,850 Plaquemines* 26,757 21,494 St. Charles* 48,072 51,799 St. Bernard* 67,229 28,362 St. John the Baptist* 43,044 47,440 St. Tammany 191,258 231,495 Total 1,316,500 1,187,782   *The above figures show the most recent official U.S. Census population estimates for parishes in the New Orleans region prior to release of the results of the 2010 Census. These are presented in comparison to the findings of the 2000 Census. The estimates for the larger parishes (those with a total population of over 65,000) are taken from the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS.) The estimates for the parishes with a lower population (shown with an asterisk) are derived from the ACS surveys done in the years 2006-08. Prepared by the Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes

RPC Census Maps  

To assist local government agencies, the business community, schools, community organizations and the general public in the utilization of data from the US Department of the Census, our staff has generated a Census Tracts Map Series that provides coverage of our member-parishes. Every effort has been made to produce accurate maps. However, these are not official US Census maps and as such may not be used for legal or official purposes. The maps are designed to print on 11” x17” paper.

	RPC 2000 Census Tracts Map Series Number Title File 0–1 Orleans Parish — Eastbank PDF file (955KB) 0–2 Orleans Parish — New Orleans East and Westbank (Algiers) PDF file (657KB) J–1 Jefferson Parish — Eastbank PDF file (1.5MB) J–2 Jefferson Parish — Westbank PDF file (1MB) SB–1 St. Bernard Parish PDF file (1.3MB) P–1 Plaquemines Parish — Entire Parish (with Index of maps) PDF file (4MB) P–2 Plaquemines Parish — Mid Section: Port Sulphur and Upriver PDF file (4MB) P-3 Plaquemines Parish — Lower: Empire to Venice Area PDF file (2MB) ST–1 St. Tammany Parish — Overall and Lacombe Area (inset) PDF file (1 MB) ST–2 St. Tammany Parish — Covington, Mandeville, etc. PDF file (459 Kb) ST–3 St. Tammany Parish — Slidell, Pearl River, etc. PDF file (466 Kb)

Additional information about the region’s demographic composition can be found at the U.S. Census Bureau.