French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. After New Orleans (French: Nouvelle-Orléans) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city developed around the Vieux Carré ("Old Square" in English), a central square. The district is more commonly called the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter", related to changes in the city with American immigration after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Most of the extant historic buildings were constructed either in the late 18th century, during the city's period of Spanish rule, or were built during the first half of the 19th century, after U.S. purchase and statehood.
French Quarter
| |
|---|---|
Neighborhood | |
The French Quarter, looking north with Mississippi River to the right | |
| Coordinates: 29°57′31″N 90°03′54″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| City | New Orleans |
| Planning District | District 1, French Quarter/CBD |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.66 sq mi (1.7 km2) |
| • Land | 0.49 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.17 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,888 |
| • Density | 5,900/sq mi (2,300/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 70116 – 70130 |
| Area code | 504 |
Vieux Carre Historic District | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. National Historic Landmark District | |
| Built | 1734 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000377 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | December 21, 1965 |
The district as a whole has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, with numerous contributing buildings that are separately deemed significant. It is a prime tourist destination in the city, as well as attracting local residents. Because of its distance from areas where the levee was breached during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as well as the strength and height of the nearest Mississippi River Levees in contrast to other levees along the canals and lakefront, it suffered relatively light damage from floodwater as compared to other areas of the city and the greater region.