Slidell, Louisiana

Slidell is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Located on Lake Ponchartrain's northeast shore, Slidell has an estimated population of nearly 25,700. Slidell was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1888. The city was established as a camp for builders on the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad. Today, Slidell serves as a residential suburb of New Orleans, and has an economic mix which includes healthcare, food processing and retail businesses. Typical employers include Slidell Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Thompson Packers, Inc. and Ponchartrain Blue Crab, Inc.

Slidell owes its creation and early development to the railroads. Shops and houses were built to cater to the work crews, and farmers sold livestock and vegetables to feed them. When the station, along with a telephone and telegraph wire, was completed in 1884, settlers and merchants continued the growth of the fledgling town. Fritz Salmen established the Salmen Brick and Lumber Company in 1884, expanding the business with the help of his brothers. About 1890, they founded a small shipyard, which became Slidell Shipbuilding in 1914. The name changed several times over the years, with its final incarnation as Southern Shipbuilding, from 1957-1993. By the early 20th century, Slidell had hotels, sawmills, railroad shops and yards, and a variety of retail shops in addition to the shipyard and brickyards. In the 1960s, the space program expanded, and NASA built several facilities in the area, including a computing center in Slidell proper, bringing new workers and residents.

Slidell's lengthy history of industry and construction in fields known for their use of asbestos-containing materials makes asbestos exposure an ongoing concern. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs. Mesothelioma clinics in and around Slidell are listed at the bottom of this page. If you were exposed to asbestos in Slidell, you may benefit from seeking the advice of a mesothelioma lawyer.

Jobsites in Slidell where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Slidell, LA have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Slidell, LA

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Slidell, LA. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.