Louisiana
Pelican State · Capital: Baton Rouge · South (Deep South)
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Bordering states: Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi.
About Louisiana
Louisiana lies in the South on the Gulf of Mexico, bordered by Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. Its vertical range is one of the narrowest of any state: Driskill Mountain reaches only 535 feet, and the lowest ground, in New Orleans, is about eight feet below sea level. Since 1963 the Old River Control Structure has kept the Mississippi from switching into the Atchafalaya, whose basin is the largest river swamp in the United States. Levees now carry sediment past the marsh, and close to 2,000 square miles of coastal land were lost between 1932 and 2016. Rainfall averages 50 to 65 inches a year.
People at Poverty Point raised earthworks between about 1700 and 1100 BC, and the Caddo, Natchez, Chitimacha and other nations lived here at European contact. La Salle claimed the Mississippi valley for France in 1682 and named it for Louis XIV. New Orleans was founded in 1718; France ceded the colony to Spain in 1762, took it back in 1800 and sold it to the United States in 1803. Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia became the Cajuns. Louisiana became the 18th state on April 30, 1812. It seceded in 1861, but New Orleans surrendered in April 1862. Huey Long became governor in 1928, and Katrina flooded about 80 percent of New Orleans in 2005.
The 2020 census counted 4,657,757 residents, up 2.7 percent from 2010, with six House seats. Baton Rouge is the capital and New Orleans the largest city. Louisiana has 64 parishes instead of counties and a civil law descended from French and Spanish codes. Oil has flowed since a 1901 well, Tabasco has been made on Avery Island since 1868, and nearly all the crawfish farmed in the country comes from here. Jazz was born in New Orleans, where Louis Armstrong was born in 1901, and the brown pelican on its flag gives Louisiana its nickname, the Pelican State.
4 fun facts about Louisiana
- Louisiana is the only US state where the legal system is based on French civil law, not English common law.
- The state has parishes instead of counties, a legacy of French Catholic administration.
- Jazz was born in New Orleans around 1900, and the city's Mardi Gras parades, run by krewes since 1857, made the celebration famous.
- It's losing land to the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of about one football field every 100 minutes (subsidence + sea level rise).
More about Louisiana
Louisiana geography and climate
More fun facts about Louisiana
Frequently asked questions about Louisiana
Is Louisiana a US state?
Yes, Louisiana is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1812, making it the 18th state. Its capital is Baton Rouge and its largest city is New Orleans.
What is the capital of Louisiana?
The capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge. Note that the largest city in Louisiana is New Orleans, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Louisiana become a state?
Louisiana became a US state in 1812. It is the 18th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Louisiana?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Louisiana is LA.
How big is Louisiana?
Louisiana ranks #31 of 50 US states by area. With 107.8 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 26th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Louisiana?
Louisiana had 4,657,757 residents at the 2020 census, the 25th largest population of the 50 states, up 2.7% since 2010. That count gives it 6 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Louisiana in?
Louisiana is in the South region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Louisiana in?
Louisiana observes Central Time.
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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