Map of Independence town, Louisiana

Independence, originally known as Uncle Sam, is a town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,665 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Independence town overview:
Name:	Independence town
LSAD Code:	43
LSAD Description:	town (suffix)
State:	Louisiana
County:	Tangipahoa Parish
Elevation:	82 ft (25 m)
Total Area:	2.41 sq mi (6.25 km²)
Land Area:	2.41 sq mi (6.24 km²)
Water Area:	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Total Population:	1,635
Population Density:	678.14/sq mi (261.86/km²)
ZIP code:	70792
Area code:	985
FIPS code:	2237025
GNISfeature ID:	2405882

Online Interactive Map

Click on to view map in "full screen" mode.

Independence online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Independence location map. Where is Independence town?

Independence location on the U.S. Map. Where is Independence town. — Independence location on the U.S. Map.

Independence location on the Louisiana map. Where is Independence town. — Location of Independence in Louisiana.

History

The move to establish Independence as a town was led in the early 20th century by State Representative Harry D. Wilson, who subsequently served from 1916 until his death early in 1948 as the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry. Wilson was a son of Dr. and Mrs. William D. Wilson. In 1856, Dr. Wilson had built a store in Independence, which remained for years the oldest building in the community. Harry Wilson worked in the parish seat of Amite in the general store of the merchant Jacob Stern at a time when Tangipahoa Parish did not yet depend on the strawberry crop. During the 1890s, Wilson was an express messenger for the Illinois Central Railroad. He left that position to pursue a political career.

Affectionately known by voters as “Uncle Harry” or “Mister Harry”, Wilson served two nonconsecutive terms in the state House from 1900 to 1904 and again from 1908 to 1912. A strong promoter of his hometown of Independence, located five miles to the south of Amite, Wilson in 1902 and 1903 corresponded with Governor William Wright Heard regarding incorporation of the community, which at the time had a population of 308. Governor Heard informed Wilson that he considered the three square miles proposed for the new town as too much land for a small village and suggested that the tract be reduced in size. Originally named “Uncle Sam”, Independence had begun in 1852 when the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad began operating through the area. Independence was finally proclaimed a town on August 22, 1912.