2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 117
BY SENATOR SMITH
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Thursday, May 12, 2022, as St. John the Baptist Parish Day at the Louisiana
State Capitol and to acknowledge the many contributions of culture, beauty, and
economic prosperity made to the state by St. John the Baptist Parish citizens.
WHEREAS, located on the east and the west banks of the Mississippi River and
uniquely positioned between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, St. John the Baptist Parish is
home to some 41,000 residents in Edgard, Garyville, Mount Airy, LaPlace, Lucy, Pleasure
Bend, Reserve, and Wallace; and
WHEREAS, St. John the Baptist Parish was the second permanent settlement in
Louisiana and was established in the early 1720s by a group of Germans, hence becoming
known as "La Cote des Allemands" or "The German Coast"; and
WHEREAS, led by Karl Frederic D'Arensbourg, a settlement was created on the west
bank of the Mississippi River in the area now known as Lucy, and families also began
farming land on the east bank, in what is now Garyville and Reserve; and
WHEREAS, D'Arensbourg's grandson, Jacques Villere, was born in Lucy and
became the second governor of the state of Louisiana; he was the first Louisiana-born Creole
person of pure European descent to hold that office; and
WHEREAS, in 1807 the territory of Orleans was divided into twelve counties,
including the German Coast County and was later divided into 19 parishes and St. John the
Baptist Parish was established; and
WHEREAS, St. John the Baptist Parish's culture provides tourists worldwide with
a change of scenery and an opportunity to take in the beauty of antebellum homes and
churches, and a chance to enjoy recreational opportunities with miles of trails available for
walking and biking, several boat launches that provide access to beautiful rivers and lakes,
swamp tours, and a zipline through the swamp; and
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WHEREAS, some of the parish's greatest assets are good seafood and the unique
flavor of andouille sausage; St. John the Baptist Parish is known as the Andouille Capital of
the World and hosts an annual andouille festival in October highlighting the delectable
sausage with a three-day weekend of musical entertainment, arts and crafts vendors,
activities, and carnival rides for all ages; andouille is a true representation of the nationalities
that settled in the region; and
WHEREAS, St. John the Baptist Parish's economic base is supported by the
petrochemical, grain, and steel industries which flourish along the Mississippi River from
Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico; the parish has a diverse labor force, a multi-modal
transportation network, abundant raw materials, and available land for residential,
commercial, and industrial development; and
WHEREAS, the largest tonnage port district in America, which is a major incentive
and a gateway for United States export and import traffic, is located in St. John the Baptist
Parish; the parish's location along the Mississippi River and the transportation network of
highways, railroads, and a small airport make the parish easily accessible for business and
industry; and
WHEREAS, St. John the Baptist Parish is truly unique in history, recreation,
industry, food, location, and overall culture.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize Thursday, May 12, 2022, as St. John the Baptist Parish Day at the
Louisiana State Capitol and does hereby acknowledge the many contributions of culture,
beauty, and economic prosperity made to the state by St. John the Baptist Parish citizens.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to St.
John the Baptist Parish President, Jaclyn Hotard.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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