St. John PARISH

<p class="MsoNormal">St. John the Baptist Parish (or “St. John Parish”) is a rich and diverse community located along the Mississippi River, approximately 30 miles from New Orleans. It was the second permanent settlement in Louisiana and was referred to as the “German Coast.” In the early 1720s, German colonists established “La Cote des Allemands” or “The German Coast” along the banks of the river, as St. John Parish has fertile land which rests nine feet above sea level.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The area, known as the River Region, has an abundance of natural resources and a mild “Sunbelt” climate. Though the Mississippi River actually separates the Parish into northern and southern parts, the former is still referred to as the “east bank” and the latter as the “west bank.”&nbsp;<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On the west bank of the Mississippi River lies the sprawling towns of Lucy, Edgard, Wallace, and Pleasure Bend. It is primarily composed of agricultural land, with rows of sugar cane covering the fields. Edgard is the county seat for the Parish and is home to the Parish Courthouse. On the east bank of the Mississippi River lies the towns of LaPlace, Reserve, Garyville and Mount Airy, with the courthouse annex located in LaPlace. </p><p class="MsoNormal">All are thriving, bustling communities with excellent quality of life and industries along the river.&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>