Poydras residents celebrate its heritage and enjoy it's character
In the late 18th century, Poydras was a center for immigrants from the Canary Islands, known as Islenos. Today, the community is connected to its history through popular events at the nearby Los Islenos Museum Complex. However, the area’s character has changed from colonial times. What was once a farming hub is now a suburb in St. Bernard Parish, 15 miles from New Orleans. Residents enjoy Poydras’ quiet neighborhoods and well-regarded schools, alongside draws like community events and St. Bernard State Park.
Brick ranch-style homes and updated cottages in suburban neighborhoods
Poydras’ neighborhoods are set back from the main roads. Sidewalks, streetlights and power lines adorn the narrow residential drives. Many homes have small front lawns divided by a path to the front door. Brick ranch-style houses are most common throughout the community, selling from $85,000 to $180,000. Newer builds and updated cottages tend to go between $180,000 and $270,000. Manufactured homes can also be found in Poydras. Only one was sold in 2025, going for $40,000.
St. Bernard Parish schools are a draw for homebuyers
The St. Bernard Parish Public Schools system serves Poydras and receives a B-plus overall grade from Niche. Students start at J. F. Gauthier Elementary, which gets a B-plus rating. They then move on to B-rated St. Bernard Middle. Chalmette High, which receives a B-plus grade, offers its students a handful of Advanced Placement courses, including U.S. History and Calculus. “The school system is amazing, so people look for that,” says Wendy Englande, a Realtor with Century 21 Investment Realty and a lifelong resident of the region. “They have one of the best high schools in the area.”
Visitors from across the area head to St. Bernard State Park
Locals often head to the community’s school campuses for recreation. Gauthier Elementary has several fields for baseball, softball and soccer, plus a playground, while St. Bernard Middle’s campus is home to sports facilities like a football stadium and outdoor basketball courts. But the area’s biggest draw is St. Bernard State Park. Visitors can camp at the park, which has a splash pad, a playground and picnic areas. St. Bernard Parish is also known for its fishing, with plenty of well-known spots to head out on the water near Poydras. “There’s nothing but fishing and waterways around it,” Englande says. “You have Lake Borgne, Bayou Bienvenue and the Hopedale Canal. Those are some big areas.”
Events at Los Islenos Museum Complex include fundraisers and a fiesta
The Los Islenos Museum and Historic Village is just outside Poydras. Residents enjoy events like monthly seafood dinner fundraisers and the annual Los Islenos Fiesta, which features music, dancing and food vendors. Mardi Gras season rolls around at the start of each year, and locals attend parades throughout the region. The Knights of Nemesis parade through Chalmette is the closest to Poydras.
Local eateries and bars, and shopping in nearby Meraux
Most of Poydras’ businesses are located along St. Bernard Highway. Guillory’s Grocery sells food and produce, alongside a meal counter with sandwiches and specials. Two Sisters Cafe and Donuts down the street sells breakfast favorites. Locals frequent the handful of bars in the community, such as Barracuda Lounge. While a Dollar General and a Family Dollar are in Poydras, residents tend to drive elsewhere for shopping. A Walmart is 6 miles away in Meraux.
Commuters head 15 miles to New Orleans' Central Business District
Poydras is roughly 15 miles downriver from the Central Business District of New Orleans. Louisiana Highway 46 leads most of the way to the city, with locals often commuting for work. Other employers include the refineries and petrochemical plants that sit along the Mississippi. The St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit system operates buses between Poydras and Arabi, though most residents choose to drive. The closest healthcare facility is the St. Bernard Parish Hospital, 10 miles away in Chalmette. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has the nearest commercial flights, 30 miles from Poydras.
Floodwalls now protect most of Poydras' residential areas
Poydras has dealt with significant flooding several times throughout its history. In 1922, a levee broke on the Mississippi, submerging much of the area. The flood left a physical remnant in the form of a lake that is still there today. Eighty-three years later, floodwaters came from the other direction, as Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge overran the levees on the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet. The disaster devastated the parish, with standing water as high as 15 feet. Poydras’ population is still below pre-Katrina levels. After the hurricane, a $14.5 billion investment was put into a system of floodwalls and levees, drastically reducing the risk of storm surges. Most of Poydras’ residential areas are now outside FEMA-designated flood zones, though certain pockets may be required to maintain flood insurance.
