Ascension Parish covers approximately 300 square miles and is located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge in the heart of plantation country. Residential development is booming in Ascension because of its convenient location and strong public school system, which ranks among the top ten districts in the state.
Ascension includes the town of Donaldsonville, the seat of local government; the town of Sorrento, home to the River Parish Community College; and the town of Gonzales, also known as the “Jambalaya Capital of the World.” The Tanger Outlet shopping center and the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, a multi-use facility that hosts equestrian, 4-H, and many other family-friendly events,
are located in Gonzales.
| Land Area in Square Miles | 292 |
| Population (2007 Estimate) | 98,476 |
| Population Growth % (2000 – 2007) | 28% |
| Average Age | 35 |
| Business Establishments (2008) | 2,151 |
| Employees (Daytime Population) | 29,567 |
| Average Annual Pay | $33,651 |
| Regional Average Pay | $34,520 |
| Name | Employees | NAICS Code |
| BASF CORP. | 1,180 | 325199 |
| WAL-MART | 700 | 452910 |
| AKM, LLC | 566 | 236115 |
| SHELL CHEMICAL CO. | 542 | 32511 |
| RUBICON INC. | 500 | 3251 |
| HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC. | 392 | 324110 |
| EATEL CENTREX SMB 887 | 300 | 517310 |
| OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORP. | 255 | 3251 |
ED Contact:
Tommy J. Kurtz, CEcD, MPA
President and CEO
Ascension Economic Development Corporation
6967 Highway 22
P.O. Box 1628
Sorrento, LA 70778
Mailing Address
PO Box 1628
Gonzales, LA 70707-1628
225-675-1750
225-675-1751 (fax)
tkurtz@ascensionedc.com
Regional ED Contact:
Chadler B. Cornett
Director of Business Development
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
564 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
225-381-7136
chad@brac.org
| Land Area in Square Miles | 2.5 |
| Population (2007 Estimate) | 7,926 |
| Population Growth % (2000 – 2007) | 4.2% |
| Median Age | 31 |
| Business Establishments | 285 |
| Employees (Daytime Population) | 2,415 |
| Land Area in Square Miles | 8.4 |
| Population (2007 Estimate) | 8,852 |
| Population Growth % (2000 – 2007) | 8.5% |
| Median Age | 34 |
| Business Establishments | 824 |
| Employees (Daytime Population) | 7,320 |
| Land Area in Square Miles | 3.1 |
| Population (2007 Estimate) | 1,437 |
| Population Growth % (2000 - 2007) | 17.1% |
| Median Age | 34 |
| Business Establishments | 35 |
| Employees (Daytime Population) | 237 |
