Louisiana
has a rich, colorful historical background. Early Spanish explorers were Alvárez
Piñeda, 1519; Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1528; and
Hernando de Soto in 1541. Sieur de la Salle reached the mouth of the Mississippi
and claimed all the land drained by it and its tributaries for Louis XIV of France
in 1682.
Louisiana
became a French crown colony in 1731 but was ceded to Spain in 1763 after the
French and Indian Wars. (The portion east of the Mississippi came under British
control in 1764.) Louisiana reverted to France in 1800 and was sold by Napoleon
to the U.S. in 1803. The southern part, known as the territory of Orleans, became
the state of Louisiana in 1812.
During
the Civil War, Louisiana joined the Confederacy, but New Orleans was captured
by Union Adm. David Farragut in April 1862. The state's economy suffered during
Reconstruction; however, the situation improved at the turn of the 20th century,
with the discovery of oil and natural gas and the growth of industry.
Louisiana
is a leader in natural gas, salt, petroleum, and sulfur production. Much of the
oil and sulfur comes from offshore deposits. The state also produces large crops
of sweet potatoes, rice, sugar cane, pecans, soybeans, corn, and cotton. Leading
manufactured items include chemicals, processed food, petroleum and coal products,
paper, lumber and wood products, transportation equipment, and apparel.
The
state has become a popular tourist destination. New Orleans is the major draw,
known particularly for its picturesque French Quarter and the annual Mardi Gras
celebration, held since 1838.
Other
major points of interest include the Superdome in New Orleans, historic plantation
homes near Natchitoches and New Iberia, Cajun country in the Mississippi Delta
Region, Chalmette National Historic Park, and the state capital at Baton Rouge.
Coming
Soon!
See
more on Louisiana:
Encyclopedia:
Louisiana Encyclopedia: Geography Encyclopedia: Economy Encyclopedia:
Government Encyclopedia: History Monthly Temperature Extremes
Accredited
Colleges and Universities
Selected
famous natives and residents:
Louis Armstrong musician; Geoffrey
Beene fashion designer; Truman Capote writer; Kitty Carlisle singer and
actress; Van Cliburn concert pianist; Michael De Bakey heart surgeon;
Fats Domino musician; Donna Douglas actress; Louis Moreau Gottschalk
pianist and composer; Bryant Gumbel TV newscaster; Lillian Hellman playwright;
Al Hirt trumpeter; Mahalia Jackson gospel singer; Jean Laffite privateer;
Dorothy Lamour actress; John A. Lejeune Marine Corps general; Elmore
Leonard author; Jerry Lee Lewis singer; Huey P. Long politician; Wynton
Marsalis musician; Jelly Roll Morton jazz musician and composer; Huey
Newton black activist; Marguerite Piazza soprano; Paul Prudhomme chef;
Howard K. Smith TV commentator; Ben Turpin comedian; Ray Walston actor;
Edward Douglas White jurist.
Capital:
Baton Rouge
State
abbreviation/Postal code: La./LA
Governor:
Kathleen Blanco, D (to Jan. 2008)
Lieut.
Governor: Mitch Landrieu, D (to Jan. 2008)
Senators:David
Vitter, R (to Jan. 2011); Mary Landrieu, D (to Jan. 2009)
U.S.
Representatives: 7
Secy.
of State: W. Fox McKeithen, R (to Jan. 2008)
Treasurer:
John Neely Kennedy, D (to Jan. 2008)
Atty.
General: Charles C. Foti, Jr., D (to Jan. 2008)
Organized
as territory: March 26, 1804
Entered
Union (rank): April 30, 1812 (18)
Present
constitution adopted: 1974
Motto:
Union, justice, and confidence
State
symbols: flower magnolia (1900) tree bald cypress (1963) bird eastern
brown pelican (1958) songs “Give Me Louisiana” and “You Are
My Sunshine”
Nickname:
Pelican State
Origin
of name: In honor of Louis XIV of France
10
largest cities (2003 est.): New Orleans, 469,032; Baton Rouge, 225,090; Shreveport,
198,364; Lafayette, 111,667; Lake Charles, 70,735; Kenner, 70,202; Bossier City,
58,111; Monroe, 52,163; Alexandria, 45,649; New Iberia, 32,502
Land
area: 43,562 sq mi. (112,826 sq km)
Geographic
center: In Avoyelles Parish, 3 mi. SE of Marksville
Number
of parishes (counties): 64
Largest
parish by population and area: Orleans, 462,269 (2004); Vernon, 1,328 sq mi.
State
forests: 1 (8,000 ac.)
State
parks: 35
Residents:
Louisianan, Louisianian
2004
resident population est.: 4,515,770
2000
resident census population (rank): 4,468,976 (22). Male: 2,162,903 (48.4%);
Female: 2,306,073 (51.6%). White: 2,856,161 (63.9%); Black: 1,451,944 (32.5%);
American Indian: 25,477 (0.6%); Asian: 54,758 (1.2%); Other race: 31,131 (0.7%);
Two or more races: 48,265 (1.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 107,738 (2.4%). 2000 percent
population 18 and over: 72.7; 65 and over: 11.6; median age: 34.0.
