Street
backatown
What does backatown mean?
Old-school New Orleans geography. 'Back of town' = the inland, lake-side blocks behind the riverfront — historically the Black, working-class wards from Tremé inland. Trombone Shorty named an album after it. The opposite of Fronatown.
"He grew up backatown, walking distance from Tremé."
Origin
New Orleans is laid out by the river, not the compass. 'Front' = river-side, 'back' = lake-side. The contraction 'backatown' goes back generations and was popularized nationally by Trombone Shorty's 2010 album 'Backatown.'
Frequently asked questions
What does "Backatown" mean?
It refers to the back-of-town New Orleans neighborhoods, inland from the river toward North Claiborne.
How do you use "Backatown" in a sentence?
"The parade rolled all the way through Backatown before heading toward the river."
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