New Orleans Central Business District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Central Business District
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Neighborhood
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New Orleans' Central Business District in 2019
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| City | New Orleans |
| Planning district | District 1, French Quarter/CBD |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.18 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| • Land | 1.06 sq mi (2.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,060 |
| • Density | 1,746/sq mi (674/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 504 |
The Central Business District (CBD) is a busy and important neighborhood in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It's like the "downtown" area where many businesses, offices, and fun places are located.
The CBD is part of a larger area called the French Quarter/CBD. It's bordered by several streets and the Mississippi River. Even though New Orleans has a historic meaning for "downtown," the CBD is what most cities would call their main business hub.
This area was first developed in the late 1700s as a neighborhood called Faubourg Ste. Marie. Today, it's a lively place with tall office buildings, cool shops, many restaurants, and clubs. Thousands of people also live here in renovated historic buildings. A part of the CBD is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its important history.
Contents
History of the CBD
The streets in the Central Business District were first planned in the late 1700s. This was the first time New Orleans grew beyond its original French Quarter area. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, many people from other parts of the United States moved to the city. Because of this, the area became known as the American Sector.
For a long time, Canal Street was seen as the line between the French Quarter and the American Sector. But now, both sides of Canal Street are part of the Central Business District for city planning rules. The CBD kept growing steadily through the 1800s and 1900s.
By the mid-1900s, most of the big offices in the region were located here. Canal Street was the main shopping spot for people in New Orleans and nearby areas. Many famous department stores and specialty shops were here. There were also bookstores, theaters, and movie palaces like the Saenger and Loews State, which lit up the sidewalks with their bright neon signs.
In the 1980s, the 1984 World's Fair took place in the CBD. This event helped bring new attention and money to the area. Many old 19th-century warehouses were turned into hotels, restaurants, and art galleries. This part of the CBD is now known as the Warehouse District.
Famous Places and Attractions
The Central Business District is home to many important and interesting buildings. You can find Greek Revival style buildings like Gallier Hall, which used to be the city's city hall. There's also the huge Caesars Superdome and the Smoothie King Center, where sports games and concerts happen. The city's current city hall is also here, along with the Hancock Whitney Center, which is the tallest building in New Orleans.
Other cool places to see include:
- The unique postmodern Piazza d'Italia.
- Harrah's Casino (now Caesar's New Orleans).
- The Four Seasons Hotel, which was once the World Trade Center of New Orleans.
- Historic churches like St. Patrick's Church.
Parks and Museums
The main public park in the CBD is Lafayette Square. It's a great place to relax and is across from Gallier Hall. There are other public spaces too, like Duncan Plaza and Spanish Plaza.
If you love museums, the CBD has several:
- The National World War II Museum is a must-see.
- The Ogden Museum of Southern Art shows off art from the American South.
- The Louisiana Children's Museum is fun for younger kids.
- The New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center features modern art.
- The Confederate Memorial Hall Museum shares history from the Civil War era.
One important thing to know is that the New Orleans CBD was one of the few areas in the city that did not flood during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Geography of the CBD
The Central Business District is located at 29°56′59″N 90°04′14″W / 29.94972°N 90.07056°W. It is about 3 feet (1 meter) above sea level. Just like most of New Orleans, the parts of the district closer to the Mississippi River are a bit higher than areas further away. The district covers about 1.18 square miles (3.06 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Neighboring Areas
The CBD is surrounded by several other interesting neighborhoods:
- Iberville Development (north)
- French Quarter (north)
- Lower Garden District (south)
- Central City (south)
- Tulane/Gravier (west)
CBD Boundaries
The city planners have set clear boundaries for the Central Business District. These include Iberville Street, Decatur Street, Canal Street, the Mississippi River, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Julia Street, Magazine Street, the Pontchartrain Expressway, South Claiborne Avenue, Cleveland Avenue, and also South Derbigny Street and North Derbigny Street.
People Living in the CBD
The Central Business District is not just for businesses; people live here too! In 2000, over 3,400 people lived in the main part of the CBD. Many more live in the nearby French Quarter and other bordering neighborhoods. This makes the CBD a lively place with a mix of homes and workplaces.
Economy and Businesses
The CBD is a major center for business in New Orleans. Many companies have their main offices here. For example, Entergy, a large energy company, has its headquarters in the CBD. Reily Foods Company, which makes Luzianne products, is also based here.
The CBD is also a hub for creative industries and bioscience companies. Organizations that work to help the New Orleans area grow economically, like Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO Inc.), are also located downtown. The World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTCNO) helps connect local businesses with international trade.
International Connections
The Central Business District is home to several offices from other countries, called diplomatic missions or consulates. These offices help people from their home countries who are visiting or living in New Orleans.
- The Consulate of Mexico in New Orleans helps Mexican citizens. It reopened in 2008 because many Mexican immigrants came to the city to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
- France also has a consulate here. This shows the long-standing friendship and history between France and Louisiana, since France founded New Orleans in 1718.
Many other countries also have honorary consuls in the CBD, who help with diplomatic tasks.
