Culture of New Orleans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The people and culture of New Orleans have made New Orleans, Louisiana unique among and distinct from other cities in the United States, including other Southern U.S. cities. New Orleans in modern times has been described as being not a Southern city but a Caribbean city.[1][2][3]

In a locale once used by Choctaw, Houmas, and other Indians,[4][5] prominent cultural influences date to the French and Spanish colonial periods and the introduction of African slaves in the 18th century.

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[edit] Language

American English, with significant variations, is the dominant language in New Orleans. Despite the city's French colonial history, French is rarely used (although a fair amount was still in use at the start of the 20th century. Spanish is perhaps the most frequently heard foreign language; the history has a long tradition of Hispanic immigrants dating back to the 18th century. Significant groups include Cuban and Central American (with Hondurans predominating. Cajun French speakers from southeast Louisiana came into the city in significant numbers during the 1970s/1980s oil boom. A sizable Vietnamese community established itself in the city in the last third of the 20th century.

The distinctive local accent is unlike either Cajun or the stereotypical Southern accent so often misportrayed by film and television actors. It does, like earlier Southern Englishes, feature frequent deletion of post-vocalic "r". It is similar to a New York "Brooklynese" accent to people unfamiliar with it. There are many theories of the origin of the accent, but it likely results from New Orleans' geographic isolation by water, and the fact that New Orleans was a major port of entry into the United States throughout the 19th century [1]. Many of the immigrant groups who reside in Brooklyn also reside in New Orleans, with the largest groups being Irish, Germans, and Italians (with Sicilians predominating in the last group).

The prestige associated with being from New Orleans by many residents is likely a factor in the linguistic assimilation of the ethnically divergent population. This distinctive accent is dying out generation by generation in the city (but remains very strong in the surrounding parishes). As with many sociolinguistic artifacts, it is usually attested much more strongly by older members of the population. One subtype of the New Orleans accent is sometimes identified as Yat (from "Where y'at). This word is not used as a generalized term for the New Orleans accent, and is generally reserved for the strongest varieties.

New Orleans is usually pronounced by locals as "noo-AW-lyenz," "noo-AW-linz," "noo-OR-linz," or "noo-OR-lyenz." The tendency among people around the world to say "noo-or-LEENZ" stems from the use of that pronunciation by singers and songwriters, who find it easy to rhyme. The pronunciation "NAW-linz" is likewise not generally used nor liked by locals but has been popularized by the tourist trade.[6][7][8]

Local pronunciations: /nuːˈɔɹliːnz/, /nuːˈɔɹliːənz/, or /nuːˈɔɹlənz/
French: la Nouvelle-Orléans Image:ltspkr.png /la nuvɛl ɔʀleɑ̃/

Also notable are lexical items specific to the city, such as lagniappe (pronounced LAN-yap) meaning "a little something extra," makin' groceries for grocery shopping, or neutral ground for a street median.

[edit] Music

Main article: Music of New Orleans
Louis Armstrong, famous New Orleans Jazz musician.
Louis Armstrong, famous New Orleans Jazz musician.

New Orleans has always been a significant center for music with its intertwined European, Latin American, and African-American cultures. It was the site of the first opera house in the United States.[9] The city engendered jazz with its brass bands.[10][11] Decades later it was home to a distinctive brand of rhythm and blues that contributed greatly to the growth of rock and roll. In addition, the nearby countryside is the home of Cajun music, Zydeco music, and Delta blues.

The city also created its own spin on the old tradition of military brass band funerals; traditional New Orleans funerals with music feature sad music (mostly dirges and hymns) on the way to the cemetery and happy music (hot jazz) on the way back. Such traditional musical funerals still take place when a local musician, a member of a club, krewe, or benevolent society, or a noted dignitary has passed. Until the 1990s most locals preferred to call these "funerals with music," but out of town visitors have long dubbed them jazz funerals. Younger bands, especially those based in the Treme neighborhood, have embraced the term and now have funerals featuring only jazz music.[citation needed]

