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States Edition
2014
Louisiana
The Pelican State
Established 1812
18th State
Edmund McIlhenny developed Tabasco Pepper Sauce on Avery Island in 1868.
Gonzales is known as the Jambalaya Capital of the World (jambalaya is a Cajun rice dish).
Louisiana has the tallest state capitol building in the United States. The building is 450 feet (137 m) tall and has 34
floors.
One of the state songs is “You Are My Sunshine.”
The name Cajun comes from the word Acadian, which refers to French settlers in Canada and Maine who were
forced from their land by the British in 1755. Many of these settlers ended up in Louisiana.
Louisiana was named for King Louis XIV of France.
Rayne is known as the Frog Capital of the World.
Louisiana was the first state to make English the official language, in 1811.
In the 1960s, a Louisiana company made the rockets that got Apollo 11 to the moon.
White alligators are found only in Louisiana.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest continuous bridge built entirely over water in the world. The
Causeway is 24 miles (38 km) long.
Climate
The Gulf of Mexico’s warm winds create hot, humid summers and mild winters. These
same winds produce fierce hurricanes that hit Louisiana’s coastline in late summer and
early fall, half of them in September. Around 57 inches (145 cm) of rain (snow is rare)
fall every year, making Louisiana one of the wettest states. Winter temperatures in the
north are cooler. The average January temperature is 49°F (9°C) in the north and
55°F (13°C) in the south. July temperatures average 82°F (28°C) throughout the
state.
Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures
Spring: 77/57°F
Summer: 91/73°F
Fall: 79/59°F
Winter: 62/42°F
Geography
The Mississippi River deposits sediment (particles of earth) as it empties into the Gulf of
Mexico, forming a delta (a triangle-shaped piece of land). This delta has the richest soil
in the state and makes up one-fourth of the state’s area. All of Louisiana’s rivers
eventually drain into the Gulf. Wetlands cover about one-third of the state. Along the
western coast are barrier beaches (low sand ridges). To the north are marshes and
then rolling hills. Louisiana is one of the three lowest states in the country.
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Resources and Economy
Cotton, rice, sugarcane, and soybeans began Louisiana’s economic boom and are still
important agricultural products in the state. Livestock farmers raise young chickens (
broilers) and beef and dairy cattle. Fish farms breed catfish and crawfish. Louisiana is
the leading U.S. shrimp producer. But the biggest part of the state’s wealth comes from
petroleum and natural gas fields. The manufacturing of chemicals (for such products as
medicine, fertilizer, and paint), food, paper, and transportation equipment also
contribute to Louisiana’s economy. Tourists bring the state billions of dollars each year,
especially during festivals such as Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and Acadiens et Creoles.
Time Line
Thousands of years ago, Native Americans live in the area
AD 1500
AD 1541
Hernando de Soto is the first European to explore the area
1682
René-Robert Cavelier (Sieur de La Salle) claims Louisiana for France
1700
1718
New Orleans is founded and named after the Duke of Orleans, regent
of France
1760s–1780s
Acadians arrive from various spots along the Atlantic Ocean after
being exiled from Acadia (Nova Scotia), Canada
1762–1800
The Spanish possess Louisiana
1777
Governor Bernardo de Galvez begins aid to the American Revolution
1788
Fire nearly destroys the city of New Orleans
1794
New Orleans once again suffers devastation by fire
1800
1800
France reclaims Louisiana from Spain
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1803
Napoleon sells all of Louisiana (except New Orleans), including all land
drained by the Mississippi River, to the United States for $15 million
1812
Louisiana enters the Union as the 18th state
1815
Andrew Jackson defeats the British in the Battle of New Orleans
1861
Louisiana secedes (withdraws) from the United States
1862
Union soldiers take over New Orleans
1868
Louisiana rejoins the United States
1900
1901
Oil is discovered
1927
The Mississippi River floods, leaving 300,000 homeless
1935
Governor Huey Long is assassinated
1957
Around five hundred people die during Hurricane Audrey
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1965
Hurricane Betsy nearly destroys Cameron Parish
1968
The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana is founded
1974
Louisiana adopts its current state constitution
1984
New Orleans hosts the World’s Fair
1987
Pope John Paul II visits New Orleans
2000
2003
Kathleen Blanco is elected the first female governor of Louisiana
2005
Hurricane Katrina floods New Orleans, killing over 1,400 people and
causing 75 billion dollars in damages
2008
Bobby Jindal is elected the first Indian American governor in the United
States
2010
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill halts Louisiana’s fishing industry; 300 miles
of the state’s coastline is awash in oil
PRESENT
First European Settlers
Spaniard Hernando de Soto searched the region for gold, but he and his expedition
never found any. After he died of a fever in 1542, the Spanish left the area.
René-Robert Cavelier, known as La Salle, claimed the land for France when he
explored the Mississippi River in 1682. The first permanent French settlements were
established in the region in 1699, 63 years before France gave Louisiana to Spain in
1762.
