Metairie, Louisiana

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Metairie, Louisiana

USA


Geographic Coordinates: 29.997700, -90.178000
Temperature Range: 10.0°C to 35.0°C (50°F to 95°F)
Population: 140590
Language: English

Metairie is a census-designated place located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a suburb of New Orleans and one of the largest unincorporated communities in the state. Metairie has a population of approximately 140, 000 people and covers an area of 24 square miles. The history of Metairie dates back to the early 18th century when French explorers first settled in the area. The name Metairie comes from the French word métairie, Which means sharecropping or tenant farming. The land was originally used for agriculture but it gradually became more urbanized as New Orleans expanded.

Today, Metairie is a bustling community with plenty of amenities and attractions for residents and visitors alike. One popular destination is Lakeside Shopping Center which features over 120 stores and restaurants including Macy’s, Dillard’s, Apple Store, And Cheesecake Factory among others. Another highlight of Metairie is Lafreniere Park – a sprawling green space that spans approximately 155 acres with lagoons for fishing or boating activities as well as playgrounds for children to enjoy.

For those who love sports or fitness activities there are several options available like Zephyr Field – home stadium to minor league baseball team New Orleans Baby Cakes; Clearview Mall – an indoor shopping center that also offers bowling alley; Pontchartrain Center – an event venue hosting everything from trade shows to concerts etc. Additionally foodies can indulge themselves with local cuisine at various restaurants such as Drago’s Seafood Restaurant – famous for their charbroiled oysters; Acme Oyster House – serving up delicious po-boys sandwiches & seafood dishes; Commander’s Palace – offering upscale Creole fare served in elegant surroundings etc.

Overall Metairie offers something for everyone whether you want to shop until you drop at one of its many malls or enjoy nature at its parks while eating some delicious food. It is a vibrant and lively community that has managed to maintain its unique identity despite being in close proximity to the bustling city of New Orleans.



Important Landmarks

  1. Lafreniere Park: This vast park offers visitors a chance to enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, paddle boats on a lake, and playgrounds.
  2. The Esplanade Mall: A favorite shopping destination with more than 100 stores.
  3. Lakeside Shopping Center: Another large shopping mall with over 120 stores.
  4. Zephyr Field: The home stadium for the New Orleans Baby Cakes minor league baseball team.
  5. The Shrine on Airline (formerly Zephyr Field): A multi-purpose stadium that hosts concerts and other events besides baseball games.
  6. The Metairie Cemetery: An ancient cemetery where many notable figures from Louisiana’s history are buried.
  7. Clearview Mall: Another shopping center that features over 50 stores and restaurants.
  8. Fat City entertainment district: A lively area renowned for its bars, restaurants, and nightlife scene.
  9. Jefferson Parish Performing Arts Center: An arts venue that hosts concerts, plays, dance performances,and more.
  10. Bayou Segnette State Park: A nearby state park with camping facilities, hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and water activities like boating or kayaking on the bayou or lake Pontchartrain.

Primary Industries

  1. Metairie is a suburb of New Orleans that boasts a diverse economy with numerous major industries and businesses.
  2. These include:
    • Healthcare
    • Retail
    • Technology
    • Hospitality
    • Financial services
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Real estate
  3. The healthcare industry in Metairie is particularly strong with several hospitals, clinics and medical centers employing a significant number of people.
  4. Retail is also prominent in the area with Lakeside Shopping Center being one of the largest malls in the region.
  5. Metairie’s technology sector is growing rapidly with companies specializing in software development, IT services and cybersecurity.
  6. Hospitality is another important industry due to its proximity to New Orleans’ tourist attractions. There are many hotels and restaurants catering to visitors.
  7. Several banks and financial institutions have their headquarters or branches located in Metairie which has helped establish it as an important financial center.
  8. The area has many schools ranging from elementary to higher education institutions like the University of Phoenix.
  9. Construction companies are also thriving due to ongoing development projects in the area while real estate remains popular thanks to its desirable location near New Orleans and growing population.

Noteable History

  1. The Battle of New Orleans: In 1815, Metairie played a critical role in the final major battle of the War of 1812.
  2. Jefferson Davis: The former President of the Confederate States once lived in Metairie.
  3. Hurricane Katrina: In 2005, this devastating hurricane wreaked havoc on much of Metairie and its surrounding areas.
  4. Mardi Gras: Celebrations during Fat Tuesday are an integral part of Metairie’s cultural heritage.
  5. Archbishop Philip Hannan: An influential figure in New Orleans’ Catholic community for many years who helped rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
  6. David Duke: This notorious white supremacist politician has roots in Metairie.
  7. Drago’s Seafood Restaurant: Famous for its charbroiled oysters, this restaurant has become an icon in Metairie over its decades-long existence.
  8. Lafreniere Park: A popular park that features walking trails, playgrounds for children, picnic areas with barbecue grills to cook on site as well as fishing spots on its lagoon or lake where visitors can catch bass or catfish all year round.
  9. Metarie Cemetery- It is one among seven cemeteries located within city limits which dates back to early 19th century.
  10. Loyola University-New Orleans- The university founded by Jesuits opened at St.Charles Avenue but later moved to Broadway Street,Metarie where it currently operates from today.

