ST. BERNARD PARISH
Parish Offices
8201 W. Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette 504-278-4227
https://www.sbpg.net
Chamber of Commerce
100 Port Boulevard
Chalmette 504-277-4001
https://www.stbernardchamber.org
Strategically located five miles southeast of New Orleans in the center of the Gulf of Mexico coastal region, St. Bernard Parish is an important port community driven by a thriving economy. The industries of trade, shipping, oil, natural gas, and sugar production drive the parish forward. The parish boasts one of the premier transportation networks in America, with an infrastructure that encompasses deep draft cargo dock facilities on the lower Mississippi River, railway access, and four major highways. The parish was hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina but is proudly rebuilding and ranks among the fastest-growing parishes in Louisiana today.
Services
St. Bernard Parish offers untold advantages with its close proximity to New Orleans, including some of the nation’s finest health systems and teaching hospitals. Ochsner Medical Center is the only Louisiana hospital recognized as “Best Hospital” across eight specialty rankings by US News & World Report. Children’s Hospital provides advanced care in more than 40 pediatric specialties, accepting referrals from across the nation and several foreign countries. Another prestigious institution is Tulane Medical Center, the primary teaching hospital for the Tulane University School of Medicine. The all-new University Medical Center in downtown New Orleans is already a model of post-Katrina, catastrophe-resistant architectural design. Closer to home, St. Bernard Parish Hospital maintains a 40-bed community hospital with intensive care, surgical suites, endoscopy suites, a cardiac catheter lab, and a 10-bed emergency department. Advanced imaging and laboratory services as well as nutritional consulting and rehabilitation services are all available locally. The new structure offers optimal patient comfort, from abundant natural light to wide hallways, large rooms, and softer light. At the same time, the facility is designed to maximize the efficiency of the medical staff including state-of-the-art technology.
Newcomers to St. Bernard Parish have access to some of the finest institutions of higher education in the nation as well as options for private and parochial schools in New Orleans. Elementary, middle, and high schools are growing again within the parish, which also operates an adult education program that combines personalized instruction with computer assisted, distance, online, and proxy-based programs. The presence of Nunez Community College enriches the community in many ways, and in turn the region supports the college finally and academically. Leaders from business and industry assist in developing relevant programs that allow students to launch successful careers and produce a leading-edge workforce. Along with many two-year certification and degree programs, the college offers an affordable way to launch a four-year degree. Nearby Orleans is home to Delgado Community College and several career and technical schools. The “big city” is well known for the caliber of public and private colleges and universities including Southern University at New Orleans and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, the latter with six professional schools and twelve Centers of Excellence. The University of New Orleans is recognized by the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s finest institutions for undergraduate education and featured in the latest guide among “The Best 378 Colleges.” Tulane University is another prestigious private institution offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in the liberal arts, science and engineering, architecture, business, law, social work, medicine and public health, and tropical medicine. Dillard University, Loyola University New Orleans, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, and Xavier University of Louisiana add to the impressive list of private schools.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to St. Bernard Parish will discover a wonderful blend of long-established, friendly, stable communities with an extraordinary legacy of historic and cultural resources. Minutes away from the bright lights of New Orleans, the parish commands a prime location, scenic beauty, and tranquil residential settings. St. Bernard is home to bountiful waterways that include Lake Borgne, the Mississippi River, and Breton Sound to provide a paradise for water sports, fishing, hunting, and birdwatching. Distinguished as New Orleans’ most historic neighbor, the parish was the site of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812—a site that today is managed by the National Park Service. This area was originally settled by the Spanish in 1778, and the unique culture of music, food, language, and customs of the “Islenos” is celebrated the Islenos at Los Islenos Museum & Village on Bayou Road. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and the Chalmette Battlefield bring the War of 1812 to life at an interpretive center with exhibits, a film, period music, and a bookstore. The most contemporary landmark in the parish is the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, now the site of an annual remembrance ceremony.
Modern St. Bernard is a family-oriented, diverse community with a welcoming nature that endears newcomers and visitors alike. One of the parish treasures is the Old Arabi Historic Districts, each covering more than 150 acres and named one of America’s Prettiest Painted places in a 2012 nationwide search conducted by the Paint Quality Institute of America for the stunning use of color on the area’s elaborate historical homes and buildings. The visitor’s center for the parish is located in Old Arabi as well as the site of coming attractions including a sugar museum, planetarium, children’s science center, and a wetland’s museum. Most of the attractions in the parish are showcased along the San Bernardo National Scenic Byway, a 29-mile stretch along Louisiana Highway 49 that meanders through the parish near the Mississippi River. Passing by picturesque fishing villages, plantation homes, the historic courthouse, and one of the oldest burial grounds in Louisiana, the Byway is also lined by wonderful eateries and roadside stands for fresh produce and seafood. The historic jewel of Docville Oaks and Farm features a breathtaking oak alley and pecan grove flanking the highway. The Meraux Foundation restored the site to its original glory after Katina, and Docville Farm is now the signature community activity venue and facility hosting a full calendar of colorful celebrations, festivals, and special events. Developed recreational facilities encourage an active lifestyle in the parish, centered on St. Bernard State Park with its tranquil man-made lagoons and natural beauty. This 385-acre expanse along the Mississippi offers a nature center, swimming pool and bathhouse, campsites, and a nearby boat launch for fresh and salt water fishing. Val Riess Park is another point of pride for the parish, covering 33 acres with world-class baseball and softball facilities that rank among Louisiana’s finest. For small-town living and cultural richness just minutes from New Orleans, nothing compares to St. Bernard Parish.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
Chalmette
Parish Offices
504-278-4227
https://www.sbpg.net
Chamber of Commerce
504-277-4001
https://www.stbernardchamber.org
While St. Bernard Parish has no incorporated cities, towns or villages, the community of Chalmette has long served as the center of parish government, education, and healthcare. St. Bernard Parish Hospital is located in Chalmette, along with a growing number of schools that are expanding to accommodate renewed growth and development. A significant number of parish residents live in or near the Chalmette area, which also encompasses several of the most popular attractions in the parish—both historic and modern. Val Reiss Park provides one of the state’s premier softball and baseball complexes, while Chalmette welcomes a steady stream of visitors to the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery. Sydney D. Torres Memorial Park is another green space for community enjoyment and special events. Residents of Chalmette enjoy tranquil residential neighborhoods along tree-lined streets in a community that also serves as the bustling commercial center for the entire parish.
