From the 17'th street canal to nearly Williams Boulevard north of Metairie Road and Airline Highway stretches what might be termed "New" Metairie to distinguish it from Old Metairie but is universally just called Metairie. Initially populated along Veterans Blvd and later divided by the I-10 this area grew rapidly from the 1950's until the 1990's as a commercial and residential haven from taxes and urban problems in Orleans..

The most exclusive residential housing is found along the lakefront. The commercial and industrial districts make up the southern parts of Metairie near Airline Highway.

Parts of Metairie were damaged by rainfall produced street flooding that occurred after the drainage pumps were shut down to protect the operators during Hurricane Katrina (parish disaster planning called for this shutdown if the area was threatened by a Category 4 or 5 storm).

As low lying as Orleans, Metairie did not suffer any drainage canal breaches and drained rapidly after the storm. Looting reached into the eastern parts of Metarie affecting the big shopping centers.

People began returning to Metairie within two weeks of the storm and have been rebuilding furiously. Power and basic infrastructure were quick to return. Schools, libraries and other services reopened quickly.