Louisiana

Louisiana flag

Capital: Baton Rouge

State abbreviation/Postal code: La./LA

Governor: John Bel Edwards, D (to Jan. 2020)

Lieut. Governor: Billy Nungesser, R (to Jan. 2020)

Senators: John Neely Kennedy, R (to Jan. 2023); Bill Cassidy, R (to Jan. 2021)

U.S. Representatives: 6

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Tom Schedler, R (to Jan. 2020)

Treasurer: John Neely Kennedy, R (to Jan. 2020)

Atty. General: Jeff Landry, R (to Jan. 2020)

Organized as territory: March 26, 1804

Entered Union (rank): April 30, 1812 (18)

Present constitution adopted: 1974

Motto: Union, justice, and confidence

State symbols:

flowermagnolia (1900)
treebald cypress (1963)
birdeastern 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 (2012): New Orleans, 369,250; Baton Rouge, 230,058; Shreveport, 201,867; Metairie, 138,481; Lafayette, 122,761; Lake Charles, 73,474; Kenner, 66,820; Bossier City, 64,655; Monroe, 49,156; Alexandria, 48,367.

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, 343,829 (2010); Vernon, 1,328 sq mi.

State forests: 1 (8,000 ac.)

State parks: 35

Residents: Louisianan, Louisianian

2013 resident population: 4,670,724

2010 resident census population (rank): 4,533,372 (25). Male: 2,219,292 (48.4%); Female: 2,314,080 (51.6%). White: 2,836,192 (62.6%); Black: 1,452,396 (32.0%); American Indian: 30,579 (0.7%); Asian: 70,132 (1.5%); Other race: 69,227 (1.4%); Two or more races: 72,883 (1.6%); Hispanic/Latino: 192,560 (4.2%). 2000 population 18 and over: 3,415,357; 65 and over: 557,857; median age: 35.8.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

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.

On Aug. 29, 2005, Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Katrina, devastating New Orleans, and killing hundreds elsewhere in the state, particularly in the parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard. Federal and local officials were widely criticized for their slow and inadequate response to the initial disaster and subsequent recovery programs.

See more on Louisiana:
Encyclopedia: Louisiana
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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