Spanish Colonial Period
Under Spanish rule, Louisiana experienced more growth than during any other time
under the French. Governor Bernardo de Galvez began aiding the American Revolution
in 1777. The Fire of 1788 in New Orleans destroyed most of the city, which the Spanish
rebuilt. As a result, the architecture of the French Quarter today remains Spanish,
rather than French. Canals, levees, garbage collection, street lighting, and other city
improvements provided for the city’s growth beyond the riverfront French Quarter to its
present boundaries. Louisiana’s first book-length publication occurred in 1796 under the
Spanish government. Charity Hospital began receiving government funding during this
time, and the government established the first public schools.
Louisiana Purchase
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In 1800, France got Louisiana back from Spain. But three years later, France was
having serious financial difficulties. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Thomas
Jefferson was nervous because France controlled the Mississippi River. He was afraid
that after France conquered Europe, the United States would be the next target.
President Jefferson sent some diplomats to Paris to see if he could convince Napoleon
to sell him New Orleans. Instead, Napoleon sold all of the territory west of the
Mississippi River (except New Orleans) for only $15 million. This purchase nearly
doubled the size of the United States.
War of 1812
British troops tried twice to take over New Orleans during the War of 1812 but failed.
The second time, in 1815, General Andrew Jackson led a group of pirates and settlers
to drive them out. A peace treaty had been signed two weeks before the battle, but
because of slow communication, neither General Jackson nor the British knew the war
was already over. General Jackson defended the city, and his efforts against a bigger
British force made him a war hero, which later helped him become the seventh U.S.
president. Although Louisiana became a state in 1812, the Battle of New Orleans
proved to the rest of the United States that Louisianans would defend their new country
against its enemies.
Civil War and Reconstruction
In 1861, Louisiana was one of 11 southern states to withdraw from the Union and form
a new country, the Confederate States of America. In the Civil War that followed, many
battles were fought on Louisiana soil. Thousands of homes, buildings, and farms were
destroyed. By the time the war was over and Reconstruction had ended, Louisiana was
a poor, broken state. About one-fifth of the men had died, thousands were permanently
injured or disabled, and half of the livestock, many of the sugar plantations, and half of
the state’s wealth were gone due to the ravages of the Civil War. After the failure of
Reconstruction, corruption spread throughout the state government into the first
decades of the 20th century.
The Kingfish
In 1928, Huey "The Kingfish" Long was elected governor. He and his friends had
almost total control over Louisiana life, and many people thought of him as a dictator.
Under his government, Louisiana built bridges, highways, and a new capitol building in
Baton Rouge. The government also gave more funds to schools for textbooks and
buildings. Long also constructed many of the buildings on the Louisiana State
University campus that are still in use today. Long was killed by a personal opponent in
1935. A few years later, the U.S. government jailed many of his friends for fraud,
bribery, and other crimes.
Farm to Factory
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During World War II, Louisiana became an industrial state. Many Louisianans moved
off their farms to work in factories in the cities. However, after the war ended, people
didn’t return to their farms. Instead, new kinds of jobs opened up, and people continued
to move to the cities. Manufacturing, petroleum, and other industries grew rapidly.
Louisianans now face the challenge of trying to balance their business needs with their
environmental concerns.
Hurricane Katrina
In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc along the coastlines of
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The storm breached the levees (manmade
embankments built to prevent flooding) separating New Orleans and Lake
Pontchartrain, causing the majority of the city to flood, claiming more than 1,400 lives,
and leaving countless others stranded without food or water. Officials attempted to
evacuate the city, but fuel and transportation were in short supply, making it difficult for
residents to leave. After the hurricane passed, hundreds of thousands of residents were
left homeless and jobless. Many were reluctant to return to New Orleans, and
reconstruction efforts struggled with only a third of the pre-Katrina population living in
the city. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers set a goal to improve flood defenses so that
New Orleans would be able to withstand a category five storm before the next hurricane
season began.
Population
Many Louisianans today have held on to the culture of their ancestors. Creoles include descendants of the French and
Spanish settlers or free blacks from before the Civil War, as well as French-speaking African Americans. Cajuns
(descendants of the Acadians) have also settled in communities along Louisiana’s bayous (small river inlets). Cajuns
often speak Cajun French, a mix of French and English. Close to three-fourths of the population lives in urban (city)
areas; one-half lives in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or Shreveport.
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Government
Capital: Baton Rouge
State Abbreviation: LA
Governor: Bobby Jindal (Republican)
U.S. Senators: 2
Mary Landrieu (Democrat)
David Vitter (Republican)
U.S. Representatives: 6
Democrats: 1
Republicans: 5
State Senators: 39
State Representatives: 105
Parishes: 64 (counties)
Louisiana’s judges follow rules based in part on a code written by French emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Louisiana is the only state in the nation with parishes instead of counties. Some of
the parishes are the same as the old Roman Catholic Church area divisions.
