View source for Louisiana

{{short description|U.S. state}}
{{about|the U.S. state|other uses}}
{{distinguish|Luisiana|Lusiana}}
{{pp-move | small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox U.S. state
| name = Louisiana
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{native name|fr|Louisiane}}<br/ >{{native name|es|Luisiana}}<br/ >{{native name|lou|Lwizyàn}}
| image_flag = Flag of Louisiana.svg
| flag_link = Flag of Louisiana
| image_seal = Seal of Louisiana.svg
| seal_link = Seal of Louisiana
| image_map = Louisiana in United States.svg
| nickname = {{hlist|Pelican State (official)|Bayou State|Creole State|Sportsman's Paradise|The Boot}}
| population_demonym = [[List of demonyms for U.S. states and territories|Louisianian]]<br />[[List of demonyms for U.S. states and territories|Louisianais]] (Cajun or Creole heritage)
| motto = Union, Justice, Confidence
| anthem = {{ubl |"[[You Are My Sunshine]]" |State march song: |"You Are My Sunshine" |Environmental song: |"Gifts of the Earth"}}
| seat = [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]
| LargestCity = [[New Orleans]]<ref>{{Citation|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4Io2zyj6VR8duSA6bXBGVt1H8Eg |contribution=New Orleans a 'ghost town' after thousands flee Gustav: mayor |date=August 31, 2008 |title=AFP |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516094557/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4Io2zyj6VR8duSA6bXBGVt1H8Eg |archive-date=May 16, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Expert: N.O. population at 273,000 |date=August 7, 2007 |url=http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl080707jbpopulation.104a120f.html |work=[[WWL-TV]] |access-date=August 14, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926230558/http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl080707jbpopulation.104a120f.html |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Relocation">{{cite web|title=Relocation |website=Baton rouge |publisher=Connecting U.S. Cities |date=May 3, 2007 |url=http://www.connectingbatonrouge.com/relocation.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209192141/http://www.connectingbatonrouge.com/relocation.php |archive-date=February 9, 2014 }}</ref>
| LargestCounty = [[East Baton Rouge Parish]]
| LargestMetro = [[New Orleans–Metairie–Hammond combined statistical area|Greater New Orleans]]
| OfficialLang = None constitutionally specified; [[Louisiana French]] (special status under [[CODOFIL]])
| Languages = <small>As of 2010</small><ref name="MLA Data">{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data |title=United States |publisher=[[Modern Language Association]] |access-date=June 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201170638/http://www.mla.org/map_data |archive-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[American English|English]] 91.26%
* [[Louisiana French language|French]] 3.45% (incl. Cajun and [[Louisiana Creole|Creole]])
* [[Isleño Spanish|Spanish]] 3.30%
| Governor = {{nowrap|[[Jeff Landry]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])}}
| Lieutenant Governor = {{nowrap|[[Billy Nungesser]] (R)}}
| Legislature = [[Louisiana State Legislature|Legislature]]
| Upperhouse = [[Louisiana State Senate|Senate]]
| Lowerhouse = [[Louisiana House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| Judiciary = [[Louisiana Supreme Court]]
| Senators = [[Bill Cassidy]] (R)<br/>[[John Kennedy (Louisiana politician)|John Kennedy]] (R)
| Representative = 4 Republicans<br/>2 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]]
| postal_code = LA
| TradAbbreviation = La.
| area_rank = 31st
| area_total_sq_mi = 52,271
| area_total_km2 = 135,382<ref name="census.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/LA/PST045224|access-date=January 9, 2025|title= United States Census Quick Facts Louisiana}}</ref>
| area_land_sq_mi = 43,204
| area_land_km2 = 111,898
| area_water_sq_mi = 8,920
| area_water_km2 = 23,102
| area_water_percent = 15
| population_rank = 25th
| population_as_of = 2025
| 2020Pop = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 4,618,189<ref name="census.gov"/>
| population_density_rank = 26th
| 2020DensityUS = 106.9
| 2020Density = 41.3
| MedianHouseholdIncome = ${{round|58229|-2}} (2<span>0</span>23)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/acsbr-023.pdf|title=Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2023|access-date=January 12, 2025|archive-date=January 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112072850/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/acsbr-023.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| IncomeRank = [[List of U.S. states and district by median household income|48th]]
| Former = [[Territory of Orleans]] and [[Louisiana Purchase]]
| AdmittanceOrder = 18th
| AdmittanceDate = {{Start date and age|1812|4|30}}
| timezone1 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = −06:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −05:00
| Latitude = 28° 56′ N to 33° 01′ N
| Longitude = 88° 49′ W to 94° 03′ W
| width_mi = 130
| width_km = 231
| length_mi = 379
| length_km = 610
| elevation_max_point = [[Driskill Mountain]]<ref name=USGS>{{cite web|url=http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |year=2001 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015012701/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=October 15, 2011 }}</ref>{{efn|name=NAVD88|Elevation adjusted to [[North American Vertical Datum of 1988]]}}
| elevation_max_ft = 535
| elevation_max_m = 163
| elevation_ft = 100
| elevation_m = 30
| elevation_min_point = [[New Orleans]]<ref name=USGS/>{{efn|name=NAVD88}}
| elevation_min_m = −2.5
| elevation_min_ft = −8
| iso_code = US-LA
| website = https://louisiana.gov
| Representatives = 
| Capital = Baton Rouge, Louisiana
}}
{{Infobox region symbols|country=United States
<!--Source:http://louisiana.gov/Explore/About_Louisiana/-->
|state = Louisiana
|image_flag = Flag of Louisiana.svg
|image_seal = Seal of Louisiana.svg
|mammal = [[Louisiana black bear|Black bear]]
|beverage = [[Milk]]
|bird = [[Brown pelican]]
|insect = [[Honeybee]]
|fish = [[Crappie]]
|crustacean = [[Crawfish]]
|fossil = [[Petrified palmwood]]
|flower = [[Magnolia]]
|tree = [[Bald cypress]]
|gemstone = [[Agate]]
|reptile = [[American alligator|Alligator]]
|dog = [[Catahoula Leopard Dog]]
|instrument = [[Diatonic accordion]]
|image_route = Louisiana_1 (2008).svg
|image_quarter = 2002_LA_Proof.png
|quarter_release_date = 2002
}}

[[File:Louisiana welcome sign at Madison Parish visitor center IMG 7059.JPG|upright=0.9|thumb|Louisiana entrance sign off [[Interstate 20]] in [[Madison Parish, Louisiana|Madison Parish]] east of [[Tallulah, Louisiana|Tallulah]]]]

'''Louisiana'''{{#tag:ref|[[General American English]]: {{IPAc-en|l|u|ˌ|iː|z|i|ˈ|æ|n|ə|audio=
En-us-Louisiana.ogg}} {{respell|loo|EE|zee|AN|ə}}; [[Southern American English]]: {{IPAc-en|ˌ|l|uː|z|i|ˈ|æ|n|ə}} {{respell|LOO|zee|AN|ə}}<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Louisiana|access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref>|group=pronunciation}} ({{langx|fr|link=no|Louisiane}}; {{langx|es|link=no|Luisiana}} {{IPA|es|lwiˈsjana|}}; {{langx|lou|Lwizyàn}}){{efn|Also spelt {{lang|lou|Lwizyann}} or {{lang|lou|Lalwizyann}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.webonary.org/louisiana-creole/gc6435734-ba35-4fb4-9bad-7b7002c3db51/ | title=Louisiana Creole (Kouri-Vini) Dictionary » Lwizyann | access-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201011201/https://www.webonary.org/louisiana-creole/gc6435734-ba35-4fb4-9bad-7b7002c3db51/ | url-status=live }}</ref>}} is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Deep South]] and [[South Central United States|South Central]] regions of the [[United States]]. It is bordered by [[Texas]] to the west, [[Arkansas]] to the north, and [[Mississippi]] to the east. Of the [[List of U.S. states|50 U.S. states]], it ranks [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|31st in area]] and [[List of U.S. states and territories by population|25th in population]], with roughly 4.6 million residents. Reflecting its [[French Louisiana|French heritage]], Louisiana is the only U.S. state with political subdivisions termed [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parishes]], which are equivalent to [[County (United States)|counties]], making it one of only two U.S. states not subdivided into counties (the other being [[Alaska]] and its [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|boroughs]]). [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] is the state's capital, and [[New Orleans]], a [[French Louisiana]] region, is its most populous city with a population of about 363,000 people.<ref>Jessica Williams. (December 12, 2021). "Census 2020: Who lives in the New Orleans metro now? Data show more diverse population". [https://www.nola.com/news/census-2020-who-lives-in-the-new-orleans-metro-now-data-show-more-diverse-population/article_391789a2-fb9a-11eb-a125-1bf5db471b82.html nola.com website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209012132/https://www.nola.com/news/census-2020-who-lives-in-the-new-orleans-metro-now-data-show-more-diverse-population/article_391789a2-fb9a-11eb-a125-1bf5db471b82.html |date=December 9, 2022 }} Retrieved December 8, 2022.</ref> Louisiana has a coastline with the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to the south; a large part of its eastern boundary is demarcated by the [[Mississippi River]]; and the mouth of the Mississippi or [[River delta|delta]] defines much of its lower topography.

Much of Louisiana's lands were formed from [[sediment]] washed down the Mississippi River, leaving enormous deltas and vast areas of [[coastal marsh]] and [[swamp]].<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=August 3, 2015|title=Louisiana (LA) State Information|url=http://www.thetimenow.com/blog/louisiana/|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=The Time Now|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813212515/http://www.thetimenow.com/blog/louisiana/|url-status=live}}</ref> These contain a rich southern [[biota (ecology)|biota]], including birds such as [[ibis]]es and [[egret]]s, many species of [[tree frog]]s—such as the state-recognized [[American green tree frog]]—and fish such as [[sturgeon]] and [[paddlefish]]. More elevated areas, particularly in the north, contain a wide variety of ecosystems such as [[Western Gulf coastal grasslands|tallgrass prairie]], [[longleaf pine]] forest and wet [[savanna]]s; these support an exceptionally large number of plant species, including many species of terrestrial [[orchid]]s and [[carnivorous plant]]s. Over half the state is forested.

Louisiana is situated at the confluence of the [[Mississippi River System]] and the Gulf of Mexico. Its location and biodiversity attracted various indigenous groups thousands of years before Europeans arrived in the 17th century. Louisiana has eighteen Native American tribes—the most of any southern state—of which four are federally recognized and ten are state-recognized.<ref>[http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/nativeams.html "Louisiana Indians in the 21st Century"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223071934/http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/nativeams.html|date=December 23, 2017}}, Louisiana Folklife Program, 2013</ref> The French claimed the territory in 1682, and it became the political, commercial, and population center of the larger colony of [[New France]]. From 1762 to 1801 [[Louisiana (New Spain)|Louisiana]] was under Spanish rule, briefly returning to French rule before being [[Louisiana Purchase|sold]] by [[Napoleon]] to the U.S. in 1803. It was [[Admission to the Union|admitted to the Union]] in 1812 as the 18th state. Following statehood, Louisiana saw an influx of settlers from the eastern U.S. as well as immigrants from the West Indies, Germany, and Ireland. It experienced an agricultural boom, particularly in cotton and sugarcane, which were cultivated primarily by slaves from Africa. As a slave state, Louisiana was one of the original seven members of the [[Confederate States of America]] during the [[American Civil War]].

Louisiana's unique French heritage is reflected in its toponyms, dialects, culture, demographics, and legal system. Relative to the rest of the southern U.S., Louisiana is [[multilingual]] and multicultural, reflecting an admixture of [[Louisiana French people|Louisiana French]] ([[Cajuns|Cajun]], [[Louisiana Creole people|Creole]]), [[Culture of Spain|Spanish]], [[Culture of Quebec|French Canadian]], [[Acadian people|Acadian]], [[Saint-Domingue Creoles|Saint-Domingue Creole]], [[State-recognized tribes#Louisiana|Native American]], and [[Culture of Africa|West African]] cultures (generally the descendants of [[Atlantic slave trade|slaves]] stolen in the 18th century); more recent migrants include [[Filipino Americans|Filipinos]] and Vietnamese. In the [[Reconstruction era|post–Civil War environment]], [[Anglo-Americans]] increased the pressure for [[Anglicization]], and in 1921, English was shortly made the sole language of instruction in Louisiana schools before a policy of multilingualism was revived in 1974. English in Louisiana has a wide variety of different sub-dialects, including [[Cajun English]], [[New Orleans English]] and other variants of [[Southern American English]]. Dropping of postvocalic \r\ is common, especially in the southern half of the state.<ref name="LouisianaOfficialSiteLanguage">[http://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/codofil/about/french-in-louisiana/legal-status/index Louisiana Official Site on Languages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621185821/http://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/codofil/about/french-in-louisiana/legal-status/index|date=June 21, 2015}}, accessed August 22, 2016</ref><ref name="murphy">{{Cite journal |last=Murphy |first=Alexander B. |year=2008<!--
Special Issue: "New Orleans in the Atlantic World, II"--> |title=Placing Louisiana in the Francophone World: Opportunities and Challenges |url=http://geography.uoregon.edu/murphy/articles/Murphy%20-%20Placing%20Louisiana%20in%20the%20Francophone%20World%20with%20figures.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Atlantic Studies |volume=5 |issue=3 |page=11 |doi=10.1080/14788810802445040 |s2cid=45544109 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510154922/http://geography.uoregon.edu/murphy/articles/Murphy%20-%20Placing%20Louisiana%20in%20the%20Francophone%20World%20with%20figures.pdf |archive-date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=April 23, 2014 |issn=1478-8810}}</ref> Louisiana has never had an official language, and the state constitution enumerates "the right of the people to preserve, foster, and promote their respective historic, linguistic, and cultural origins."<ref name="LouisianaOfficialSiteLanguage" />

