JULY 29, 2015 — Hurricane Katrina is the costliest U.S. hurricane on record, and the deadliest to strike our nation since 1928. After initially making U.S. landfall on Aug. 25, 2005, in South Florida as a Category 1, it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, rapidly intensified into a Category 5 and made its second landfall early the morning of Aug. 29 in Plaquemines Parish in Southeast Louisiana as a strong Category 3 with sustained winds of 125 mph. After briefly moving over water, it made a third landfall later that morning near the Louisiana-Mississippi border. Katrina weakened as it moved north-northeastward over land but remained a hurricane as far inland as the vicinity of Meridian, Miss., a straight distance of more than 130 miles from the coast. Ultimately, Katrina was responsible for 1,833 deaths and damage estimated at $151 billion, including $75 billion in the New Orleans area and along the Mississippi coast. Federal disaster declarations issued in the hurricane’s wake covered not only all of the coastal counties of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, but extended well inland to include cities such as Baton Rouge, La.; Jackson, Miss.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala.
This edition of Facts for Features focuses on the two areas that received significant damage: the New Orleans metro area and coastal portions of Mississippi. It compares statistics from before the hurricane struck to a year later, and currently, using a variety of demographic and economic measures. One may use the sources listed below to look at change over the period in other counties and parishes affected by the storm. It should be noted that 2005 was the most active hurricane season ever recorded, with three other major hurricanes also striking the U.S.: Dennis, Rita and Wilma.
New Orleans Graphic [PDF <1.0 MB]
Mississippi Graphic [PDF <1.0 MB]
Note: The New Orleans-Metairie, La., Metropolitan Statistical Area currently consists of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany parishes. St. James Parish was not part of the metro area in 2005 and 2006, but is included for those years in the data below for comparability.
Population of the New Orleans metro area as of July 1, 2014.
2005 population | 2006 population | 2014 population |
---|---|---|
1.386 million | 1.040 million | 1.252 million |
Source: Population Estimates and Intercensal Population Estimates
For the first time since Hurricane Katrina struck, New Orleans returned in 2014 to the list of the nation’s 50 most populous cities, ranking 50th at 384,320. The city’s population was 494,294 on July 1, 2005, before dropping to 230,172 one year later.
Source: Population Estimates and Intercensal Population Estimates
Percentage of the city of New Orleans’ population that was single-race black as of July 1, 2005. The black population was the largest race or ethnic group in the city before Katrina hit, and at 58.8 percent remained the largest race or ethnic group in the city immediately after Katrina hit in 2006. In 2014, the black population remains the city’s largest race or ethnic group at 59.8 percent.
Source: Population Estimates and Intercensal Population Estimates
City of New Orleans
Race/Ethnicity | 2005 | 2006 | 2014 |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 67.3% | 58.8% | 59.8% |
White, non-Hispanic | 26.5% | 33.1% | 31.2% |
Hispanic | 3.5% | 4.8% | 5.5% |
Asian | 2.4% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
American Indian Alaska Native | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 0.03% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Number of housing units in the New Orleans metro area as of July 1, 2014.
2005 housing units | 2006 housing units | 2014 housing units |
---|---|---|
592,800 | 438,278 | 553,627 |
Source: Housing Unit Estimates and Intercensal Housing Unit Estimates
Number of business establishments with employees in the New Orleans metro area in 2013. These businesses employed 475,098 people.
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Business establishments | 31,401 | 29,002 | 29,794 |
Employment | 517,194 | 427,373 | 475,098 |
Source for statements in this section: County Business Patterns
Retail Trade
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Grocery stores | 573 | 430 | 461 |
Gasoline stations | 447 | 407 | 481 |
Pharmacies and drug stores | 221 | 165 | 194 |
Accommodations and Food Services
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Hotels (except casino hotels) | 259 | 227 | 269 |
Restaurants and eating places | 2,138 | 1,860 | 2,375 |
Construction
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Residential building construction establishments | 535 | 652 | 396 |
Nonresidential building construction establishments | 189 | 220 | 220 |
Highway, street and bridge construction establishments | 28 | 26 | 41 |
Source for statements in this section: County Business Patterns
Note: The Mississippi coastline counties consist of the three that lie on the Gulf of Mexico: Hancock, Harrison and Jackson.
Population of the Mississippi coastline counties as of July 1, 2014.
