Community Profile

Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce is the largest and oldest business organization! With meaningful initiatives, programs and goals, the Chamber continues to work hard for the business community and the parish as a whole extending our reach successfully to include full parish collaboration and inclusion. Welcome to this site and welcome to the Chamber.

Communities & Municipalities

Albany, Town of
Municipal office: 29816 S. Montpelier; P.O. Box 1000, Albany, LA 70711;
225-567-1101 or 225-567-1102.
Mayor "Gene" Glascock and Councilmen Jerry Glasscock, Edmond Harris, Murphy Martin, Jr., S. Gerald Stilley and Bee Martin.

The rural community of Albany near the eastern border of Livingston Parish was originally developed as a railroad stop, and, later became a business district at the crossroads of U. S. Hwy. 190 and LA Hwy. 43. Settlers of Hungarian heritage moved into this area that became and remains the largest Hungarian community in the United States.

Albany hosts one of the largest Christmas Parades in the state. Hungarian roots make this a great location for their annual event honoring their background. Albany's population allowed the village to grow to town status in 2012.

Denham Springs, City of
Municipal office: 941 Government Street, P.O. Box 1629, Denham Springs, LA 70726;
225-665-8121; www.denhamsprings.us.
Mayor H. Gerard Landry and City Council Members Chris Davis, Lori Lamm-Williams, Rene Delahoussaye,Robert Poole and Jeff Wesley.

Original land claims indicate Denham Springs was established in the early 1800s. Natural groundwater springs have figured in the city's name since the 1850s. Situated on the most western side of Livingston Parish along the Amite River, Denham Springs is the parish’s largest municipality. With large areas of vigorous commercial and residential development, the city has a growing population of approximately 10,500 residents. The historic district has more than 20 antiques and other unique shops and is the site of annual spring and fall festivals that feature artisans, crafters, musicians, food and more. The Chamber of Commerce and Arts Council offices are also in this area, and the municipal complex is only blocks away. The city has 10 hotels, and a large shopping mall is under construction on Juban Road at I-12.

French Settlement, Village of
Municipal office: 16015 Hwy. 16/P.O. Box 3, French Settlement, LA 70733;
225-698-6100; www.frenchsettlement-la.gov.
Mayor Toni Guitrau and Aldermen Danette Aydell, Teresa Miller and Glen Newell.

The village limits of French Settlement follow a line 1,000 feet either side of Hwy. 16 from Colyell Bay to the Amite River. The population is about 1,000, although their weekend population swells with people drawn to the river for recreational boating and fishing. The town’s Creole House Museum is behind the Village Hall and houses historical information and artifacts. The building itself was built in 1898 by settlers, and it is the site of the annual Creole Festival, held the third Sunday in October, that features live music, food, craft demonstrations and other activities.

Killian, Town of
Municipal office: 28284 Hwy. 22, Springfield, LA 70462;
225-695-6785.
Mayor Craig McGehee and Aldermen Jerry "J.J." Barnum Jr., Vince Deliberto, J. Paul Canik, Gillis Windham and Roy Winston, Jr.

The small town of Killian lies south of Springfield, alongside LA 22 and the Tickfaw River. Many people choose to make their homes or camps here because of the river and Lake Maurepas and the many water sport activities that are available. The town is a popular weekend destination for people who come to get away from it all and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There is residential growth being seen, with subdivisions, condos and commercial development along LA Hwy. 22.

Livingston, Town of
Municipal office: 20550 Circle Drive, P.O. Box 430, Livingston, LA 70754;
225-686-7153; www.townoflivingston.com.
Mayor Derral Jones and Alderman Randy Morgan, James Nesom, Joey Sibley, David McCreary and Wade Wilson.

The town of Livingston is situated on U.S. 190 near the center of the parish, about 25 miles east of Baton Rouge. The parish fairgrounds located on the west side of town is the site of the annual parish fair, parade and rodeo each October. The parish courthouse and all parish governmental offices, the Parish Health Unit and the state Motor Vehicle Bureau, are all located in Livingston. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), sponsored by the National Science Foundation with the mission of detecting gravitational waves, is located just north of Livingston and is open to visitors.

Port Vincent, Village of
Municipal office: 18235 Hwy. 16, Port Vincent, LA 70726;
225-698-9891; www.portvincent.govoffice2.com.
Mayor David Carter and Aldermen Milton "Gary" Brady, J.J. Page and Scotty Martone.

The small community of Port Vincent is quiet and peaceful during the week, but on weekends, many boaters and fisherman take to the popular Amite River.

Springfield, Town of
Municipal office: 27378 LA Hwy. 22, P.O. Box 352, Springfield, LA 70462;
225-294-3150.
Mayor Tommy Abels and Aldermen L. D. Barringer, Mildred Cowsar, Marsha Sherburne and Johnny Vicknair.

The colorful town of Springfield has the distinction of being the oldest municipality in Livingston Parish and the third oldest in the state. Springfield hosts an annual Civil War Battle Re-enactment during the month of September that draws visitors from dozens of states. It is also home to a world class golf resort, and is the site of the annual Tickfaw 200 Poker Run that attracts “cigarette”-style racing boats from across the country. Tickfaw State Park is nearby and offers camping, cabins, canoeing, hiking and other outdoor activities. The abundance of recreation opportunities on the Tickfaw River and other nearby bodies of water draws new residents and visitors to the area.

