Metairie, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Metairie is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Jefferson Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area
. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were incorporated. The zip codes that serve the community are 70001-70006.
Métairie is the French language
term for a tenant farm
which paid the landlord
with a share of the produce (sharecropping
); this was the main activity of original French denizens of the area in the 1760s, and indeed, was true of the majority of the community's inhabitants until the 1910s.
, Metairie, Gentilly
, and New Orleans East. It emptied into Mississippi Sound
. The Acolapissa
Native Americans used this ridge as a road, and is the oldest road in the New Orleans area. Today, this road, which was paved in the 1920s, is called Metairie Road. An electric streetcar was installed running along Metairie Road in the late 1910s, opening the area to greater development. Upscale housing tracts were constructed off the road in the 1920s; this area is now known as "Old Metairie." It is today the most prestigious area of Metairie. The areas to the north and northwest of Metairie Road were not developed until after World War II
. The land between Metairie Ridge and Lake Pontchartrain, which was cypress swamps and marshlands, was drained with the Wood pump. With this new land, Metairie's population grew in the 1940s as a result of cheaper land, lower taxes, and larger lots than in Orleans Parish. In 1990, Metairie made history when one of its districts elected white supremacist David Duke
to the Louisiana state legislature for a single term. Hurricane Katrina caused a new migration from Orleans Parish. This migration resulted from the need of housing. It has been a racially neutral migration, with equal numbers of black and white residents moving to Jefferson Parish. The 2010 Census showed that Metairie has increasingly become more diverse
Veterans Boulevard was laid out alongside a drainage canal
, and became a commercial center of the region. The Central Business District of Metairie is located on Causeway Blvd near Lake Ponchartrain. Metairie also has one of the handful of major malls located in the New Orleans metro area. Lakeside Shopping Center is the highest grossing mall in the New Orleans metropolitan area. In the 1970s and early 1980s, an area of bars
and nightclub
s opened in a section of Metairie known as "Fat City." Fat City is now the most racially diverse area in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area and is home to a vibrant restaurant scene. Metairie has a large Mardi Gras
season that touts itself as a more family-friendly version of the New Orleans Mardi Gras
.
with winds of 125 mph (195 km/h) directly hit Metairie. Much of the community was under six feet of water.
, a category three storm, hit the area in 1965, causing extensive wind damage and moderate flooding.
, which dumped upwards of twenty inches of rain into Metairie in a twelve-hour period, flooded some parts of the region, especially areas south and west of Metairie, including Kenner
, Harahan
, and River Ridge.
On August 29, 2005, Metairie was hit hard by the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina
, including widespread wind damage and flood
ing. There were 29 reported deaths related to Katrina in Metairie. According to satellite images and flood maps, upwards of 75% of Metairie flooded. Initial insured damages in Metairie are between 3 and 5 billion US dollars. The death toll and damage were less in Metairie than in bordering Orleans Parish, largely because the Metairie side of the 17th Street Canal
did not breach and most residents had already evacuated.
Residents were given a mandatory evacuation on August 28, 2005, the first time one has ever been ordered. Residents were not allowed to return until September 4. However, residents were only allowed to quickly visit their homes or business between 7AM and 6PM. Residents were not allowed to return after that until September 15, 2005. This period of over two weeks in exile angered many residents, especially those whose homes flooded. As they were unable to empty the houses of water, they suffered more damage.
Metairie was used as a staging area to evacuate people from New Orleans. The most organized effort took place where Causeway intersects I-10
. There evacuees gathered or were brought to wait for buses.
The flooding in Metairie had three causes:
Many Metairie residents are joining a class action lawsuit against Aaron Broussard
because of his removal of pump operators. Other residents have attempted to recall and remove Broussard as Parish President for what they see as negligence, but they failed to get the support and signatures needed.
Broussard resigned his position on January 8, 2010 in the face of a grand jury investigation of his staff.
baseball
team. The minor league club formerly played its home games at Privateer Park
, home to the University of New Orleans
' NCAA baseball team, from 1992 through 1996. Since 1997, they have played their games at Zephyr Field
and are a member of Triple-A (baseball)'s Pacific Coast League
.
