Tremé: The Oldest Black Neighborhood in America — and One of the Most Alive
There are neighborhoods with history, and then there is Tremé. Recognized as the oldest African American neighborhood in the United States, Tremé sits just behind the French Quarter and carries a cultural legacy that most places in this country can only gesture toward. For anyone spending time in New Orleans — whether for a few months or a few years — living in or near Tremé offers a proximity to the city’s deepest roots that no other neighborhood can match.
The Feel of the Place
Tremé is not a neighborhood that performs for visitors. The brass bands that spill out onto St. Claude Avenue and St. Bernard Avenue on any given weekend are there because that’s what people do here — not because there’s a tourism board coordinating it. The Backstreet Cultural Museum on St. Claude documents the neighborhood’s living traditions of Mardi Gras Indians, jazz funerals, and second lines with the seriousness they deserve. Armstrong Park anchors the neighborhood’s edge along Rampart Street and hosts some of the city’s most memorable outdoor events throughout the year.
What to Expect in a Rental
Tremé’s rental market is tighter than Mid-City and more varied than the French Quarter. Creole cottages, doubles, and historic rowhouses make up most of the available stock, and units here tend to be compact but full of character — original woodwork, high ceilings, and the kind of architectural detail that larger apartment buildings simply don’t offer. Proximity to the French Quarter keeps demand steady, which means inventory moves quickly. Renters who find a good unit here tend to hold onto it.
Getting Around
Tremé’s location could hardly be more central. The French Quarter is a short walk in one direction, Mid-City and Bayou St. John are accessible in the other, and City Park is within easy biking distance. The Lafitte Greenway — a multi-use trail that connects Tremé all the way to the Bayou St. John area — is one of the better urban bike routes in the city and a genuine quality-of-life asset for car-free or car-light residents. For anyone wanting to experience New Orleans at its most authentic, Tremé puts you as close to the source as it gets.
Explore your New Orleans Neighborhood: Audubon | Bayou St. John | Bywater | Carrollton | Central City | Faubourg Marigny | French Quarter | Garden District | Gentilly | Irish Channel | Mid City | Treme | Uptown | Warehouse District |