Welcome to Louisiana

Louisiana is located in the S central United States. It is bounded by Mississippi, with the Mississippi R. forming about half of the border (E), the Gulf of Mexico (S), Texas (W), and Arkansas (N).

Area, 48,523 sq mi (125,675 sq km).
Pop. (2000) 4,468,976, a 5.9% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital, Baton Rouge.
Largest city, New Orleans. 
Motto, Union, Justice and Confidence.
State bird, Eastern brown pelican.
State flower, magnolia.
State tree, cypress.

Louisiana's climate (subtropical in the south and temperate in the north) and rich alluvial soil make the state one of the nation's leading producers of sweet potatoes, rice, crawfish and sugarcane. Other major commodities are soybeans, cotton, dairy products, strawberries, Creole tomatoes, corn, hay, pecans, and citrus. Fishing is a major industry; shrimp, menhaden, and oysters are principal catches. Its marshes (7,409 sq mi/19,189 sq km of the state's area is underwater) supply most of the country's muskrat and nutria furs.

A variety of recreational facilities makes the state an excellent vacationland; some of its lakes (e.g., Pontchartrain) have been highly developed as resort areas, and there is superb hunting and fishing throughout much of the region.

Tourism is increasingly important to the state economy; New Orleans is the major attraction with its history, nightlife, and Old World charm. The largest city in Louisiana, it is especially noted for its picturesque French Quarter, which has many celebrated restaurants, and for the Mardi Gras perhaps the most famous festival in the United States held annually since 1838. It is the home of one of the world's greatest music events, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and is the birthplace of jazz, Cajun/zydeco, R&B and more.

Southwest Louisiana is the home of the distinctive Cajun culture whose cooking, music and lifestyle is known around the world. Lafayette, the de facto Cajun capital, hosts several great music events, including Festival International in the Spring and Festivals Acadiens in the Fall.