Featured Louisiana Cities and Counties

Destrehan Kenner Mandeville Metairie New Orleans

Louisiana Quick Facts

A Southern state located on the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana is home to a population of around 4.5 million. The state is bordered to the west by Texas, to the north by Arkansas, to the east by Mississippi and to the south by the Gulf of Mexico. It is home to the second largest proportion of black Americans (nearly a third), after only Mississippi. It is the only state divided into parishes, a form of local government equivalent to a county. The state's capital is Baton Rouge and the largest city is New Orleans. Other large cities include Lafayette, Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles and Alexandria. At the beginning of the 19th century, Louisiana was a Spanish and French colony. The state has an interesting mix of Spanish, French and African cultures from its heritage, including large Cajun and Creole influences. The state is named after Louis XIV, king of France and the U.S. bought the area in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. Weather in the state consists of hot, humid summers and mild winters and the area is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes, particularly the southern areas. Large parks in the state include Cane River National Heritage Area, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Kisatchie National Forest.

The state's chief agricultural products include seafood -- it is the biggest crawfish producer in the world -- cotton, cattle, sugarcane, poultry and eggs and rice. Chemical products, petroleum and coal products, food processing and transportation equipment, and paper products are also largely manufactured here. The shipping industry is huge here; the Port of South Louisiana, located on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, is the largest shipping port in the Western Hemisphere, and the fourth largest in the world. Natural resources are abundant, with large amounts of crude oil and natural gas. The state hosts several large events, such as the World Cultural Economic Forum and the annual Mardi Gras celebration. Louisiana is the least populous state with more than one major professional sports team with the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Hornets and the National Football League's New Orleans Saints. It is also home to many famous musical acts, and is New Orleans is known as the home for blues and jazz.