Welcome to Louisiana
"The Bayou State" If Illinois is the "average" state, Louisiana is its oddball cousin. Influenced by a mélange of different cultures and ethnicities—Cajun, Creole, African-American, French-African, to name a few—its social and cultural landscape is unlike anything else in the United States. As a result, tourism makes a significant contribution to the economy, which ranks 24th in the nation. Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans' famed French Quarter alone draw hundreds of thousands of revelers annually. Louisiana is also the birthplace of jazz, that idiosyncratic, distinctly American art form. Cajuns (descendents of the French-speaking Acadian population of eastern Canada) have significantly impacted Louisiana’s famous cuisine and are also responsible for French being a de facto administrative language. The state’s weather, particularly along the coast, is notoriously volatile. Most infamously, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the New Orleans era (along with Mississippi), causing the below-sea level city’s levees to fail. The resulting flood killed hundreds and destroyed massive swathes of property. It also exposed the serious poverty and economic desperation of many residents, particularly African-Americans. The area is still in the process of rebuilding after this defining event, but Louisiana’s unique way of life continues to persevere through its stormy recent history. State Name: Louisiana State Nickname: "The Bayou State"  State Motto: "Union, Justice, and Confidence" Name for Residents: Louisianian, Louisianais (French)  Abbreviation: LA Time Zone: Central, GMT/UTC -6 / -5 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Baton Rouge  Date of Statehood: April 30, 1812 Statehood Rank: 18th State Area: 51,885 square miles (135,382 km²) Area Rank: 31 of 50 Number of Parishes (County Equivalents): 64 State Population: 4,410,796 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     New Orleans - 311,853 (2008)     Baton Rouge - 227,017 (2007)     Shreveport - 200,145 (2000) Major Rivers:     Mississippi River - Length: 2,320 mi (3,730 km)     Red River - Length: 1,360 mi (2,190 km)     Ouachita River - Length: 605 mi (974 km) Highest Point: Driskill Mountain, 535 ft (163 m) Lowest Point: New Orleans, -8 ft (-2 m) Bordering States and Countries:     Arkansas (North)     Mississippi (East)     Texas (West) Record High Temperature:     114°F (45°C)     August 10, 1936 at Plain Dealing  Record Low Temperature:     -16°F (-27°C)     February 13, 1899 at Minden
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	Author: World Trade Press