Historic Districts

Intrigued by the past?  Step back in time visiting Jefferson's quaint historic districts.  Delight in beautifully restored buildings with period pieces and follow the building of communities into a melting pot of cultures from countries including Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

Go beyond the history of the city of New Orleans and take a more in depth look at the historyof the Mississippi River region.  Jefferson hugs both the east and west banks of the Mississippi and plays a major roll in shaping the New Orleans metropolitan area from the 1700's to World War II to the present day. 

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana was established in 1825 and was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, commemorating his role in purchasing the Louisiana territory from France in 1803. The Parish originally extended from present day Felicity Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the St. Charles Parish line. As Orleans Parish grew, it annexed from Jefferson Parish such established areas as the Garden District, Lafayette, Jefferson, and Carrollton. The present boundary was set in1874, and in 1884 the seat of Parish government was transferred to the West Bank, Gretna, where it has remained.