Sorrento

Imagine living under a night sky filled with stars and drifting to sleep, lulled by the distant hoot of a barred owl. That’s the lifestyle in St. Amant, where vast stretches of trees, rivers and farmland surround the community’s spread-out homes. “It’s a very rural community, laid back with a slow-paced lifestyle. Neighbors tend to be close-knit and there’s a lot of community sports programs. It’s just a good place to raise kids,” says Sherri Rachal, a Realtor with Weichert Realtors and lifelong native of nearby Gonzales. “In St. Amant, people can afford more land and still be within 30 minutes of a major city and industry. A lot of residents here commute to Baton Rouge every day.” The community is in Ascension Parish about 25 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. Originally called Duckroost by Native Americans and traders, the locale was named after the St. Amant family, among the earliest settlers who arrived during the latter half of the 1800s. Today this quiet area is home to about 10,000 residents. The most common home styles here include ranch-style houses built during the 1960s and 1970s, farm homes and manufactured homes with large yards. In newer subdivisions and along the Amite River, one finds larger colonial and Craftsman homes. There is plenty of open land for future homeowners. Multiple lots are available for individuals who want to create their dream homes in this quiet area. Homebuyers can find a 3-bedroom ranch for about $239,000. A waterfront Mediterranean-style home along the Amite River might go for as much as $850,000. The three public schools in St. Amant all earn an A-minus from Niche. “The schools here are very good. It's one of the reasons people move here," says Rachal. The St. Amant Primary and Middle School share a campus, making it easy for parents to drop off their kids. St. Amant High gives students a wide range of clubs and organizations to help them grow and express themselves. Some might try out for the state champion-level softball team, and others might get their hands dirty while learning about agriculture in Louisiana’s largest Future Farmers of America chapter. A few parks sit north of the neighborhood for kids to enjoy. Both Roger J. Clouatre Memorial Park and Butch Gore Memorial Park feature basketball courts, baseball diamonds and playground sets. For more water fun, residents take a trip to Lake Pontchartrain, the largest estuary in the state. Visitors might take a boat out on the water, spend the day fishing or paddleboarding, enjoying fresh seafood or visiting a local marina. Small retail stores and family-owned markets give locals convenient shopping options. Residents can get groceries and other home essentials at the nearby Dollar General and Delaune’s Supermarket. Locals drive down U.S, Route 61 toward Gonzalez to find larger grocery stores such as Rouses Market or Walmart. Homeowners shop at Apartment 4 Lifestyle to find boutique decorations and home accents. Tanger Outlets in Gonzalez is home to Marshalls, Michael Kors and dozens of other retailers. Across the Amite River, Sarita’s Asian Cuisine, Diversion Pizza and Sarita’s Grill and Cantina give locals a place to sit for a spell and enjoy their lunch or dinner. Although St. Amant is a quiet neighborhood, locals still have fun at annual events. The Holy Rosary Catholic Church hosts the La Fete des Bayous Festival every October, inviting guests to hang out for jambalaya cook-offs, live music and talent shows. When the weather warms up in March, residents gather at St. Amant High for the FFA Farmer’s Market to buy handmade goods and locally grown plants. The narrow streets in St. Amant don’t feature sidewalks or bike paths, so residents rely on their cars to get around. Nearby U.S. Route 61 and Interstate 10 make driving to shopping and dining destinations easy. Residents hop on either route to drive 29 miles north to Baton Rouge or 55 miles south to New Orleans. St. Amant is located in high-risk hurricane and tornado zones. The neighborhood rates an overall crime score of 2 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.