Based on national averages, Louisiana frequently ranks low among U.S. states in terms of health,<ref>{{cite web |last=Woodruff |first=Emily |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Why is Louisiana unhealthy? New state database aims to connect environment, behavior to health |url=https://www.nola.com/news/healthcare_hospitals/article_b1f23bc2-98af-11eb-89f2-bb28d7ecc22b.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607190234/https://www.nola.com/news/healthcare_hospitals/article_b1f23bc2-98af-11eb-89f2-bb28d7ecc22b.html |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 7, 2021 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}}</ref> education,<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Educational attainment – persons 25 years and over – percent high school graduate or higher by County |url=https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/louisiana/percent-of-people-25-years-and-over-with-high-school-degree-or-higher#map |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607180549/https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/louisiana/percent-of-people-25-years-and-over-with-high-school-degree-or-higher#map |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 7, 2021 |website=www.indexmundi.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=United States – Educational attainment – persons 25 years and over – percent high school graduate or higher by State |url=https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/all-states/percent-of-people-25-years-and-over-with-high-school-degree-or-higher |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607180551/https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/all-states/percent-of-people-25-years-and-over-with-high-school-degree-or-higher |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 7, 2021 |website=www.indexmundi.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McElfresh |first=Amanda |title=Report: Louisiana is one of the least-educated states in the nation |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2019/01/22/louisiana-least-educated-state-nation/2643820002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607162557/https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2019/01/22/louisiana-least-educated-state-nation/2643820002/ |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 7, 2021 |website=The Daily Advertiser |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Piper |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Report: Louisiana third least educated state in nation |url=https://www.kplctv.com/2023/02/14/report-louisiana-third-least-educated-state-nation/ |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=KPLC-TV |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216184700/https://www.kplctv.com/2023/02/14/report-louisiana-third-least-educated-state-nation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and development, with high rates of poverty<ref>{{cite web |title=State Median Household Income Patterns: 1990–2010 |url=http://proximityone.com/stmhi0910.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812033507/http://proximityone.com/stmhi0910.htm |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |access-date=August 6, 2012 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sub-national HDI—Subnational HDI—Global Data Lab |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915025618/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/ |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |access-date=May 24, 2019 |website=globaldatalab.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 27, 2019 |title=Census: Louisiana remains 1 of nation's poorest states |url=https://apnews.com/article/1068e41cc2374eb9a3457b807de011f0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607180444/https://apnews.com/article/1068e41cc2374eb9a3457b807de011f0 |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 7, 2021 |website=AP News}}</ref> and [[List of U.S. states by homicide rate|homicide]]. In 2018, Louisiana was ranked as the least healthy state in the country, with high levels of [[Drug-related deaths in the United States by state|drug-related deaths]]. It also has had the highest [[homicide]] rate in the United States since at least the 1990s.<ref name="America's Health Rankings">{{cite web |title=Louisiana Annual State Health Rankings—2018 |url=http://www.americashealthrankings.org/LA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201061439/http://www.americashealthrankings.org/LA |archive-date=December 1, 2014 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |website=America's Health Rankings}}</ref><ref name="DPIC">[http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder-rates-nationally-and-state Murder Rates Nationally and By State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528033203/https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/murder-rates-nationally-and-state|date=May 28, 2019}}. By [[Death Penalty Information Center]].</ref><ref name="FBIUCR">{{cite web |title=Crime in the United States by State, 2014 |url=https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628135503/https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-5 |archive-date=June 28, 2016 |access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Louisiana was named after [[Louis XIV]], King of France from 1643 to 1715. When [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]] claimed the territory drained by the [[Mississippi River]] for France, he named it {{lang|fr|La Louisiane}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/opa/online-press-release/origin-names-us-states | title=Origin of Names of US States | access-date=January 16, 2025 }}</ref> The suffix –ana (or –ane) is a Latin suffix that can refer to "information relating to a particular individual, subject, or place." Thus, roughly, Louis + ana carries the idea of "related to Louis". Once part of the [[French colonial empire]], the [[Louisiana Territory]] stretched from present-day Mobile Bay to just north of the present-day [[Canada–United States border]], including a small part of what are now the Canadian [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces]] of [[Alberta]] and [[Saskatchewan]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Louisiana}}

=== Pre–colonial history ===
{{further|Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands}}
[[File:Watson Brake Aerial Illustration HRoe 2014.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Watson Brake]], the oldest mound complex in North America]]
The area of Louisiana is the place of origin of the [[Mound Builders]] culture during the Middle [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic period]], in the [[4th millennium BC]]. The sites of Caney and Frenchman's Bend have been securely dated to 5600–5000 [[Before Present|BP]] (about 3700–3100 BC), demonstrating that seasonal hunter-gatherers from around this time organized to build complex earthwork constructions in what is now northern Louisiana. The [[Watson Brake]] site near present-day [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] has an eleven-mound complex; it was built about 5400 BP (3500 BC).<ref>[http://www.archaeology.org/9801/newsbriefs/mounds.html Amélie A. Walker, "Earliest Mound Site"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227043152/http://www.archaeology.org/9801/newsbriefs/mounds.html |date=February 27, 2010 }}, ''Archaeology Magazine'', Volume 51 Number 1, January/February 1998</ref> These discoveries overturned previous assumptions in archaeology that such complex mounds were built only by cultures of more settled peoples who were dependent on maize cultivation. The Hedgepeth Site in [[Lincoln Parish, Louisiana|Lincoln Parish]] is more recent, dated to 5200–4500 BP (3300–2600 BC).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ccsmpug-xaoC&q=Hedgepeth+Middle+Archaic+site&pg=PA177 |title=Robert W. Preucel, Stephen A. Mrozowski, ''Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: The New Pragmatism'', John Wiley and Sons, 2010, p. 177 |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=April 23, 2014 |isbn=9781405158329 |last1=Preucel |first1=Robert W |last2=Mrozowski |first2=Stephen A |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220153248/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ccsmpug-xaoC&q=Hedgepeth+Middle+Archaic+site&pg=PA177 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Poverty Point Aerial HRoe 2014.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|right|[[Poverty Point]] [[UNESCO]] site]]

Nearly 2,000 years later, [[Poverty Point]] was built; it is the largest and best-known Late Archaic site in the state. The city of modern–day [[Epps, Louisiana|Epps]] developed near it. The [[Poverty Point culture]] may have reached its peak around 1500 BC, making it the first complex culture, and possibly the first tribal culture in North America.<ref>[http://www.deltablues.net/jon.html Jon L. Gibson, PhD, "Poverty Point: The First Complex Mississippi Culture"], 2001, ''Delta Blues'', accessed October 26, 2009 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207234411/http://www.deltablues.net/jon.html |date=December 7, 2013 }}</ref> It lasted until approximately 700 BC.

The Poverty Point culture was followed by the [[Tchefuncte culture|Tchefuncte]] and Lake Cormorant cultures of the [[Tchula period]], local manifestations of Early [[Woodland period]]. The Tchefuncte culture were the first people in the area of Louisiana to make large amounts of pottery.<ref name="Tchefuncte">{{cite web|url=http://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/archaeology/tchefuncte/|title=Tchefuncte|access-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331120414/http://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/archaeology/tchefuncte/|archive-date=March 31, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> These cultures lasted until 200 AD. The Middle Woodland period started in Louisiana with the [[Marksville culture]] in the southern and eastern part of the state, reaching across the Mississippi River to the east around Natchez,<ref name="Prehistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/laprehis/marca.htm |title=Louisiana Prehistory-Marksville, Troyville-Coles Creek, and Caddo |access-date=February 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215051856/http://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/laprehis/marca.htm |archive-date=December 15, 2008 }}</ref> and the [[Fourche Maline culture]] in the northwestern part of the state. The Marksville culture was named after the [[Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site]] in [[Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana|Avoyelles Parish]].
[[File:Troyville Earthworks HRoe 2017sm.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|right|[[Troyville Earthworks]], once the second tallest earthworks in North America]]

These cultures were contemporaneous with the [[Hopewell tradition|Hopewell cultures]] of present-day [[Ohio]] and [[Illinois]], and participated in the Hopewell Exchange Network. Trade with peoples to the southwest brought the [[bow (weapon)|bow]] and [[arrow]].<ref name="OASPAST">{{cite web|url=http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/counties/latimer.htm|title=OAS-Oklahomas Past|access-date=February 6, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531183817/http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/counties/latimer.htm|archive-date=May 31, 2010}}</ref> The first [[burial mound]]s were built at this time.<ref name="TejasWoodland" /> Political power began to be consolidated, as the first [[platform mound]]s at ritual centers were constructed for the developing hereditary political and religious leadership.<ref name="TejasWoodland">{{cite web|url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/ancestors/woodland.html|title=Tejas-Caddo Ancestors-Woodland Cultures|access-date=February 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029090229/http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/ancestors/woodland.html|archive-date=October 29, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

By 400 the [[Late Woodland period]] had begun with the [[Baytown culture]], [[Troyville culture]], and Coastal Troyville during the Baytown period and were succeeded by the [[Coles Creek culture]]s. Where the Baytown peoples built dispersed settlements, the Troyville people instead continued building major earthwork centers.<ref name="HANDBOOK">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3JH-TPFjLk4C&pg=PA552|title=Handbook of North American Indians : Southeast|author=Raymond Fogelson|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|date=September 20, 2004|isbn=978-0-16-072300-1|access-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231200726/https://books.google.com/books?id=3JH-TPFjLk4C&pg=PA552|archive-date=December 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Southeastern Prehistory : Late Woodland Period|url=https://www.nps.gov/seac/outline/04-woodland/index-3.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128232856/http://www.nps.gov/seac/outline/04-woodland/index-3.htm|archive-date=January 28, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2011|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWm6FYXp50wC&q=troyville+culture |title=Rethinking Agriculture: Archaeological and Ethnoarchaeological Perspectives |editor1=Timothy P Denham |editor2=José Iriarte |editor3=Luc Vrydaghs |publisher=Left Coast Press |date=December 10, 2008 |pages=199–204 |isbn=978-1-59874-261-9 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231172006/https://books.google.com/books?id=fWm6FYXp50wC&q=troyville+culture#v=snippet&q=troyville%20culture&f=false |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Population increased dramatically and there is strong evidence of a growing cultural and political complexity. Many Coles Creek sites were erected over earlier Woodland period [[morgue|mortuary]] mounds. Scholars have speculated that emerging elites were symbolically and physically appropriating dead ancestors to emphasize and project their own authority.<ref>{{Cite book|last= Kidder |first= Tristram |editor= R. Barry Lewis |editor2=Charles Stout |title= Mississippian Towns and Sacred Spaces |publisher= [[University of Alabama Press]] |year= 1998 |isbn= 978-0-8173-0947-3 }}</ref>

The [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian period]] in Louisiana was when the [[Plaquemine culture|Plaquemine]] and the [[Caddoan Mississippian culture]]s developed, and the peoples adopted extensive maize agriculture, cultivating different strains of the plant by saving seeds, selecting for certain characteristics, etc. The Plaquemine culture in the lower [[Mississippi River]] Valley in western Mississippi and eastern Louisiana began in 1200 and continued to about 1600. Examples in Louisiana include the [[Medora site]], the archaeological [[type site]] for the culture in West Baton Rouge Parish whose characteristics helped define the culture,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/seac/outline/05-mississippian/index.htm |title=Mississippian and Late Prehistoric Period |access-date=September 8, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607164259/http://www.nps.gov/seac/outline/05-mississippian/index.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2008 }}</ref> the [[Atchafalaya Basin Mounds]] in St. Mary Parish,<ref name="REES">{{cite book|editor1-last=Rees|editor1-first=Mark A.|editor2-last=Livingood|editor2-first=Patrick C.| author=Rees, Mark A. | chapter= Plaquemine Mounds of the western Atchafalaya Basin |title= Plaquemine Archaeology| publisher= University of Alabama Press |year=2007|pages=84–93}}</ref> the [[Fitzhugh Mounds]] in Madison Parish,<ref name="FITZHUGH">{{cite web|url=http://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/moundsguide/fitzhugh.html|title=Indian Mounds of Northeast Louisiana:Fitzhugh Mounds|access-date=October 20, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214115151/https://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/moundsguide/fitzhugh.html|archive-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> the [[Scott Place Mounds]] in Union Parish,<ref name="SCOTTPLACE">{{cite web|url=http://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/moundsguide/scottplace.html|title=Indian Mounds of Northeast Louisiana:Scott Place Mounds|access-date=October 20, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251211082025/https://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/moundsguide/scottplace.html|archive-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref> and the [[Sims site]] in St. Charles Parish.<ref name="WEINSTEIN2008">{{cite journal |journal=Southeastern Archaeology |title=The spread of shell-tempered ceramics along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico |volume=27 |issue=2 |year=2008 |author1=Weinstein, Richard A. |author2=Dumas, Ashley A. |url=http://www.coastalenv.com/sarc-27-02-202-221-e.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425141409/http://www.coastalenv.com/sarc-27-02-202-221-e.pdf |archive-date=April 25, 2012 }}</ref>

