Humans first inhabited Metairie after the Mississippi River flowed through it leaving behind natural levees-as well as Bayou Metairie-along Metairie Road. After the surrounding swampland was drained other areas were developed, and in 2020, Metairie became the sixth-largest census designated place in the nation. After writing three books about Metairie author Catherine Campanella revisits her hometown with the knowledge that what is depicted here as "present" will one day be "past." Sources for this book include the Historic New Orleans Collection, the Louisiana Digital Library, and the author's collection. Comparing our present to our past is how we understand our history. Arcadia's Past & Present series makes such local comparisons available. Books in this series offer a special view of American life by placing historical images side by side with contemporary photographs.