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1810 17,242
—
1820 27,176 57.6%
1830 46,082 69.6%
1840 102,193 121.8%
1850 116,375 13.9%
1860 168,675 44.9%
1870 191,418 13.5%
1880 216,090 12.9%
1890 242,039 12%
1900 287,104 18.6%
1910 339,075 18.1%
1920 387,219 14.2%
1930 458,762 18.5%
1940 494,537 7.8%
1950 570,445 15.3%
1960 627,525 10%
1970 593,471 −5.4%
1980 557,515 −6.1%
1990 496,938 −10.9%
2000 484,674 −2.5%
[12][13]
Note: Many Hurricane Katrina evacuees, though they have not returned, remain residents of the city. Projections of the city's eventual population following reconstruction are highly speculative. The 2000 U.S. Census figures presented here are the most recent verifiable data for the city's population. A January 2006 survey pegged the population at approximately 200,000.[14][15]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 484,674 people, 188,251 households, and 112,950 families residing in the city. The most recent (2004) population estimate for the city is 462,269. The population density was 1,036.4/km² 2,684.3/mi²). There were 215,091 housing units at an average density of 459.9/km² (1,191.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.25% African American, 28.05% White, 0.20% Native American, 2.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 3.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The population of Greater New Orleans stood at 1,337,726 in 2000, making it the 35th largest metropolitan area in the United States. These population statistics are based on legal residents of the city. But due to the enormous annual tourist flow, the number of people inside the city at a given time, such as Mardi Gras season, tends to exceed these numbers sometimes by the hundreds of thousands.

There were 188,251 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% were married couples living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.0% were non-families, 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older.

The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.23.

The age distribution of the city's population is 26.7% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,133, and the median income for a family was $32,338. Males had a median income of $30,862 versus $23,768 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,258. 27.9% of the population and 23.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 40.3% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

The population of New Orleans peaked in 1960. Since then, suburban parishes such as Jefferson and St. Tammany have increased in population.

An analysis by Brown University sociologist John R. Logan in January of 2006[17] suggests that as many as 50% of whites and 80% of blacks displaced by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath may relocate permanently.

[edit] Crime

New Orleans has a high violent crime rate. Its homicide rate has consistently ranked in the top five of large cities in the country since the 1980s. In 1994, 421 people were killed (85.8 per 100,000 people), a homicide rate which has not been matched by any major city to date.[18] The homicide rate rose and fell year to year throughout the late 1990s, but the overall trend from 1994 to 1999 was a steady reduction in homicides.

From 1999 to 2004, the homicide rate again increased. New Orleans had the highest murder rate of any major American city in 2002 (53.3 per 100,000 people). In 2004, there were 275 murders reported.[19]

After Hurricane Katrina, media attention focused on the reduced violent crime rate following the exodus of many New Orleanians. That trend is beginning to reverse itself as more people return to the city, although calculating the homicide rate remains difficult given that no authoritative source can cite a total population figure.[20]

As in other U.S. cities of comparable size, the incidence of homicide and other violent crimes is highly concentrated in certain city neighborhoods that are sites of open air drug trade. Most murder victims have criminal records. In 2003, most victims in New Orleans were killed within three months of their last arrest.[21] The homicide rate for the New Orleans metropolitan statistical area, which includes the suburbs, was 24.4 per 100,000 in 2002.[22]

However, New Orleans has its own based criminal organizations, namely the Sicilian American New Orleans crime family amongst others.

[edit] Media

The major daily newspaper is the New Orleans Times-Picayune, publishing since 1837. Other alternative weekly publications include The Louisiana Weekly and Gambit Weekly.[23]

Greater New Orleans is well served by television and radio. The market is the 43rd largest Designated Market Area (DMA) in the U.S., serving 672,150 homes and 0.610% of the U.S. Major television network affiliates serving the area include WWL 4 (CBS), WGNO 26 (ABC), WDSU 6 (NBC), WVUE 8 (FOX), WNOL 38 (WB), WUPL 54 (UPN), and WPXL 49 (ION). PBS stations include WYES 12 and WLAE 32. WHNO 20 also operates as an independent station in the area, providing mainly religious programming.

Radio stations serving Greater New Orleans include:

[edit] Museums and other attractions

Bourbon Street, New Orleans, in 2003, looking towards Canal Street.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans, in 2003, looking towards Canal Street.