Plaquemine culture was contemporaneous with the Middle Mississippian culture that is represented by its largest settlement, the [[Cahokia]] site in Illinois east of [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. At its peak Cahokia is estimated to have had a population of more than 20,000. The Plaquemine culture is considered ancestral to the historic [[Natchez people|Natchez]] and [[Taensa]] peoples, whose descendants encountered Europeans in the colonial era.<ref name="The Plaquemine Culture, A.D 1000">{{cite web | url = http://bcn.boulder.co.us/environment/cacv/cacvbrvl.htm | title = The Plaquemine Culture, A.D 1000 | access-date = September 8, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120210023033/http://bcn.boulder.co.us/environment/cacv/cacvbrvl.htm | archive-date = February 10, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

By 1000 in the northwestern part of the state, the Fourche Maline culture had evolved into the Caddoan Mississippian culture. The Caddoan Mississippians occupied a large territory, including what is now eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, northeast [[East Texas|Texas]], and northwest Louisiana. Archaeological evidence has demonstrated that the cultural continuity is unbroken from prehistory to the present. The [[Caddo]] and related [[Caddoan languages|Caddo-language]] speakers in prehistoric times and at first European contact were the direct ancestors of the modern [[Caddo Nation of Oklahoma]] of today.<ref name="TejasLinguistics">{{cite web | url= http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/fundamentals/languages.html | title= Tejas-Caddo Fundamentals-Caddoan Languages and Peoples | access-date= February 4, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100310203249/http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/fundamentals/languages.html | archive-date= March 10, 2010 | url-status= dead }}</ref> Significant Caddoan Mississippian archaeological sites in Louisiana include [[Belcher Mound Site]] in [[Caddo Parish, Louisiana|Caddo Parish]] and [[Gahagan Mounds Site]] in Red River Parish.<ref name="NAGRRA">{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nagpra/index.htm|title=Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Louisiana State University Museum|access-date=February 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106035503/http://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/fed_notices/nagpradir/nic0419.html|archive-date=November 6, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many current place names in Louisiana, including [[Atchafalaya River|Atchafalaya]], Natchitouches (now spelled [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]]), Caddo, [[Houma, Louisiana|Houma]], [[Tangipahoa]], and [[Avoyel]] (as [[Avoyelles]]), are transliterations of those used in various Native American languages.

===Exploration and colonization by Europeans===
{{Main|French colonization of the Americas|New France|Louisiana (New France)||New Spain|Louisiana (New Spain)|West Florida}}

The first European explorers to visit Louisiana came in 1528 when a Spanish expedition led by [[Pánfilo de Narváez]] located the mouth of the Mississippi River. In 1542, [[Hernando de Soto (explorer)|Hernando de Soto]]'s expedition skirted to the north and west of the state (encountering Caddo and Tunica groups) and then followed the Mississippi River down to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] in 1543. Spanish interest in Louisiana faded away for a century and a half.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/465605 |title=Route of the Hernando de Soto Expedition, 1539–1543 |publisher=National Park Service |date=December 1988 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |pages=6, Appendix B |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163452/https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/465605 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the late 17th century, French and [[French Canadian]] expeditions, which included sovereign, religious and commercial aims, established a foothold on the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast. With its first settlements, France laid claim to a vast region of North America and set out to establish a commercial empire and French nation stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.

In 1682, the French explorer [[Robert Cavelier de La Salle]] named the region Louisiana to honor King [[Louis XIV]] of France. The first permanent settlement, Fort Maurepas (now [[Ocean Springs, Mississippi]]), was founded in 1699 by [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]], a French military officer from [[New France]]. By then the French had also built a small fort at the mouth of the Mississippi at a settlement they named [[La Balize, Louisiana|La Balise (or La Balize)]], "[[sea mark|seamark]]" in French. By 1721, they built a {{convert|62|ft|m|adj=on}} wooden lighthouse-type structure here to guide ships on the river.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/la18hu.php#18 |first=David |last=Roth |title=Louisiana Hurricane History: 18th century (1722–1800) |publisher=Tropical Weather—National Weather Service—Lake Charles, Louisiana |date=2003 |access-date=May 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805171217/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/la18hu.php#18 |archive-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>

A royal ordinance of 1722—following the Crown's transfer of the [[Illinois Country]]'s governance from Canada to Louisiana—may have featured the broadest definition of Louisiana: all land claimed by France south of the [[Great Lakes]] between the [[Rocky Mountains]] and the [[Allegheny Mountains|Alleghenies]].<ref name="Ekberg-French Roots">{{cite book|last=Ekberg|first=Carl|title=French Roots in the Illinois Country: The Mississippi Frontier in Colonial Times|date=2000|publisher=University of Illinois Press|location=Urbana and Chicago, Ill.|isbn=9780252069246|pages=32–33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NOdf3FRXms0C&pg=PA216|access-date=November 29, 2014|archive-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220153427/https://books.google.com/books?id=NOdf3FRXms0C&pg=PA216|url-status=live}}</ref> A generation later, trade conflicts between Canada and Louisiana led to a more defined boundary between the French colonies; in 1745, Louisiana governor general [[Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial|Vaudreuil]] set the northern and eastern bounds of his domain as the [[Wabash River|Wabash]] valley up to the mouth of the [[Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary)|Vermilion River]] (near present-day [[Danville, Illinois]]); from there, northwest to [[Starved Rock State Park|''le Rocher'']] on the [[Illinois River]], and from there west to the mouth of the [[Rock River (Mississippi River)|Rock River]] (at present day [[Rock Island, Illinois]]).<ref name="Ekberg-French Roots" /> Thus, [[Vincennes, Indiana|Vincennes]] and [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] were the limit of Louisiana's reach; the outposts at [[Ouiatenon]] (on the upper Wabash near present-day [[Lafayette, Indiana]]), Chicago, [[Fort Miami (Indiana)|Fort Miami]]s (near present-day [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]), and [[Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin]], operated as dependencies of Canada.<ref name="Ekberg-French Roots" />

The settlement of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] (along the Red River in present-day northwest Louisiana) was established in 1714 by [[Louis Juchereau de St. Denis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dunn. "History of Natchitoches."|url=https://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/louisiana_anthology/texts/dunn-m/dunn--history_of_natchitoches.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=LA Tech University|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607164455/https://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/louisiana_anthology/texts/dunn-m/dunn--history_of_natchitoches.html}}</ref> making it the oldest permanent European settlement in the modern state of Louisiana. The French settlement had two purposes: to establish trade with the Spanish in [[Texas]] via the Old San Antonio Road, and to deter Spanish advances into Louisiana. The settlement soon became a flourishing river port and crossroads, giving rise to vast cotton kingdoms along the river that were worked by imported African slaves. Over time, planters developed large plantations and built fine homes in a growing town. This became a pattern repeated in New Orleans and other places, although the commodity crop in the south was primarily sugar cane.

[[File:Atchafalaya Basin.jpg|thumb|French Acadians, who came to be known as [[Cajuns]], settled in southern Louisiana, especially along the banks of its major bayous.]]
Louisiana's French settlements contributed to further exploration and outposts, concentrated along the banks of the Mississippi and its major tributaries, from Louisiana to as far north as the region called the [[Illinois Country]], around present-day [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. The latter was settled by French colonists from Illinois.

Initially, [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] and then [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]] served as the capital of La Louisiane.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 1, 2018|title=LA claims 1st Mardi Gras; here's what really happened|url=https://www.al.com/living/2018/02/louisiana_again_claiming_1st_m.html|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=al|language=en|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223141703/https://www.al.com/living/2018/02/louisiana_again_claiming_1st_m.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of Biloxi, Mississippi|url=https://biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info/history/|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=City of Biloxi Government|language=en-US|archive-date=June 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602034923/https://biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info/history/|url-status=live}}</ref> Recognizing the importance of the Mississippi River to trade and military interests, and wanting to protect the capital from severe coastal storms, France developed New Orleans from 1722 as the seat of civilian and military authority south of the Great Lakes. From then until the United States acquired the territory in the [[Louisiana Purchase]] of 1803, France and Spain jockeyed for control of New Orleans and the lands west of the Mississippi.

In the 1720s, German immigrants settled along the Mississippi River, in a region referred to as the [[German Coast]].

France ceded most of its territory east of the Mississippi to [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] in 1763, in the aftermath of [[Great Britain in the Seven Years War|Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War]] (generally referred to in North America as the [[French and Indian War]]). This included the lands along the Gulf Coast and north of Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River, which became known as British West Florida. The rest of Louisiana west of the Mississippi, as well as the "isle of New Orleans", had become a colony of Spain by the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)]]. The transfer of power on either side of the river would be delayed until later in the decade.

In 1765, during Spanish rule, several thousand [[Acadians]] from the French colony of [[Acadia]] (now [[Nova Scotia]], New Brunswick, and [[Prince Edward Island]]) made their way to Louisiana after having been [[Expulsion of the Acadians|expelled]] from Acadia by the British government after the French and Indian War. They settled chiefly in the southwestern Louisiana region now called [[Acadiana]]. The governor [[Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cazorla-Granados |first=Francisco J. |title=El gobernador Luis de Unzaga (1717–1793) : precursor en el nacimiento de los EE.UU. y en el liberalismo |date=2019 |others=Frank Cazorla, Rosa María García Baena, José David Polo Rubio |isbn=978-84-09-12410-7 |location=Málaga |oclc=1224992294 |pages=49, 52, 62, 74, 83, 90, 150, 207 }}</ref> eager to gain more settlers, welcomed the Acadians, who became the ancestors of Louisiana's [[Cajun]]s.

Spanish Canary Islanders, called [[Isleños]], emigrated from the [[Canary Islands]] of Spain to Louisiana under the Spanish crown between 1778 and 1783.<ref name=":9" /> In 1800, French Consul [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]] reacquired Louisiana from Spain in the [[Third Treaty of San Ildefonso|Treaty of San Ildefonso]], an arrangement kept secret for two years.

===Expansion of slavery===
{{Main|History of slavery in Louisiana}}

[[File:Nouvelle-France map-en.svg|thumb|250px|left|Map of [[New France]] (blue color) in 1750, before the [[French and Indian War]]]]
[[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville]] brought the first two African slaves to Louisiana in 1708, transporting them from a French colony in the West Indies. In 1709, French financier [[Antoine Crozat]] obtained a monopoly of commerce in [[La Louisiane]], which extended from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to what is now [[Illinois]]. According to historian [[Hugh Thomas (writer)|Hugh Thomas]], "that concession allowed him to bring in a cargo of blacks from Africa every year".<ref>''The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1440–1870'' by Hugh Thomas. 1997: Simon and Schuster. p. 242–43</ref>
Starting in 1719, traders began to import slaves in higher numbers; two French ships, the ''Du Maine'' and the ''Aurore'', arrived in New Orleans carrying more than 500 black slaves coming from Africa. Previous slaves in Louisiana had been transported from French colonies in the West Indies. By the end of 1721, New Orleans counted 1,256 inhabitants, of whom about half were slaves.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 1724, the French government issued a law called the [[Code Noir]] ("Black Code" in English) which regulated the interaction of whites (blancs) and blacks (noirs) in its colony of Louisiana (which was much larger than the current state of Louisiana). After the [[Sale of Louisiana]], French Law survived in the Louisiana, such as the prohibition and outlaw of any cruel punishment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knowlouisiana.org/entry/code-noir-of-louisiana|title=Code Noir of Louisiana—Know Louisiana|access-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518041714/http://www.knowlouisiana.org/entry/code-noir-of-louisiana|archive-date=May 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=The law of slavery—Master–slave legal relationships |url=https://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-24164 |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007003400/https://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-24164 |archive-date=October 7, 2014 }}</ref>

Fugitive slaves, called [[maroons]], could easily hide in the backcountry of the bayous and survive in small settlements.<ref>{{cite web|title=More Than A Runaway: Maroons In Louisiana|url=https://www.wwno.org/podcast/tripod-new-orleans-at-300/2015-12-10/more-than-a-runaway-maroons-in-louisiana|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=WWNO|language=en|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607165130/https://www.wwno.org/podcast/tripod-new-orleans-at-300/2015-12-10/more-than-a-runaway-maroons-in-louisiana|url-status=live}}</ref> The word "maroon" comes from the Spanish "cimarron", which means "fierce" or "unruly."<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Maroons|url=https://cyber.harvard.edu/eon/marroon/history.html|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=cyber.harvard.edu|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206165224/https://cyber.harvard.edu/eon/marroon/history.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the late 18th century, the last Spanish governor of the Louisiana territory wrote:
{{blockquote|Truly, it is impossible for lower Louisiana to get along without slaves and with the use of slaves, the colony had been making great strides toward prosperity and wealth.<ref name="The Slave Trade p. 548" />}}

[[File:Free Woman of Color with daughter NOLA Collage.jpg|thumb|[[Free people of color|Free woman of color]] with [[mixed-race]] daughter; late 18th-century collage painting, New Orleans]]
When the United States [[Louisiana Purchase|purchased Louisiana]] in 1803, it was soon accepted that slaves could be brought to Louisiana as easily as they were brought to neighboring [[Mississippi]], though it violated U.S. law to do so.<ref name="The Slave Trade p. 548">Hugh Thomas, ''The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1440–1870'', Simon and Schuster, 1997, p. 548.</ref> Despite demands by United States Rep. [[James Hillhouse]] and by the pamphleteer [[Thomas Paine]] to enforce existing federal law against slavery in the newly acquired territory,<ref name="The Slave Trade p. 548" /> slavery prevailed because it was the source of great profits and the lowest-cost labor.

