Irish Channel, New Orleans
Encyclopedia
Irish Channel is a neighborhood
of the city of New Orleans
. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Magazine Street
to the north, 1st Street to the east, the Mississippi River
to the south and Toledano to the west.
, the district has a total area of 0.83 square miles (2.1 km²). 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of which is land and 0.33 square mile (0.8546960763 km²) (39.76%) of which is water.
and Napoleon Avenue.
The Historic District Landmarks Commission defines the boundaries of the Irish Channel as these streets: Jackson Ave. to Delachaise St., Magazine St. to Tchoupitoulas St.
of 2000, there were 4,270 people, 1,750 households, and 904 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
was 8,540 /mi² (3,285 /km²).
in the early 19th century. However early on the area also had people of other ethnicities, including German, Italian, and African American, living nearby each other.
Through the early 20th century much of the population worked in the port of New Orleans
before modern shipping innovations greatly reduced the need for stevedore
s and similar jobs. There were also local breweries
in the area.
Since about the 1960s, the neighborhood has been majority African American
, with substantial minorities of the descendants of the 19th century immigrants and more recent Latino
immigrants. Parades and parties are held on and around St. Patrick's Day which are enjoyed by many locals whether they are of Irish ancestry or not.
The area is known for much surviving working class and middle class 19th century residential architecture, including many shotgun house
s. The neighborhood included the St. Thomas Development
.
Built on the city's old high ground, the neighborhood escaped the catastrophic flooding of most of the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
in 2005 (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
).
Many early jazz musicians including Tom Brown, the Brunies brothers, Nick LaRocca, and Tony Sbarbaro lived in the Irish Channel.
New Orleans neighborhoods
In 1980 the New Orleans City Planning Commission divided the city into 13 planning districts and 72 distinct neighborhoods.While most of these assigned boundaries match with traditional local designations, some others differ from common traditional use...
of the city of New Orleans
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...
. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Magazine Street
Magazine Street
Magazine Street is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. Like Tchoupitoulas Street, St. Charles Avenue, and Claiborne Avenue, it reflects the curving course of the Mississippi River...
to the north, 1st Street to the east, 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...
to the south and Toledano to the west.
Geography
Irish Channel is located at 29°55′23"N 90°04′55"W and has an elevation of 7 feet (2.1 m). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the district has a total area of 0.83 square miles (2.1 km²). 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of which is land and 0.33 square mile (0.8546960763 km²) (39.76%) of which is water.
Adjacent Neighborhoods
- East RiversideEast Riverside, New OrleansEast Riverside is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Magazine Street to the north, Toledano Street to the east, Tchoupitoulas Street to the south and Napoleon Avenue to...
(north) - Garden DistrictGarden District, New OrleansThe Garden District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St. Charles Avenue to the north, 1st Street to the east, Magazine Street to the south and Toledano Street to the...
(north) - Lower Garden DistrictLower Garden District, New OrleansLower Garden District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St...
(east) - St. Thomas DevelopmentSt. Thomas DevelopmentSt. Thomas Development is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans and a former Housing Projects of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Constance, St. Mary, Magazine and Felicity Streets to the north,...
(east) - Mississippi RiverMississippi RiverThe 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...
(south) - West RiversideWest Riverside, New OrleansWest Riverside 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: Magazine Street to the north, Napoleon Avenue to the east, the Mississippi River to the south and Exposition, Tchoupitoulas and...
(west)
Boundaries
The City Planning Commission defines the boundaries of the Irish Channel as these streets: Tchoupitoulas Street, Toledano Street, Magazine Street, First Street, the Mississippi RiverMississippi 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...
and Napoleon Avenue.
The Historic District Landmarks Commission defines the boundaries of the Irish Channel as these streets: Jackson Ave. to Delachaise St., Magazine St. to Tchoupitoulas St.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,270 people, 1,750 households, and 904 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 8,540 /mi² (3,285 /km²).
History
The mostly working class neighborhood was, as the name implies, originally settled largely by immigrants from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in the early 19th century. However early on the area also had people of other ethnicities, including German, Italian, and African American, living nearby each other.
Through the early 20th century much of the population worked in the port of New Orleans
Port of New Orleans
The Port of New Orleans is a port located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the 1st in the United States based on volume of cargo handled, second-largest in the state after the Port of South Louisiana, and 13th largest in the U.S. based on value of cargo...
before modern shipping innovations greatly reduced the need for stevedore
Stevedore
Stevedore, dockworker, docker, dock labourer, wharfie and longshoreman can have various waterfront-related meanings concerning loading and unloading ships, according to place and country....
s and similar jobs. There were also local breweries
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
in the area.
Since about the 1960s, the neighborhood has been majority African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, with substantial minorities of the descendants of the 19th century immigrants and more recent Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
immigrants. Parades and parties are held on and around St. Patrick's Day which are enjoyed by many locals whether they are of Irish ancestry or not.
The area is known for much surviving working class and middle class 19th century residential architecture, including many shotgun house
Shotgun house
The shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than 12 feet wide, with doors at each end. It was the most popular style of house in the Southern United States from the end of the American Civil War , through the 1920s. Alternate names include shotgun shack,...
s. The neighborhood included the St. Thomas Development
St. Thomas Development
St. Thomas Development is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans and a former Housing Projects of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Constance, St. Mary, Magazine and Felicity Streets to the north,...
.
Built on the city's old high ground, the neighborhood escaped the catastrophic flooding of most of the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005 (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
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...
).
Many early jazz musicians including Tom Brown, the Brunies brothers, Nick LaRocca, and Tony Sbarbaro lived in the Irish Channel.