Quick Facts
In 2011, the population of New Orleans was 360,740 people according to the United States Census Bureau. Of that population, 33% are white while 60.2% are black. The persons living below poverty level are around 25.7%. New Orleans represents a fourth of all oil production through their port. This is a major factor in the city's revenue and economic survival. The climate is generally very humid subtropical with mild winters and hot, humid summers. New Orleans is famous for many reasons. They are known for their food such as craw-fish, beignets, Po Boys, Ettouffet, and Gumbo dinners. They have been noticed as the birth place of jazz and prize in their musical talents which are exploited all over town. They also are known for their zydeco music as well. New Orleans's residents love their city like none other and vow to stay no matter what. They have incredible soul and compassion for their home. Art is displayed on every street corner and beads are thrown and left on every tree. The architecture is rich in history from the 18th and 19th centuries. They are influenced by the French and Spanish architectural designs and layouts. New Orleans always makes up a reason to celebrate life with a festival. The festivals most popular are the French Quarter Festival, Decadence Fair, Mardi Gras, VOODOO fest and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
The greater metropolitan area of the city includes suburbs like Metaire and Kenner which are located east of downtown New Orleans. They are two of the biggest, more well known direct suburbs of New Orleans. Directly facing Metaire is Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Pontchartrain bridge, which leads to areas such as Mandaville and Covington. Many people who work in New Orleans, live in Mandeville and Covington and commute daily. These areas are known to have better schools and safer neighborhoods then directly in the city.
Neighborhoods of New Orleans
New Orleans is broken up into many neighborhoods. The French Quarter was the very first neighborhood of the city, followed by the Central Business District. Treme is an area where a large amount of blacks live. Mid City is an area where the Bayou Saint John runs through. It is not the richest area but mainly lower middle class to upper middle class live there. The City Park is located here, which is the second largest park in the United States, only second to New York's Central Park. Carrollton, Uptown, and the Garden District are where many of the richer homes and families can be found. It is the on higher ground than much of the city. The universities such as Loyola and Tulane are located here as well as the Audubon Zoo. It is filled with recreational areas, shopping and dining options. Lakeview was severely devastated from Hurricane Katrina. Many of the homes are still in disarray but more and more are coming back to life. More homes and families are moving back here. It is primarily a residential area. The Lower Ninth ward was the most badly hit from Hurricane Katrina and is where the "Make it Right" Foundation has set up and still rebuilding homes. It is a primarily lower income and poverty stricken area and is one of the lowest areas below sea level, making it a prime target for flooding to occur.
Current Transportation
New Orleans has been using their streetcar system for years. Below is a map showing all the streetcar lines and standard bus routes that move daily in and around the city of New Orleans. Streetcars originally only ran up and down Canal Street but have since branched off and have become a major lifeline for tourism and locals to move around the city.