12th Ward of New Orleans
Encyclopedia
The 12th Ward or Twelfth Ward is a division of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana
, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans
.
The Ward was formerly part of the old Jefferson City annexed by New Orleans in 1870.
The roughly wedge-shaped Ward stretches back from the Mississippi River
. The lower boundary is Toledano Street, across which is the 11th Ward
; the upper boundary is Napoleon Avenue, across which is the 13th Ward
, and the back boundary is South Broad, across which is a portion of the 14th Ward
. It includes a section of Uptown New Orleans
and part of the Broadmoor neighborhood
.
Landmarks include Touro Infirmary
, Saint Charles General Hospital. Down from Napoleon Avenue is a series of streets perpendicular to the River named after the victories of Napoleon I
. Constantinople Street was the home of the fictitious New Orleans character Ignatius J. Reilly in John Kennedy Toole
's novel A Confederacy of Dunces
. Multi-platinum selling and Grammy-nominated recording artist Mystikal
grew up in the 12th Ward near Tchoupitoulas. Saint Charles Avenue, with the famous St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, cuts through the neighborhood, and is the route of many New Orleans Mardi Gras
parades. The Columns Hotel, a small hotel converted from a 19th century mansion, on St. Charles, was used as a location in the film "Pretty Baby". The Ward contains two branches of the New Orleans Public Library
. The old Carnegie library
on Napoleon just back from Magazine is now the city's Children's Resource Center library, and the Rosa Keller Branch at Broad & Napoleon. Portions of the Magnolia Projects
along Louisiana Avenue are in the Ward. Other 12th Ward landmarks are Tipitina's
music venue on Napoleon at Tchoupitoulas Street
and Walter L. Cohen Senior High School on Dryades Street.
The majority of the Ward back from St. Charles Avenue flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
in 2005.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans
Wards of New Orleans
The city of New Orleans, Louisiana is divided into 17 wards. Politically, the wards are used in voting in elections, subdivided into precincts. Under various previous city charters of the 19th century, aldermen and later city council members were elected by ward. The city has not had officials...
.
The roughly wedge-shaped Ward stretches back from the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The lower boundary is Toledano Street, across which is the 11th Ward
11th Ward of New Orleans
The 11th Ward or Eleventh Ward is a division of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The 11th Ward is one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans....
; the upper boundary is Napoleon Avenue, across which is the 13th Ward
13th Ward of New Orleans
The 13th Ward or Thirteenth Ward is a division of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.The Ward was formerly part of the old Jefferson City anexed by New Orleans in 1870....
, and the back boundary is South Broad, across which is a portion of the 14th Ward
14th Ward of New Orleans
The 14th Ward or Fourteenth Ward is a division of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.The Ward was formed in 1870 from part of Jefferson City and the town of Greenville which were annexed by New Orleans.-Boundaries:...
. It includes a section of Uptown New Orleans
Uptown New Orleans
Uptown is a section of New Orleans, Louisiana on the East Bank of the Mississippi River encompassing a number of neighborhoods between the French Quarter and the Jefferson Parish line. It remains an area of mixed residential and small commercial properties, with a wealth of 19th century architecture...
and part of the Broadmoor neighborhood
Broadmoor, New Orleans
Broadmoor is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Uptown/Carrollton Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Eve Street to the north, Washington Avenue and Toledano Street to the east, South Claiborne Avenue to the south, and Jefferson Avenue,...
.
Landmarks include Touro Infirmary
Touro Infirmary
Touro Infirmary is a non-profit hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.- Organization. :Touro Infirmary is affiliated with the Louisiana State University Health Science Center and Tulane University School of Medicine....
, Saint Charles General Hospital. Down from Napoleon Avenue is a series of streets perpendicular to the River named after the victories of Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
. Constantinople Street was the home of the fictitious New Orleans character Ignatius J. Reilly in John Kennedy Toole
John Kennedy Toole
John Kennedy Toole was an American novelist from New Orleans, Louisiana, best-known for his posthumously published novel A Confederacy of Dunces. He also wrote The Neon Bible. Although several people in the literary world felt his writing skills were praiseworthy, Toole's novels were rejected...
's novel A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel written by John Kennedy Toole, published by LSU Press in 1980, 11 years after the author's suicide. The book was published through the efforts of writer Walker Percy and Toole's mother Thelma Toole, quickly becoming a cult classic, and later a...
. Multi-platinum selling and Grammy-nominated recording artist Mystikal
Mystikal
Michael Lawrence Tyler , better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper, and actor from New Orleans.-1993-1994: Early career:...
grew up in the 12th Ward near Tchoupitoulas. Saint Charles Avenue, with the famous St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, cuts through the neighborhood, and is the route of many New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
parades. The Columns Hotel, a small hotel converted from a 19th century mansion, on St. Charles, was used as a location in the film "Pretty Baby". The Ward contains two branches of the New Orleans Public Library
New Orleans Public Library
The New Orleans Public Library is the public library service of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-History:The system began in 1896 as the Fisk Free and Public Library in a building on Lafayette Square...
. The old Carnegie library
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
on Napoleon just back from Magazine is now the city's Children's Resource Center library, and the Rosa Keller Branch at Broad & Napoleon. Portions of the Magnolia Projects
Magnolia Projects
The Magnolia Projects, officially the C.J. Peete Projects, was one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans. As part of the ongoing redevelopment, the area has been renamed Harmony Oaks. The project was among the largest, housing approximately 2,100 people...
along Louisiana Avenue are in the Ward. Other 12th Ward landmarks are Tipitina's
Tipitina's
Tipitina's is a music venue located at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.Local music enthusiasts opened the venue on January 14, 1977. The name was inspired by a well-known song by Professor Longhair who also performed there until his death...
music venue on Napoleon at Tchoupitoulas Street
Tchoupitoulas Street
Tchoupitoulas Street is a street in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is the through street closest to the Mississippi River running through Uptown New Orleans...
and Walter L. Cohen Senior High School on Dryades Street.
The majority of the Ward back from St. Charles Avenue flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
The effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans have been long-lasting. As the center of Katrina passed South-east of New Orleans on August 29, 2005, winds downtown were in the Category 3 range with frequent intense gusts and tidal surge. Hurricane force winds were experienced throughout the...
in 2005.