At the start of the 19th century, Louisiana was a small producer of sugar with a relatively small number of slaves, compared to [[Saint-Domingue]] and the West Indies. It soon thereafter became a major sugar producer as new settlers arrived to develop plantations. [[William C. C. Claiborne]], Louisiana's first United States governor, said African slave labor was needed because white laborers "cannot be had in this unhealthy climate."<ref>Thomas (1997), ''The Slave Trade'', p. 549.</ref> Hugh Thomas wrote that Claiborne was unable to enforce the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade, which the U.S. and Great Britain enacted in 1807. The United States continued to protect the domestic slave trade, including the coastwise trade—the transport of slaves by ship along the Atlantic Coast and to New Orleans and other Gulf ports.

By 1840, New Orleans had the biggest slave market in the United States, which contributed greatly to the economy of the city and of the state. New Orleans had become one of the wealthiest cities, and the third largest city, in the nation.<ref>Walter Johnson, ''Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market'', Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1999, p.2</ref> The ban on the African slave trade and importation of slaves had increased demand in the domestic market. During the decades after the American Revolutionary War, more than one million enslaved African Americans underwent forced migration from the Upper South to the Deep South, two thirds of them in the slave trade. Others were transported by their owners as slaveholders moved west for new lands.<ref>[http://www.inmotionaame.org/migrations/landing.cfm?migration=3 In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience—The Domestic Slave Trade, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Study of Black Culture, 2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104201729/http://www.inmotionaame.org/migrations/landing.cfm?migration=3 |date=November 4, 2013 }}, accessed April 27, 2008</ref><ref>Peter Kolchin, ''American Slavery: 1619–1877'', New York: Hill and Wang, 1994, pp. 96–98</ref>

With changing agriculture in the Upper South as planters shifted from tobacco to less labor-intensive mixed agriculture, planters had excess laborers. Many sold slaves to traders to take to the Deep South. Slaves were driven by traders overland from the Upper South or transported to New Orleans and other coastal markets by ship in the [[coastwise slave trade]]. After sales in New Orleans, steamboats operating on the Mississippi transported slaves upstream to markets or plantation destinations at Natchez and Memphis.

Unusually for a slave-state, Louisiana harbored escaped Filipino slaves from the [[Manila Galleon]]s.<ref name="Bishops2001">{{cite book|author=Catholic Church. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7A05Cl-FcwgC&pg=PA8|title=Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith|date=December 2001|publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|isbn=978-1-57455-449-6|page=8|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510080011/https://books.google.com/books?id=7A05Cl-FcwgC&pg=PA8|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Pang|first1=Valerie Ooka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wZyIYK1M1ikC&q=Filipinos%20in%20Louisiana&pg=PA287|title=Struggling to be heard: the Unmet Needs of Asian Pacific American Children|last2=Cheng|first2=Li-Rong Lilly|date=1999|publisher=NetLibrary, Inc|isbn=0-585-07571-9|page=287|oclc=1053003694|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123163307/https://books.google.com/books?id=wZyIYK1M1ikC&q=Filipinos%20in%20Louisiana&pg=PA287|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Holt|first1=Thomas Cleveland|last2=Green|first2=Laurie B.|last3=Wilson|first3=Charles Reagan|date=October 21, 2013|title=Pacific Worlds and the South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jajYn4iXLBoC&pg=PA120|journal=The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Race|volume=24|page=120|isbn=978-1469607245|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=February 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218081155/https://books.google.com/books?id=jajYn4iXLBoC&pg=PA120|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Westbrook|first=Laura|title=Mabuhay Pilipino! (Long Life!): Filipino Culture in Southeast Louisiana|url=http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/pilipino1.html|access-date=May 23, 2020|website=Folklife in Louisiana|archive-date=May 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518005511/http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/Pilipino1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The members of the Filipino community were then commonly referred to as ''Manila men,'' or ''Manilamen'', and later ''Tagalas'',<ref name="Welch2014">{{cite web|last=Welch|first=Michael Patrick|date=October 27, 2014|title=NOLA Filipino History Stretches for Centuries|url=https://www.neworleans.me/journal/detail/761/NOLA-Filipino-History-Stretches-for-Centuries|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118011323/https://www.neworleans.me/journal/detail/761/NOLA-Filipino-History-Stretches-for-Centuries|archive-date=January 18, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2019|website=New Orleans & Me|publisher=WWNO|location=New Orleans}}</ref> as they were free when they created the oldest settlement of Asians in the United States in the village of [[Saint Malo, Louisiana]],<ref name="Welch2014" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Unveiling of St. Malo Historical Marker|url=http://filipinola.com/event/unveiling-of-st-malo-historical-marker/|last=Randy Gonzales|date=September 14, 2019|website=Filipino La.|language=en|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202235456/http://filipinola.com/event/unveiling-of-st-malo-historical-marker/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=From Manila to the Marigny: How Philippine pioneers left a mark at the 'end of world' in New Orleans|url=https://nola.verylocal.com/from-manila-to-the-maringny-how-philippine-pioneers-left-a-mark-at-the-end-of-world-in-new-orleans/89392/|last=Hinton|first=Matthew|date=October 23, 2019|website=Very Local New Orleans|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006203418/https://nola.verylocal.com/from-manila-to-the-maringny-how-philippine-pioneers-left-a-mark-at-the-end-of-world-in-new-orleans/89392/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Filipino American History Month Resolution|url=http://fanhs-national.org/filam/resolution/|website=FANHS National|language=en-US|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002190239/http://fanhs-national.org/filam/resolution/|url-status=live}}</ref> the inhabitants of which, even joined the United States in the [[War of 1812]] against the British Empire while they were being led by the French-American [[Jean Lafitte]].<ref name=":0" />

===Asylum and influence of Creoles from Saint-Domingue===
{{further|Saint-Domingue Creoles}}
[[File:Agostino_Brunias_-_The_linen_market_at_Saint-Domingue,_1804.png|right|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Saint-Domingue Creoles]]]]
Spanish occupation of Louisiana lasted from 1769 to 1800.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana: European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase|url=https://www.loc.gov/static/collections/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/images/lapurchase.pdf|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=Library of Congress|page=4|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523081214/https://www.loc.gov/static/collections/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/images/lapurchase.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning in the 1790s, waves of immigration took place from [[Saint-Domingue]] as refugees poured over following a [[Haitian Revolution|slave rebellion]] that started during the [[French Revolution]] of [[Saint-Domingue]] in 1791. Over the next decade, thousands of refugees landed in Louisiana from the island, including Europeans, Creoles, and Africans, some of the latter brought in by each free group. They greatly increased the French-speaking population in New Orleans and Louisiana, as well as the number of Africans, and the slaves reinforced [[African culture]] in the city.<ref>"[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+ht0017) The Slave Rebellion of 1791] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205164427/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+ht0017%29 |date=February 5, 2016 }}". [[Library of Congress Country Studies]].</ref>

[[Anglo-Americans|Anglo-American]] officials initially made attempts to keep out the additional [[gens de couleur libres|Creoles of color]], but the [[Louisiana Creole people|Louisiana Creoles]] wanted to increase the Creole population: more than half of the refugees eventually settled in Louisiana, and the majority remained in [[New Orleans]].<ref>''The Bourgeois Frontier : French Towns, French Traders and American Expansion,'' by Jay Gitlin (2009). Yale University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-300-10118-8}}, pg 54</ref>

[[Pierre Clément de Laussat]] ([[List of colonial governors of Louisiana|Governor]], 1803) said: "Saint-Domingue was, of all our colonies in the Antilles, the one whose mentality and customs influenced Louisiana the most."<ref>[http://www.inmotionaame.org/gallery/detail.cfm;jsessionid=f8301053021342952617924?migration=5&topic=2&id=463576&type=image&bhcp=1 Sieur de Bienville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117095126/http://www.inmotionaame.org/gallery/detail.cfm;jsessionid=f8301053021342952617924?migration=5&topic=2&id=463576&type=image&bhcp=1 |date=January 17, 2013 }}, "In Motion", African American Migration Experience, accessed July 22, 2012</ref>
[[File:Anonymous portrait of Jean Lafitte, early 19th century, Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas.JPG|thumb|upright|French pirate [[Jean Lafitte]], who operated in New Orleans, was born in [[Port-au-Prince]] around 1782.<ref>[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/neworleans.html Saving New Orleans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104202028/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/neworleans.html |date=November 4, 2013 }}, ''Smithsonian'' magazine, August 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2010.</ref>]]

===Purchase by the United States===
{{Main|Louisiana Purchase|Territory of Orleans|Republic of West Florida|Neutral Ground (Louisiana)}}

When the United States won its independence from Great Britain in 1783, one of its major concerns was having a European power on its western boundary, and the need for unrestricted access to the Mississippi River. As American settlers pushed west, they found that the [[Appalachian Mountains]] provided a barrier to shipping goods eastward. The easiest way to ship produce was to use a [[flatboat]] to float it down the [[Ohio River|Ohio]] and Mississippi rivers to the port of New Orleans, where goods could be put on ocean-going vessels. The problem with this route was that the Spanish owned both sides of the Mississippi below [[Natchez, Mississippi|Natchez]].

Napoleon's ambitions in Louisiana involved the creation of a new empire centered on the [[Caribbean]] [[sugar trade]]. By the terms of the [[Treaty of Amiens]] of 1802, Great Britain returned control of the islands of [[Martinique]] and [[Guadeloupe]] to the French. Napoleon looked upon Louisiana as a depot for these sugar islands, and as a buffer to U.S. settlement. In October 1801 he sent a large military force to take back Saint-Domingue, then under control of Toussaint Louverture after the [[Haitian Revolution]]. When the army led by Napoleon's brother-in-law Leclerc was defeated, Napoleon decided to sell Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blakemore|first=Erin|title=Why France Sold the Louisiana Purchase to the US|url=https://www.history.com/news/louisiana-purchase-price-french-colonial-slave-rebellion|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=HISTORY|date=August 23, 2018 |language=en|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512093700/https://www.history.com/news/louisiana-purchase-price-french-colonial-slave-rebellion|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Louisiane 1800.png|thumb|Map of Louisiana in 1800]]

[[Thomas Jefferson]], third president of the United States, was disturbed by Napoleon's plans to re-establish French colonies in North America. With the possession of New Orleans, Napoleon could close the Mississippi to U.S. commerce at any time. Jefferson authorized [[Robert Livingston (1746–1813)|Robert R. Livingston]], U.S. minister to France, to negotiate for the purchase of the city of New Orleans, portions of the east bank of the Mississippi,<ref>{{cite web|title=Founders Online: From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 18 April 1802|url=http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-37-02-0220|url-status=live|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=National Archives and Records Administration|language=en|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506133626/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-37-02-0220}}</ref> and free navigation of the river for U.S. commerce. Livingston was authorized to pay up to $2{{spaces}}million.

An official transfer of Louisiana to French ownership had not yet taken place, and Napoleon's deal with the Spanish was a poorly kept secret on the frontier. On October 18, 1802, however, Juan Ventura Morales, acting intendant of Louisiana, made public the intention of Spain to revoke the right of deposit at New Orleans for all cargo from the United States. The closure of this vital port to the United States caused anger and consternation. Commerce in the west was virtually blockaded. Historians believe the revocation of the right of deposit was prompted by abuses by the Americans, particularly smuggling, and not by French intrigues as was believed at the time. President Jefferson ignored public pressure for war with France, and appointed [[James Monroe]] a special envoy to Napoleon, to assist in obtaining New Orleans for the United States. Jefferson also raised the authorized expenditure to $10{{spaces}}million.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title=The Louisiana Purchase|url=https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/louisiana-lewis-clark/the-louisiana-purchase/|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=Monticello|language=en|archive-date=March 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321075505/https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/louisiana-purchase|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, on April 11, 1803, French foreign minister [[Talleyrand]] surprised Livingston by asking how much the United States was prepared to pay for the entirety of Louisiana, not just New Orleans and the surrounding area (as Livingston's instructions covered). Monroe agreed with Livingston that Napoleon might withdraw this offer at any time (leaving them with no ability to obtain the desired New Orleans area), and that approval from President Jefferson might take months, so Livingston and Monroe decided to open negotiations immediately. By April 30, they closed a deal for the purchase of the entire Louisiana territory of {{convert|828000|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} for sixty million [[French franc|Francs]] (approximately $15{{spaces}}million).<ref name=":5" />

Part of this sum, $3.5{{spaces}}million, was used to forgive debts owed by France to the United States.<ref>Peter Kastor, ''The Nation's Crucible: The Louisiana Purchase and the Creation of America'', (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004) 40</ref> The payment was made in United States [[Government bond|bonds]], which Napoleon sold at face value to the Dutch firm of [[Hope & Co.|Hope and Company]], and the [[Barings Bank|British banking house of Baring]], at a discount of {{frac|87|1|2}} per each $100 unit.<!--recte "percent"?--> As a result, France received only $8,831,250 in cash for Louisiana. English banker [[Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton|Alexander Baring]] conferred with Marbois in Paris, shuttled to the United States to pick up the bonds, took them to Britain, and returned to France with the money—which Napoleon used to wage war against Baring's own country.
[[File:Flickr - USCapitol - Louisiana Purchase, 1803.jpg|thumb|Louisiana Purchase, 1803]]

When news of the purchase reached the United States, Jefferson was surprised. He had authorized the expenditure of $10{{spaces}}million for a port city, and instead received treaties committing the government to spend $15{{spaces}}million on a land package which would double the size of the country. Jefferson's political opponents in the [[Federalist Party (United States)|Federalist Party]] argued the Louisiana purchase was a worthless desert,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AsY9Vh9X8ZYC&q=worthless+desert |title=The American pageant: a history of the republic—Thomas A. Bailey, David M. Kennedy—Google Books |access-date=April 23, 2014 |isbn=9780669339055 |last1=Bailey |first1=Thomas A |last2=Kennedy |first2=David M |year=1994 |publisher=D.C. Heath |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220153248/https://books.google.com/books?id=AsY9Vh9X8ZYC&q=worthless+desert |url-status=live }}</ref> and that the U.S. constitution did not provide for the acquisition of new land or negotiating treaties without the consent of the federal legislature. What really worried the opposition was the new states which would inevitably be carved from the Louisiana territory, strengthening western and southern interests in [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]], and further reducing the influence of New England Federalists in national affairs. President Jefferson was an enthusiastic supporter of westward expansion, and held firm in his support for the treaty. Despite Federalist objections, the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] ratified the Louisiana treaty on October 20, 1803.