Jefferson Parish has created many parks in Metairie. Many of these playgrounds have organized sports leagues such as American football
, baseball, and basketball
. Some of them also have other programs, such as low cost piano
lessons. For more information, please see the Metairie.com recreation page
There are two zoned public high schools in Metairie:
Magnet schools:
Public Middle Schools Include:
Catholic, Private, & ISAS Member elementary, middle, and preparatory schools include:
operates public libraries. The East Bank Regional Library, which houses the library system's headquarters, is in Metairie. Other public libraries in Metairie include the Lakeshore Library, the Old Metairie Library, and the Wagner Library.
Metairie is home to Congregation Gates of Prayer, a Reform
synagogue, which is currently sharing its building with Congregation Beth Israel
, the oldest Orthodox
congregation in the New Orleans region. Beth Israel's building in Lakeview, New Orleans
was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
.
Metairie's Catholic churches are also part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Metairie is home to 13 Catholic parishes and schools.
and its boundaries include New Orleans
to the east, Kenner
to the west, Lake Pontchartrain
to the north, and Airline Highway
to the south. South of Airline Highway from Metairie are River Ridge
, Harahan
, Elmwood
, and Jefferson
.
The 17th Street Canal
forms the border between Metairie and New Orleans
to the east.
Metairie is located at 29°59′52"N 90°10′39"W (29.997797, -90.177473) and has an elevation of 3 foot (0.9144 m). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 23.3 square miles (60.2 km²), of which 23.2 square miles (60.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.22%) is water.
Interstate 10
runs east-west through Metairie.
Major east-west roads (starting from north to south) include West Esplanade Avenue, Veterans Memorial Boulevard
, West Napoleon Avenue, West Metairie Avenue, Metairie Road, Airline Drive (which is part of U.S. Route 61
) and Jefferson Highway (which is part of U.S. Route 90
). The Earhart Expressway, running east-west immediately south of Airline Drive, is the only other freeway entering New Orleans from the west, but it ends as an expressway soon after crossing the parish line and well before downtown (in Central City.)
Multi-line, continuous north-south roads (starting from west to east) include Power Boulevard/David Drive/Hickory Avenue, Transcontinental Drive, Clearview Parkway, Causeway Boulevard, and Bonnabel Boulevard.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
's southern end lies in this city.
, there were 138,481 people living in Metairie. The racial makeup of Metairie is:
was 6,296.7 people per square mile (2,431.0/km²). There were 67,225 housing units, at an average density of 2,896.6 per square mile (1,118.3/km²). There were 63,741 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.93. In Metairie the population is spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males. The median income for a household in Metairie is $41,265, and the median income for a family was $52,555. Males had a median income of $37,371 versus $27,057 for females. The per capita income
for Metairie is $24,771. About 6.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area
New Orleans metropolitan area
New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner, or the Greater New Orleans Region is a metropolitan area designated by the United States Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans...
. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were incorporated. The zip codes that serve the community are 70001-70006.
Métairie is the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
term for a tenant farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
which paid the landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
with a share of the produce (sharecropping
Sharecropping
Sharecropping is a system of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land . This should not be confused with a crop fixed rent contract, in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a fixed amount of...
); this was the main activity of original French denizens of the area in the 1760s, and indeed, was true of the majority of the community's inhabitants until the 1910s.
History
Metairie was first settled by the French in the 1720s along an area known as Metairie Ridge, a natural levee formed by an ancient branch of the Mississippi River which flowed through modern day River RidgeRiver Ridge, Louisiana
River Ridge is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 14,588 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, Metairie, Gentilly
Gentilly
Gentilly may refer to:France* Gentilly, Val-de-Marne, a commune of the Val-de-Marne départementCanada* Gentilly, Quebec, a suburb of the city of Bécancour** Gentilly Nuclear Generating StationUnited States...
, and New Orleans East. It emptied into Mississippi Sound
Mississippi Sound
The Mississippi Sound is a sound along the Gulf Coast of the United States. It runs east-west along the southern coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, from Waveland, Mississippi, to the Dauphin Island Bridge, a distance of about 145 kilometers...
. The Acolapissa
Acolapissa
The Acolapissa were a small tribe of Native Americans, said to originate from the shores of the Pearl River, between Louisiana and Mississippi before 1702. This made them one of four tribes, along with the Bayogoula, Biloxi, and Pascagoula who inhabited the gulf coast of Mississippi at the time of...
