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Most of the area known today as the Irish Channel was incorporated in 1833 as the City of Lafayette, the seat of parish government for Jefferson Parish. It wasn't until 1852 that the City of Lafayette became a part of New Orleans. A large percentage of buildings in the district date from this antebellum period, widely regarded as the "Golden Age of New Orleans." The exact origin of the name is unknown, but the area is associated with the Irish immigrants who first lived in the area.
Houses are predominantly shotguns, with all three types found in the Irish Channel— the single, double and camelback. The Irish Channel greatly contributes to New Orleans' stock of shotgun houses, containing intact rows of both doubles and singles. Shotgun doubles, built in great numbers by developers as rental property, outnumber the other types. The district also contains examples of cottages, some exhibiting traditional Creole cottage details such as double pitched roofs and French doors across the front facade.
The tightly knit neighborhood character of the Irish Channel can also be seen in the preponderance of corner stores and bars, some today altered or converted to other uses. A small but important number of townhouses, raised center hall cottages, and 20th century bungalows complete the district's primary inventory of structures.
In terms of architectural importance, the structure at 2200 Rousseau Street is rated most highly, because of its rare Egyptian Revival detailing and its early construction date of 1836. Other buildings of special note in the Irish Channel include 819-21 First Street, the Irish Channel Christian Fellowship (1856, 1861); 1020 Fourth Street, the Bogart-Lee House (1849-50); and 436 Seventh Street, the Grigson-Sanders House (1835).
The Irish Channel's history and development are closely aligned with its proximity to the Mississippi River, a source of employment for wharf and warehouse workers and a means of transportation linking this area to international commerce. In addition, the area is recognized for its association with the development of America's unique art form, jazz. Numerous early jazz performers called the Irish Channel their home, and many helped spread the popularity of this music throughout the world.