By statute enacted on October 31, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson was authorized to take possession of the territories ceded by France and provide for initial governance.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002/llsl002.db&recNum=282|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220085715/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002%2Fllsl002.db&recNum=282|archive-date=December 20, 2016|access-date=December 2, 2019|website=Library of Congress}}</ref> A transfer ceremony was held in New Orleans on November 29, 1803. Since the Louisiana territory had never officially been turned over to the French, the Spanish took down their flag, and the French raised theirs. The following day, [[General James Wilkinson]] accepted possession of New Orleans for the United States. The Louisiana Territory, purchased for less than three cents an acre, doubled the size of the United States overnight, without a war or the loss of a single American life, and set a precedent for the purchase of territory. It opened the way for the eventual expansion of the United States across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.

Shortly after the United States took possession, the area was divided into two territories along the [[33rd parallel north]] on March 26, 1804, thereby organizing the [[Territory of Orleans]] to the south and the [[District of Louisiana]] (subsequently formed as the [[Louisiana Territory]]) to the north.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875|url=http://rs6.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002/llsl002.db&recNum=320|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220091706/http://rs6.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002%2Fllsl002.db&recNum=320|archive-date=December 20, 2016|access-date=December 2, 2019|website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

===Statehood===
{{Main|Admission to the Union|List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union|Seminole Wars|Adams–Onís Treaty}}

Louisiana became the eighteenth U.S. state on April 30, 1812; the Territory of Orleans became the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Territory was simultaneously renamed the [[Missouri Territory]].<ref>{{cite web|title=A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002/llsl002.db&recNum=738|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105021747/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002%2Fllsl002.db&recNum=738|archive-date=January 5, 2017|access-date=December 2, 2019|website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

At its creation, the state of Louisiana did not include the area north and east of the Mississippi River known as the [[Florida Parishes]]. On April 14, 1812, Congress had authorized Louisiana to expand its borders to include the Florida Parishes,<ref>{{cite web|title=A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002/llsl002.db&recNum=745|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202191512/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=002%2Fllsl002.db&recNum=745|archive-date=February 2, 2017|access-date=December 2, 2019|website=Library of Congress}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=An Act to enlarge the limits of the State of Louisiana |work=en.wikisource.org |date=April 14, 1812 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/An_Act_to_enlarge_the_limits_of_the_State_of_Louisiana |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021231725/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/An_Act_to_enlarge_the_limits_of_the_State_of_Louisiana |url-status=live }}</ref> but the border change required approval of the state legislature, which it did not give until August 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Giving the Assent of the Legislature to an Enlargement of the Limits of the State of Louisiana |work=en.wikisource.org |date=August 4, 1812 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Giving_the_Assent_of_the_Legislature_to_an_Enlargement_of_the_Limits_of_the_State_of_Louisiana |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021231724/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Giving_the_Assent_of_the_Legislature_to_an_Enlargement_of_the_Limits_of_the_State_of_Louisiana |url-status=live }}</ref> For the roughly three months in between, the northern border of eastern Louisiana was the course of [[Bayou Manchac]] and the middle of [[Lake Maurepas]] and [[Lake Pontchartrain]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Admission of the State of Louisiana |author=United States Congress |work=en.wikisource.org |date=April 8, 1812 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Admission_of_the_State_of_Louisiana_(act) |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021231712/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Admission_of_the_State_of_Louisiana_(act) |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1824 to 1861, Louisiana moved from a political system based on personality and ethnicity to a distinct two-party system, with Democrats competing first against [[Whig Party (United States)|Whigs]], then [[Know Nothing]]s, and finally only other [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]].<ref>{{cite book|first = John M.|last = Sacher|title =A Perfect War of Politics: Parties, Politicians, and Democracy in Louisiana, 1824–1861|isbn = 9780807128480|publisher = Louisiana State University Press|date = 2003}}</ref>

===Secession and the Civil War===
{{Main|Ordinance of Secession|Confederate States of America|Louisiana in the American Civil War}}

[[File:'Signing the Ordinance of Secession of Louisiana, January 26, 1861', oil on canvas painting by Enoch Wood Perry, Jr., 1861.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.35|'Signing the Ordinance of Secession of Louisiana, January 26, 1861', oil on canvas painting, 1861]]
[[File:New Orleans h76369k.jpg|right|thumb|[[Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip|''Capture of New Orleans'']], April 1862, colored lithograph of engraving]]

According to the 1860 census, 331,726 people were enslaved, nearly 47% of the state's total population of 708,002.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041019003356/http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/php/state.php Historical Census Browser, 1860 US Census, University of Virginia], accessed October 31, 2007</ref> The strong economic interest of elite whites in maintaining the slave society contributed to Louisiana's decision to secede from the Union on January 26, 1861.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.knowlouisiana.org/entry/louisianas-secession-from-the-union|title=Louisiana's Secession from the Union|work=64 Parishes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115015107/http://www.knowlouisiana.org/entry/louisianas-secession-from-the-union|archive-date=November 15, 2017|url-status=live|last = Sacher|first = John M.|date = July 27, 2011 }}</ref> It followed other U.S. states in seceding after the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]] as president of the United States. Louisiana's secession was announced on January 26, 1861, and it became part of the [[Confederate States of America]].

The state was quickly defeated in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], a result of Union strategy to cut the Confederacy in two by controlling the [[Mississippi River]]. Federal troops captured New Orleans on April 25, 1862. Because a large part of the population had Union sympathies (or compatible commercial interests), the federal government took the unusual step of designating the areas of Louisiana under federal control as a state within the Union, with its own elected representatives to the U.S. Congress.<ref>{{cite web|title=Munson, Underwood, Horn, Fairfield and Allied Families – Louisiana|url=http://www.brazoriaroots.com/pi715.htm|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=Brazoriaroots.com|archive-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220154000/http://www.brazoriaroots.com/pi715.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Louisiana|url=https://myhammond.com/louisiana/|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=My Hammond {{!}} My Ponchatoula|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924123340/http://myhammond.com/louisiana/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Post–Civil War to mid–20th century ===
[[File:State of Louisiana 1892.jpg|thumb|Consolidated Bond of the State of Louisiana, issued 6. July 1892]]
Following the American Civil War and emancipation of slaves, violence rose in the southern U.S. as the war was carried on by insurgent private and paramilitary groups. During the initial period after the war, there was a massive rise in black participation in terms of voting and [[African American officeholders from the end of the Civil War until before 1900|holding political office]]. Louisiana saw the United States' first and second black governors with [[Oscar Dunn]] and [[P. B. S. Pinchback|P.B.S. Pinchback]], with 125 black members of the state legislature being elected during this time, while [[Charles E. Nash]] was elected to represent the state's [[Louisiana's 6th congressional district|6th Congressional District]] in the U.S. House of Representatives. Eventually former Confederates came to dominate the state legislature after the end of [[Reconstruction era|Reconstruction]] and federal occupation in the late 1870s, and black codes were implemented to regulate [[freedmen]] and increasingly restricted the right to vote. They refused to extend voting rights to African Americans who had been free before the war and had sometimes obtained education and property (as in New Orleans).

Following the [[Memphis riots of 1866]] and the [[New Orleans riot]] the same year, the Fourteenth Amendment was passed that provided suffrage and full citizenship for freedmen. Congress passed the [[Reconstruction Acts|Reconstruction Act]], establishing military districts for those states where conditions were considered the worst, including Louisiana. It was grouped with [[Texas]] in what was administered as the [[Fifth Military District]].<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Army. 5th Military District.|url=http://archives.nolalibrary.org/~nopl/mss/orders1867and1868.htm|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=NOLA Library|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624210547/http://archives.nolalibrary.org/~nopl/mss/orders1867and1868.htm}}</ref>

African Americans began to live as citizens with some measure of equality before the law. Both freedmen and people of color who had been free before the war began to make more advances in education, family stability and jobs. At the same time, there was tremendous social volatility in the aftermath of war, with many whites actively resisting defeat and the free labor market. White [[insurgents]] mobilized to enforce [[white supremacy]], first in [[Ku Klux Klan]] chapters.

By 1877, when federal forces were withdrawn, white Democrats in Louisiana and other states had regained control of state legislatures, often by paramilitary groups such as the [[White League]], which suppressed black voting through intimidation and violence. Following Mississippi's example in 1890, in 1898, the white Democratic, planter-dominated legislature passed a new constitution that effectively [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disfranchised]] people of color by raising barriers to voter registration, such as [[poll tax (United States)|poll taxes]], residency requirements and [[literacy tests]]. The effect was immediate and long lasting. In 1896, there were 130,334 black voters on the rolls and about the same number of white voters, in proportion to the state population, which was evenly divided.<ref>{{Cite journal |ssrn=224731 |title=Richard H. Pildes, Democracy, Anti-Democracy, and the Canon, Constitutional Commentary, Vol.17, 2000, p.12-13, Accessed 10 Mar 2008 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.224731 |year=2000 |last1=Pildes |first1=Richard H |journal=Constitutional Commentary |hdl=11299/168068 |url=https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/concomm/893 |hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812162213/https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/concomm/893/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Negro boy sitting on sugarcane truck, Morganza, Louisiana.jpg|thumb|A young African American man in [[Morganza, Louisiana|Morganza]], 1938]]

The state population in 1900 was 47% African American: a total of 652,013 citizens. Many in New Orleans were descendants of Creoles of color, the sizeable population of free people of color before the Civil War.<ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/php/state.php Historical Census Browser, 1900 US Census, University of Virginia], accessed March 15, 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823030234/http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/php/state.php |date=August 23, 2007 }}</ref> By 1900, two years after the new constitution, only 5,320 black voters were registered in the state. Because of disfranchisement, by 1910 there were only 730 black voters (less than 0.5 percent of eligible African-American men), despite advances in education and literacy among blacks and people of color.<ref>[https://ssrn.com/abstract=224731 Richard H. Pildes, "Democracy, Anti-Democracy and the Canon", ''Constitutional Commentary'', Vol. 17, p.12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121211213/https://ssrn.com/abstract=224731 |date=November 21, 2018 }}, accessed March 10, 2008</ref> Blacks were excluded from the political system and also unable to serve on juries. White Democrats had established one-party Democratic rule, which they maintained in the state for decades deep into the 20th century until after congressional passage of the 1965 [[Voting Rights Act]] provided federal oversight and enforcement of the constitutional right to vote.
[[File:CrowleyConcertBand1938RussellLee.jpg|thumb|National Rice Festival, [[Crowley, Louisiana]], 1938]]

In the early decades of the 20th century, thousands of African Americans left Louisiana in the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] north to industrial cities for jobs and education, and to escape Jim Crow society and [[lynchings]]. The [[boll weevil]] infestation and agricultural problems cost many sharecroppers and farmers their jobs. The mechanization of agriculture also reduced the need for laborers. Beginning in the 1940s, blacks went west to California for jobs in its expanding defense industries.<ref>[http://www.inmotionaame.org/migrations/landing.cfm?migration=9 "African American Migration Experience: The Great Migration", ''In Motion'', New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104202248/http://www.inmotionaame.org/migrations/landing.cfm?migration=9 |date=November 4, 2013 }}, accessed April 24, 2008</ref>

In 1920 the state had no continuous paved roads running east to west or north to south which traversed the entire state.<ref>McKinney, Karen JS. "Getting Out of the Mud: Louisiana and Good Roads before 1928". ''Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association'', vol. 60, no. 3, 2019, p. 292. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/26864715 JSTOR website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607183637/https://www.jstor.org/stable/26864715 |date=June 7, 2024 }} Retrieved June 17, 2023.</ref>

During some of the [[Great Depression]], Louisiana was led by Governor [[Huey Long]]. He was elected to office on populist appeal. His public works projects provided thousands of jobs to people in need, and he supported education and increased suffrage for poor whites, but Long was criticized for his allegedly demagogic and autocratic style. He extended patronage control through every branch of Louisiana's state government. Especially controversial were his plans for wealth redistribution in the state. Long's rule ended abruptly when he was [[Assassination of Huey Long|assassinated]] in the state capitol in 1935.<ref>{{cite news |last=Glass|first=Andrew|date=September 8, 2017|title=Huey Long assassinated, Sept. 8, 1935|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/08/huey-long-assassinated-sept-8-1935-242325|work=Politico|access-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513093913/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/08/huey-long-assassinated-sept-8-1935-242325|archive-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

