Before Hurricane Katrina, the only New Orleans neighborhood most people had heard of was the French Quarter. During the news coverage of that monstrous storm, we all became familiar with the ward system, which divides the city into 17 sections. The ward system not only is a way to divide the city up into different political zones, but inhabitants of New Orleans use what ward they live in as part of their local identity. Thinking about moving or just curious about the neighborhoods of New Orleans? Read on to learn about the characteristics of New Orleans’ neighborhoods, and how they…

You only have to spend a few days in the city to understand why real estate is so expensive in San Francisco. Everyone wants to live there. Not only does it boast an ideal climate, a thriving tech industry, and fabulous restaurants,  but it is also known for its unique and colorful neighborhoods. Read on to discover how these neighborhoods earned their names. Cow Hollow We will give you two guesses to determine how Cow Hollow got its name, and the first guess doesn’t count. Cow Hollow was once covered with dairies between the 1860s and the 1880s. Cows and…

Residents of Austin proudly wear T-shirts proclaiming “Keep Austin Weird.” Do these same residents know the weird history behind how their neighborhoods were named? Read on to discover the “who” and the “what” behind some of Austin’s most iconic neighborhoods. Hancock Located north of downtown Austin and the University of Texas, Hancock was settled by Susanna Dickinson, one of the few survivors of the Battle of the Alamo. So why is this area called Hancock and not Dickinson after this brave woman? Apparently, members of the country club were on the naming board. They chose to name Hancock after Lewis…