Native Americans used this ridge as a road, and is the oldest road in the New Orleans area. Today, this road, which was paved in the 1920s, is called Metairie Road. An electric streetcar was installed running along Metairie Road in the late 1910s, opening the area to greater development. Upscale housing tracts were constructed off the road in the 1920s; this area is now known as "Old Metairie." It is today the most prestigious area of Metairie. The areas to the north and northwest of Metairie Road were not developed until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The land between Metairie Ridge and Lake Pontchartrain, which was cypress swamps and marshlands, was drained with the Wood pump. With this new land, Metairie's population grew in the 1940s as a result of cheaper land, lower taxes, and larger lots than in Orleans Parish. In 1990, Metairie made history when one of its districts elected white supremacist David Duke
David Duke
David Ernest Duke is a former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan an American activist and writer, and former Republican Louisiana State Representative. He was also a former candidate in the Republican presidential primaries in 1992, and in the Democratic presidential primaries in...
to the Louisiana state legislature for a single term. Hurricane Katrina caused a new migration from Orleans Parish. This migration resulted from the need of housing. It has been a racially neutral migration, with equal numbers of black and white residents moving to Jefferson Parish. The 2010 Census showed that Metairie has increasingly become more diverse
Veterans Boulevard was laid out alongside a drainage canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
, and became a commercial center of the region. The Central Business District of Metairie is located on Causeway Blvd near Lake Ponchartrain. Metairie also has one of the handful of major malls located in the New Orleans metro area. Lakeside Shopping Center is the highest grossing mall in the New Orleans metropolitan area. In the 1970s and early 1980s, an area of bars
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
and nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s opened in a section of Metairie known as "Fat City." Fat City is now the most racially diverse area in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area and is home to a vibrant restaurant scene. Metairie has a large Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
season that touts itself as a more family-friendly version of the 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...
.
Fort Lauderdale Hurricane
The 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane
The Fort Lauderdale Hurricane was an intense Category 5 hurricane that affected the Bahamas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi in September of the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season...
with winds of 125 mph (195 km/h) directly hit Metairie. Much of the community was under six feet of water.
Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane BetsyHurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy was a Category 4 hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy made its most intense landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing significant flooding of the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into...
, a category three storm, hit the area in 1965, causing extensive wind damage and moderate flooding.
Flood of 1995
The May 8th 1995 Louisiana FloodMay 8th 1995 Louisiana Flood
The May 8th and 9th 1995 New Orleans Flood struck the New Orleans metropolitan area, shutting down the city for two days. It was a two-event phenomenon. Areas south of the lake began receiving tremendous amounts of rain at approximately 5:30 p.m. on May 7th, continuing into the early morning...
, which dumped upwards of twenty inches of rain into Metairie in a twelve-hour period, flooded some parts of the region, especially areas south and west of Metairie, including Kenner
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
, Harahan
Harahan, Louisiana
Harahan is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 9,885 at the 2000 census.Harahan was named in honor of James Theodore Harahan, president of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1906-1911...
, and River Ridge.
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...
, including widespread wind damage and flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing. There were 29 reported deaths related to Katrina in Metairie. According to satellite images and flood maps, upwards of 75% of Metairie flooded. Initial insured damages in Metairie are between 3 and 5 billion US dollars. The death toll and damage were less in Metairie than in bordering Orleans Parish, largely because the Metairie side of the 17th Street Canal
17th Street Canal
The 17th Street Canal is a drainage canal in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, that flows into Lake Pontchartrain. The canal forms a significant portion of the boundary between the city of New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana...
did not breach and most residents had already evacuated.
Residents were given a mandatory evacuation on August 28, 2005, the first time one has ever been ordered. Residents were not allowed to return until September 4. However, residents were only allowed to quickly visit their homes or business between 7AM and 6PM. Residents were not allowed to return after that until September 15, 2005. This period of over two weeks in exile angered many residents, especially those whose homes flooded. As they were unable to empty the houses of water, they suffered more damage.
Metairie was used as a staging area to evacuate people from New Orleans. The most organized effort took place where Causeway intersects I-10
Interstate 10 in Louisiana
Interstate 10, a major transcontinental Interstate Highway in the Southern U.S., runs across the southern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It passes through Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge before dipping south of Lake Pontchartrain to serve the New Orleans area and then passing through...
. There evacuees gathered or were brought to wait for buses.