=== Mid–20th century to present ===
Mobilization for [[World War II]] created jobs in the state. But thousands of other workers, black and white alike, migrated to California for better jobs in its burgeoning defense industry. Many African Americans left the state in the [[Second Great Migration (African American)|Second Great Migration]], from the 1940s through the 1960s to escape social oppression and seek better jobs. The mechanization of agriculture in the 1930s had sharply cut the need for laborers. They sought skilled jobs in the defense industry in California, better education for their children, and living in communities where they could vote.<ref>[http://www.inmotionaame.org/migrations/landing.cfm?migration=9 "African American Migration Experience: The Second Great Migration", ''In Motion'', New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104202248/http://www.inmotionaame.org/migrations/landing.cfm?migration=9 |date=November 4, 2013 }}, accessed April 24, 2008</ref>

On November 26, 1958, at [[Chennault Air Force Base]], a USAF B-47 bomber with a [[nuclear weapon]] on board developed a fire while on the ground. The aircraft wreckage and the site of the accident were contaminated after a limited explosion of non-nuclear material.<ref>Rebecca Grant. [http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2011/August%202011/0811dome.aspx The Perils of Chrome Dome] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902133753/http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2011/August%25202011/0811dome.aspx |date=September 2, 2019 }}, ''Air Force Magazine'', Vol. 94, No. 8, August 2011.</ref>

In the 1950s the state created new requirements for a citizenship test for voter registration. Despite opposition by the [[Dixiecrats|States' Rights Party]] (Dixiecrats), downstate black voters had begun to increase their rate of registration, which also reflected the growth of their middle classes. In 1960 the state established the Louisiana State Sovereignty Commission, to investigate civil rights activists and maintain segregation.<ref>Adam Fairclough, ''Race & Democracy: The Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana, 1915–1972'', University of Georgia Press, 1999</ref>

Despite this, gradually black voter registration and turnout increased to 20% and more, and it was 32% by 1964, when the first national civil rights legislation of the era was passed.<ref>[http://www.naacpldf.org/content/pdf/reauthorization/Louisiana_VRA_Report.pdf Debo P. Adegbile, "Voting Rights in Louisiana: 1982–2006", March 2006, p. 7] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626001257/http://www.naacpldf.org/content/pdf/reauthorization/Louisiana_VRA_Report.pdf |date=June 26, 2008 }}, accessed March 19, 2008</ref> The percentage of black voters ranged widely in the state during these years, from 93.8% in [[Evangeline Parish]] to 1.7% in [[Tensas Parish]], for instance, where there were intense white efforts to suppress the vote in the black-majority parish.<ref name="thernstrom">[http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.23861/pub_detail.asp Edward Blum and Abigail Thernstrom, "Executive Summary"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417211312/http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.23861/pub_detail.asp |date=April 17, 2009 }}, ''Bullock-Gaddie Expert Report on Louisiana'', February 10, 2006, p.1, American Enterprise Institute, accessed March 19, 2008</ref>

Violent attacks on civil rights activists in two mill towns were catalysts to the founding of the first two chapters of the [[Deacons for Defense and Justice]] in late 1964 and early 1965, in [[Jonesboro, Louisiana|Jonesboro]] and [[Bogalusa, Louisiana|Bogalusa]], respectively. Made up of veterans of World War II and the [[Korean War]], they were armed self-defense groups established to protect activists and their families. Continued violent white resistance in Bogalusa to blacks trying to use public facilities in 1965, following passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], caused the federal government to order local police to protect the activists.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |title=Robert Hicks, Leader in Armed Rights Group, Dies at 81 |author=Douglas Martin |date=April 24, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/us/25hicks.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018103407/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/us/25hicks.html |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other chapters were formed in Mississippi and Alabama.

By 1960 the proportion of African Americans in Louisiana had dropped to 32%. The 1,039,207 black citizens were still suppressed by segregation and disfranchisement.<ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/php/state.php Historical Census Browser, 1960 US Census, University of Virginia], accessed March 15, 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823030234/http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/php/state.php |date=August 23, 2007 }}</ref> African Americans continued to suffer disproportionate discriminatory application of the state's voter registration rules. Because of better opportunities elsewhere, from 1965 to 1970, blacks continued to migrate out of Louisiana, for a net loss of more than 37,000 people. Based on official census figures, the African American population in 1970 stood at 1,085,109, a net gain of more than 46,000 people compared to 1960. During the latter period, some people began to migrate to cities of the [[New South]] for opportunities.<ref>[http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2004/05demographics_frey.aspx William H. Frey, "The New Great Migration: Black Americans' Return to the South, 1965–2000"; May 2004, p. 3, The Brookings Institution] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118184428/http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2004/05demographics_frey.aspx |date=January 18, 2012 }}, accessed March 19, 2008</ref> Since that period, blacks entered the political system and began to be elected to office, as well as having other opportunities.

On May 21, 1919, the [[Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution]], giving women full rights to vote, was passed at a national level, and was made the law throughout the United States on August 18, 1920. Louisiana finally ratified the amendment on June 11, 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana and the 19th Amendment (U.S. National Park Service)|url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/louisiana-and-the-19th-amendment.htm|url-status=live|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=National Park Service|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016194808/https://www.nps.gov/articles/louisiana-and-the-19th-amendment.htm}}</ref>
[[File:Katrina-new-orleans-flooding3-2005.jpg|thumb|View of flooded New Orleans in the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]]]]

Due to its location on the Gulf Coast, Louisiana has regularly suffered the effects of tropical storms and damaging hurricanes. On August 29, 2005, New Orleans and many other low-lying parts of the state along the [[Gulf of Mexico]] were hit by the catastrophic [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hurricane Katrina|url=https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/hurricane-katrina|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=HISTORY|date=August 9, 2019 |archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922203715/https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/hurricane-katrina|url-status=live}}</ref> It caused widespread damage due to breaching of levees and large-scale flooding of more than 80% of the city. Officials had issued warnings to evacuate the city and nearby areas, but tens of thousands of people, mostly African Americans, stayed behind, many of them stranded. Many people died and survivors suffered through the damage of the widespread floodwaters.

In July 2016 the [[shooting of Alton Sterling]] sparked protests throughout the state capital of Baton Rouge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alton Sterling protesters treated 'like animals' in Baton Rouge prison, advocacy group claims|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_83d4ec44-626c-11e7-86ae-dbcc39e06536.html|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=The Advocate|date=July 8, 2017 |archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012549/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_83d4ec44-626c-11e7-86ae-dbcc39e06536.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BRPD officer injured in Alton Sterling protest can pursue negligence claim against organizer|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_8115e746-20e3-11ea-bac9-e3b6fc6aca74.html|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=The Advocate|date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918033728/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_8115e746-20e3-11ea-bac9-e3b6fc6aca74.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2016, [[2016 Louisiana floods|an unnamed storm]] dumped trillions of gallons of rain on southern Louisiana, including the cities of [[Denham Springs, Louisiana|Denham Springs]], [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]], Gonzales, St. Amant and [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]], causing catastrophic flooding.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/08/19/no-name-storm-dumped-three-times-as-much-rain-in-louisiana-as-hurricane-katrina/ |title=No-name storm dumped three times as much rain in Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina |newspaper=Washington Post |author=Jason Samenow |date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820130720/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/08/19/no-name-storm-dumped-three-times-as-much-rain-in-louisiana-as-hurricane-katrina/ |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> An estimated 110,000 homes were damaged and thousands of residents were displaced.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Baton Rouge Area Chamber|title=BRAC's preliminary analysis of potential magnitude of flooding's impact on the Baton Rouge region|url=http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/theadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/b5/8b5eec1c-662d-11e6-ae3d-7b8d8a55b473/57b739d469a16.pdf.pdf|access-date=August 22, 2016|work=Baton Rouge Area Chamber|date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916162329/http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/theadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/b5/8b5eec1c-662d-11e6-ae3d-7b8d8a55b473/57b739d469a16.pdf.pdf|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0b">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/08/16/this-man-bought-108-pounds-of-brisket-to-cook-for-the-displaced-baton-rogue-victims/|title=This man bought 108 pounds of brisket to cook for the displaced Baton Rouge victims|last=Cusick|first=Ashley|date=August 16, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|issn=0190-8286|access-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819182516/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/08/16/this-man-bought-108-pounds-of-brisket-to-cook-for-the-displaced-baton-rogue-victims/|archive-date=August 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, three [[Louisiana black church fires|Louisiana black churches]] were destroyed by arson.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Szekely|first=Peter|date=April 11, 2019|title=Son of sheriff's deputy charged with burning three Louisiana black churches|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-louisiana-fires-idUSKCN1RN0E9|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927101358/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-louisiana-fires-idUSKCN1RN0E9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Blinder|first1=Alan|last2=Fausset|first2=Richard|last3=Eligon|first3=John|date=April 11, 2019|title=A Charred Gas Can, a Receipt and an Arrest in Fires of 3 Black Churches|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/us/holden-matthews-black-church-fires.html|access-date=September 26, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417094254/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/us/holden-matthews-black-church-fires.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Eliott C. McLaughlin|title=Prosecutor adds hate crimes to charges against Louisiana church fire suspect|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/us/louisiana-church-fires-suspect-bail-hearing/index.html|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=CNN|date=April 15, 2019|archive-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417203034/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/us/louisiana-church-fires-suspect-bail-hearing/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first case of [[COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana|COVID-19 in Louisiana]] was announced on March 9, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Finch|first=Chris|title=Louisiana confirms presumptive case of coronavirus in New Orleans area|url=https://www.ksla.com/2020/03/09/gov-edwards-confirms-positive-case-coronavirus-jefferson-parish/|url-status=live|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=KSLA|date=March 9, 2020 |archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106044513/https://www.ksla.com/2020/03/09/gov-edwards-confirms-positive-case-coronavirus-jefferson-parish/}}</ref> As of October 27, 2020, there had been 180,069 confirmed cases; 5,854 people have died of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana Coronavirus COVID-19 {{!}} Department of Health {{!}} State of Louisiana|url=https://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/|access-date=October 27, 2020|website=ldh.la.gov|archive-date=June 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607075257/http://www.ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=July 2023}}

==Geography==
[[File:Louisiana wetlands aerial view.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Louisiana's wetland habitats]]
[[File:Lone Oak in Saint Bernard Parish.jpg|thumb|A field of yellow wildflowers in [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]] ]]
[[File:Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana (paulmannix).jpg|thumb|[[Honey Island Swamp]]]]
[[File:Bald Eagle Nest Trail at South Toledo Bend State Park.jpg|alt=Sign upon a trail in the woods|thumb|Entrance to the Bald Eagle Nest Trail at [[South Toledo Bend State Park]]]]
[[File:Bogue Chitto River.jpg|thumb|[[Bogue Chitto State Park]]]]
[[File:Louisiana geographic map-en.svg|thumb|Geographic map of Louisiana]]

Louisiana is bordered to the west by [[Texas]]; to the north by [[Arkansas]]; to the east by [[Mississippi]]; and to the south by the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The state may properly be divided into two parts, the uplands of the north (the region of [[North Louisiana]]), and the [[Mississippi Alluvial Plain|alluvial]] along the coast (the [[Central Louisiana]], [[Acadiana]], [[Florida Parishes]], and [[New Orleans metropolitan area|Greater New Orleans]] regions). The alluvial region includes low swamp lands, coastal marshlands and beaches, and [[barrier islands]] that cover about {{convert|12350|sqmi|km2}}. This area lies principally along the Gulf of Mexico and the [[Mississippi River]], which traverses the state from north to south for a distance of about {{convert|600|mi|-1|abbr=on}} and empties into the Gulf of Mexico; also in the state are the [[Red River of the South|Red River]]; the [[Ouachita River]] and its branches; and other minor streams (some of which are called [[bayous]]).

The breadth of the alluvial region along the Mississippi is {{convert|10|–|60|mi|km}}, and along the other rivers, the alluvial region averages about {{convert|10|mi|km}} across. The Mississippi River flows along a ridge formed by its natural deposits (known as a [[levee]]), from which the lands decline toward a river beyond at an average fall of six feet per mile (1{{spaces}}m/km). The alluvial lands along other streams present similar features.

