<GNOCDC> Leonidas Neighborhood Snapshot

Home Pre Katrina Home Orleans Parish Uptown/ Carrollton District Leonidas Snapshot

This information is pre-Katrina.
Although the information on this page is out-of-date, we are continuing to make it available, as it provides insight about this neighborhood pre-Katrina.

Post-Katrina, we will not be making any changes or updates to this page. As a result, you may find outdated information and broken links.

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Leonidas Neighborhood Snapshot

Census 2000 Data Tables: People & Household Characteristics, Housing & Housing Costs, Income & Poverty, Transportation, Employment, Educational Attainment, Immigration & Language, Disabilities, Neighborhood Characteristics

A large and diverse section of New Orleans, made up of 4 distinct census tracts, bounded by the touristy River Bend area on one end and the levee on the Jefferson Parish line, Leonidas (a.k.a. West Carrollton) is home to almost 9,000 New Orleans residents (Census 2000).

Some of Leonidas’ history

In 1719 this area was part of a plantation owned by Le Sieur de Bienville, the founder of New Orleans. The land changed hands many times and by the early 1800s was part of a large sugar plantation owned by the McCarty family.


	© GNO Community Data Center
	Town of Carrollton sign

Eventually, it was purchased by the New Orleans Canal and Banking Co. and several private investors who divided the land into plots for development.

The first house was built in 1835 and the area quickly developed into a “suburb” of New Orleans, aided largely by the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad that ferried commuters into New Orleans for work. The town of Carrollton was incorporated by an act of the legislature in 1845. (It drew its name from General William Carroll who commanded a portion of General Andrew Jackson’s army in 1814.) In the 1850s, Dublin was the main street. It was the site of a hotel, a depot, a jail, a fire station, a school, a council hall and a market. In 1874, Carrollton was annexed to New Orleans and became the 7th District of New Orleans.

The St. Charles Street Car line and other interesting places


	© GNO Community Data Center
	Carrollton Transit Station (aka the "streetcar barn")

The St. Charles Street Car, the oldest street railway line still in operation, runs the length of Leonidas/East Carrollton, from Palmer Park at Claiborne Street to the River Bend. During rush hours this famous streetcar still carries commuters from the neighborhood to downtown New Orleans. At other times of day, it is full of tourists seeking to expand their horizons beyond the French Quarter.

Articles on NO streetcars in the Electric Streetcar Journal

New Orleans Joys

New Orleans Prepares for the Past

The River Bend is a prime tourist destination with the old fashioned Camellia Grill. But many tourists miss other interesting parts of this neighborhood. Carrollton Transit Station (commonly known as the “Streetcar Barn”) located at Willow and Dublin Streets offers regular tours. The commercial strip along Oak Street from Carrollton to the river is the home of several music clubs (including Carrollton Station Bar & Music Club and The Maple Leaf Bar) and restaurants (such as Dante’s Kitchen) known for top-flight local and regional music and food.

Camellia Grill

Carrollton Station Bar & Music Club

The Maple Leaf Bar

Dante’s Kitchen

Harrell Park is located in the western, predominently African American section of the neighborhood. About 700 youth take part in tackle football and NFL/CITY flag football leagues at Harrell Park. In October 2001, the New Orleans Saints donated $60,000 to support the installation of lights in Harrell Park.

Saints, City Help Turn On Lights for Carrollton Football Field

Other sources

Neighborhood Profiles Project Document prepared by the City of New Orleans Office of Policy Planning and the City Planning Commission. Published December 1980. Study available at the Williams Research Center (non-circulating collection).

Home Pre Katrina Home Orleans Parish Uptown/ Carrollton District Leonidas Snapshot

Last modified: October 4, 2002