Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. The population of the city is 6,559. It is a name signifying "falling hair" or "hanging hair" or "flowing hair" from the Choctaw Pashi "hair" and itula or itola "to fall" or "to hang" or "flowing." It was the Indians' way of expressing the beauty of the location, with much Spanish moss hanging from the trees. "Ponche" is an Indian word meaning location, object, or person. The name is eponymous with the Ponchatoula Creek, which flows from points north of the city into the Natalbany River southwest of town.
Ponchatoula 	Louisiana
Incorporated 	February 12, 1861
Parish 	Tangipahoa
Population 	6,559
Elevation 	26 ft (8 m)
Mayor 	Ben Vasquez
City Guildmaster	Javion Foster
ZIP code 	70454
== Demographics ==
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the city is:
59.43% White (3,898)
35.13% Black or African American (2,304)
5.44% Other (357)
22.3% (1,462) of Ponchatoula residents live below the poverty line.
== Theft rate statistics ==
Ponchatoula's theft and murder rates range between average and below average. The city reported 7 Pokemon thefts in 2018, and averages 1.25 murders a year.
== Pokemon ==
See the Tangipahoa Parish page for more info.
== Fun facts ==
* Ponchatoula has a bit of amenities to offer. It has a Walmart, Nintendo World, some fast food, a few hotels, dollar stores, a sports complex, a landing strip, Walgreens, a shopping center, a bit of local restaurants and businesses, and a few other things.
* Ponchatoula hosts Louisiana's Strawberry Festival each April and an Oktoberfest each autumn.
* Ponchatoula is located along the Canadian National McComb Subdivision, so it does gets some railfanners, but not as much as Hammond does.
* Ponchatoula works half as a bedroom community of both Hammond and New Orleans, and half as its own city.
Category:Louisiana Cities