St. Helena Parish, LA

St. Helena Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,920. The parish seat is Greensburg. St. Helena Parish is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area.

History

St. Helena Parish was established in 1810, during the period of the West Florida Rebellion. It was named after Saint Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Choctaw.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km²), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km²) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.2%) is water.

Adjacent parishes

• Amite County, Mississippi (north)
• Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana (east)
• Livingston Parish, Louisiana (south)
• East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (southwest)
• East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (west)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 10,920 people, 4,000 households, and 2,800 families residing in the parish. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 52.3% White, 45.6% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

Government and infrastructure

The parish is governed by a police jury, which is a form of local government used in Louisiana. The St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement within the parish.

Education

St. Helena Parish is served by the St. Helena Parish School District. The district operates several schools, including St. Helena Central Elementary School and St. Helena Central High School.

Communities

Town

• Greensburg (parish seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Montpelier

Notable people

• John Bel Edwards, the 56th Governor of Louisiana, was born in Amite but has family roots in St. Helena Parish.

See also

• List of parishes in Louisiana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana