by Laura Conaway

Shayne knows where Houma is, writing:

I grew up in Houma, Louisiana left to go to college and graduate school. I was surprised to see it as one of CNN's best cities to get a job! After about five seconds of thinking about it, one word came to mind: Katrina.

 

After Hurricane Katrina, the population and economy of Houma exploded (relatively speaking). Displaced people from New Orleans relocated in Houma and a large population of migrant workers set up shop in the city as well. From what my parents and grandparents have always said, Houma's economy dipped quite a bit after the oil bust of the 1970s, and it remained pretty stagnant aside from offshore industries and retail stores. The clearest way to see this growth is on Martin Luther King Blvd. Just 20 years ago all of that land was grassland and marsh, where lots of people went duck hunting. In a short time, it's become the retail hub of the city. Wages remained low until Katrina and then wages (and available hours) spiked quite a bit.


Just a little bit of info about Houma! A nice little city just 45 minutes southwest of New Orleans.