Famous People
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong — Jazz musician
Terry Bradshaw — Football player
Truman Capote — Author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Bryant Gumbel — Television personality
Lillian Hellman — Playwright
Clementine Hunter — Oil painter
Mahalia Jackson — Gospel singer
Jerry Lee Lewis — Rock singer
Huey “Kingfish” Long — Politician
Peyton Manning — National Football League quarterback
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“Jelly Roll” (Ferdinand) Morton — Jazz musician
Anne Rice — Author of The Vampire Chronicles
Bill Russell — Basketball player and coach
Britney Spears — Singer
Hank Williams Jr. — Country-western singer
Peyton Manning
Anne Rice
Britney Spears
Native America
Many tribes, including the Caddo, Attakapa-Ishak, Coushatta, Chitimacha, Houma, and
Opelousa peoples, lived in what is now Louisiana before Spanish and French explorers
reached the area. These tribes built villages along the many bayous (low-lying, marshy
bodies of water) and rivers, where wildlife was plentiful and soil was good. The Caddo
were a large group made up of five tribes. They moved often, fishing, hunting, and
trading with each other. Men and women held different roles within their tribe. The men
hunted and built homes and canoes, while the women took care of the children, planted
crops, made clothes, and prepared meals. Each tribe celebrated births and honored the
dead with dances, feasts, and music.
When the French and Spanish arrived, they sometimes enslaved tribal members and
used the native people to help conquer other tribes. Some tribes traded with the
colonists, exchanging food and medicine and teaching each other their traditions. After
Napoleon sold the area to the United States, the tribes were forced to leave their
homes and head west.
Close to 1 percent of today’s Louisianans are Native American. The four main tribes
remaining in Louisiana today are the Chitimacha, the Coushatta, the Jena Band of
Choctaws, and the Tunica-Biloxi tribes. The Chitimacha and Tunica-Biloxi tribes live on
small reservations, where they work to keep some of their traditions alive, particularly
their arts and crafts. The fine arts of basketry, weaving, and beadwork are still taught
and shared on these reservations. The tribes also operate their own schools and
museums. Unlike most tribes, the Coushatta and Jena Choctaws have managed to
keep their native languages alive. The majority of the Coushatta members speak their
language as well as English, French, Spanish, and other Native American languages.
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Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday." It is the Carnival celebration just before the
Catholic season of Lent—the 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter. During the two
weeks of Mardi Gras, brightly colored floats, marching bands, and costumed
participants move through the streets of New Orleans in this world-famous festival. The
Mardi Gras celebration starts on 6 January, also known as “Twelfth Night” because it
falls 12 nights after Christmas. At least one parade runs every day for the entire two
weeks, and people riding the floats traditionally throw strings of beads, toys, and large
plastic or metal coins called doubloons to people in the crowd. The beads and
doubloons are often made in the Mardi Gras colors—purple, green, and gold. Elaborate
masked balls are also held throughout the city.
Outside of New Orleans, rural (countryside) Mardi Gras traditions revolve around
day-long runs through the countryside, with masked revelers traveling from farmhouse
to farmhouse gathering ingredients for a communal meal. The French phrase joie de
vivre (the joy of living) well describes Louisiana culture.
Jazz
Jazz music is rooted in the state, originating in the New Orleans area at the beginning of the 20th century. Jazz draws
from several different music forms, including African American spirituals, ragtime, blues, and religious hymns. Louis
Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet were all well-known musicians who helped develop jazz. Jazz
musicians tend to improvise the music, trying to achieve new interpretations as they play. Popular jazz instruments
include the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and piano. The 1920s were known as the Jazz Age, as the art form grew
and came to represent the worldly, elegant culture of the Roaring Twenties. More recently, Louisiana musicians such
as brothers Wynton and Branford Marsalis have added to the state’s rich jazz tradition.
State Symbols
State Bird
Brown pelican—These birds supposedly feed their young with their own flesh when
food is scarce.
State Tree
Bald cypress—Bald cypress makes some of the best wood for building things because
it is so durable, strong, and difficult to burn.
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State Flower
Magnolia—Thousands of creamy-white magnolia blossoms fill Louisiana with a strong
perfume each summer.
State Animal
Catahoula leopard dog—This Louisiana canine has webbed feet, a spotted coat, and
sometimes glassy (milky-white) eyes.
Other Symbols
Colors: Blue, white, and gold
Crustacean: Crawfish
Folk Dance: Square dance
Dog: Catahoula leopard dog
Doughnut: Beignet
Drink: Milk
Fresh Water Fish: White perch
Wild Flower: Louisiana iris
Fossil: Petrified palmwood
Fruit: Strawberry
Gemstone: Agate
Insect: Honeybee
Mammal: Black bear
Musical Instrument: Diatonic accordion
Painting: Louisiana
Reptile: Alligator
Songs: “Give Me Louisiana” and “You Are My Sunshine”
State Motto
Union, Justice, and Confidence—Louisiana's pledge is to be united in purpose and ideals and confident that justice will
prevail.
Pro Sports Teams
• New Orleans Saints (NFL)
• New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
For More Information
See www.louisiana.gov or contact the Louisiana Office of Tourism, PO Box 94291, Baton Rouge, LA 70804; phone
(800) 677-4082; web site www.louisianatravel.com.
© 2014 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to
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