Belle Chasse, the largest town in Plaquemines Parish, is home to a Joint Reserve Base and Air Station for the U.S. Navy, as well as the Louisiana Air National Guard.
Belle Chasse might be officially a census-designated place of almost 13,000 people, but its 28 square miles stretch from the West Bank of the Mississippi River all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico
Belle Chasse, the largest town in Plaquemines Parish, is home to a Joint Reserve Base and Air Station for the U.S. Navy, as well as the Louisiana Air National Guard.
Belle Chasse might be officially a census-designated place of almost 13,000 people, but its 28 square miles stretch from the West Bank of the Mississippi River all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico. While it's considered a part of the New Orleans metro area, Belle Chasse is known more as a military installation than a New Orleans suburb.
Known as a tight-knit community, the city just south of Algiers and Gretna counts many fishermen and hunters among its residents. While you don't have to be a sportsman (or woman) to move here, you might find yourself giving the outdoors a chance at least once! Belle Chasse is French for "beautiful hunting," after all. You can find places for rent without too much trouble, as long as you give yourself a few months lead time to search before moving. The community has a variety of property types, so you can easily find anything from premier apartments to rental homes or condos.
The many amenities and a nearby naval base have made the area an in-demand place. As a result, homes rent for a higher amount than in other parts of the West Bank. New construction seems to be ongoing in an effort to meet the housing demand, and several neighborhoods have been built as a result of it. You can rent many units at a modest rate, so you'll have money leftover to take up hunting or venture north into New Orleans! (Did someone say Mardi Gras?)
There are three main section of Belle Chasse, each with their own pros and cons. Be sure to research thoroughly before you land, as finding the right neighborhood to live in can dictate your entire southern Louisiana experience! Make sure it's a good one.
Belle Chasse North: The bulk of residents live is this upper north section of town. The suburban neighborhood follows the Mississippi River as it flows toward the gulf. While the Springwood subdivision won't have a rental apt for you, you can certainly find house rentals in this area.
Concession: Just below Belle Chasse North is this neighborhood which is popular with renters. The Naval base is here, so there are plenty of apartment complexes here offering one- or two- bedroom apartments in Belle Chasse.
Grand Bayou: The lower three-fifths of Belle Chasse is considered part of Grand Bayou, and as such it doesn't offer a lot of housing options -- unless you want a home on stilts that you can only reach by boat, that is! Hey, if that's your thing we won't judge. Capt Larry's Seafood Market is in this area.
Grand beginnings
The town of Belle Chasse began as the plantation of Joseph Deville de Goutin Bellechasse. The plantation went through decades of decay before it was finally demolished in 1960. All that remains of the once grand estate is the bell that adorned the plantation house. Today it can be seen in front of the Belle Chasse Public Library.
Belle Chasse is known mostly as a quaint small town with an old-fashioned quality. Residents spend their weekends boating and fishing the surrounding bayous, rivers and lakes, and the entire community -- and many people from the surrounding areas -- come out for the Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival held every December. The star of the festival is the locally-grown satsuma, a citrus fruit similar to an orange or tangerine. One bite of this fruit and you'll know how sweet it is to call Belle Chasse home!