Greater New Orleans has many major attractions, from the world-renowned Bourbon Street and the French Quarter's notorious nightlife, St. Charles Avenue (home of Tulane and Loyola Universities), and many stately 19th century mansions.

Favorite tourist scenes in New Orleans include the French Quarter (known locally as "the Quarter"), which dates from the French and Spanish eras. The neighborhood contains many popular hotels, bars, and nightclubs, most notably around Bourbon Street. Other notable tourist attractions in the quarter include Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market (including the Café du Monde, famous for café au lait and beignets), and Preservation Hall.

Also located near the French Quarter is the old New Orleans Mint, formerly a branch of the United States Mint, now operates as a museum. The National World War II Museum is relatively new, having opened in 2000 as the National D-Day Museum. It provides information and materials related to the allied invasion of Normandy, France. The Natchez is an authentic steamboat with a calliope which tours the Mississippi twice daily.

Art museums in the city include the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in City Park and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. The Audubon Park and the Audubon Zoo are also located in the city of New Orleans. New Orleans is also noted for its many beautiful cemeteries. Some notable cemeteries in the city include Saint Louis Cemetery and Metairie Cemetery.

The city is also world-famous for its food. Specialties include beignets, square-shaped fried pastries that are sometimes called French doughnuts (served with coffee and chicory "au lait"); Po'boy and Italian Muffaletta sandwiches; Gulf oysters on the half-shell and other seafoods; étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and other Creole dishes; and the Monday evening favorite of red beans and rice. (Louis Armstrong often signed his letters, "red beans and ricely yours.")

Significant gardens include Longue Vue House and Gardens and the New Orleans Botanical Garden.

[edit] Annual cultural events and fairs

See also: New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mounted Krewe Officers in the Thoth Parade during Mardi Gras.
Mounted Krewe Officers in the Thoth Parade during Mardi Gras.

Greater New Orleans is home to numerous year-around celebrations, including Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve celebrations, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. New Orleans' most famous celebration is its Carnival Season. The Carnival season is often known (especially by out-of-towners) by the name of the last and biggest day, Mardi Gras (literally, "Fat Tuesday"), held just before the beginning of the Catholic liturgical season of Lent. Mardi Gras celebrations include parades and floats; participants toss strings of cheap colorful beads and doubloons to the crowds. The Mardi Gras season is kicked off with the only parade allowed through the French Quarter (Vieux Carré, translated Old Square), a walking parade aptly named Krewe du Vieux.

The largest of the city's many musical festivals is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Commonly referred to simply as, "Jazz Fest", it is one of the largest music festivals in the nation, and features crowds coming from all over the world to experience music, food, arts, and crafts. Despite the name, it features not only jazz but a large variety of music, including both native Louisiana music and nationally-known popular music artists.

[edit] Sports and recreation

Club Sport Founded League Venue
New Orleans Saints Football 1967 NFL:NFC Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans Hornets Basketball 1988 (as Charlotte Hornets) NBA: Western Conference New Orleans Arena
New Orleans VooDoo Arena Football 2004 AFL New Orleans Arena
New Orleans Zephyrs Baseball 1902 Pacific Coast League Zephyr Field
The Louisiana Superdome, home to the New Orleans Saints.
The Louisiana Superdome, home to the New Orleans Saints.

The city also hosts two college football bowl games annually: the New Orleans Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. The city also holds the Bayou Classic, which is an annual college football game between Grambling State University and Southern University. Nine Super Bowls have been contested in New Orleans.

Historically, many teams have been formerly located in the city, including the New Orleans Pelicans baseball team (1887–1959), the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League, the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League (1991–1992), and the New Orleans Brass ice hockey team (1997–2003). Former basketball teams were the New Orleans Buccaneers (c. 1967–1970), and the New Orleans Jazz (1974–1980) which became the Utah Jazz.

