Bywater of New Orleans, Louisiana Real Estate and Community Information

The aptly named New Orleans neighborhood of Bywater is nestled comfortably alongside the Mississippi River’s natural levee in the city’s Ninth Ward. Bywater’s population, as recorded by the United States Census Bureau in 2010, was 3,337, including 573 families.

New Orleans is an American city like no other. Although the city will forever be associated with 2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina, the Big Easy had established its colorful reputation long before the big storm. Today, New Orleans remains dynamic and vibrant, a city like no other.

Chances are excellent that even if you have never been to “The Crescent City”, “Nawlins” or “NOLA” (New Orleans, Louisiana), you are not only familiar with one or more of these nicknames, but you are also aware of one or more of its truly unique, self-defining features. Some of these include the French Quarter, Canal Street, the annual Mardi Gras celebration, Bourbon Street, and the instantly identifiable sounds of Zydeco music, and Delta blues.

Following the catastrophic nightmare of Hurricane Katrina, and its tragic, sad, and in some cases uplifting aftermath, the neighborhood of Bywater unofficially gained the moniker, “Sliver by the River.” These neighborhoods were spared much of the flooding that drowned most of the rest of New Orleans.

History

If you were to travel back in time to the early days of the 19th century, you would see the landscape of what today is Bywater virtually blanketed by plantation land. As the city of New Orleans grew, so did Bywater, welcoming an eclectic, culturally diverse population. Settlers came from disparate (and sometimes desperate) global locales like Spain, Germany, France, Ireland and Italy.

For a long time, Bywater was known as the Upper 9th Ward. When other sections of the 9th Ward started developing their own personalities, it dropped ‘Upper 9th Ward’ in the 1849s in favor of Bywater, due in part to its riverside location.

Shopping and Dining

There are few neighborhoods that has as much charisma, charm and entertainment opportunities as New Orleans’ eclectic Bywater district.

There are numerous shopping and dining options in the neighborhood itself; however, if you have a hankering for something other than what you are finding in Bywater, you are less than 4 miles from downtown New Orleans and its myriad shopping centers and malls.

One-stop shopping can be found at numerous locations in and around Bywater, such as the Shops at Canal Place, Riverwalk Marketplace and the Shops at Jax Brewery. Some of the cool local shops to check out include Road Kill (biker clothing, jewelry and accessories), Citi Trends (urban-style men’s and women’s clothing and other fashion items) and Charlotte Russe (fashionable women’s clothing).

The Bywater neighborhood offers several one-of-a-kind eateries. For those who crave something other than a national chain restaurant, Bywater serves up a variety plate of choices. Some of the notable ones include:

• Vaughan’s Lounge: a legendary music venue that also offers local cuisine, such as boiled crawfish and shrimp, red beans and rice and many other authentic favorites.
• Bywater Bar-B-Que: serves up BBQ sandwiches and a mixed bag of seafood delicacies.
• Elizabeth’s: specializes in Creole and other southern flavors.
• Markey’s Bar: serves up primarily pub food, such as burgers, various salads and chicken wings.

Parks and Recreation

As an urban community nestled within the metropolis of New Orleans, Bywater offers its residents and visitors alike a number of outdoor and indoor recreational activities.

In addition to all of the celebrations, parades and festivals, things to add to your to-do list in or near Bywater include the following:

• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
• Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
• City Park
• Entergy Imax Theatre
• New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
• Woldenberg Park

Living

“Bywater” could be applied to the entire city of New Orleans itself. Located within or very close to the metropolitan area you have the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Pontchartrain, the mighty Mississippi River and the massive 3 million acres of coastal wetlands called the Mississippi River Delta, created by the majestic river as it slows down and spreads out, gently mixing and mingling with the saltwater from the Gulf.

The Bywater Historic District is in the same general neighborhood as the French Quarter. Much, if not all, of it holds a prestigious spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Schools, Health and Transportation

The public school requirements for Bywater are primarily served via Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). OPSB manages 15 public and charter elementary, secondary and high schools.

There are approximately 70 excellent health and medical care centers located near Bywater, including Daughters of Charity in Metairie, EXCELth Family Health Center and the Jefferson Community Health Center – River Ridge Clinic.

The majority of public transportation options available to the good people of Bywater are offered by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. The RTA provides streetcars, buses and bike-and-ride sites in many of the city’s neighborhoods and wards.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is less than 15 miles to the east of Bywater.