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Louisiana Facts

Louisiana Facts
The State of Louisiana is located in the southern United States. It shares state borders with Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas. Louisiana borders the Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana is the 31st largest state in the United States with 51,843 square miles. It is the 25th most populated state and ranks as the 24th most populated state with approximately 4,601,893 residents. Prior to European settlement in the 1500s, Louisiana was inhabited by Native Americans. Louisiana was first explored by the Spanish, but was claimed by the French in the 1600s. The French and Indian Wars resulted in Louisiana being ceded to the Spanish, but reverted back to France in 1800. Napoleon sold Louisiana to the U.S. in 1803. Louisiana was admitted to the Union in 1812, making it the 18th U.S. state.
Interesting Louisiana Facts:
The famous French explorer Sieur de La Salle gave Louisiana its name in 1682, honoring King Louis the 14th of France.
Louisiana's nickname was previously the Pelican State but is now Sportsman's Paradise.
Napoleon sold Louisiana to the U.S. for $15 million.
The state motto for Louisiana is 'Union, Justice, and Confidence'.
The state songs for Louisiana is 'Give Me Louisiana', and 'You Are My Sunshine'.
Louisiana's capital city is Baton Rouge, and its largest city is New Orleans.
Louisiana residents are called Louisianans or Louisianians.
The first official Louisiana state flag was adopted 100 years after Louisiana became a state.
Louisiana's state mammal is the Louisiana black bear.
The state reptile is the alligator.
Louisiana's state bird is the Eastern brown pelican.
The state flower is the magnolia blossom; the state wildflower is the Louisiana iris.
Louisiana's state tree is the bald cypress.
Louisiana's major rivers include the Sabine River, Atchafalaya River, Ouachita River, Red River and the Mississippi River.
Louisiana's major lakes include Catahoula Lake, Calcasieu Lake, White Lake, Grand Lake, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontechartrain.
Louisiana's major agriculture includes soybeans, rice, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, pecans, and cotton.
Louisiana's major industries include oil, natural gas, fishing, and salt production.
Louisiana has one state forest and 35 state parks.
Louisiana does not have counties. Instead the state is divided into 64 parishes.
This state is a popular tourist destination. Mardi Gras, a major annual celebration is held each year in New Orleans. Mardi Gras originated in southern Europe, as a celebration immediately preceding Lent's 40 days of prayer and sacrifice.
The tallest state capital building in the U.S. is in Louisiana. It has 34 floors and is 450 feet tall.
Louisiana has a large population of Acadian descendants called Cajuns. They fled to Louisiana from Canada in the 1700s because they refused to pledge allegiance to the King of England.
The world's largest steel-constructed room that is unobstructed by posts is the Superdome in New Orleans. There are 400 miles of electrical wiring in this dome.
The Crawfish Capital of the World is Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
The Most Cajun Place on Earth is Kaplan, Louisiana.
The Frog Capital of the World is Rayne, Louisiana.
The Duck Capital of the World is Gueydan, Louisiana.


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