Metairie Real Estate
Metairie Louisiana Real Estate
New Orleans is one of the oldest cities of the United States and it was established as a French Colony on May 7, 1718 on delta of Mississippi River. Metairie is the first known suburbs of New Orleans.
Houses in Metairie have an average sales price of $311,000 as of this writing in 2020. The average time a home in on the market in Metairie is just 49 days which is a 2,268 sf home.
History of Metairie, LA.
By the virtue of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the French had to hand over the colony to the Spanish and it remained with them until 1801. Then the French regained possession of the place and later Napoleon sold the territory to the United States under Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Unlike other European countries where Counts and similar noblemen had ruling power over the territorial units called counties, the Roman Catholics divided the territories in dioceses governed by bishops. However, the dioceses were further divided into individual entities called “parishes” and controlled by priests. Thus, Jefferson Parish was declared officially as a government unit in the year 1825.
Even though the other states are subdivided into counties, the state of Louisiana follows the division into 64 parishes. Metairie however is not a city and is part of Jefferson Parish. It does not have a local government or mayor, but comes under the governance of Jefferson Parish Council.
Metairie is one of the biggest unincorporated communities in the Unite States. It was incorporated as a city for a period of 17 years only, in order to provide the residents with gas facility. In 1927, the sole Mayor at the time, C.P. Aicklen arranged for gas service in 1927. Later on, after 18 months the place was again unincorporated and Metairie, LA. has continued to be in this manner ever since. Much of Metairie sits right on Lake Pontchartrain.
The area of Metairie falls under 5 zip codes – 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005 and 70006. Metairie, which is the center point of Jefferson Parish, is the suburbs of Greater New Orleans metropolitan area and just a short 15 minute drive to Downtown New Orleans.
Origin of the name “Metairie”
Metairie word is derived from French word “Moitie” (one-half) or the “Moitoire”. This implied to farmlands, where the French used to lease land for farming and instead of rent, would take half share of the produce grown. Since the Metairie River delta is rich in alluvial soil, farming was the main occupation.
Metairie has the city of Kenner as its western boundary and the city of New Orleans as its eastern boundary. Nonetheless, Metairie associates itself for business purposes to New Orleans. Visitors to New Orleans pass through Metairie on Interstate 10 or Veteran’s Boulevard that stretches from New Orleans right into the city of Kenner.
Present Metairie
Currently, the area surrounding Metairie Road is termed as “Old Metairie”. Many shops, shopping malls and professional places are located on Metairie Road and this is the most striking areas of Metairie. In heart of Metairie, located on Causeway Boulevard is Lakeside Shopping Center, which is Louisiana’s oldest and biggest shopping mall.
The historical residential base of Metairie is slowly converting into commercial zone, with many businesses like shopping malls, retail stores, night clubs, entertainment hubs and office buildings. Most of Metairie’s night clubs are in the “Fat City”, which was primarily developed as commercial district.
Landmarks
Metairie has office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, Fat City (night clubs), Mardi Gras Parades and much more.
The First Bank Center (former Galleria) has offices, few retail outlets, multiplex and the First Bank. This is located close to Causeway Boulevard and Interstate 10, right in the middle of Metairie.
Lake Pontchartrain, the largest inland estuary in the United States has the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway that stretches 26 miles, from Metairie to the Parish of St. Tammany on the Northshore. There you will find Mandeville, LA. another suburb and commuter city of New Orleans.
Lafreniere Park in central Metairie sprawls over 155-acres of land and has beautiful lagoons, children’s play parks, carousel, baseball fields, a golf course and many other recreational centers.