Nothing puts a little pep in your step like celebrating more than 30 years as the "Gumbo Capital of the World." So it's no wonder that Bridge City, Louisiana, is looking pretty peppy. Granted, the no doubt very official and absolutely authoritative declaration of its gumbo dominance came from Louisiana's own governor in 1973, but in this case the taste buds don't lie.
When it's not quadrupled in size during the annual Bridge City Gumbo Festival, this bayou burgh is home to a tight-knit community of residents who are nestled in a bend on the Mississippi River. It's a fair bet that the mouth-watering scent of a good roux floats right across the water into New Orleans, since 30,000 of the Big Easy's inhabitants get drawn into Bridge City every autumn to gorge on the gumbo bounty. During the rest of the year, those who call Bridge City home live relatively peaceful lives, nestled away in their iconic Cajun landscape.
Moving to Bridge City
After braving the beads and bars of New Orleans, it's easy to see the appeal of slipping across the river and taking refuge in a Bridge City property rental. You'd better have done your homework beforehand, though, because the residential landscape is not exactly sprawling.
Strike While the Gumbo's Hot
The market for rental homes can be very tight, so if you've laid an eye on a good prospect, it's best to act quickly. This is the double-edged sword of Bridge City's appeal as a hideaway, in that a good 80% of its land area is given over to genuine Louisiana bayou. Residential areas are pretty much exclusively limited to two neighborhoods at either end of the city limits, so the pickings can often be slim.
Walk the Walk
While an online apartment search will always yield a few hits, there are plenty of local landlords and homeowners in the area who are still doing things the old-fashioned way. If the Internet isn't giving up the goods, your best bet is to put shoe to pavement and have an up close look at the area for yourself. Chances are it won't be long before you spot a sign proclaiming "Home for Rent."
Set Your Sights on a Shotgun
Roughly 30% of the homes for rent in Bridge City are those famous Louisiana shotgun houses. These constructions got the nickname from their long, narrow design in which a person might, if so inclined, let off a gun shot from the front door and watch it fly straight through to the back. One suspects this has been something more than a theory at many points in New Orleans history.
In reality, the primary benefit of this layout is the ease with which a soothing cross-breeze can be induced throughout the entire home. While opening windows to cool down has fallen out of fashion in these modern climate controlled times, there are plenty of folks who still find themselves charmed by these historic bungalows.
Paperwork, Paperwork
Because the rental market can be so tight, it's important to make sure all your documentation is in order. The last thing you need is to spot your dream home or apartment for rent, and then irritate the landlord by not bringing what's required. Credit reports, income statements, and landlord testimonials should all be made available and clearly organized in order to keep you at the front of the line. Where documentation is concerned, the rule is simple: when in doubt, bring it, and keep it neat.
Cast a Wide Net for Employment
If you've made a career in the shipping and cargo industry, you're in luck since the Avondale Shipyard makes its home in Bridge City. For everybody else the search will have to move outside the city limits. Other than a few retail locations catering to the immediate area, there's not much industry to be found in the swamplands.
Fortunately, plenty of other New Orleans suburbs are within easy reach, and the metropolis itself sits right across the river. When it comes time to find a paycheck, don't try to make Bridge City something it's not. Save it as your peaceful bayou home, and plan ahead to win your bread in other nearby locales.
Bridge City Neighborhoods
Check out the various neighborhoods in Bridge City below before signing that lease.
Bridge City: Here lies Bridge City proper, situated snugly against the Mississippi and bordered by the Huey Long Bridge that gave the city its name. A dense triangle of suburban homes, it offers a varied collection of single family dwellings, duplexes for rent, and even a few multi-unit apartment complexes and rental condos. A retail district on its eastern edge provides for all the grocery and sundry needs of local homes. Additionally, the site of the famed Bridge City Gumbo Festival sits on Bridge City Avenue along with a handful of organizations providing swamp boat tours of the surrounding bayous, just in case you forgot what they looked like out your bathroom window every morning.
Bridge City East: Situated across the bridge from Bridge City proper, this neighborhood is composed of a long, narrow spur of homes that runs north to the river, the shipyard, and New Orleans. Though its lot density is comparable to the rest of the city, there are plenty of locations on the boundaries of the spur that offer appeal for those who may want a bit more privacy from their immediate neighbors.
West Westwego: All the way at the other end of the city limits, across the wide expanse of the Whiskey Bayou, sits this offshoot of the neighboring town of Westwego. Blessedly, being able to say its name three times fast is not a requirement for residency. Though technically a part of Bridge City itself, West Westwego is in reality a direct attachment to Westwego and that town's environs. It offers a similar layout to Bridge City proper, with the addition of many more shotgun houses and only a few apartment rental options. The neighborhood offers easy access to the more robust retail sectors in Westwego, including several shopping centers and other businesses that provide for needs not met by Bridge City's local retail establishments.
Living in Bridge City
Though it may seem like Bridge City is putting all its eggs in the gumbo basket, the truth is the appeal of this little bayou town ranges far and wide. Most of its residents consider themselves citizens of New Orleans, and properly so when it's sitting there just a stone's throw away. Though Bridge City itself may be best suited to a relatively peaceful life at home, opportunities abound in every direction, bustling with the vigor of The Big Easy. At the end of the day, going from Mardi Gras to some lemonade on your quiet back porch in 20 minutes sounds like a pretty sweet situation.