The higher and contiguous hill lands of the north and northwestern part of the state have an area of more than {{convert|25000|sqmi|km2}}. They consist of prairie and woodlands. The elevations above sea level range from 10 feet (3{{spaces}}m) at the coast and swamp lands to 50–60 feet (15–18{{spaces}}m) at the prairie and alluvial lands. In the uplands and hills, the elevations rise to [[Driskill Mountain]], the highest point in the state only 535 feet (163{{spaces}}m) above sea level. From 1932 to 2010 the state lost 1,800 square miles due to rises in sea level and [[erosion]]. The [[Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority]] (CPRA) spends around $1{{spaces}}billion per year to help shore up and protect Louisiana [[shore]]line and land in both federal and state funding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21727099-has-lessons-americas-climate-change-policy-louisiana-fights-sea-and-loses|title=Louisiana fights the sea, and loses|newspaper=The Economist|date=August 26, 2017|access-date=August 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828163535/https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21727099-has-lessons-americas-climate-change-policy-louisiana-fights-sea-and-loses|archive-date=August 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rebuild or retreat? The future of Louisiana's coastline in jeopardy|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisiana-coastline-60-minutes-2020-12-22/|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=CBS News|date=December 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223014649/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisiana-coastline-60-minutes-2020-12-22/}}</ref>

Besides the waterways named, there are the [[Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine]], forming the western boundary; and the [[Pearl River (Mississippi-Louisiana)|Pearl]], the eastern boundary; the [[Calcasieu River|Calcasieu]], the [[Mermentau River|Mermentau]], the [[Vermilion River (Louisiana)|Vermilion]], [[Bayou Teche]], the [[Atchafalaya River|Atchafalaya]], the [[Boeuf River|Boeuf]], [[Bayou Lafourche]], the Courtableau River, Bayou D'Arbonne, the Macon River, the [[Tensas River|Tensas]], [[Amite River]], the [[Tchefuncte River|Tchefuncte]], the [[Tickfaw River|Tickfaw]], the [[Natalbany River]], and a number of other smaller streams, constituting a natural system of navigable waterways, aggregating over {{convert|4000|mi|km}} long.

The state also has political jurisdiction over the approximately {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on}}-wide portion of [[subsea]] land of the [[Outer continental shelf|inner continental shelf]] in the Gulf of Mexico. Through a peculiarity of the [[political geography]] of the United States, this is substantially less than the {{convert|9|mi|km|adj=on}}-wide jurisdiction of nearby states Texas and Florida, which, like Louisiana, have extensive Gulf coastlines.<ref name="Tulanian2008">{{Cite journal
 |last = Rivet
 |first = Ryan
 |title = Petroleum Dynamite
 |newspaper = Tulanian
 |publisher = [[Tulane University]]
 |pages = 20–27
 |date =Summer 2008
 |access-date = September 7, 2009
|url = http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/Tulanian/
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 |archive-date = June 13, 2010
|url-status = dead
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}}</ref>

The southern coast of Louisiana in the United States is among the fastest-disappearing areas in the world. This has largely resulted from human mismanagement of the coast (see [[Wetlands of Louisiana]]). At one time, the land was added to when spring floods from the Mississippi River added sediment and stimulated marsh growth; the land is now shrinking. There are multiple causes.<ref name="Keddy 2010">{{cite book|last=Keddy|first=Paul|title=Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation|year=2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-51940-3|page=497}}</ref><ref>Ricardo A. Olea and James L Coleman., Jr. (2014), A synoptic examination of causes of land loss in southern Louisiana as they relate to the exploitation of subsurface geologic resources. Journal of Coastal Research, v. 30, no. 5, p. 1025–1044.</ref>

Artificial levees block spring flood water that would bring fresh water and sediment to marshes. Swamps have been extensively logged, leaving canals and ditches that allow salt water to move inland. Canals dug for the oil and gas industry also allow storms to move sea water inland, where it damages swamps and marshes. Rising sea waters have exacerbated the problem. Some researchers estimate that the state is losing a landmass equivalent to 30 football fields every day. There are many proposals to save coastal areas by reducing human damage, including restoring natural floods from the Mississippi. Without such restoration, coastal communities will continue to disappear.<ref>Boesch, D. F., Josselyn, M. N., Mehta, A. J., Morris, J. T., Nuttle, W. K., Simenstad, C. A., and Swift, D. P. J. (1994). "Scientific assessment of coastal wetland loss, restoration and management in Louisiana", ''Journal of Coastal Research'', Special Issue No. 20.</ref> And as the communities disappear, more and more people are leaving the region.<ref name="Tidwell(2003)">Tidwell, Michael. ''Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast''. Vintage Departures: New York, 2003 {{ISBN|978-0-375-42076-4}}.</ref> Since the coastal [[wetlands]] support an economically important coastal [[fishery]], the loss of wetlands is adversely affecting this industry.

The [[Gulf of Mexico dead zone|Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone']] off the coast of Louisiana is the largest recurring [[Hypoxia (environmental)|hypoxic]] zone in the United States. It was {{convert|8776|sqmi|km2}} in 2017, the largest ever recorded.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Jersey-Size 'Dead Zone' Is Largest Ever in Gulf of Mexico |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/08/gulf-mexico-hypoxia-water-quality-dead-zone/ |work=National Geographic |date=August 2, 2017 |access-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214155002/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/08/gulf-mexico-hypoxia-water-quality-dead-zone/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Geology===
{{Main|Mississippi River Delta}}

The oldest rocks in Louisiana are exposed in the north, in areas such as the [[Kisatchie National Forest]]. The oldest rocks date back to the early [[Cenozoic Era]], some 60 million years ago.<ref>{{cite book |last=Spearing |first=D. |year=1995 |title=Roadside Geology of Louisiana |publisher=Mountain Press Publishing Company |location=[[Missoula, Montana]] |pages=5–19 }}</ref> The youngest parts of the state were formed during the last 12,000 years as successive deltas of the Mississippi River: the [[Maringouin, Louisiana|Maringouin]], [[Bayou Teche|Teche]], [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard]], [[Bayou Lafourche|Lafourche]], the modern Mississippi, and now the [[Atchafalaya River|Atchafalaya]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Coleman |first1=J. M. |author2=H. H. Roberts |author3=G. W. Stone |date=1998 |title=Mississippi River Delta: an overview |journal=Journal of Coastal Research |volume=14 |pages=698–716 }}</ref> The sediments were carried from north to south by the Mississippi River.

Between the tertiary rocks of the north, and the relatively new sediments along the coast, is a vast belt known as the [[Pleistocene]] Terraces. Their age and distribution can be largely related to the rise and fall of sea levels during past ice ages. The northern terraces have had sufficient time for rivers to cut deep channels, while the newer terraces tend to be much flatter.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Holland |first=W.C. |date=1944 |title=Physiographic divisions of the Quaternary lowlands of Louisiana |journal=Proceedings of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences |volume=8 |pages=10–24 }}</ref>

[[Salt dome]]s are also found in Louisiana. Their origin can be traced back to the early [[Gulf of Mexico]] when the shallow ocean had high rates of evaporation. There are several hundred salt domes in the state; one of the most familiar is [[Avery Island, Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kniffen |first1=F. B. |author2=S. B. Hilliard |date=1988 |title=Louisiana: Its Land and People |edition=Revised |publisher=Louisiana State University Press |location=Baton Rouge |pages=66–68 }}</ref> Salt domes are important not only as a source of salt; they also serve as underground traps for oil and gas.<ref>{{cite book |last=Spearing |first=D. |year=1995 |title=Roadside Geology of Louisiana |publisher=Mountain Press Publishing Company |location=[[Missoula, Montana]] |pages=19–30 }}</ref>

===Flora and fauna===
{{See also|Fauna of Louisiana}}

===Climate===
{{See also|List of ecoregions in Louisiana|List of Louisiana hurricanes (2000–present)|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans}}

Louisiana has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa''), with long, hot, humid summers and short, mild winters. The subtropical characteristics of the state are due to its low latitude, low lying topography, and the influence of the Gulf of Mexico, which at its farthest point is no more than {{convert|200|mi|-1|abbr=on}} away.

Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year, which is the state's [[wet season]]. There is a dip in precipitation in October. In summer, thunderstorms build during the heat of the day and bring intense but brief, tropical downpours. In winter, rainfall is more frontal and less intense.

Summers in southern Louisiana have high temperatures from June through September averaging {{cvt|90|F}} or more, and overnight lows averaging above {{cvt|70|F}}. At times, temperatures in the 90s{{nbsp}}°F{{nbsp}}({{convert|90|-|99|F|C|disp=out}}), combined with [[dew points]] in the upper 70s{{nbsp}}°F{{nbsp}}({{convert|75|-|79|F|C|disp=out}}), create sensible temperatures over {{convert|120|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The humid, thick, jungle-like heat in southern Louisiana is a famous subject of countless stories and movies.

Temperatures are generally warm in the winter in the southern part of the state, with highs around New Orleans, Baton Rouge, the rest of southern Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico averaging {{convert|66|°F}}. The northern part of the state is mildly cool in the winter, with highs averaging {{convert|59|°F}}. The overnight lows in the winter average well above freezing throughout the state, with {{convert|46|°F}} the average near the Gulf and an average low of {{convert|37|°F}} in the winter in the northern part of the state.

On occasion, cold fronts from low-pressure centers to the north, reach Louisiana in winter. Low temperatures near {{convert|20|°F}} occur on occasion in the northern part of the state but rarely do so in the southern part of the state. [[Snow in Louisiana|Snow]] is rare near the Gulf of Mexico, although residents in the northern parts of the state might receive a dusting of snow a few times each decade.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 31, 2012|title=When It Snowed in New Orleans|url=https://www.myneworleans.com/when-it-snowed-in-new-orleans/|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=My New Orleans|language=en-US|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104201511/https://www.myneworleans.com/when-it-snowed-in-new-orleans/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=110,000 customers left without power in Texas and Louisiana as major snowstorm moves across the South|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/11/weather/southern-snowstorm-outages-monday/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104201509/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/11/weather/southern-snowstorm-outages-monday/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kennell|first=Tiana|title=Weather update: Residents react, prepare for a week of snow in Shreveport, Bossier City|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/weather/2021/02/15/weather-update-snow-day-forecast-february-shreveport-residents/6751883002/|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=The Times|language=en-US|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104201511/https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/weather/2021/02/15/weather-update-snow-day-forecast-february-shreveport-residents/6751883002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=February 16, 2021|title=North Louisiana sees second snow storm of 2021; How residents are enjoying the weather|url=https://www.myarklamiss.com/community/north-louisiana-sees-second-snow-storm-of-2021-how-residents-are-enjoying-the-weather/|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=KTVE - myarklamiss.com|language=en-US|archive-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104201511/https://www.myarklamiss.com/community/north-louisiana-sees-second-snow-storm-of-2021-how-residents-are-enjoying-the-weather/|url-status=live}}</ref> Louisiana's highest recorded temperature is {{convert|114|F|C}} in [[Plain Dealing, Louisiana|Plain Dealing]] on August 10, 1936, while the coldest recorded temperature is {{convert|-16|F|C}} at [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] on February 13, 1899.

Louisiana is often affected by [[tropical cyclone]]s and is very vulnerable to strikes by major [[Atlantic hurricane|hurricanes]], particularly the [[Upland and lowland|lowlands]] around and in the New Orleans area. The unique geography of the region, with the many bayous, marshes and inlets, can result in water damage across a wide area from major hurricanes. The area is also prone to frequent thunderstorms, especially in the summer.<ref name="Annual average number of tornadoes">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif |title=NOAA National Climatic Data Center |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016174155/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The entire state averages over 60 days of thunderstorms a year, more than any other state except Florida. Louisiana averages 27 [[tornado]]es annually. The entire state is vulnerable to a tornado strike, with the extreme southern portion of the state slightly less so than the rest of the state. Tornadoes are more common from January to March in the southern part of the state, and from February through March in the northern part of the state.<ref name="Annual average number of tornadoes"/> Louisiana is partially within the area of tornado activity called [[Dixie Alley]], and the state has tornadoes which tend to be unpredictable but localized.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mathewson |first=Kent |title=The Louisiana Field Guide: Understanding Life in the Pelican State |date=2014 |publisher=[[Louisiana State University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8071-5776-3 |editor-last=Orgera |editor-first=Ryan |chapter=The Geography of Louisiana |editor-last2=Parent |editor-first2=Wayne}}</ref>

{| class="toc sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size: smaller;"
|+ Average temperatures in Louisiana (°F/°C)
|-
! || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Jan{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Feb{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Mar{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Apr{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}May{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Jun{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Jul{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Aug{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Sept{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Oct{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Nov{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Dec{{spaces|2}} || data-sort-type="number" | {{spaces|2}}Annual{{spaces|2}}
|-
! [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]]<ref name="Shreveport">{{cite web
  |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=shv
  |title = NowData—NOAA Online Weather Data
  |publisher = National Weather Service Forecast Office, Shreveport, LA, [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = February 21, 2012
|archive-date = June 27, 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150627103535/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=shv
  |url-status = live
}}</ref>
| {{cvt|47.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|50.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|58.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|65.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|73.4|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|80.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|83.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|83.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|77.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|66.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|56.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|48.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|65.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|-
! [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]<ref name="Shreveport"/><!--Shreveport Regional Airport-->
| {{cvt|46.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|50.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|57.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|65.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|73.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|80.4|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|76.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|66.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|56.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|48.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|65.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|-
! [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]<ref name="Shreveport" />
| {{cvt|48.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|52.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|59.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|66.4|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|74.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|80.7|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|83.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|83.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|78.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|58.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|50.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|66.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|-
! [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]]<ref name="Lake Charles">{{cite web
  |url = http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lch
  |title = NowData—NOAA Online Weather Data
  |publisher = National Weather Service Forecast Office, Lake Charles, LA, [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = February 21, 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822005550/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lch
  |archive-date = August 22, 2016
|url-status = live
}}</ref><!--Lake Charles Regional Airport-->
| {{cvt|51.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|55.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|61.4|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|75.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|81.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|83.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|78.7|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|70.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|61.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|53.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|-
! [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]]<ref name="Lake Charles" /><!--Lafayette Regional Airport-->
| {{cvt|51.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|55.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|61.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|75.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|81.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.8|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|78.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|69.7|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|61.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|53.7|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|-
! [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]<ref name="Lake Charles" /><!--Baton Rouge area-->
| {{cvt|51.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|54.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|61.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|67.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|75.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|80.7|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|78.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|60.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|52.9|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|68.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|-
! [[New Orleans]]<ref name="Lake Charles" /><!--New Orleans Audubon-->
| {{cvt|54.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|57.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|63.6|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|70.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|77.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|82.4|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|84.0|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|84.1|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|80.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|72.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|63.5|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|56.2|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}} || {{cvt|70.3|F|C|abbr=values|disp=x|/}}
|}

===Publicly owned land===
{{See also|List of Louisiana state parks|List of Louisiana state historic sites}}[[File:New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America Population Density and Low Elevation Coastal Zones (5457913950).jpg|thumb|283x283px|Population density and low elevation coastal zones in the Mississippi River Delta. The Mississippi River Delta is especially vulnerable to [[sea level rise]].]]

