Saint Gabriel is a supportive rural community close to chemical plants
Once a hub for agriculture, Saint Gabriel is now a leader in petrochemicals. Several plants are within or close to the area’s boundaries, providing jobs to residents. The community also sits along the Mississippi River, and residents often spend time fishing or at nearby parks. “You’re not going to find big malls or a lot of grocery stores, but you will find a lot of local flavor,” says Julie Simoneaux, the adult services coordinator at the Iberville Parish Library. “People make you feel at home. They invite you to all the goings-on. There are crawfish boils every weekend, and they love [Louisiana State University] football.” Residents are close enough to LSU to attend games and explore Downtown Baton Rouge.
New Traditional homes built after 2005 sit along narrow streets
Most of the city’s New Traditional homes are concentrated in the Iberville community or near Louisiana Highway 74. Many were built after 2005. Three-bedroom houses can range from $160,000 to $575,000, while properties with four or more bedrooms often go from $260,000 to $750,000, with select homes selling for more than $1 million. Yards are sparse but can feature small trees and bushes along the side of the house. Narrow asphalt roads snake through the residential parts of the city. Some subdivisions, like Meadow Oaks, have sidewalks, as do stretches of Martin Luther King Parkway and Highway 74. The area does not have a traditional city center, as its businesses are spread throughout the region.
Cajun, Creole and barbecue restaurants provide local flavor
Roberto’s River Road Restaurant offers upscale Cajun and Creole cuisine in a rustic environment. Istrouma at Sugar Farms is a tap room with a full food menu. It hosts an all-ages open mic night every Thursday. Smokehouse 74, a barbecue joint, serves lunch on weekdays and stays open for dinner on Friday nights. St. Gabriel Grocery and Deli sells homemade sandwiches and pecan candy, plus other goods. The city also has Dollar General, and Albertsons and Walmart are a few miles north in Baton Rouge.
Two public school districts and a school choice scholarship program
Most students are zoned for Iberville Parish School District, which holds a B-plus Niche grade. These students all attend East Iberville Elementary & High School, which earns an individual B-minus score. It offers dual enrollment classes through local colleges. The East Baton Rouge Parish School District serves select students in the area’s northern section and has a C-plus rating.
The state’s LA GATOR Scholarship Program creates education scholarship accounts for eligible families and sends them funds for private school tuition and other expenses. The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, about 20 miles north, receives an A-plus from Niche.
Sports facilities, a historic Catholic church and river fishing
Amanda Grace Park has a pavilion, playground equipment and a splash pad. O’Neal Brown Park, in the Carville area, offers two basketball courts, a splash pad, a pavilion and a jungle gym. Similar amenities can be found at nearby Williams Street Park. Sunshine Park connects with the St. Gabriel Levee Trailhead, where cyclists can ride along the Baton Rouge Levee Bike Path for miles, and anglers can cast into the Mississippi River. Premier Soccer Center is an indoor facility that hosts youth and adult leagues in soccer, lacrosse and flag football. A few miles northwest, The University Club is a private golf and social club with tennis and pickleball courts and two pools. It is the home of the Louisiana State University men’s and women’s golf teams.
The National Hansen’s Disease Museum was built in a former hospital. It educates visitors on the history of leprosy in the United States — the disease itself, and those who treated it. The St. Gabriel Catholic Church opened its doors in the late 1700s, making it the oldest still-standing church on Louisiana Purchase land. Hurricane Gustav damaged its original steeple in 2008, but it was later reconstructed.
Resident join together to shop at a nighttime market one per month
The St. Gabriel Firefly Under the Moon Market, held once a month in the fall, blends live music with food and art vendors. Fireflies tend to light up the night sky during the event. The city’s July 4th celebration includes a free tailgate and fireworks show.
Chemical emissions are monitored, but hurricanes can hit the area
Though several chemical plants are in the area, the state tracks each plant’s emissions of gases like ozone to ensure safe air quality. The city’s residential sections are protected by a levee, so catastrophic flooding from the Mississippi River is not a significant concern. However, hurricanes can impact the area and bring heavy rain and winds. “People board up windows and store three days’ worth of water and canned goods, if possible,” Simoneaux says.
Louisiana state highways 30, 74, and 75 cut through the region, as do railroad tracks, which run parallel with Highway 30 for several miles. Downtown Baton Rouge is close to 15 miles away, and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is around a 25-mile drive. Just over 10 miles away is Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, a Level I trauma center.
