Ponchatoula Map
Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,180 at the 2000 census. Ponchatoula calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World". It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is Bob Zabbia.
Ponchatoula is located at 30°26?21?N 90°26?33?W / 30.43917°N 90.4425°W / 30.43917; -90.4425 (30.439162, -90.442507) and has an elevation of 26 feet (7.9 m). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all land.
Ponchatoula is located along Interstate 55 and Louisiana Highway 22, equidistant from New Orleans and Baton Rouge. In the early 1900s, Ponchatoula was one of only two ways to get to New Orleans by land, giving it the title of "Gateway to New Orleans."
Nearby cities include Independence, Madisonville, Livingston, Folsom, Covington.