2005 population | 2006 population | 2014 population |
---|---|---|
383,412 | 347,253 | 386,144 |
Source: Population Estimates and Intercensal Population Estimates
Race/Ethnicity | 2005 | 2006 | 2014 |
---|---|---|---|
White, non-Hispanic | 73.1% | 72.6% | 68.8% |
Black | 19.7% | 19.9% | 21.4% |
Hispanic | 3.4% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
Asian | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.5% |
American Indian Alaska Native | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Source: Population Estimates and Intercensal Population Estimates
Number of housing units in the Mississippi coastline counties as of July 1, 2014.
2005 housing units | 2006 housing units | 2014 housing units |
---|---|---|
169,949 | 146,434 | 174,468 |
Source: Housing Unit Estimates and Intercensal Housing Unit Estimates
Number of business establishments with employees in the Mississippi coastline counties in 2013. These businesses employed 125,157 people.
2005 | 2006 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|---|
Business establishments | 7,515 | 7,149 | 7,041 |
Employment | 125,933 | 109,886 | 125,157 |
Source for statements in this section: County Business Patterns
Retail Trade
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Grocery stores | 71 | 62 | 63 |
Gasoline stations | 194 | 164 | 190 |
Accommodations and Food Services
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Hotels (except casino hotels) | 105 | 72 | 84 |
Restaurants and eating places | 547 | 471 | 590 |
Construction
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Residential building construction establishments | 156 | 201 | 71 |
Nonresidential building construction establishments | 38 | 48 | 57 |
Highway, street and bridge construction establishments | 16 | 21 | 16 |
Source for statements in this section: County Business Patterns
These towns provide an example of how ZIP Code Business Patterns data can be used to provide statistics for local areas.
Population
2005 | 2006 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|---|
Bay Saint Louis, Miss. | 11,388 | 9,280 | 11,287 |
Pass Christian, Miss. | 5,845 | 4,969 | 5,308 |
Waveland, Miss. | 7,849 | 6,436 | 6,419 |
Number of Businesses
2005 | 2006 | 2013 | |
---|---|---|---|
Bay Saint Louis, Miss. (ZIP code 39520) | 353 | 283 | 265 |
Pass Christian, Miss. (ZIP code 39571) | 215 | 187 | 189 |
Waveland, Miss. (ZIP code 39576) | 136 | 114 | 120 |
Social characteristics:
2005: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/DP2/3100000US35380
2006: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/06_EST/DP2/3100000US35380
2013: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP02/310M200US35380
Economic characteristics:
2005: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/DP3/3100000US35380
2006: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/06_EST/DP3/3100000US35380
2013: //factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP03/310M200US35380
Housing characteristics:
2005: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/DP4/3100000US35380
2006: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/06_EST/DP4/3100000US35380
2013: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP04/310M200US35380
Social characteristics:
2005: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/DP2/3100000US25060
2006: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/06_EST/DP2/3100000US25060
2013: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP02/310M200US25060
Economic characteristics:
2005: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/DP3/3100000US25060
2006: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/06_EST/DP3/3100000US25060
2013: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP03/310M200US25060
Housing characteristics:
2005: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/DP4/3100000US25060
2006: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/06_EST/DP4/3100000US25060
2013: factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP04/310M200US25060
Forced to Move: An Analysis of Hurricane Katrina Movers
www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2011/demo/SEHSD-WP2011-17.html
Hurricane Katrina resource maps:
www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/katrina_resource_maps.html
Migration flows:
flowsmapper.geo.census.gov/flowsmapper/flowsmapper.html
OnTheMap for Emergency Management provides reports on the workforce and population for current natural hazard and emergency related events.
onthemap.ces.census.gov/em.html
Storms and Jobs: The Effect of Hurricanes on Individuals' Employment and Earnings over the Long Term
ideas.repec.org/p/cen/wpaper/15-21.html
Taken By Storm: Business Survival In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Katrina
by Emek Basker (Census Bureau) and Javier Miranda (Census Bureau)
ideas.repec.org/p/cen/wpaper/14-20.html
The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma on Business Establishments: A GIS Approach
by Ron S. Jarmin (Census Bureau) and Javier Miranda (Census Bureau)
ideas.repec.org/p/cen/wpaper/06-23.html
The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:
Black (African American) History Month (February) Super Bowl Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) Women's History Month (March) Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ St. Patrick's Day (March 17) Earth Day (April 22) Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) Older Americans Month (May) Mother's Day Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) Father's Day |
The Fourth of July (July 4) Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26) Back to School (August) Labor Day Grandparents Day Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) Unmarried and Single Americans Week Halloween (Oct. 31) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November) Veterans Day (Nov. 11) Thanksgiving Day The Holiday Season (December) |
Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail: pio@census.gov.