I have a question for any Louisiana Moms.

1. What kind of area is Hammond?
2. Would Baton Rouge be the closest BIG city?
3. How far from New Oreans is it?
4. If you were looking for a job, what newspaper would you look at?
5. And, job-wise, where would you want to work is you lived there?

My DH has had a couple of interesting work inquiries in the area, and I started looking at real estate. I found an unbelievable home there that we could buy for less than we would be selling ours. But, I wanted to know about working. Any help/info you can provide would be appreciated, as we are in the VERY PRELIMINARY stages of even talking about this!

TIA

By Palmbchprincess on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 10:03 pm:

Bumping for ya!

By Katiesmommy on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 10:42 am:

I lived in Leesville about 15 years ago (I know alot has changed) and have been through Hammond a few times...Not much there at all! I am not sure of your other questions, but Hammond was VERY rural and I bet still may be.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 03:11 pm:

Hammond is probably midway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, perhaps a bit closer to Baton Rouge. Southeastern University is in Hammond, so it is sort of a college town. It is pretty much *in the country*, but not necessarily a totally rural area.

The Times Picayune would be the major newspaper you'd want to look at. However, there is the Hammond Star

Housing costs in Hammond are much, much cheaper than in the metro New Orleans area, or I suspect, in the Baton Rouge area also.

I will say this, and keep in mind, I don't know the field or type of work your DH does, but the job market in Louisiana is not the greatest. Of course, if he is in a field where there is a demand, or he already has leads, that wouldn't concern you.

Another thing is that Louisiana is not known for having good public schools. I'm not positive where the schools in Tangipahoa Parish rank. You might want to check out this link: Schoolmatch.com

This website may dissuade you from moving to Hammond. LOL Hammond, Louisiana

I'm just curious - *why* are you looking into Hammond?

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 08:28 pm:

Bumping UP for Angela

By Angellew on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 09:09 am:

Thank you soooo much for your response, Karen!!!

GREAT information!

When my husband came to me and said he had a couple of opportunities in Louisiana, I just did a basic real estate search based on what we would be selling our current house for and what we could afford there!!! Now, considering the difference in real estate prices, I found an unbelievable place! We are native Bostonians. We grew up and have always lived in a VERY crowded city, literally on top of each other. So, if an ad says "rural", we think that's great! (I know, idiotic!! ) Anyway, if you saw the house and the pictures and the description, and what we are selling and the difference, you would have considered Hammond too! Given all the information you gave me, especially the school information, we know we are being VERY premature and not jumping into anything. Although we live in close quarters to our neighbors, we have GREAT schools!

I'm still reading through all the info and sites you gave me! So, thank you thank you thank you again!!!

Angela

By Karen~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 03:15 pm:

You're welcome. You can find many websites online with info about Hammond and the New Orleans area in general.

As someone who has lived here for over 35 years, I wouldn't be too quick to uproot a family and move here, simply because of the job market and the schools.

Louisiana public schools are near the bottom in the nation. Of course, if you can afford a private school, then you won't have to worry about that.

But if you like a more rural setting, Hammond is definitely *country*, and the surrounding areas such as Tickfaw (now THAT's country!) are pretty, and if you're into nature and fishing, or outdoorsy stuff, like tubing down the river in the summertime, or boating, it would be a great location.

By Hdelfuego on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 04:11 pm:

Hi! I live in Walker, which is exactly in between Hammond and Baton Rouge, about 20 minutes from both. I went to college in Hammond at Southeastern. Yeah, there's a college there, but I wouldn't call it a "college town". Hammond does have a small mall and a great Chinese resturant called Trey Yuen. You have to go there. Baton Rouge is the biggest city around and it's really not that far. Hammond's about 40 minutes from New Orleans but traffic is a headache closer to New Orleans and Kenner and Metarie. The Baton Rouge paper to look in would be the advocate. The SLU paper is called "The Lion's Roar". I'm not sure what the paper is in Hammond. Job-wise in Hammond? There's a really nice gym there. Not sure of the name. Of course you could always work at the college in admissions or something. Besides that, I'm really not sure. In Baton Rouge or New Orleans the sky is the limit. I don't know what kind of work you're interested in. I really like it here though. It's very different from the north though. For instance, Ponchatoula is the town east of Hammond. There is a strawberry festival every year. It's very popular. In Robert, about 20 minutes north Hammond, there's a global wildlife center that you ride through on a covered wagon and feed deer, camels, zebras, long horn cattle, giraffes. Also in Robert, there's a place called Zemurray Gardens. I've gone there every year of my life right after the azaleas bloom...its gorgeous. Good Luck, Holly

By Karen~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 04:48 pm:

Holly, I wouldn't necessarily say the sky's the limit in regards to the job market in the New Orleans area. My DH has an MBA and 25 years experience in his field. He moved here from the D.C. area in 1997 and there are NO jobs in his field. So since then he has been working at a job than doesn't require a college degree. He has finally been recognized by his company and has been promoted, but it's still not on par with what he did *up north*. I guess it depends on what type of work/jobs you're looking for. There are a number of jobs available, but not high paying ones.

On a more positive note, we do have Mardi Gras, the French Quarter Festival, Jazz Fest, etc. And there are numerous festivals throughout the area in the spring and fall.

New Orleans has a fabulous zoo and aquarium too.

Be aware though, the summers are stifling - temps in the 90's with humidity in the 80-90% range, so if you don't like hot, humid weather, you won't like it here!

By Hdelfuego on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 10:43 pm:

ditto on the weather! You're right Karen, the pay definitely isn't up to par with our northern friends, but I meant to say that in New Orleans there are a lot of different types of jobs bc there's so much going on there. Sorry if I wasn't clear. Baton Rouge has a lot of really neat places to work too, but hard to get a good paying job! Tell us more about what you're looking for. You have to go to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans in the French Quarter! They have the best beignets!