The flooding in Metairie had three causes:
- Lake Ponchartrain backflow into canals: Jefferson Parish President Aaron BroussardAaron BroussardAaron F. Broussard was the president, a combined municipal-parish position, of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana from 2003 to 2010. A Democrat, Broussard is known nationally for appearances he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina....
evacuated all pumping station operators from their posts to Washington Parish (seventy-five miles away) in anticipation of the hurricane. Normally, the machines would be on, not only preventing the Lake from flowing into the drainage canals, but also pumping the rain waters out. Lack of pumping led to severe flooding of Metairie in most areas north of Interstate 10. - Rain waters: Because almost all of Metairie is between two and seven feet below sea level, all rain water was captured in the Metairie "bowl." Unable to return for nearly two days, the pump operators could not turn the pumps on to pump out any of the rain water or backflow.
- 17th Street Canal17th Street CanalThe 17th Street Canal is a drainage canal in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, that flows into Lake Pontchartrain. The canal forms a significant portion of the boundary between the city of New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana...
breach: There was no breach on the Metairie side of the canal; however, water crept into Metairie through Airline Highway. The narrow high ground of Metairie Road and some elevated railroad tracks partially contained the area of flooding. This water chiefly caused the flooding in the southern part of Old Metairie. There was a breach alongside the Lake Villa canal located in Metairie, Where water poured over the top of the levee alongside the pumping station.
Many Metairie residents are joining a class action lawsuit against Aaron Broussard
Aaron Broussard
Aaron F. Broussard was the president, a combined municipal-parish position, of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana from 2003 to 2010. A Democrat, Broussard is known nationally for appearances he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina....
because of his removal of pump operators. Other residents have attempted to recall and remove Broussard as Parish President for what they see as negligence, but they failed to get the support and signatures needed.
Broussard resigned his position on January 8, 2010 in the face of a grand jury investigation of his staff.
Sports and recreation
Metairie is home to the New Orleans ZephyrsNew Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. The minor league club formerly played its home games at Privateer Park
Privateer Park
Privateer Park is a stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of New Orleans Zephyrs prior to Zephyr Field opening in 1998. The ballpark has a capacity of 4,200 people and was opened in 1979. It currently hosts the University of New Orleans Privateers....
, home to the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
' NCAA baseball team, from 1992 through 1996. Since 1997, they have played their games at Zephyr Field
Zephyr Field
Zephyr Field is a 10,000-seat baseball park in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, that hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 11, 1997, as the tenants of the facility, the New Orleans Zephyrs, defeated the Oklahoma City 89ers, 8-3. The ballpark hosted the 1998 and 2001...
and are a member of Triple-A (baseball)'s Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
Jefferson Parish has created many parks in Metairie. Many of these playgrounds have organized sports leagues such as American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, baseball, and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. Some of them also have other programs, such as low cost piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons. For more information, please see the Metairie.com recreation page
- Lafreniere ParkLafreniere ParkLafreniere Park is the largest park in Metairie, Louisiana, and provides a place of relaxation for hundreds of locals and tourists daily. The park is funded by local residents surrounding the park, and a few dollars are added onto their water bill every month.- History :Nicolas Chauvin de la...
- Delta Playground
- Pontiff PlaygroundPontiff PlaygroundWally Pontiff Jr. Playground, formerly Metairie Playground, is a Jefferson Parish public playground located at 1521 Palm Street in Metairie, Louisiana. It is Jefferson Parish's oldest public playground.- Origins :...
- Miley Playground
- Girard Playground
- Doe Playground
- Johnny Bright Playground
- Lakeshore Playground
- Jim O'Ryan Playground
- Cleary Playground
Primary and secondary schools
Metairie's public schools are operated by the Jefferson Parish Public School System.There are two zoned public high schools in Metairie:
- East Jefferson High SchoolEast Jefferson High SchoolEast Jefferson High School is a public high school located in Metairie in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States.East Jefferson High School was built in 1955 in a residential neighborhood. The school serves grades 9-12. It is a part of the Jefferson Parish Public Schools system....
- Grace King High SchoolGrace King High SchoolGrace King High School is a public high school located in Metairie, unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a part of the Jefferson Parish Public Schools....
Magnet schools:
- Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (grades 6-12) http://haynes.jppss.k12.la.us/
- Patrick F. Taylor Science and Math Academy
Public Middle Schools Include:
- John Q. Adams Middle http://adams.jppss.k12.la.us/
- Bunche Accelerated Academy for High School Preparation http://bunche.jppss.k12.la.us/ (formerly Ralph J. Bunche Middle)
- T.H. Harris Middle School, named for the Louisiana state superintendent of education, 1908-1940 http://harris.jppss.k12.la.us/
- J.D. Meisler Middle http://meisler.jppss.k12.la.us/
Catholic, Private, & ISAS Member elementary, middle, and preparatory schools include:
- Archbishop Chapelle High SchoolArchbishop Chapelle High SchoolArchbishop Chapelle High School is a Catholic secondary school for young women. It is located in Metairie, a community in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States.-History:...
