Louisiana State Guide

Capital: Baton Rouge

April 30, 1812 (18th state)

Louisiana became the 18th state on April 30, 1812. It joined the Confederacy on January 26, 1861 and re-entered the Union after the Civil War. Situated in the Deep South, Louisiana, the "Pelican State," has a colorful history and was named in honor of King Louis XIV. A strong French influence is still evident throughout the state--its capital city is named Baton Rouge, French for "red stick," because the French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville visited the area in 1699 and observed a red cypress post. Today the city of New Orleans is known for its Mardi Gras and jazz festivals.

Largest City- New Orleans
Area - 51,843 square miles [Louisiana is the 31st biggest state in the USA]
Population - 4,468,976 (as of 2000) [Louisiana is the 22nd most populous state in the USA]
Major Industries - agriculture (rice, cotton, soybeans), salt production, oil and natural gas, fishing (especially shellfish)
Major Rivers - Mississippi River, Red River, Ouachita River, Atchafalaya River, Sabine River
Major Lakes - Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Grand Lake, White Lake, Calcasieu Lake, Catahoula Lake
Highest Point - Driskill Mountain - 535 feet (163 m) above sea level
Lowest Point - New Orleans - 8 feet (2.5 m) below sea level
Bordering States - Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas
Bordering Body of Water - Gulf of Mexico

Louisiana Almanac: Facts and Figures, Economy, and Geography

• Almanac
• Economy
• Geography

Louisiana College, Universities, and Schools

• Colleges and Universities
• Public Colleges
• Community Colleges
• Private Colleges & Independent Schools

Louisiana Cities Colleges:

Louisiana Financial and Insurance Services

• Credit Counseling
• Debt Consolidation
• Debt Management & Counseling
• Home Mortgages
• Insurance Companies

Louisiana Home Services

• Heating & Cooling Services
• Home Improvements
• Lawn & Garden Services
• Security Services
• Termite & Pest Control

• New Orleans Window Treatments

Louisiana Media and Traffic Reports

• News & Headlines
• Newspapers
• Radio Stations
• Televisions
• Traffic Reports

Louisiana History, Timelines, and Famous People

• First Inhabitants
• History
• Timeline
• Famous People
• State Facts

Louisiana Counties

• Counties

Louisiana Symbols

• State Symbols

• State Bird
• State Flag
• State Flower
• State Motto
• State Name
• State Seal
• State Song
• State Tree

Other Louisiana Resources

• Missing Children
• CapitolImpact.com - Government Gateway
• lexisONE(R) - Legal Research
• Kaiser StateHealthFacts.org - Health Facts
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• Merriam-Webster's Atlas - Geography
• NACo - Counties
• National Park Guide
• State Home Page
• State Transportation Department