River Ridge is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 13,591 in 2020.
Geography
River Ridge is located along a stretch of Jefferson Highway (Louisiana Highway 48). Its boundaries include Harahan to the east, Kenner to the northwest, Metairie to the north, and the Mississippi River to the southwest. Across the Mississippi is the unincorporated community of Waggaman.
River Ridge is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 21.18%, are water.
Demographics
River Ridge first appeared as a census-designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census. of 2000, there were 14,588 people, 6,030 households, and 4,082 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 6,325 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.76% White, 10.99% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.92% of the population. At the 2020 United States census, there were 13,591 people, 5,546 households, and 3,579 families residing in the CDP, reflecting a slight population decline from the 2000 U.S. census. Its racial and ethnic makeup by 2020 was 73.32% non-Hispanic white, 11.8% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.43% two or more races, and 10.09% Hispanic or Latino American, reflecting the diversification of the United States at the 2020 census.
Culture
thumb|Little Farms Park
thumb|Jesse Owens Park
Public parks include Little Farms Park and Jesse Owens Park & Playground.
- Paradise Manor Community Club is the swimming and tennis club for River Ridge.
- According to the Census 2000, River Ridge had 30 houses valued at $1,000,000 or more.
Education
Jefferson Parish Public Schools operates public schools.<!--Compare this map with other school zoning maps--> Students are zoned to Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff School (formerly an elementary school) for grades PreK-8. Students are zoned to Riverdale High School in Jefferson.
Formerly, Hazel Park took elementary grades, while Riverdale Middle School in Jefferson (now a part of Jefferson PK-8) took middle school grades.
In regards to the advanced studies academies, students are zoned to Airline Park Academy.
St. Matthew Catholic School (of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans) is in River Ridge. Many of the Catholic high schools are close by, such as Archbishop Rummel High School and Archbishop Chapelle. Non-Catholic schools located nearby include St. Martin's Episcopal School, Kehoe-France, John Curtis, and Ridgewood Preparatory School.
thumb|River Ridge Library
Jefferson Parish Library operates the River Ridge Branch Library in River Ridge. The library held its grand opening ceremony on Friday, May 4, 2018.