- Archbishop Rummel High SchoolArchbishop Rummel High SchoolArchbishop Rummel High School is a Catholic secondary school located in Metairie, a community in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The school is named after Archbishop Joseph Rummel, a former Archbishop in the Archdiocese of New Orleans....
- Atonement Lutheran School http://www.alcs.org/tp40/Default.asp?ID=115780
- Crescent City Christian School http://www.ccchristian.net/
- Ecole Classique http://www.ecoleclassique.com/
- Heritage Academy
- Kehoe-France School http://www.kehoe-france.com/
- Lutheran High School http://www.lutheranhighschool.net/
- Memorial Baptist Christian School http://www.memorial5701.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=22546
- Metairie Park Country Day School
- New Orleans Jewish Day School http://www.nojds.com/
- Our Lady of Divine Providence School http://school.oldp.org/
- Ridgewood Preparatory SchoolRidgewood Preparatory SchoolRidgewood Preparatory School is a university preparatory school located in Metairie, an unincorporated community in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana....
- St. Angela Merici School http://www.stangelaschool.org/
- St. Ann School http://www.stannschool.org/
- St. Benilde School http://www.stbenilde.com/
- St. Catherine of Siena SchoolSt. Catherine of Siena School (Metairie, Louisiana)St. Catherine of Siena School is a private Catholic school in Metairie, Louisiana. It serves students from preschool to seventh grade.-History:St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School was established in 1921 by Archbishop John Shaw...
- St. Christopher School http://www.stchristopherschool.org/SCS_School_Front_Page.html
- St. Clement of Rome School http://www.stclementofrome.org/school/
- St. Edward the Confessor School http://www.steddy.org/Index.cfm?PageSelected=School.cfm
- St. Francis Xavier School http://www.stfrancisxavier.com/index.asp
- St. Louis King of France School http://www.stlouiskingoffrance.com/generalinformation.html
- St. Martin's Episcopal SchoolSt. Martin's Episcopal SchoolSt Martin's Episcopal School is a private school in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.Founded in 1947, St. Martin’s provides a college-preparatory education within a coeducational environment that features focus on academics, the arts, athletics, service learning, and religious...
- St. Mary Magdalen School http://www.stmarymagdalenchurch.com/school.htm
- St. Philip Neri School http://www.stphilipneri.org/teacher/spn/
- Torah Academy http://www.torahacademyneworleans.net/
- Victory Christian Academy http://www.victoryfellowship.net/VictoryChristianAcademy/tabid/2365/Default.aspx
Public libraries
Jefferson Parish LibraryJefferson Parish Library
Jefferson Parish Library is the library system of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It has its headquarters in the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie, an unincorporated area in the parish.-Branches:East Bank:...
operates public libraries. The East Bank Regional Library, which houses the library system's headquarters, is in Metairie. Other public libraries in Metairie include the Lakeshore Library, the Old Metairie Library, and the Wagner Library.
Religion
In Metairie, 56.87% of its citizens identify themselves with some religion. There are 41.47% Roman Catholics, 12.77% Protestants, 0.39% Latter Day Saints, 0.97% of another Christian Faith, 0.64% are Muslim, 0.61% are Jewish, 0.02% are of an Eastern faith.Metairie is home to Congregation Gates of Prayer, a Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
synagogue, which is currently sharing its building with Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Israel (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Congregation Beth Israel is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located in Louisiana. Founded in 1903 or 1904, though tracing its roots back to 1857, it is the oldest Orthodox congregation in the New Orleans region...
, the oldest Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
congregation in the New Orleans region. Beth Israel's building in Lakeview, New Orleans
Lakeview, New Orleans
Lakeview is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Lakeview District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Robert E. Lee Boulevard to the north, Orleans Avenue to the east, Florida Boulevard, Canal Boulevard and I-610 to the south and...
was destroyed by 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...
.
Metairie's Catholic churches are also part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Metairie is home to 13 Catholic parishes and schools.