Museums and Things To See

  1. Lafreniere Park
  2. Lakeside Shopping Center
  3. Jefferson Performing Arts Center
  4. Zephyr Field
  5. The Historic Metairie Cemetery
  6. Longue Vue House and Gardens
  7. The New Orleans Museum of Art
  8. Ogden Museum of Southern Art
  9. National World War II Museum
  10. Audubon Zoo


Sports Teams

Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans in Louisiana, doesn’t have any professional sports teams. However, it boasts several high school and youth sports teams that are worth noting:

  1. Archbishop Rummel High School: This Catholic high school has an impressive football program and has won numerous state championships.
  2. Metairie Park Country Day School: This private school offers athletic programs in various sports such as basketball, soccer, tennis, and swimming.
  3. Metairie Little League: Established in 1952, this youth baseball league has produced several Major League Baseball players.
  4. Jefferson Parish Recreation Department: The recreation department provides different sports leagues for children and adults all year round. These include basketball, volleyball, softball, flag football and many more.


Cultural Events

  1. Metairie Mardi Gras Festival is an annual event that takes place during the Mardi Gras season. The festival features parades, live music, food vendors, and carnival rides.
  2. The Greek Festival is held in May each year and celebrates Greek culture with traditional food, music, dance performances, and cultural exhibits.
  3. The Italian Heritage Festival takes place in October and celebrates Italian culture with live music, authentic Italian cuisine from local restaurants, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and more.
  4. Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival showcases the unique Cajun and Zydeco music of Louisiana with live performances by local musicians as well as food vendors serving up classic dishes like gumbo and jambalaya.
  5. Bayou Boogaloo Music & Arts Festival is a three-day event featuring a lineup of local musicians playing jazz blues funk on multiple stages along the banks of Bayou St John in nearby New Orleans.
  6. Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival held each October in New Orleans’ historic Lafayette Square Park just a short drive from Metairie brings together some of the best blues musicians from around the country for three days of outdoor concerts alongside delicious barbecue dishes prepared by local pitmasters.
  7. Jazz Fest: The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is one of the biggest events in the city’s calendar attracting visitors from around the world to enjoy live performances by some of today’s top jazz artists along with traditional Louisiana cuisine like crawfish étouffée or fried oysters po-boys!

Cuisine

  • Drago’s Seafood Restaurant is famous for their charbroiled oysters.
  • Acme Oyster House is known for their fresh oysters and seafood dishes.
  • Zea Rotisserie & Bar is popular for their rotisserie chicken and Louisiana-inspired dishes.
  • The Blue Crab Restaurant & Oyster Bar specializes in Cajun and Creole seafood cuisine.
  • Parran’s Po-Boys & Restaurant serves traditional New Orleans-style po’boys sandwiches.
  • The Galley Seafood Restaurant offers a variety of seafood dishes, including boiled crawfish, crab legs, and shrimp.
  • Cafe B serves contemporary Louisiana cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table ingredients.
  • R&O’s Restaurant is famous for their roast beef po’boys and Italian ice.
  • Toups Meatery specializes in Cajun cuisine with a modern twist.
  • Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon offers traditional cajun food such as gumbo, jambalaya, boudin balls etc along with live music performances.

  • Parks and Recreation

    1. Lafreniere Park is a 155-acre park that offers visitors walking paths, playgrounds, a splash pad, a golf course, and more.
    2. The Lakefront Trail is a scenic trail along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain that’s perfect for walking, jogging, or biking.
    3. Clearview Mall is an indoor shopping center with stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s as well as restaurants and a movie theater.
    4. Metairie Cemetery is an historic cemetery with beautiful architecture and notable gravesites such as those of former Louisiana governors and jazz musicians.
    5. Bayou Segnette State Park is located just outside of Metairie in Westwego and offers camping, fishing, boating, hiking trails, picnic areas and more.
    6. Zephyr Field is home to the New Orleans Baby Cakes minor league baseball team (now known as the Wichita Wind Surge).
    7. Jefferson Playground & Aquatic Center is a family-friendly recreational facility featuring playgrounds for all ages including swings sets, slides, climbing structures, water play area etc.
    8. Lakeside Shopping Center is an upscale shopping mall with popular brands including Apple Store, Banana Republic, GAP etc.

    Suitcase

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