Walker, City of
Municipal office: 10136 Florida Blvd., P.O. Box 217, Walker, LA 70785;
225- 665-4356; www.walker.la.us.
Mayor Rick Ramsey and Alderman Scarlett Major, Jonathan Davis, Tracy Girlinghouse, Gary Griffin, Paul Roberts, Jr. and Jim Goins.

Walker celebrated its elevation to city status with a grand celebration over the 2011 Independence Day weekend. Walker is one of the fastest growing cities in the state. The city has initiated periodic business-to-business networking events to encourage cooperation and forge strong relationships among local businesses. The Livingston Parish Industrial Park area and Co-Mar Commercial Park, both east of Walker on U.S. Hwy. 190, have attracted many industrial businesses to the area. A large medical clinic is under construction south of the Walker I-12 exit. The city’s rich history is preserved at the Walker Museum which also serves as a cultural center for the town. The community stages large annual celebrations for Independence Day, Christmas events, and the Pine Tree Festival– all of which are an opportunity for old-fashioned family fun. Some of the best musicians in the South perform at the rustic Old South Jamboree and Country & Gospel Jubilee.

Unincorporated Areas of the Parish

Holden
Holden is an unincorporated community located between Livingston and Albany at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 190 and LA Hwy. 441. The small rural community has several small businesses and a few large ones. The area was largely settled after the east-west railroad line came through in 1907. One of the property owners who sold land to the railroad was James Mahlon Holden, for whom the community was later named.

Maurepas Island
The community of Maurepas is on Maurepas Island which is surrounded by Lake Maurepas, the Amite River, Bayou Pierre, Petite Amite and Blind River. Originally part of Ascension Parish, the island was transferred to Livingston Parish in 1850. Other nearby unincorporated communities include Whitehall, Bear Island and Head of Island. The only post office in the area, established in 1875, is in Maurepas.

Head of Island/Diversion Canal Area
The unincorporated community in the Head of Island area includes many recent retail and restaurant developments along LA 22 south of its intersection with LA 16 and leading to Diversion Canal. An abundance of upscale homes along the Diversion Canal waterway have attracted local residents as well as people from Baton Rouge, New Orleans and points between looking for luxury waterfront living in the country. The 33-acre Pointe of Isle mixed-use development is under construction.

Satsuma
Satsuma is an unincorporated community between Walker and Livingston. The development of Suma Crossing at the I-12 Satsuma interchange spans 1,037 acres on both sides of the Interstate and includes a medical complex, a conference center, retail and office space, condominiums, restaurants and residential areas north of the Interstate. The conference center features a large stage and is the site of music concerts and plays. A large baseball complex is adjacent to the development.

Watson
Watson, an unincorporated community about five miles north of Denham Springs, is also often referred to as Live Oak. That name originated with the Live Oak Store and post office that was established in 1869. The area schools all take the Live Oak name. The Amite River just to the west has served as a source of transportation and recreation over the years, and it currently supports a large gravel industry. A sports complex is the center of many community events and is currently undergoing a major expansion.

Healthcare in Livingston Parish

Healthcare access in Livingston Parish communities.

Our Lady of the Lake
The Ribbon Cutting on the first emergency room located in Livingston Parish. Patient use has exceeded the original projections and expectations considered when the facility decided to locate on this 170 plus acre location in Walker.

Major Healthcare Facilities in Livingston Parish

North Oaks Health System

Located just off of I-12 at the Satsuma exit in Livingston, the North Oaks–Livingston Parish Medical Complex is staffed with an exceptional team of physicians offering primary care and specialty services. Experienced technologists provide advanced diagnostics, laboratory and progressive rehabilitation services.

On the web: northoaks.org/livingston

Our Lady of the Lake Medical System
Our Lady of the Lake Livingston, a 140,000 square foot medical complex is located just south of I-12 at the Walker exit. The complex offers a free-standing Emergency Room open 24 hours a day and staffed by emergency physicians and nurses for the treatment of urgent and emergent medical conditions. If a patient has to be admitted to a hospital, they will be transported by ambulance. In addition to emergency services, Our Lady of the Lake Livingston’s campus also includes outpatient services such as a lab; imaging services such as CT, ultrasound, digital X-ray, Mammography, Dexa Bone Density and MRI; a retail, onsite pharmacy; and physician offices. Primary care doctors and many specialists such as cardiology, orthopedics, ear nose and throat, eye specialists, allergists, vascular specialists, urology and pain management doctors occupy the onsite physician office space. The 236-acre site also includes a 50-60 acre lake.

Our Lady of the Lake Livingston is a division of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.

On the web: www.ololrmc.com/livingston.

Ochsner Health System
Ochsner provides healthcare to Livingston Parish residents via a major clinic and hospital just across the parish line, off O’Neal Lane, and via community clinics within Livingston Parish. The clinic offers appointments with specialists and family practitioners and a complete array of diagnostic tests. Ochsner Medical Center is a full service hospital including a maternity wing. It is the hospital nearest to residents of western Livingston Parish.

