Leonidas, New Orleans
Encyclopedia
Leonidas is a neighborhood designation
in the city of New Orleans
. A subdistrict of the Uptown
/Carrollton
Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: South Claiborne Avenue
, Leonidas and Fig Streets to the north, South Carrollton Avenue
to the east, the Mississippi River
and Jefferson Parish
to the west.
The designated neighborhood incorporates the upper-river half of what had been the town of Carrollton, Louisiana
in the 19th century. It is commonly known to locals simply as "Carrollton, or to distinguish this section, "Upper Carrollton" or "West Carrollton".
The portion closer to the river is often called the "Riverbend" or "Carrollton Riverbend." The section closer to the Jefferson Parish line is sometimes known as "Pigeon Town".
Landmarks in the neighborhood include the Camellia Grill
, Carrollton Streetcar Barn, Palmer Park, the Water Works, and the Oak Street commercial district including the well known Maple Leaf Bar
.
The principal factor in the early development of the town was the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad. By 1836 steam cars were commuting from Carrollton to New Orleans every two hours, seven days a week. The Jefferson and Lake Pontchartrain Railroad, begun in 1851, ran from Carrollton to Lake Pontchartrain, where steamers from across the lake and Mobile docked. With their terminals in Carrollton, these two railroads were responsible for a real estate boom in the town. Carrollton had 36 houses in 1841; a decade later its population had grown to 1,470.
Because of the railroad link, Carrollton developed as a “bedroom” suburb of New Orleans. It was essentially a rural village populated by middle and upper class New Orleanians. Two of the most noteworthy houses to survive from this early period are the Wilkinson House, an 1850 Gothic villa, and the Warren House, an 1844 Greek Revival mansion (see landmarks section). Drawings in the New Orleans Notarial Archives reveal that there were numerous other grand houses in antebellum Carrollton, some of which may have been summer homes of wealthy New Orleanians.
The town of Carrollton was incorporated March 10, 1845 and became a city March 17, 1859. It was the parish seat from 1852 until 1874, when it was annexed to New Orleans. The 1855 Greek Revival parish courthouse survives to represent this era in Carrollton’s history (see landmarks section)."
, the district has a total area of 1.05 mi2. 0.92 mi2 of which is land and 0.13 mi2 (12.38%) of which is water.
of 2000, there were 8,953 people, 3,633 households, and 2,051 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
was 9,731 /mi² (3,730 /km²).
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...
in 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 Uptown
Uptown New Orleans
Uptown is a section of New Orleans, Louisiana on the East Bank of the Mississippi River encompassing a number of neighborhoods between the French Quarter and the Jefferson Parish line. It remains an area of mixed residential and small commercial properties, with a wealth of 19th century architecture...
/Carrollton
Carrollton
Carrollton is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Carrollton, Alabama*Carrollton, Georgia*Carrollton, Illinois*Carrollton, Carroll County, Indiana*Carrollton, Hancock County, Indiana*Carrollton, Kentucky...
Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: South Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. It runs the length of the city, about , beginning at the Jefferson Parish line and ending at the St. Bernard Parish line; the street continues in each of these locations under different names. It is called South Claiborne Avenue...
, Leonidas and Fig Streets to the north, South Carrollton Avenue
Carrollton Avenue
Carrollton Avenue is a major thoroughfare stretching across the Uptown/Carrollton and Mid-City districts of New Orleans. South Carrollton Avenue runs from St. Charles Avenue in the Riverbend in a northeast lakebound direction through Carrollton and into Mid-City...
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...
and 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....
to the west.
The designated neighborhood incorporates the upper-river half of what had been the town of Carrollton, Louisiana
Carrollton, Louisiana
Carrollton is a neighborhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, which includes the Carrollton Historic District. It is the part of Uptown New Orleans farthest up river from the French Quarter...
in the 19th century. It is commonly known to locals simply as "Carrollton, or to distinguish this section, "Upper Carrollton" or "West Carrollton".
