Pilottown, Louisiana

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The currently active front of the Mississippi Delta . Pilottown resides just north of the main fork
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The currently active front of the Mississippi Delta . Pilottown resides just north of the main fork
Pilottown, Louisiana, as ships pass by on the Mississippi
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Pilottown, Louisiana, as ships pass by on the Mississippi

Pilottown (or Pilot Town) is a small town in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. In the 19th century it was known as Balize, Louisiana.

Pilottown was settled about 100 years ago, when traffic on the river shifted and forced Mississippi River Pilots to abandon their station about five miles downriver. Pilottown is built on piers in swampy ground on the East Bank of the lower Mississippi River, about 85 miles down-river from New Orleans (65 miles by air) and about 10 miles south of Venice, Louisiana. Pilottown is located a few miles above Head of Passes, the point that is considered to be the mouth of the Mississippi River where the River splits into multiple branches. It is part of the currently active delta front that has, over time, built up the larger Mississippi River Delta.

Pilottown serves as a temporary home for Mississippi River Pilots and as a base for oil exploration. Although the Captain is always responsible for her ship, all oceangoing ships must take a Pilot on board when entering the Mississippi River system. The Associated Branch Pilots supplies River Pilots for ships between the Gulf of Mexico and Pilottown. The Crescent River Port Pilots Association supplies River Pilots between Pilottown and New Orleans, Louisiana, and the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association supplies pilots for ships that are bound for Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Pilottown consists of a few buildings, including temporary housing for River Pilots and a weather station, and some large oil tanks. Because Pilottown is only a few feet above River level, these buildings are connected by a raised concrete walkway that runs the length of the island.

Pilottown is accessible only by water or by helicopter. In the 19th and early 20th century many Pilots and their families lived here, but now most make their residence in larger communities up River and only stay in temporary quarters in Pilottown while working. The peak population was probably reached in the 1860s, when Balize had a population of some 800 people. Today the permanent population of Pilottown is small, less than 20 people, and Pilottown is not listed in the United States census figures. Pilottown's one-room school was closed in the 1970s. Although Pilottown still has Zip Code 70081, the Pilottown Post Office was closed when the Government could not find a Postmaster who was willing to live in Pilottown.

Hurricane Katrina struck Southern Louisiana near Pilottown, inflicting heavy damage on nearly every structure. The headquarters of the Associated Branch Pilots, located in Pilottown for over 100 years, was pushed backward off its foundation, leading the Pilots to the decision that it was not wise to rebuild in Pilottown. They have since relocated upriver in Venice, where they plan to contruct new headquarters. The Crescent City Pilots, however, have for the time being decided to remain in Pilottown, despite the difficulties rebuilding may bring.

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