The Central City neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the oldest working-class neighborhoods in New Orleans. As such, it is rich with a fascinating history.
With a square mileage of under 1.63 and a population of over 18,800 residents, this history is still reflected today. Many of its homes were originally built by contractors and were intended to be rental units. Thus, these one-level “shotgun” houses are very close together and are built to step out right onto the sidewalk or street. The condition of some of the homes in certain sectors has prompted demolition and modernization in order to revitalize Central City.
Toledano Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and St. Charles Avenue are major roadways bordering Central City, with a sector situated alongside the Pontchartrain Expressway. This encompasses an amazing amount of diversity. Landmarks are left by each of the various ethnic groups who inhabited the area throughout the 19th century.
Churches of various faiths bear some outstanding architecture and history. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is one of these, designed by Architect Albert Diettel; it has a 125-foot baroque tower. On another historic note, the New Zion Baptist Church rose to legendary status when Dr. Martin Luther King spoke there in 1957.
Central City’s main street, Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard (formerly Dryades Street) was once a thriving commercial corridor, but business and surroundings declined as people moved to other neighborhoods. Now, much enthusiastic effort has been bringing new life into the area. A cultural center, a community garden and an art gallery are just a few of the neighborhood’s main attractions today.
Not without its famous ties to jazz, Central City was also home to Buddy Bolden. Said to be the inventor of jazz, he and other legendary figures also made history here.
Central City is also referred to as Magnolia.
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