What is the meaning of "The"?

I vaguely remember that antediluvian time when preservationists in an unholy alliance with the Real Estate Industry revived the use of the word Faubourg to romantically describe the various extensions of the City. The Faubourg Marigny was the first I can remember coming into popular use to describe the area down river of the French Quarter.

I recall the area also commonly being called Marigny. Sometime relatively recently people have been referring to the area as "The" Marigny. I have even heard that form used by news readers and in the press. I don't ever recall hearing or reading it until recently, after the flood. I wonder if it is a postdiluvian affectation or if I just never noticed it. I have also heard the "the" prepended to other neighborhoods like Treme and Bywater. That makes it seem more like an affectation. I wonder where it came from. This has been bugging me for a while. I've been tempted to post a comment on other bloggs when it was used. I have considered asking some of my blogger buddies why they use that construction but it never seemed quire appropriate in the context of a weighty discussion.

On related matter I often wonder if blog(g)er and blog(g)s have one "g" or two.