New Orleans is also home to Southern Yacht Club, located at West End on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Established in 1849, it is the second oldest yacht club in the United States. The building was severely damaged, first by storm surge and then by fire, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

[edit] Recreations of New Orleans

New Orleans Square, a replica of the French Quarter, was built in Disneyland in 1966, with buildings and landscaping meant to evoke 19th-century New Orleans. When it opened, Walt Disney had then-New Orleans mayor Victor H. Schiro made honorary mayor of New Orleans Square. Schiro, in turn, made Disney an honorary citizen of the real New Orleans.[citation needed]

Movie sets have been built in different parts of the world purporting to resemble the French Quarter or other parts of New Orleans.[citation needed]

[edit] Food in New Orleans

New Orleans is world-famous for its food. The indigenous cuisine is distinctive and influential. From centuries of amalgamation of local Creole, haute Creole, and New Orleans French cuisines, New Orleans food has developed. Local ingredients, French, Spanish, Italian, African, Native American, Cajun, and a hint of Cuban traditions combine to produce a truly unique and easily recognizable Louisiana flavor.

Unique specialties include beignets, square-shaped fried pastries that could be called "French doughnuts" (served with coffee and chicory, known as café au lait); Po'boy and Italian Muffaletta sandwiches; Gulf oysters on the half-shell, boiled crawfish, and other seafood; étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and other Creole dishes; and the Monday favorite of red beans and rice (Louis Armstrong often signed his letters, "Red beans and ricely yours"). New Orleans residents enjoy some of the best restaurants in the United States that cater specifically to locals, and visitors are encouraged to try the local establishments recommended by their hosts.

[edit] References

  1. ^ New Orleans, "now under the flag of the United States, is still very much a Caribbean city...." The Pearl of the Antilles and the Crescent City: Historic Maps of the Caribbean in the Latin American Library Map Collections. Latin American Library, Tulane University. Retrieved on 2006-05-27.
  2. ^ New Orleans is described as "a Caribbean city, an exuberant, semi-tropical city, perhaps the most hedonistic city in the United States." R.W. Apple, Jr.. Apple's America (quoted on ePodunk.com). Retrieved on 2006-05-27.
  3. ^ New Orleans "is often called the northernmost Caribbean city." Kemp, John R.. "When the painter met the Creoles", Boston Globe, 1997-11-30, p. G3. Retrieved on 2006-05-27. 
  4. ^ Indian Women. French Creoles. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  5. ^ King, Grace [1926]. "Founding of New Orleans", New Orleans: The Place and the People. New York: The Macmillan Company. Retrieved on 2006-05-30. 
  6. ^ Speaking like a local. Fodor's: New Orleans. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  7. ^ Elegy for New Orleans. Godspy. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  8. ^ Do you know what it means to pronounce New Orleans? (blog). Semantic Compositions. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  9. ^ Music Student Opportunities. Loyola University New Orleans, College of Music. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.
  10. ^ New Orleans: The Birthplace of Jazz (primarily excerpted from Jazz: A History of America's Music). PBS – JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns. Retrieved on 2006-05-17.
  11. ^ America Savors Its Music During Jazz Appreciation Month. U.S. Dept. of State – USINFO. Retrieved on 2006-05-17.
  12. ^ Gibson, Campbell (June 1998). Population Of The 100 Largest Cities And Other Urban Places In The United States: 1790 To 1990. Population Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Retrieved on 2006-05-02.
  13. ^ American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-05-02.
  14. ^ A survey conducted by the city's Emergency Operations Center in January 2006, estimated the population at between 160,000 and 202,000. – Emergency Operations Center, City of New Orleans (2006). Rapid Population Estimate Project, January 28-29 2006 Survey Report (PDF). Retrieved on 2006-03-12.
  15. ^ WWL TV gives a brief report on the above survey. – "Study says city's population close to 200,000", WWLTV.com, 2006-03-07. Retrieved on 2006-05-14. 
  16. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  17. ^ Logan, John R. (January 2006). Katrina's Impact. Brown University. Retrieved on 2006-05-02.
  18. ^ "New Orleans murder rate on the rise again", MSNBC, 2005-08-18. Retrieved on 2006-05-17. 
  19. ^ New Orleans Crime Statistics (LA) - CityRating.com
  20. ^ As Life Returns to New Orleans, So Does Crime - New York Times
  21. ^ http://www.nola.com/speced/cycleofdeath/pdf/02080405.pdf
  22. ^ FBI - Crime in the US, 2002 - Crime Index Offenses Reported
  23. ^ Gambit Weekly
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