The portion closer to the river is often called the "Riverbend" or "Carrollton Riverbend." The section closer to the Jefferson Parish line is sometimes known as "Pigeon Town".
Landmarks in the neighborhood include the Camellia Grill
Camellia Grill
The Camellia Grill is a landmark diner in the Carrollton section of New Orleans. It is on Carrollton Avenue near its intersection with St. Charles Avenue on the St. Charles Streetcar line....
, Carrollton Streetcar Barn, Palmer Park, the Water Works, and the Oak Street commercial district including the well known Maple Leaf Bar
Maple Leaf Bar
The Maple Leaf Bar is a music performance venue in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is also a bar and hosts a variety of other events.The Maple Leaf is on Oak Street in the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans. Opened on Feb 24, 1974, it is one of the longest continuing operations of New...
.
Historical background
The Carrollton-Riverbend neighborhood (also called "Leonidas" in this link) has a long history as follows. "The town of Carrollton began on the site of the McCarty plantation in what was then Jefferson Parish. The plantation was acquired in 1831 by real estate investors Laurent Millaudon, John Slidell, Samuel Kohn, and the New Orleans Canal and Banking Company. In 1833 they hired surveyor Charles F. Zimpel to subdivide the land, and the new town was given the name Carrollton.The principal factor in the early development of the town was the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad. By 1836 steam cars were commuting from Carrollton to New Orleans every two hours, seven days a week. The Jefferson and Lake Pontchartrain Railroad, begun in 1851, ran from Carrollton to Lake Pontchartrain, where steamers from across the lake and Mobile docked. With their terminals in Carrollton, these two railroads were responsible for a real estate boom in the town. Carrollton had 36 houses in 1841; a decade later its population had grown to 1,470.
Because of the railroad link, Carrollton developed as a “bedroom” suburb of New Orleans. It was essentially a rural village populated by middle and upper class New Orleanians. Two of the most noteworthy houses to survive from this early period are the Wilkinson House, an 1850 Gothic villa, and the Warren House, an 1844 Greek Revival mansion (see landmarks section). Drawings in the New Orleans Notarial Archives reveal that there were numerous other grand houses in antebellum Carrollton, some of which may have been summer homes of wealthy New Orleanians.
The town of Carrollton was incorporated March 10, 1845 and became a city March 17, 1859. It was the parish seat from 1852 until 1874, when it was annexed to New Orleans. The 1855 Greek Revival parish courthouse survives to represent this era in Carrollton’s history (see landmarks section)."
Geography
Leonidas is located at 29°57′21"N 90°07′44"W and has an elevation of 0 foot (0 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 1.05 mi2. 0.92 mi2 of which is land and 0.13 mi2 (12.38%) of which is water.
Adjacent Neighborhoods
- HollygroveHollygrove, New OrleansHollygrove is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, located in the city's 17th Ward. A subdistrict of the Uptown/Carrollton area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Palmetto Street to the north, Cambronne, Edinburgh, Forshey, Fig and Leonidas Streets to...
(north) - Gert TownGert Town, New OrleansGert Town is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. Local traditional definitions of the boundaries vary; this article discusses those designated by the New Orleans City Planning Commission, which includes the right across the Zion City area, which many locals consider a separate neighborhood...
(north) - FontainebleauFontainebleau, New OrleansFontainebleau and Marlyville are jointly designated as 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: Colapissa and Broadway Streets and MLK Boulevard to the north, South Jefferson Davis...
(east) - East CarrolltonEast Carrollton, New OrleansEast Carrollton 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: Spruce Street to the northeast, Lowerline Street to the southeast, St...
(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...
(west) - Jefferson ParishJefferson Parish, LouisianaJefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
(west)
Boundaries
The City Planning Commission defines the boundaries of Leonidas as these streets: South Claiborne Avenue, Leonidas Street, Fig Street, South Carrollton Avenue, the Mississippi River and Jefferson Parish.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 8,953 people, 3,633 households, and 2,051 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 9,731 /mi² (3,730 /km²).