Algiers, Louisiana

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Algiers is a community in Louisiana, part of the city of New Orleans. It is the portion of Orleans Parish, Louisiana on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Algiers Point as seen from across the Mississipi in the French Quarter
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Algiers Point as seen from across the Mississipi in the French Quarter

What is now Algiers was founded as a plantation in 1719. This date is sometimes given as the year of the town's founding, making it one of the oldest neighborhoods in what is now New Orleans, but development as a town as opposed to a private plantation did not actually occur until about 1800. Algiers was incorporated as a city in 1840. In 1870 it was merged into the city of New Orleans, which it has remained a part of ever since, although there have been repeated discussions of once again becoming a separate city.

The oldest part of Algiers is known as "Algiers Point", across the river from the French Quarter. Algiers Point has been connected with the foot of Canal Street across the river by a ferry since 1827.

In the 19th century ship building was an important industry here. In the 1850s Algiers became a major railroad center. Large railyards housed large amounts of freight and rolling stock, which was brought back and forth across the Mississippi River by barge until the late 1930s, when the Huey P. Long Bridge was built upriver at Bridge City, Louisiana. The Algiers railyards also were known for their ability to repair or create replacements for any part needed for any type of locomotive.

A fire destroyed many buildings in Algiers in 1895.

A number of New Orleans Carnival Krewes have their "dens", the warehouse where their floats are constructed and stored, in Algiers.

Algiers Point was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and designated a local historic district in 1994.

People from Algiers have traditionally been known as "Algerines". Noted Algerines have included jazz musicians Red Allen and Emmett Hardy.

Algiers is home to many churches. The oldest Lutheran congregation, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, was founded in 1875, and is on the West Bank of New Orleans is in Algiers Point, as are several congregations holding to the Baptist Tradition. A Roman Catholic congregation, as well as Methodist and Episcopalian congregations are on the Historic Register of New Orleans, and some Algiers churches are listed on the National Historic Landmark lists.

On September 26, 2005, it became the first major section of New Orleans to be reopened to residents after Hurricane Katrina. [1]

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