New analysis says corridor growth steaming ahead

A new 20-year analysis of Census data indicates the 10/12 corridor continues to grow faster than the nation as a whole. Louisiana demographer and political analyst Elliott Stonecipher discovered that populations in the 11 parishes along Interstate 10 and Interstate 12 from Lake Charles to Slidell have grown nearly 35% since 1980. That’s more than half a percent faster than the entire country. The 10 interstate parishes around Lake Pontchartrain grew by more than 5% during that same period – even with post-Katrina losses in Orleans Parish. St. Tammany Parish led the 20-year growth at 106%, followed by Livingston, up nearly 105%; Ascension, 103%; St. John, 47%; Tangipahoa, 45%; and St. Charles and Lafayette, 38%. By comparison, the U.S. population as a whole grew a little more than 34%; Louisiana, by less than 5%. Other corridor parishes experienced significant growth as well, although they didn’t keep pace with the national rate. East Baton Rouge, for example, gained nearly 17% more residents, while Calcasieu lured 11%. Nevertheless, Stonecipher says the data paints an overall picture of Louisiana that is “downright Dickensian.” To read the full story, click here. — Penny Font