Uptown New Orleans

When people in New Orleans refer to Uptown, that can cover a lot of territory. It is an area roughly bounded by Louisiana Avenue, Claiborne Avenue, Lowerline and the river. The environs nearest Tulane and Loyola Universities is also known as the University Section of the city. The Uptown area began as a series of wedge-shaped plantations fanning out off the river between the Garden District downriver and Carrollton upriver. Two such plantations were that of Etienne Boré and his son-in-law, Pierre Foucher, which extended from Joseph Street to the lower boundary line (Lowerline Street) of Carrollton. Here these two men successfully granulated sugar in 1795. It was also here that the 1884 Cotton Centennial Exposition was held, and the land later became Audubon Park with its world-renowned zoo.

St. Charles Avenue and its famous streetcar line is the main thoroughfare of Uptown. Magnificent oaks and stately homes grace this historic boulevard that bends with the river. Uptown has been the residential heart of the city since the late nineteenth century. Magazine Street is an important commercial artery of Uptown with antique shops, restaurants and galleries.

Lower Garden District

The Lower Garden District is just upriver from the Faubourg St. Mary (the CBD), bounded by Howard Avenue, St. Charles Avenue (or perhaps Carondelet Street which runs parallel to St. Charles, one block to the north), Jackson Avenue and the river. As the elegant St. Charles Avenue winds its way through the Lower Garden District, it is bisected by streets named after the Greek Muses.

The Irish Channel is roughly bounded by Magazine Street, Jackson Avenue, the river and Louisiana Avenue, although it was once one street running for just two blocks. This section is the working-class area adjacent to the elegant Garden District. Parasol's Bar is a landmark in the midst of shotgun doubles built in the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Many Irishmen worked as draymen and stevedores along the wharves during these years. Clay Square is a shady park nestled among the homes of Irish and German immigrants. Parasol's is actually a corruption of a German name, Passauer.
 

Carrollton

Once a separate city outside of New Orleans and part of Jefferson Parish, Carrollton today is a neighborhood with many distinct elements. Originally acquired in 1719 by Bienville, New Orleans' founder, it spans an area from the Orleans- Jefferson line (Monticello) to Lowerline Street, and from Airline Highway to the River. Its original north (boundary) line is today in Old Metairie, and is called Northline. Carrollton encompasses smaller neighborhoods known as Gert Town, Hollygrove, Palm Air and Black Pearl. Carrollton was annexed by New Orleans in 1874. Carrollton Avenue is the main thoroughfare and it begins where St. Charles Avenue ends at a graceful bend in the Mississippi. The famous streetcars that began as the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad Line continue their run along Carrollton Avenue to Claiborne. The cars brought people to the community named for General William Carroll, who commanded a portion of Andrew Jackson's army in 1814-15 and was camped on the Macarty Plantation in the vicinity of Clinton and Adams Streets. Clinton Street is no longer there, but it ran right along-side of Hillary Street which is still there today. The Macarty Plantation was to become what is now Carrollton. Along the impressive oak-lined avenue are handsome mansions, as well as beautiful bungalows and "shotgun" doubles. Certain areas of the avenue have businesses and diverse dining opportunities. There are also numerous schools and churches along the way. The homes usually have 12 to 14-foot ceilings and a great deal of nineteenth century charm. The first home in Carrollton was built in 1835 by Samuel Short. The Riverbend, Maple Street and Oak Street commercial areas are all close to the streetcar line that linked this area to the rest of New Orleans just as it did more than 160 years ago.