Metairie (local pronunciations /ˈmɛtəɹi/, /ˈmɛtɹi/) is a census-esignated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 146,136 at the 2000 census. A suburb of New Orleans, it is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were incorporated. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish.