Having come about largely due to the expansion of railroad use in America, the city of Harahan is aptly named after the Illinois Central Railroad Company's former president, James T. Harahan.
Located right on the Mississippi River and less than half an hour away from New Orleans, Harahan has plenty to offer prospective tenants. Amazingly enough, even being this close to Bourbon Street doesn't affect the city's crime rate. In fact, the violent crime rate in the city is nearly six times lower than its Mardi Gras wielding neighbor. Enjoy The Big Easy whenever you can, but don't let Harahan residents hear you say it's any better!
Moving to Harahan
In reality, the combination of the proximity of Harahan to New Orleans combined with the excessively low crime rate should preclude you from having to do any further research. It's pretty much settled that you're going to be looking for an apartment to rent in Harahan. Of course, you're probably thinking that, as an adult, you should do a little more research. Well, that's a good adult decision. We've got it all lined up for you, and this is what you should know before moving to the city.
When to Start Looking
Luckily, Harahan isn't one of those cities that you need to start looking at half a year in advance of moving there. There's just the right amount of available housing to make finding a place, whether a large home or smaller rental apartments, not too difficult while simultaneously not having so many open lots that it appears as if there's some ulterior motive for people to not move there. Give it a month; you'll find something.
When to Make the Move
Once again, Harahan doesn't make this portion of the move too difficult either. You should move here just to thank the city for being so easy to work with. Harahan's weather doesn't get too detrimental, although average daily highs do peak around 91 degrees during the summer. Keep in mind, though, that droves of people flock towards New Orleans in February for Mardi Gras. Do you really want to catch that traffic? Well, if you're going to party, sure. Do you want to catch it while driving a U-Haul, though? Thought not.
What to Bring Along
Harahan definitely isn't a slum, so you're going to want to bring a few things along to increase your chances of landing a place. Completed rental application? Check. Proof of income? Check. Credit check? We won't say "check" since you probably don't have one in hand, but it'll definitely look good if you hand one over to your future landlord -- unless he doesn't care about whether you pay your bills. That doesn't seem likely, however.
Harahan Neighborhoods
It's easy to list off crime statistics and neighborhood availability to make a place look good, but it's when you really get down to the nitty gritty that you get a real feel of an area. Harahan may not have any gritty areas, but just look at what these neighborhoods throughout the city have to offer. There's a little something for everyone.
Riverside: Nearly the entire riverside area is loaded with gorgeous homes in nice neighborhoods. If you enjoy cycling or walking, the Mississippi River Trail is located in the area. Also, you'll have easy access to Colonial Golf Course. Be careful, though, that Mississippi River is one heck of a water hazard.
Hickory Avenue: There are numerous gorgeous rental homes in the Hickory Avenue area, and you'll have easy transit access thanks to the buses running along Jefferson Highway. Best thing, though? There's a Dickory Avenue next to Hickory Avenue. Hickory Dickory!
Western Harahan: Want to feel like a big shot? Well, this is probably your kind of area. The homes are big and many have their own swimming pools. Also, if you're leaning more for a 1 bedroom apartment for rent, Riverwood Apartments is here as well. Oh, and since Winn-Dixie grocers is right next door, you'll never go hungry again!
Living in Harahan
If living on the Mississippi River isn't enough for you, maybe some of the attractions and perks of living in Harahan will catch your attention. From areas that make your day easy to spots that can end a night great, it's all here. Go get dinner, and then go to the AMC Elmwood Palace 20 theater. Sure, it has Elmwood in the name, but it's so close that you won't even feel like you're leaving Harahan. Seriously, you're 30 minutes from New Orleans. Didn't we say this should be enough for you earlier? It's not even as if Mardi Gras is the only thing going on here. If you lived there during April 2014, you got to catch WrestleMania 30. This. Place. Has. Everything! If you've got a day of errands to run, you can likely do it all on one street: Hickory Avenue is one long road of commercial structures, so if you've got things to do, chances are that they'll be done on this one city street. One of the most annoying parts of living somewhere new is figuring out everything to do, but you can dodge this in Harahan. Just head over to the Jefferson Parish Information Center, and they'll tell you everything. It's like cheating on a test! Harahan certainly has something for everyone, and with its individual charm and close proximity to New Orleans, you simply can't go wrong.