Street
back o' town
What does back o' town mean?
The historic Black working-class district behind the French Quarter, stretching back toward the old New Basin Canal in what's now the Superdome and Central City area. A cradle of early jazz — Louis Armstrong was a Back o' Town kid. Largely erased by mid-20th-century 'urban renewal' that bulldozed the canal and built the Dome.
"Pops came up Back o' Town, blowin' horn before he could shave."
Origin
19th-century New Orleans geographic slang — literally the area 'in back of' the riverfront town. Solidified as a place name through jazz history and Louis Armstrong's autobiographical references.
Frequently asked questions
What does "back o' town" mean?
It's a historic Black New Orleans neighborhood located near the old New Basin Canal.
How do you use "back o' town" in a sentence?
"My grandmother grew up back o' town, close to where the canal used to run."
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