On the web: www.ochsner.org.

AMG Specialty Hospital of Denham Springs
Long Term Acute Care of Denham Springs provides state-of-the-art wound care and is the only wound care clinic in Livingston Parish. A specialized hospital that provides an intermediate level of care to those patients who are stable enough to be discharged from a regular hospital but not well enough to go home, to a nursing home or to a rehab hospital. Acute care provides daily nursing care, visits by physicians and other services.
225.655.2664

On the web: www.amgdenham.com

Southeast Community Health Systems
Albany, LA
Southeast Community Health Systems provides comprehensive, primary and preventative healthcare and strives to improve the health and wellness of the patients served. Services are available to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Sliding scale is offered to patients based on income. Department of Child and Family Services can assist families in applying for Food Stamps, Child Care Assistance, Kinship Care Subsidy, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Family and Dependence Temporary Assistance. Southeast Community Health Systems is accredited by the Joint Commission.

On the web: www.shchc.org

Education in Livingston Parish

Livingston Parish is the third top public school system in the state of Louisiana

Livingston Parish Public School System

The quality of education provided by a school system has a direct bearing on the development of the community. Year after year, the Livingston Parish School System ranks among the top 10 school systems in Louisiana and continues to attract residents and businesses to the parish. The schools maintain a high graduation rate, and student ACT scores also rank in the top 10 statewide year after year.

The credit for this excellence belongs to teachers, principals and various support staff, as well as to the administration that is charged with the responsibility of making the hard decisions involved in running a large school system. The superintendent of Livingston Parish schools is Rick Wentzel, who was appointed mere weeks before the devastating floods of August 2016. The school board includes President Keith Martin and members Jeffery Cox, Kellee Hennessey Dickerson, Milton Hughes, Sid Kinchen, Buddy Mincey, Jr., Clint Mitchell, Karen Wax Schmitt, Malcolm Sibley and James Watson.

For a list of schools, the school calendar and other information, see their website at www.lpsb.org.

Higher Education

The Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center
The Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center is a joint project between Southeastern Louisiana University and the Livingston Parish School Board. The 39,000 square foot center, located on a 24-acre campus on U.S. 190 at Walker, offers a variety of programs for adults and children.

In addition, community education programs with little or no admission requirements are the focus of the Center’s other programming. These programs address many areas of literacy such as financial, technical, and artistic in addition to the traditional form of literacy.

On the web: lpltc.lpsb.org or www.selu.edu/livingston.

Colleges and Universities

Livingston Parish students have easy access to three premier four-year universities nearby: Southeastern Louisiana University (www.selu.edu) in Hammond, Louisiana State University (www.lsu.edu), Southern University (www.subr.edu) in Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Community College (www.mybrcc.edu) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Technical College, Hammond Branch (www.northshorecollege.edu) in Hammond and Greensburg and River Parish Community in Sorrento and Gonzales (www.rpcc.edu).

CAL Tech - MIT Converge in Livingston Parish

Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory

LIGO is a national facility for gravitational-wave research, providing opportunities for the broader scientific community to participate in detector development, observation, and data analysis. The capabilities of the LIGO detectors were greatly improved with the completion of the Advanced LIGO project in late 2014. The Advanced LIGO detectors will increase the sensitivity and observational range of LIGO by a factor of 10 over its predecessor, bringing 1000 times more galaxies into LIGO's observational range.

The design and construction of LIGO was carried out by LIGO Laboratory’s team of scientists, engineers, and staff at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and collaborators from the over 80 scientific institutions world-wide that are members of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.

The responsibilities of LIGO Laboratory include operating the LIGO detectors, research and developent aimed at further improving the capabilities of the LIGO detectors, research in the fundamental physics of gravitation, astronomy, and astrophysics, and public education and outreach. LIGO is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Recreation in Livingston Parish

Recreation

There is always something fun going on in Livingston Parish! Whether it is an exhilarating ride on a one-mile zip line trip through the treetops or lying in a tube while drifting along the river for a four-hour tubing trip, you are sure to have fun visiting our parish. You and the family may want to spend the day at our newest mini-water park complete with water slides, water spouts, and a small version of a meandering tube ride that is just the right size for young visitors. A new state-of-the-art fitness center includes an Olympic-size pool that is available for swim meets and fitness center members.

How about a relaxing round of golf at one of several courses in the area? For those traveling visitors, our RV campgrounds are some of the best. Plan a visit to Tickfaw State Park for camping and other various outdoor activities.

We have over 600 miles of waterways within Livingston Parish, which gives the boating enthusiast as well as the fisherman plenty of places to enjoy themselves.

Perhaps a relaxing day at one of our many day spas sounds like it would make you happy; well, we have that, too.

Our antiques district which has been rated number three in the South (as rated by AAA Southern Traveler) is loaded with shops and hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. So, if your idea of fun is browsing through these shops and stopping in the local restaurants to enjoy our Louisiana cuisine, this is the place for you!