Covington Louisiana
Historic downtown on the Tchefuncte River, an antique district, and a weekly farmers and merchant market — all within 45 minutes of New Orleans.
Covington
A Historic Parish Town
Covington was founded on July 4, 1813, by John Wharton Collins and was originally named Wharton. The name changed when the town was incorporated in 1816.
The Historic Downtown is part of Main Street USA, and the surrounding streets hold the Historic Antique District, where shops and galleries line the old commercial core. A weekly farmers and merchant market brings growers and makers to town, and Mardi Gras is a festive time for all who visit.
What to do
Festivals and Walking Tours
Covington sets aside days and weekends for gatherings that pull visitors into the downtown streets.
Three Rivers Arts Festival
An annual celebration of the arts hosted in the Covington area.
Centenary Walking Tours
Guided walks through the historic neighborhoods around Centenary and downtown.
Farmers and Merchant Market
A weekly market of local produce, goods, and vendors in the historic core.
Nearby
Across the Tchefuncte River
The Tchefuncte River passes through the Covington area and through Madisonville, where the drawbridge and the riverside restaurants draw visitors out for fishing and waterfront dining.
Beyond the river, the parish holds Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, one of only eight wildlife refuges in Louisiana, along with state parks and outdoor areas for tubing, fishing, and wildlife watching.
Covington serves as the historic heart of Saint Tammany Parish on the Northshore, where the streets of the old commercial core are now filled with antique shops, galleries, and small businesses. The downtown area is recognized as part of Main Street USA, and its preserved architecture reflects the community's long history on the Lake Pontchartrain shore. A weekly farmers and merchant market draws growers and makers into town, while the celebrated Mardi Gras season brings parades and pageantry that showcase the area's festive character to visitors from across the region.
Founded on the Fourth of July in 1813 and originally named Wharton, Covington took on its present name when the town was formally incorporated in 1816. That legacy of nineteenth-century settlement is still visible in the historic districts that surround downtown, where wooden homes, period buildings, and tree-lined avenues preserve the flavor of earlier communities. Walking the historic core offers a sense of the parish's European and American roots, connecting Covington to the broader story of towns, rivers, and settlements that shaped the Northshore.
Beyond the downtown historic district, Covington provides convenient access to the wider attractions of Saint Tammany Parish, including Fontainebleau State Park, the Global Wildlife Center, and the fishing and crabbing opportunities found around Lake Pontchartrain. Anglers and boaters use the area's piers, lake access points, and marshland waterways, while the nearby Tchefuncte River and surrounding countryside lend themselves to scenic drives, bird watching, and outdoor recreation. The parish's mix of history, culture, water, and wildlife makes it a rewarding base for exploring the Northshore.
Keep exploring
More of Saint Tammany Parish
Guides to the towns, rivers, and natural areas around Covington.