Entry 6

In terms of urban form, Norco is definitely a small town, in both size and population. Based on what we have learned from meeting Norco residents it seems apparent that the community is very close-knit and that everyone seems to know everyone else. Furthermore, Norco appears to be a family-oriented community, such that people acquire property, homes, and jobs through familial connections. The residential areas of Norco are very nice; many homes are small but are well-kept with nicely manicured lawns. For the most part, there doesn’t seem to be many visible distinctions between social classes, but one resident told us that the majority of the upper class people move to a nearby town called Montz.

As a result of its small size, there does not seem to be many options for community activity. There are a few bars in Norco where adults hang-out, including Club 99 and the Spillway Bar. There are also a few food places including Sub Express, the Cream Shack, and two other sandwich-type places. For the most part, however, residents spend time at the Bonnet Carre Spillway, which can be likened to “the levee” or “the fly” here in New Orleans. People go to the Spillway to fish, to ride in boats, to picnic, or basically to meet down by the water. From what we could tell, people from Norco either spent their time at the bars, at the Spillway, or out in Metairie, Kenner or Destrehan.