What Louisiana is known for

Louisiana is located south of the United States of America and was made the eighteenth state the eighteenth state to be inducted into the nation. The state gained its statehood after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; its official date is April 30, 1812. The name Louisiana was given by La Salle, a French explorer, who wanted to name the area after King Louis XIV.[2] The land has been culturally diverse since being bought from the French over 200 years ago. Louisiana is commonly known for the Cajun and Creole people who have been in the state since it was explored and developed. The most prominent population of Cajuns and Creoles is in the southern parts of the state. Cajuns are descendants of French-speaking Acadians who came over from French Acadia, while the Creole term refers to the French settlers born in Louisiana when the land was a colony of France.[3] The diverse state has a current population of 4,648,794. French influence is one of the main draws to the state today, from the French-Creole spoken in the deep south parts of the state to the Creole/Cajun food loved by southerners everywhere. New Orleans is a hotspot for the culture of Louisiana, with the city being filled with the history of the state and providing the sought-after southern experience. 

New Orleans is one of the most famous cities in Louisiana and is most commonly known for its jazz music, voodoo, food, and nightlife. The city became a famous international port due to how close it is to the Mississippi River.[1] The town was the birthplace of one of the most influential jazz figures, Louis Armstrong, who is famous to this day even though he passed away in 1971. Unlike Armstrong, the New Orleans voodoo was not born in the city but brought by enslaved West Africans who merged their practices with catholicism. The town currently still has stores that sell voodoo magic and trinkets such as voodoo dolls. Some tourists leave with new magic dolls, a fortune, and some even believe new spirits to take home. The French Quarters is the most popular place in New Orleans, styled after French architecture. French Quarters is home to the well-known Burban Street, known for its city nightlife and bars.[3] The other most famous city in Louisiana is Baton Rouge, which means red stick. The name came from a blood-stained pole that a French explorer found on the bank of the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and is also where Louisiana State University (LSU) is located.[13] 

When coming to Louisiana, one of the most common "musts" of the area is trying Cajun cuisine. The most popular dishes served are gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, etouffee, crawfish boils, and beignets. The food is often greasy and spicy, which is what makes it known for its southern cooking. Restaurants centered around this cooking style are found all across the state; some popular restaurants were even created in Louisiana, such as Raising Canes Chicken Fingers. Canes has grown all across the nation since first being established near the LSU campus in 1996. LSU campus is also commonplace for tourists to visit; the campus is covered with mature oak trees and is home to Mike the tiger, who lives outside the giant coliseum. While in downtown Baton Rouge other popular attractions are the Old State Capital and USS Kidd veterans museum. Historic plantations are located in Baton Rouge and all across the state as well.[13] Most plantations are open to the public to visit and learn about the history of the property and building. The most commonly seen plantations include Oak Alley, which has been in multiple movies, Rosedown, Nottoway, and The Myrtles. Each has a unique history and stories of hauntings, civil war events, and slavery[11].

Louisiana is considered to be a part of the well-known "Bible-belt" that runs through the south part of the United States. The most prominent religions found in the state include Protestant, Baptist, Catholic, and non-denominational churches. A large and often referred to as "overwhelming" majority of the population identifies as Christian, making it a place where Jesus is commonly loved.[12] Another big part of the Louisiana culture is the celebration of Mardi Gras that happens every year between January through March. Initially, it was a French celebration but is now celebrated through large parades, food, music, and festivals. The biggest celebration of Mardi Gras is found in New Orleans, where festivities are in full swing through parades, people dressed up in the purple, gold, and green colors with usually a full neck of beaded necklaces. The state is also known for being the home of the Duck Dynasty family, swamps/bayous, and Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which is 24 miles long, making it the longest bridge over water in the world.[14] 

Geography

Louisiana is located on the south border of the United States of America, sitting on the Gulf of Mexico as well. Texas connects to the west side of Louisiana, with Arkansas sitting above and Mississippi bordering the east side. Currently, the land makes up 40% of the nation's wetlands but is predicted to recede within the next two hundred years.[4] The wetlands are made up of a high amount of bayous, which is one of the well-known attributes of the state. The bayous are home to different and diverse kinds of flora and fauna. Those who visit the state are most likely to see the bayous and witness the sight of an alligator in its natural habitat. The state has the largest population of the species in the country, with about 2 million alligators.[7] Alligator farms are also operated in Louisiana and can be visited by those who want to. Swamps and bayous are home to different kinds of turtles, snakes, frogs, squirrels, and muskrats. One of the delicacies of Louisiana is crawfish, which can be found in the swamps and the ocean. The crawfish located inland are known as "mudbugs" because they build little mud towers as their homes. Typical flora found in the state is silverbell trees, gulf coast yucca, and Bald Cypress. The Cypress is a famous sight in the bayous because the roots grow out of the ground and can be found growing out of the swamps creating a scenic swamp view. Bayou and swamp tours can be found across the state, providing guests with a first-hand experience of what the state is geographically known[10]. 

