LA questions

[C.Ann]

Why are areas there referred to as "parishes"? Is that the equivalent to "counties" in other areas of the country? Can anyone tell me the history of why they are referred to that way?

Also - what is the significance of the "9th Ward"? Any info on why that area is referred to as such?

Thanks to anyone who can answer..

 

[Planogirl]

From what I understand, the people of Louisiana were heavily tied to their churches in the old days. The area was basically Catholic and people identified strongly with their church parishes. The United States tried to divide the state into counties but the citizens were having none of it. Everything still revolved around the parishes so the feds also divided the state into parishes. So for a while the state had both counties and parishes.

Gradually over the years, governing power became more and more entrenched in the parishes and the counties just kind of faded away. And yes, the parishes are equivalent to counties.

As for the 9th Ward, I'm curious about that one too!

 

[Geoff_M]

A "ward" is usually a political sub-division within a city. For example, a city council may be made up of representatives from the various "wards" within the city. They are analogous to a "district". Many older cities have "ward" systems. Usually "wards" are numbered instead of named.

 

[yecats]

Basically as Planogirl and Geoff stated - Louisiana was first obtained by the French. The French have parishes and not counties. A lot of our laws on our books come from old French laws, not English common law. As stated above, New Orleans is an old city which was given ward areas first which for the most part the locals know each of the wards well. The 9th ward consist of two sides ( the upper 9th and the lower 9th). News crews continue to show the flooding and breach of the lower 9th ward which extends through to the neighboring St. Bernard Parish suburbs. The lower 9th ward is one of the poorest areas of New Orleans with subsequent high crime ratios in murders and drugs. These 2 areas were exactly where Katrina's eyewall had a direct hit and descimated both the lower 9th ward and St. Bernard Parish. None of the houses in either area are inhabitable. Most homes in these areas had water 8 feet high for up to 3 weeks. Mold has taken over. Just from these 2 areas there are more than 100,000 people displaced who can not return home. Many homes in the lower 9th ward weren't covered by Flood insurance policies. I am from St. Bernard Parish. My home is exactly 8 miles from downtown New Orleans and had at least 8 feet of water in it. My home is gone forever not to mention the oil slick that now covers my home and everything in it from the local refinery. Hope this helps to explain.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks for the explanations! Always nice to learn something new.. Are there other areas in NO that are referred to as "wards" or are all the rest of them parishes?

And yecats - I'm very, very sorry for your loss.. I know that "sorry" doesn't do much, but I'll pray that somehow you can rebuild your life again and once again experience the happiness you deserve..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes C. Ann...all of New Orleans is broken into wards...each area has a number--even uptown and Algiers on the west bank.

I do not happen to know what those numbers are though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Here's an old map--that the web site I got it from says for the wards is still good today...

wards 9,8, 7, 5, and 4 I believe are the areas that were most severely flooded and not part of the reentry plan...just to give you perspective.

I'm guessing....I believe 3rd ward is the CBD (central business district) and the quarter is contained in wards 4, 5, 6....

Not familiar with west new orleans as much.....looks like the zoo might be in the 14th ward. The rest, no idea what the sections are.

 

[C.Ann]

Here's an old map--that the web site I got it from says for the wards is still good today...

wards 9,8, 7, 5, and 4 I believe are the areas that were most severely flooded and not part of the reentry plan...just to give you perspective.

I'm guessing....I believe 3rd ward is the CBD (central business district) and the quarter is contained in wards 4, 5, 6....

Not familiar with west new orleans as much.....looks like the zoo might be in the 14th ward. The rest, no idea what the sections are.

----------------------------

Thanks for the info and that link.. I feel kind of guilty saying this but prior to Hurricane Katrina, I never really knew much about LA and now I'm hearing all of this stuff that has piqued my interest..

 

[arminnie]

Wards are not unique to New Orleans and Louisiana. Both Houston and Chicago have wards.

 

[dixipixi]

Wards are not just subdivisions of the cities in La., but the parishes as well.
Each ward elects a representative to the parish government. Some parishes are pretty big and diverse as well. Just like with the federal govt...it's to ensure that each area has a voice within the parish.

 

[C.Ann]

Again, thanks for the replies.. I'm familiar with areas being referred to as "wards" in a political sense during election periods, but I had never heard of an area being referred to that way on the national news when talking about a natural disaster or anything of that nature..

 

[Planogirl]

C.Ann, I noticed your post that you knew little about Louisiana prior to Katrina. We're fortunate enough to be neighbors to the state and have found that Lousiana is a very fascinating place both to learn about and to visit. New Orleans alone is so interesting that I feel like I've only scratched the surface.

I'm looking forward to visiting again soon.

 

[arminnie]

C.Ann, I noticed your post that you knew little about Louisiana prior to Katrina. We're fortunate enough to be neighbors to the state and have found that Lousiana is a very fascinating place both to learn about and to visit. New Orleans alone is so interesting that I feel like I've only scratched the surface.

I'm looking forward to visiting again soon.

Ditto - I have a 40 year relationship with New Orleans and just bought a home there (10 days before the hurricane).

I have lived in a lot of the U.S. - New York, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Texas to name a few and find New Orleans to be truly unique - like no other place in the world.

It was always fun taking friends from San Francisco that thought SF was the end all and be all until they discovered New Orleans.

 

[rie'smom]

There are lots of nicknames for areas around New Orleans.Uptown,the Quarter,Irish Channel,9th(pronounced 9t ward),Bywater,the Marigny,etc are just a few.

 

[Deb & Bill]

And then, there's the CBD. Which I couldn't figure out until someone told me. Central Business District.