Convent, Louisiana


Convent is a census-designated place in and the parish seat of St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 711. It has been the parish seat since 1869.

History

The community was originally named Baron when first settled 1722 to 1739. It was the location of the St. Michael's Convent from 1825 to 1932 and the location of Jefferson College, 1831 to 1931.
St. Michael's Church Historic District and Jefferson College, along with several historic homes in Convent, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The former Jefferson College operated in Convent. Among its alumni was Etienne J. Caire, who owned the E. J. Caire Store in Edgard and was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1928 against Huey Long. Caire founded the Manresa retreat center in 1922.
The town sustained damage during Hurricane Katrina, disrupting parish government activities for several months.
On February 23, 2016, an extremely large wedge tornado hit the Sugar Hill RV park with two dead and several people injured.

Geography

Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, the town is only 16 feet above sea level. Convent has an area of, of which is land and is water.

Notable person