With the state sitting on the coast and the average high temperature of 76.7 degrees Fahrenheit, it is often very humid, especially during the summer. Louisiana is the third most humid state, with an average humidity of 74%.[5] The high temperatures of the summer combined with the moisture make for hot, sweaty days. The weather in this region of the United States makes it a prime location for hurricanes to hit. Louisiana has had many hurricanes hit its shoreline throughout history, but 28 have struck the state since 2000.[3] One of the most devastating storms to rip through the land has been Hurricane Katrina, which hit in August of 2005. The storm's impact has been evident to this day. Currently, the state is recovering from its latest storm known as Hurricane Ida, which hit on the 16th anniversary of Katrina, striking the state as a category four storm. Louisiana is projected to go through years of recovery and damage control, just like the impact Katrina left.[6] With the unpredictability of hurricanes and the hot, humid summers, the best time to visit the state is reported to be between February and March because of how it cools down during those months, and the festivities are in full swing.[2] 

High amounts of rainfall are expected each year, which helps preserve the wet climate of Louisiana. Summer rain and thunderstorms aren't unique events for the natives of the land. The state on average receives about 60 inches of rain each year, with its rainiest month falling in June. The state is also relatively completely flat, with no mountain ranges or high ground in sight. The highest point in the state is Driskill Mountain reaching 535 feet, which some believe should be classified as a large hill instead of a mountain. Buildings in New Orleans are taller than the highest point in Louisiana. [8]

History

The first people of the land of Louisiana are the Chitimacha, Atakapa, Caddo, Choctaw, Houma, Natchez, and Tunica natives.[9] The land was later discovered by French explorers who came down the Mississippi River. The first known explorer was La Salle, who was the one to name the current region "Louisiana" after King Louis XIV.[2] The land was eventually sold to the early settlers of America for an insanely low price which is now known as the Louisiana Purchase. The French influence is still prevalent in Louisiana's culture today, from the names of cities, food, architecture, and especially their descendants, such as the Cajuns and Creoles. The language French-Creole is still spoken in certain parts of the state and is a part of who they are.[9] The new land in the United States possession left the early settlers a little unsettled because it would become the first state on the west side of the Mississippi. The prominent religion was Catholicism which raised concerns for protestant Americans who just fought for their rights. The land was eventually made the 18th state of America on April 30, 1812. The economy of those early days was driven by agriculture, specifically with cotton and sugarcane as the primary crops with lumbering companies growing. All these things are continuing to be a part of the economy, just not as strong as those early days.[10]

Today's driving force in the economy of Louisiana is the collection of petroleum and other natural gases, which has increased since 1947. Petroleum is found and collected in the southern and northwestern parts of the state, with the main oil fields in Shreveport and Monroe.[10] The twenty century also brought tourism into the state, boosting the economy even further. Agriculture, harvesting petroleum, and tourism are three significant contributing factors to the economy of Louisiana. These industries' growth has aided the growth and development of many cities throughout the state, such as Baton Rouge and St. Francisville. These two cities have been ports for the transportation of goods up and down the Mississippi River.[10] 

The most common historical sites can be found in many of the original cities of Louisiana. Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans is one of the most popular sites, sitting where Armstrong himself lived. Another popular attraction includes Louisiana's Old State Capital, built-in 1847 but caught on fire in 1906 and eventually restored to what it is now. The state is also known for being one of the lead slave states; in 1860, 47% of the population was enslaved.[3] Plantation homes still stand today, full of the stories during that time. The first ships full of captive Africans landed in Louisiana in 1719, which was a big boom in slavery in Louisiana.[11] 32.8% of the current Louisiana population is African Americans, many of whom are enslaved descendants. The current white population sits at 62.8%, with everyone else at 5.4% of the population, with a total of 4,648,794 people.[12] The state is known for being culturally and ethically diverse.