Behrman, New Orleans

Berhman is a low income community located in Algiers, New Orleans It was named after a popular New Orleans mayor Martin Behrman and is nestled south of the US Naval Support neighborhood and north of Tall Timbers/Brechtel, flanked on the west by Fischer Housing Development and Whitney, and on the east by Old Aurora.HistoryThe Behrman neighborhood was named after the longest serving mayor of New Orleans, elected for five straight terms, from 1902-1920. Before his death in 1925, one year into his fifth term, Behrman made "considerable improvements in city services and facilities, including sewer and water systems, drainage, streets, the port, and public schools and public health facilities. It was during Behrman's tenure that the Public Belt Railroad was developed, the 1912 City Charter changed the city council to the commission form, and Storyville closed. "Martin Behrman's parents brought him to New Orleans when he was an infant. He lived most of his life in Algiers. He first entered politics as a ward worker for the Regular Democratic Organization in the 1888 Francis T. Nichols campaign for governor. He held a number of minor elective and appointive offices before becoming a political leader of the 15th ward, Algiers and finally mayor of the city of New Orleans. In 1938 Behrman Stadium opened and was the first playing facility serving Algiers. In the early 1960s it was predominantly White before Public housing, was built. whites fled the area witch resulted in White flight. By 1975 the community was 60% African American.DemographicsThe neighborhood is predominately African American, with 90.4% of residents identifying as such in the 2000 Census.