Madisonville
Madisonville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
Marker Inscription
Madisonville. Originally called "Cokie" (from Coquille) because of the abundance of shells in the area. Renamed for Pres. James Madison, c. 1811. Site of Navy Yard in early 1800's. According to legend, Gen. Andrew Jackson, enroute to New Orleans in Nov. 1814, stopped here at the home of Gen. David B. Morgan.
Erected by Louisiana Department of Commerce and Industry
The Story
First called "Cokie" for the shells heaped along its shores, this Tchefuncte-River town was renamed about 1811 to honor President James Madison. It hosted a U.S. Navy yard in the early 1800s, and tradition holds that Andrew Jackson paused here in November 1814 on his way to defend New Orleans. The settlement grew as a shipbuilding and maritime community on Lake Pontchartrain's north shore.
Why it matters
The town's story threads together early American naming, naval activity, and the New Orleans campaign of the War of 1812 on the Gulf frontier.
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Related people
- · James Madison
- · Andrew Jackson
- · David B. Morgan
Themes & tags
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