The City of '''Gretna''' is the Parish_seat of Jefferson Parish, in the US_state of Louisiana. Gretna is on the west bank of the Mississippi_River, across from uptown New Orleans. It is part of the Greater_New_Orleans Metropolitan_area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 17,423.
==History==
In the aftermath of Hurricane_Katrina, starving and dehydrated refugees who attempted to escape from New Orleans by walking over the Crescent_City_Connection bridge over the Mississippi were turned back by Gretna Police who threatened to shoot New Orleanians who tried to enter Gretna on foot. Gretna had also suffered loss of power and drinkable water, and had nowhere to keep another city's evacuees.
==Famous residents==
*Frankie_Ford (rock and roll performer)
*Emmett_Hardy (early Jazz great)
*Lash_La_Rue (Western_film actor)
*Mel_Ott (Baseball_hall_of_famer)
== Geography ==
Image:LAMap-doton-Gretna.png
Gretna is located on 29°54'59" North, 90°3'15" West (29.916459, -90.054260){{GR|1}}.
According to the United_States_Census_Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 km² (3.9 mi²). 9.1 km² (3.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 9.33% water.
== Demographics ==
As of the Census{{GR|2}} of 2000, there are 17,423 people, 6,958 households, and 4,286 families residing in the city. The Population_density is 1,922.0/km² (4,983.9/mi²). There are 7,665 housing units at an average density of 845.6/km² (2,192.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 56.32% White, 35.53% African American, 0.60% Native American, 3.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.63% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. 6.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Image:GretnaLevee.jpg There are 6,958 households out of which 27.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% are married couples living together, 19.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are non-families. 32.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 3.06. In the city the population is spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.3 males. The median income for a household in the city is $28,065, and the median income for a family is $31,881. Males have a median income of $28,259 versus $21,019 for females. The Per_capita_income for the city is $15,735. 24.2% of the population and 20.8% of families are below the Poverty_line. Out of the total population, 34.7% of those under the age of 18 and 20.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. == City of Gretna Links == {{Mapit-US-cityscale|29.916459|-90.05426}} *City of Gretna Website *Gretna Directory *Gretna Police Department *Gretna Heritage Festival *"City of Gretna Louisiana: The most evil, racist city in America" (This biased page focuses on prevention of Hurricane Katrina evacuees from crossing the bridge to Gretna from New Orleans by Gretna police in 2005.) *March to Gretna ===Audio and video=== *Trapped in New Orleans: Emergency Medical Worker Describes How Police Prevented Evacuation, from Pacifica ''Democracy Now!'' program, September 16, 2005 Category:Cities_in_Louisiana Category:Jefferson_Parish,_Louisiana Category:Greater_New_Orleans
Image:GretnaLevee.jpg There are 6,958 households out of which 27.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% are married couples living together, 19.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are non-families. 32.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 3.06. In the city the population is spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.3 males. The median income for a household in the city is $28,065, and the median income for a family is $31,881. Males have a median income of $28,259 versus $21,019 for females. The Per_capita_income for the city is $15,735. 24.2% of the population and 20.8% of families are below the Poverty_line. Out of the total population, 34.7% of those under the age of 18 and 20.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. == City of Gretna Links == {{Mapit-US-cityscale|29.916459|-90.05426}} *City of Gretna Website *Gretna Directory *Gretna Police Department *Gretna Heritage Festival *"City of Gretna Louisiana: The most evil, racist city in America" (This biased page focuses on prevention of Hurricane Katrina evacuees from crossing the bridge to Gretna from New Orleans by Gretna police in 2005.) *March to Gretna ===Audio and video=== *Trapped in New Orleans: Emergency Medical Worker Describes How Police Prevented Evacuation, from Pacifica ''Democracy Now!'' program, September 16, 2005 Category:Cities_in_Louisiana Category:Jefferson_Parish,_Louisiana Category:Greater_New_Orleans