Louisiana Summary

Steeped in French, Spanish, African, and Acadian heritage, Louisiana celebrates its ancestry in numerous ways, especially through its festivals, music, and cuisine. Named for the French king, Louis XIV, Louisiana encompasses 49,651 square miles of swamps, prairies, and the Mississippi Delta. Sitting at an average elevation of 90 feet above sea level, the state is susceptible to the elements, especially hurricanes. Louisiana is a survivor, however, always overcoming bad times to rejoice in the good.

First discovered by the Spaniards in 1530, the region remained uninhabited until the French settled there in 1682. Switching between French and Spanish rule, the territory was finally sold to the Americans in 1803, under the Louisiana Purchase, and in 1812 the state was admitted to the Union. The state is divided into parishes instead of counties, and its law is based on the old Napoleonic Code of France.

Much of southwestern Louisiana was settled by French-speaking Acadians (Cajuns), who migrated from L’Acadie (now Nova Scotia) in the mid-eighteenth century, bringing with them a unique dialect and a love of music and spicy food. The Creoles, a hybrid of Spanish and French, socially ruled New Orleans’ French Quarter in the late seventeenth century. After its occupation by Union forces from 1862 to 1865, Louisiana struggled to ignite its economy. Re-admitted into the Union in 1868, the state continued to languish until the new century. The 1920s marked a generation of populist politics and renewed prosperity. Louisiana now boasts a population of over 4 million people.

The petrochemical, tourism, and gaming industries have contributed to the state’s reinvigorated for tunes. Moreover, New Orleans, a busy seaport and Louisiana’s largest city, remains one of the most desirable places to visit in North America.