Geography
Metairie is located in eastern Jefferson ParishJefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
and its boundaries include 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...
to the east, Kenner
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
to the west, Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
to the north, and Airline Highway
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
to the south. South of Airline Highway from Metairie are River Ridge
River Ridge, Louisiana
River Ridge is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 14,588 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, Harahan
Harahan, Louisiana
Harahan is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 9,885 at the 2000 census.Harahan was named in honor of James Theodore Harahan, president of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1906-1911...
, Elmwood
Elmwood, Louisiana
Elmwood is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, within the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,270 at the 2000 census. Elmwood was part of neighboring Jefferson's census area from 1960 to 1990...
, and Jefferson
Jefferson, Louisiana
Jefferson is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, on the East Bank of the Mississippi River. Jefferson is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,843 at the 2000 census...
.
The 17th Street Canal
17th Street Canal
The 17th Street Canal is a drainage canal in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, that flows into Lake Pontchartrain. The canal forms a significant portion of the boundary between the city of New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana...
forms the border between Metairie and 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...
to the east.
Metairie is located at 29°59′52"N 90°10′39"W (29.997797, -90.177473) and has an elevation of 3 foot (0.9144 m). According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 23.3 square miles (60.2 km²), of which 23.2 square miles (60.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.22%) is water.
Climate
Transportation
The most common method of transportation within Metairie is the automobile. Mass transit is provided by "JeT" (Jefferson Transit), but it does not run on Sundays, holidays, or late at night, unlike many lines of New Orleans' RTA.Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
runs east-west through Metairie.
Major east-west roads (starting from north to south) include West Esplanade Avenue, Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Veterans Memorial Boulevard, formerly Veterans Highway , is a 6-lane thoroughfare in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, running west-east mostly parallel to Interstate 10. The western terminus is at Belleview Boulevard in Kenner just north of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and...
, West Napoleon Avenue, West Metairie Avenue, Metairie Road, Airline Drive (which is part of U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
) and Jefferson Highway (which is part of U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S...
). The Earhart Expressway, running east-west immediately south of Airline Drive, is the only other freeway entering New Orleans from the west, but it ends as an expressway soon after crossing the parish line and well before downtown (in Central City.)
Multi-line, continuous north-south roads (starting from west to east) include Power Boulevard/David Drive/Hickory Avenue, Transcontinental Drive, Clearview Parkway, Causeway Boulevard, and Bonnabel Boulevard.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or the Causeway, consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is long...
's southern end lies in this city.
Demographics
As of the 2010 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...
, there were 138,481 people living in Metairie. The racial makeup of Metairie is:
- 75.10% White
- 12.59% Hispanic or Latino of any race
- 10.37% African American
- 3.25% Asian
- 3.97% from other racesRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 2.01% from two or more races.
- 0.3% Native American
- 0.04% Pacific Islander
Other statistics
As of the 2000 Census, there were 39,073 families residing in Metairie. The population densityPopulation 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 6,296.7 people per square mile (2,431.0/km²). There were 67,225 housing units, at an average density of 2,896.6 per square mile (1,118.3/km²). There were 63,741 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.93. In Metairie the population is spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males. The median income for a household in Metairie is $41,265, and the median income for a family was $52,555. Males had a median income of $37,371 versus $27,057 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for Metairie is $24,771. About 6.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Phil AnselmoPhil AnselmoPhilip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
— former PanteraPanteraPantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
singer, currently with the band DownDown (band)Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice... - Conrad AppelConrad AppelConrad Henry Appel, III , is a Metairie, Louisiana, businessman who since 2008 has been a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 9 in suburban Jefferson Parish. Appel won a special election to succeed short-term Senator Steve Scalise, after Scalise was instead elected to the...
- state senator - Brendan BensonBrendan BensonBrendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter. He sings and plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs....
— musician, member of The RaconteursThe RaconteursThe Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The... - Al CopelandAl CopelandAlvin Charles "Al" Copeland was an American entrepreneur who created the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain. He was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.-Personal life:...
— founder of Popeye's Chicken franchises and Copeland's - Roger DawsonRoger DawsonRoger Dawson is a jazz percussionist, conga drummer, bandleader and jazz composer. He was a leading jazz and salsa disc jockey in the USA and acknowledged as at the forefront of New York's Salsa music explosion of the seventies and early eighties...
— jazz musician, composer, radio personality - Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneresEllen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
— comedian, talk show host - David DukeDavid DukeDavid Ernest Duke is a former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan an American activist and writer, and former Republican Louisiana State Representative. He was also a former candidate in the Republican presidential primaries in 1992, and in the Democratic presidential primaries in...
