Bywater, New Orleans
Bywater is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Bywater District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Florida Avenue to the north, the Industrial Canal to the east, the Mississippi River to the south, and the railroad tracks along Homer Plessy Way (formerly Press Street) to the west. Bywater is part of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. It includes part or all of Bywater Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bywater | |
|---|---|
Neighborhood | |
The Mazant on Mazant Street in Bywater | |
| Coordinates: 29°57′46″N 90°02′24″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| City | New Orleans |
| Planning District | District 7, Bywater District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.33 sq mi (3.4 km2) |
| • Land | 0.94 sq mi (2.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.39 sq mi (1.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,181 |
| • Density | 1,600/sq mi (630/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 504 |
Bywater Historic District | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location | Roughly bounded by the N. Claiborne Ave. and Urquhart St., Kentucky St., Mississippi River, and Montegut and Press Sts., New Orleans, Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Area | 290 acres (120 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman, Italianate, Shotgun House |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000113 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 1986 |
During New Orleans Mardi Gras, the Society of Saint Anne marching krewe starts their procession on Mardi Gras morning in Bywater and gathers marchers as it travels through the French Quarter, ending at Canal Street. This walking parade of local residents, artists, and performers is preceded by the Bywater Bone Boys Social Aid and Pleasure Club (founded 2005), an early-rising skeleton krewe made up of writers, tattoo artists, painters, set designers, musicians, and numerous other pre–7 a.m. revelers.
After Hurricane Katrina, many survivors flocked to the area as it was less affected by the storm, due to the slightly higher elevation closer to the Mississippi river. Bywater became part of what was known as the "Sliver by the River," meaning neighborhoods that saw no flooding, including Faubourg Marigny, the French Quarter and Irish Channel neighborhoods, and parts of the lower Garden District including St. Charles Avenue.