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Moving to Grand Isle, Louisiana

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Grand Isle, Louisiana is a small city located along the Gulf Coast. Geographically, Grand Isle consists of an 8-mile long barrier island and several nearby marsh islands. The area experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The city has a rich history dating back to the 1700s when it was used as a fishing village by Native Americans. In later years, Grand Isle became a popular summer resort destination for wealthy southerners who built large beachfront homes on the island.

Politically, Grand Isle is part of Jefferson Parish and is represented in the Louisiana state legislature by two representatives and one senator. The local economy is largely based on tourism, fishing, oil and gas production and commercial seafood harvesting. There are several schools within the area including Grand Isle Elementary School and South Lafourche High School. Landmarks of note include the Grand Isle State Park, which offers camping sites as well as access to beaches, nature trails, and wildlife viewing areas; Port Fourchon; which provides access to offshore energy resources; several historic lighthouses; and an array of seafood restaurants offering fresh local cuisine.

Population: 1,541. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,594 (+3.4% change)
Males: 788 (51.1%), Females: 753 (48.9%)

Jefferson County

Zip code: 70358

Demographics

Median resident age: 39.7 years
Median household income: $33,548
Median house value: $69,500

Population by Race

Races in Grand Isle:

  • White Non-Hispanic (94.9%)
  • American Indian (3.0%)
  • Hispanic (1.5%)
  • Two or more races (0.9%)

Ancestries: French (24.5%), United States (10.6%), French Canadian (9.1%), German (8.2%), Italian (7.6%), Irish (5.6%).

Elevation: 5 feet

Land area: 6.1 square miles

Map of Grand Isle, LA

Population by Education

Grand Isle, Louisiana is a small town located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It has a population of just over 1,500 people, according to the latest census data. The majority of the population is made up of native-born Americans; however, there is a small but growing number of immigrants. The median age in Grand Isle is 41 years old, with almost half the population being over 55 years old. The average household size in Grand Isle is 2.5 people, and about 25% of households are made up of single parent families. The racial makeup in Grand Isle is predominantly White (79%) followed by African American (14%), Hispanic/Latino (4%), and Asian (2%).

Grand Isle has an economy primarily based on tourism and fishing. It has long been known as one of the best places in Louisiana for fishing, with many charter companies operating out of the marina. In addition to fishing charters, Grand Isle also offers vacation rentals for tourists looking for a beachside getaway. As far as employment goes, nearly 30% of the population works in tourism-related businesses such as restaurants and hotels while another 20% works in fisheries and related industries like seafood processing plants. There are also many local businesses that cater to tourists such as souvenir shops and gift stores.

For population 25 years and over in Grand Isle

  • High school or higher: 68.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.1%
  • Unemployed: 4.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 15.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Grand Isle town

  • Never married: 20.0%
  • Now married: 59.2%
  • Separated: 1.4%
  • Widowed: 5.6%
  • Divorced: 13.9%

1.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +86 (+5.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Grand Isle:

  • LADY OF THE SEA GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 31 miles; CUT OFF, LA)
  • EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 32 miles; METAIRIE, LA)
  • ADVANCE CARE HOSPITAL (about 45 miles; MARRERO, LA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Grand Isle:

  • LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTL (about 55 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Abbreviation: MSY)
  • LAKEFRONT (about 56 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Abbreviation: NEW)
  • STENNIS INTL (about 88 miles; BAY ST LOUIS, MS; Abbreviation: HSA)

Other public-use airports nearest to Grand Isle:

  • SOUTH LAFOURCHE (about 22 miles; GALLIANO, LA; Abbreviation: L49)
  • NEW ORLEANS NAS JRB/ALVIN CALLENDER FIELD/ (about 41 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Abbreviation: NBG)
  • HOUMA-TERREBONNE (about 50 miles; HOUMA, LA; Abbreviation: HUM)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Grand Isle:

  • XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA (about 51 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 3,659)
  • LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY-HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER (about 51 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 2,496)
  • TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA (about 51 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 10,230)
  • LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS (about 51 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 4,399)
  • DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 52 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 8,193)
  • SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS (about 55 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 3,217)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS (about 56 miles; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Full-time enrollment: 12,442)

Public primary/middle school in Grand Isle:

  • GRAND ISLE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 208; Location: 149 LUDWIG LANE; Grades: KG – 12)

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