The town of Covington has had a unique and varied history, due in large part to its location between the Bogue Falaya River and the pine forests of St. Tammany Parish. The city serves as the parish seat and something of a de facto capital of the Ozone Belt, an area of South Louisiana characterized by clean air, flowing streams, and verdant woodlands. Early settlers established themselves in the area, producing pine products and bricks, and Covington soon developed a reputation as a retreat from epidemics of disease, as well as from the rigors of city life. Covington has long shipped goods to the cities across Lake Ponchartrain, and those cities in turn have sent their people to Covington to vacation, relax, and revel in its beauty.