Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish and the fifth-largest city in the state of Louisiana. This bustling suburb of New Orleans had an estimated population of 138,481 as of 2019 according to the Wikipedia page for Metairie. It forms part of the New Orleans–Metairie metropolitan area.
History and Population Growth
Metairie began as the home of a racing track called the Metairie Race Course, which opened in the 1830s. The community grew up around the race track, which operated until the 1910s. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Metairie began to develop as a streetcar suburb of New Orleans as urban sprawl started pushing out from the city.
After World War II, Metairie experienced rapid growth and became one of the first major suburban areas in Greater New Orleans. Between 1940 and 1960, the population of Jefferson Parish more than doubled as middle-class families moved to suburbs like Metairie. Metairie’s population exceeded 100,000 by the 1970 census and continued growing throughout the late 20th century. It remains one of the fastest growing areas in the metropolitan region.
Economy and Major Employers
In addition to its role as a residential suburb, Metairie has developed into an important business and commercial center for the New Orleans metro. Some of the largest employers located in Metairie include:
- Ochsner Medical Center – Metairie (Website) – Major hospital and healthcare provider
- East Jefferson General Hospital (Website) – Another large medical center
- Zurich Insurance (Website) – North American headquarters for the global insurance provider
- AT&T (Website) – Large regional office
- Capital One (Website) – Major banking services company with a Metairie location
- Bertucci’s Corporation (Website) – Headquarters for the Italian restaurant chain
Other major industries in Metairie include retail, finance, insurance, real estate, construction, and professional services. Lakeside Shopping Center is one of the largest malls in the state, while Clearview Mall and Oakwood Center also draw shoppers from around the region. Numerous corporate office parks house companies in fields like banking, finance, oil and gas, and digital media.
For more on Metairie’s business community and largest employers, see the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission’s list of top employers.
Attractions and Landmarks
While Metairie lacks the historic architecture and nightlife scene of New Orleans, it offers more suburban cultural attractions and family-friendly activities. Popular destinations include:
- Lafreniere Park (Website) – Large public park with sporting facilities, trails, playgrounds, and more
- Pontchartrain Center (Website) – Event center and theater hosting concerts, conferences, and other events
- Zephyr Field (Website) – Home stadium for the New Orleans Baby Cakes minor league baseball team
- Celebration in the Oaks (Website) – Major holiday lights festival held annually in City Park
- Metairie Cemetery (Website) – Historic cemetery dating to the mid-1800s featuring elaborate tombs and graves
Metairie also benefits from its close proximity to attractions in New Orleans like the French Quarter, the National WWII Museum, and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Sports Teams
As part of the New Orleans metropolitan area, Metairie is home to some of the major sports teams that represent the city. The NFL’s New Orleans Saints play home games at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Metairie residents, like New Orleanians across the region, are passionate supporters of the Saints. Their practice facility and corporate headquarters are located in Metairie at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center (website).
The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans also play home games downtown at the Smoothie King Center but have their practice and training complex across the river from Metairie in suburban Avondale. Metairie’s own professional team is the Baby Cakes minor league baseball squad, the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Their home stadium is the Shrine on Airline located adjacent to Lafreniere Park.
For more on sports teams and events in the Greater New Orleans area, visit the Facebook page for Louisiana Northshore.
Living and Working in Metairie
Metairie provides attractive suburban living close to major employment hubs in Greater New Orleans. It offers more affordable single-family homes than neighborhoods within the city limits of New Orleans. Metairie public schools are part of the Jefferson Parish School System, which serves around 50,000 students. The area also provides convenient access to major transportation corridors like Interstates 10 and 55.
Commuting and travel between Metairie and downtown New Orleans is facilitated by the causeway bridge across Lake Pontchartrain as well as public transit options like buses and the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar line. For Metairie residents, the community combines the perks of suburban living with proximity to big city amenities and attractions.