— politician - Pete FountainPete FountainPete Fountain , is an American clarinetist based in New Orleans. He has played jazz, Dixieland and Creole music.-Early life and education:...
— clarinetist - Danny GrangerDanny GrangerDanny Granger, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. He is mainly a small forward, though he does log time at the power forward position. He is also able to initiate the team's offense and so is regarded as one who can play the point forward position...
— professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, forward for the Indiana PacersIndiana PacersThe Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association... - Salman Khan (educator)Salman Khan (educator)Salman Amin 'Sal' Khan is an American educator and the founder of the Khan Academy, a free online education platform and nonprofit organization....
- founder of Khan AcademyKhan AcademyThe Khan Academy is a not-for-profit educational organization, created in 2006 by Bangladeshi American educator Salman Khan, a graduate of MIT. With the stated mission of "providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere", the website supplies a free online collection of more than 2,700 micro...
- a website highly regarded for its educational videos - Charles D. Lancaster, Jr.Charles D. Lancaster, Jr.Charles D. Lancaster, Jr. , is a Metairie attorney who was until January 14, 2008, the then longest-serving Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He represented what has become District 80 in a portion of populous Jefferson Parish for eight nonconsecutive four-year terms...
- attorney and former state representative - Tony LigiTony LigiAnthony V. "Tony" Ligi, Jr. is an attorney and real estate title insurance agent from Metairie in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, who is a first-term Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 79, located on the populous south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.Websites do not...
- state representative - Blanche LongBlanche LongBlanche Beulah Revere Long was the first lady of Louisiana from 1939–1940, 1948–1952, and 1956-1960. She was also a "partner in power" to her husband, Governor Earl Kemp Long. From 1956-1963, she was the Democratic national committeewoman from Louisiana...
— First Lady of Louisiana (1939–1940, 1948–1952, and 1956–1960) - Joseph LopintoJoseph LopintoJoseph Peter Lopinto, III, known as Joe Lopinto , is an attorney from Metairie, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 80 in suburban Jefferson Parish outside New Orleans....
- state representative - Paul MaresPaul MaresPaul Mares , was an American early dixieland jazz cornet & trumpet player, and leader of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.Mares was born in New Orleans. His father, Joseph E...
— jazz musician - Stanton MooreStanton MooreStanton Moore is a drummer raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity...
— jazz musician - Wardell QuezergueWardell QuezergueWardell Quezergue was an American music arranger, producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the “Creole Beethoven”. Wardell was born into a musical family with his father, Sidney Quezergue Sr., being a guitar player. Wardell was the second youngest of three brothers: Sidney...
- R&BRhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
producer, arranger and band leader - Edwin RodriguezEdwin RodriguezEdwin Rodríguez Morales is the former manager of the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball's National League. He also played Major League Baseball briefly in the early 1980s as an infielder.-Playing career:...
— Florida Marlins manager, Former New Orleans Zephyrs manager, former New York Yankees second basemen - Louis J. Roussel, Jr.Louis J. Roussel, Jr.Louis J. Roussel, Jr. , was a powerful businessman and political kingmaker from New Orleans, Louisiana....
- businessman and political donor - Candice StewartCandice StewartCandice Dontrelle Stewart is a beauty queen from Metairie, Louisiana who has competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants.Stewart competed in her first Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageant in 1999, placing first runner up to Nina Moach. She returned two years later and captured the Miss...
— first African-American woman to represent Louisiana in the Miss USAMiss USAThe Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
pageant - Michael StutesMichael StutesMichael Christopher Stutes is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.Stutes is a graduate of Lake Oswego High School in 2004, where he was a classmate of basketball player Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves...
— relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies - David C. TreenDavid C. TreenDavid Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
— former governor practiced law in Metairie prior to 1973 - John S. TreenJohn S. TreenJohn Speir Treen is a retired homebuilder from Metairie in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, who lost a 1989 special election for the Louisiana House of Representatives to the former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke. Treen is the older brother of the late David C. Treen, the first Republican governor of...
— retired homebuilder and politician - Tom WillmottTom WillmottThomas P. Willmott, known as Tom Willmott , is an attorney and registered nurse from Metairie and Kenner, Louisiana, who is a first-term Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 92 in Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs.Willmott's place of birth, most family...
- state representative - Reese WitherspoonReese WitherspoonLaura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
— actress