River Parishes

The River Parishes are those parishes in Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that span both banks of the Mississippi River, and are part of the larger Acadiana region. Traditionally they are considered to be St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, and St. John the Baptist Parish. These parishes also made up a historical area once referred to as the German Coast of Louisiana. The River Road runs through the parishes. Three of the parishes, St. Charles , St. John the Baptist and St. James, are also part of the New Orleans metropolitan area, based on the U.S. Census Bureau definition. Ascension Parish, was known historically as the Acadian Coast. Ascension Parish, sometimes included as part of the River Parishes sub-region, is home to the River Parishes Community College, chartered in 1997. The area contains many architecturally significant historic plantation houses that are included among Louisiana's listings in the National Register of Historic Places. The three traditional parishes have a combined land area of 1,939.04 km2 (748.67 sq mi). They have a total 2010 census population of 120,459 inhabitants. If Ascension Parish is included, the total land area is 2,694.10 km2 (1,040.198 sq mi) and the census population is 228,345.