Owing to its location and geology, the state has high biological diversity. Some vital areas, such as southwestern prairie, have experienced a loss in excess of 98 percent. The pine flatwoods are also at great risk, mostly from [[Wildfire suppression|fire suppression]] and [[urban sprawl]]. There is not yet a properly organized system of natural areas to represent and protect Louisiana's biological diversity. Such a system would consist of a protected system of core areas linked by biological corridors, such as Florida is planning.<ref>Florida Greenways Commission. 1994. Report to the Governor. Creating a statewide greenways system: For people{{spaces}}... for wildlife{{spaces}}... for Florida. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, FL.</ref>

Louisiana contains a number of areas which, to varying degrees, prevent people from using them.<ref>Lester, G. D., S.G. Sorensen, P. L. Faulkner, C. S. Reid and I. E. Maxit. 2005. ''Louisiana Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy''. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA</ref> In addition to [[National Park Service]] areas and a [[United States National Forest]], Louisiana operates a system of [[List of Louisiana state parks|state parks]], [[List of Louisiana state historic sites|state historic sites]], one [[Louisiana State Arboretum|state preservation area]], one [[Alexander State Forest|state forest]], and many [[Wildlife Management Area]]s.

One of Louisiana's largest government-owned areas is [[Kisatchie National Forest]]. It is some 600,000 acres in area, more than half of which is [[flatwoods]] vegetation, which supports many rare plant and animal species.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hyatt|first=Phil|date=November 20, 2020|title=Story of Kisatchie Botany|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/kisatchie|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220154051/https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kisatchie/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fsbdev3_024695|url-status=live}}</ref> These include the [[Louisiana pinesnake]] and [[red-cockaded woodpecker]]. The system of government-owned [[Cypress dome|cypress swamps]] around [[Lake Pontchartrain]] is another large area, with southern [[wetland]] species including egrets, alligators, and sturgeon. At least 12 core areas would be needed to build a "protected areas system" for the state; these would range from southwestern prairies, to the Pearl River Floodplain in the east, to the Mississippi River alluvial swamps in the north. Additionally, the state operates a system of 22 state parks, 17 state historic sites and one state preservation area; in these lands, Louisiana maintains a [[Fauna of Louisiana|diversity of fauna]] and flora.

====National Park Service====
Historic or scenic areas managed, protected, or recognized by the National Park Service include:
{{div col}}
* [[Atchafalaya National Heritage Area]] in Ascension Parish;
* [[Cane River National Heritage Area]] near Natchitoches;
* [[Cane River Creole National Historical Park]] near Natchitoches;
* [[Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve]], headquartered in New Orleans, with units in St. Bernard Parish, Barataria (Crown Point), and Acadiana (Lafayette);
* [[Poverty Point National Monument]] at Delhi, Louisiana; and
* [[Saline Bayou]], a designated [[National Wild and Scenic River]] near [[Winn Parish]] in northern Louisiana.
{{div col end}}

====U.S. Forest Service====
* [[Kisatchie National Forest]] is Louisiana's only national forest. It includes more than 600,000 acres in central and northern Louisiana with large areas of flatwoods and longleaf pine forest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kisatchie National Forest|url=https://www.natchitoches.com/listing/kisatchie-national-forest|url-status=live|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=Natchitoches, Louisiana Travel & Tourism|date=October 29, 2013|language=en|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208005503/https://www.natchitoches.com/listing/kisatchie-national-forest}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kisatchie National Forest – National Forest Foundation|url=https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/kisatchie-national-forest|url-status=live|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=National Forest Foundation|archive-date=December 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209194903/https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/kisatchie-national-forest}}</ref>

===Major cities===
{{See also|List of municipalities in Louisiana|List of Louisiana metropolitan areas|List of Louisiana locations by per capita income}}
Louisiana contains 308 incorporated municipalities, consisting of four [[Consolidated city-county|consolidated city-parishes]], and 304 cities, towns, and villages. Louisiana's municipalities cover only 7.9% of the state's land mass but are home to 45.3% of its population.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 13, 2020|title=American FactFinder—Results|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331192348/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2020|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=factfinder.census.gov}}</ref> The majority of urban Louisianians live along the coast or in northern Louisiana. The oldest permanent settlement in the state is [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Nachitoches]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Natchitoches|url=https://www.louisianatravel.com/cities/natchitoches|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=Louisiana Official Travel and Tourism Information|archive-date=February 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226054426/https://www.louisianatravel.com/cities/natchitoches|url-status=live}}</ref> Baton Rouge, the state capital, is the second-largest city in the state. The most populous city is New Orleans. As defined by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Louisiana contains 10 metropolitan statistical areas. Major areas include [[Greater New Orleans]], [[Baton Rouge metropolitan area|Greater Baton Rouge]], [[Lafayette metropolitan area, Louisiana|Lafayette]], [[Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area|Shreveport–Bossier City]], and [[Slidell metropolitan area|Slidell]].
{{Largest cities
| country = Louisiana
| stat_ref = Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/|title=U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts|date=July 1, 2017|publisher=City Population|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| list_by_pop = 
| div_name = 
| div_link = Parishes of Louisiana{{!}}Parish
| city_1 = New Orleans, Louisiana{{!}}New Orleans
| div_1 = New Orleans, Louisiana{{!}}Orleans
| pop_1 = 383,997

| city_2 = Baton Rouge, Louisiana{{!}}Baton Rouge
| div_2 = East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana{{!}}East Baton Rouge
| pop_2 = 227,470

| city_3 = Shreveport, Louisiana{{!}}Shreveport
| div_3 = Caddo Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Caddo
| pop_3 = 187,593

| city_4 = Lafayette, Louisiana{{!}}Lafayette
| div_4 = Lafayette Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Lafayette
| pop_4 = 121,374

| city_5 = Lake Charles, Louisiana{{!}}Lake Charles
| div_5 = Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Calcasieu
| pop_5 = 84,872

| city_6 = Kenner, Louisiana{{!}}Kenner
| div_6 = Jefferson Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Jefferson
| pop_6 = 66,448

| city_7 = Bossier City, Louisiana{{!}}Bossier City
| div_7 = Bossier Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Bossier
| pop_7 = 62,701

| city_8 = Monroe, Louisiana{{!}}Monroe
| div_8 = Ouachita Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Ouachita
| pop_8 = 47,702

| city_9 = Alexandria, Louisiana{{!}}Alexandria
| div_9 = Rapides Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Rapides
| pop_9 = 45,275

| city_10 = Houma, Louisiana{{!}}Houma
| div_10 = Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana{{!}}Terrebonne
| pop_10 = 33,406

}}

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Louisiana}}

[[File:Louisiana population density 2020.png|thumb|upright=1.15|Louisiana's population density|left]]
{{US Census population
|1810= 76556
|1820= 153407
|1830= 215739
|1840= 352411
|1850= 517762
|1860= 708002
|1870= 726915
|1880= 939946
|1890= 1118588
|1900= 1381625
|1910= 1656388
|1920= 1798509
|1930= 2101593
|1940= 2363516
|1950= 2683516
|1960= 3257022
|1970= 3641306
|1980= 4205900
|1990= 4219973
|2000= 4468976
|2010= 4533372
|2020= 4657757
|estimate= 4618189
|estyear= 2025
|align-fn=center
|footnote=Sources: 1910–2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Population Change Data (1910–2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429012609/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
The majority of the state's population lives in southern Louisiana, spread throughout [[New Orleans metropolitan area|Greater New Orleans]], the [[Florida Parishes]], and [[Acadiana]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Adelson|first=Jeff|title=Census 2020: South Louisiana parishes grew, while northern and rural parishes decline|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4e00a05a-fb96-11eb-947e-9f738c7b98c2.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=August 12, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201603/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4e00a05a-fb96-11eb-947e-9f738c7b98c2.html}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web|date=August 12, 2021|title=Louisiana population shifts to southern, suburban parishes|url=https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-census-2020-suburbs-032dfbe0e0ffdb859d21b4e2bfa4fc5e|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=AP News|language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201603/https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-census-2020-suburbs-032dfbe0e0ffdb859d21b4e2bfa4fc5e}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Baton Rouge, suburbs grow in population while rural parishes decline, Census data shows|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_c5ca968a-fb88-11eb-86bc-bba0012a0054.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=The Advocate|date=August 12, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201605/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_c5ca968a-fb88-11eb-86bc-bba0012a0054.html}}</ref> while [[Central Louisiana|Central]] and [[North Louisiana]] have been stagnating and losing population.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 13, 2021|title=Census data: Northern LA loses population, area along I-10 makes major gains|url=https://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/census-data-northern-la-loses-population-area-along-i-10-makes-major-gains/|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=BRProud.com|language=en-US|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818201604/https://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/census-data-northern-la-loses-population-area-along-i-10-makes-major-gains/|url-status=live}}</ref> From the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], Louisiana had an apportioned population of 4,661,468.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hilburn|first=Greg|title=2020 Census: Louisiana keeps 6 congressional seats as population grows 2.7%|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2021/04/26/2020-census-louisiana-keeps-6-congressional-seats-population-grows/7389638002/|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=The Daily Advertiser|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429054907/https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2021/04/26/2020-census-louisiana-keeps-6-congressional-seats-population-grows/7389638002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Analyzing the Census: Louisiana saw one of the slowest growth rates in the U.S., but why?|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_f2f6d1d6-a6cf-11eb-8297-2b280471e64b.html|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=April 26, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618012235/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_f2f6d1d6-a6cf-11eb-8297-2b280471e64b.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gremillion|first=Nick|title=Louisiana's population has grown by 107k since 2010, Census says|url=https://www.kplctv.com/2021/04/26/louisianas-population-grew-by-k-since-census-says/|url-status=live|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=KPLC-TV|date=April 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429120833/https://www.kplctv.com/2021/04/26/louisianas-population-grew-by-k-since-census-says/}}</ref> Its resident population was 4,657,757 as of 2020.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 26, 2021|title=Table A. Apportionment Population, Resident Population, and Overseas Population: 2020 Census and 2010 Census|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/apportionment/apportionment-2020-tableA.pdf|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426202031/https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/apportionment/apportionment-2020-tableA.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, the state of Louisiana had a population of 4,533,372, up from 76,556 in [[1810 United States census|1810]].

Despite historically positive trends of population growth leading up to the 2020 census, Louisiana began to experience population decline and stagnation since 2021, with [[Southwest Louisiana]]'s Calcasieu and Cameron parishes losing more than 5% of their populations individually.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adelson |first=Jeff |title=Population declines in most Louisiana parishes, except for the suburbs, new estimates show |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/population-declines-in-most-louisiana-parishes-except-for-the-suburbs-new-estimates-show/article_fc5ff816-aba5-11ec-b605-234640609e50.html |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=NOLA.com |date=March 25, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107172652/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/population-declines-in-most-louisiana-parishes-except-for-the-suburbs-new-estimates-show/article_fc5ff816-aba5-11ec-b605-234640609e50.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Experiencing decline due to deaths and emigration to other states outpacing births and in-migration,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mosbrucker |first=Kristen |title=Louisiana's population continues to shrink: Stats show nearly 13K decline between 2019, 2020 |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/louisianas-population-continues-to-shrink-stats-show-nearly-13k-decline-between-2019-2020/article_3833634c-5cdc-11eb-951d-b39a30651d28.html |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=The Advocate |date=January 29, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125015505/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/louisianas-population-continues-to-shrink-stats-show-nearly-13k-decline-between-2019-2020/article_3833634c-5cdc-11eb-951d-b39a30651d28.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adelson |first=Jeff |title=Louisiana saw fifth highest population loss in U.S. in 2021, according to new estimates |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/louisiana-saw-fifth-highest-population-loss-in-u-s-in-2021-according-to-new-estimates/article_c9a00050-637b-11ec-a1a3-773fc5fa7af3.html |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=NOLA.com |date=December 22, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209215629/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/louisiana-saw-fifth-highest-population-loss-in-u-s-in-2021-according-to-new-estimates/article_c9a00050-637b-11ec-a1a3-773fc5fa7af3.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Michigan ranked No.4 for most people moving out of the state |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-ranked-no-4-for-most-people-moving-out-of-the-state/ |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=CBS News |date=January 3, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125015503/https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-ranked-no-4-for-most-people-moving-out-of-the-state/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-population-estimates.html|title= Growth in U.S. Population Shows Early Indication of Recovery Amid COVID-19 Pandemic.|publisher= www.census.gov.|access-date= April 14, 2023|archive-date= April 19, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230419143709/https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-population-estimates.html|url-status= live}}</ref> Louisiana's 2022 census-estimated population was 4,590,241.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Louisiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/LA |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=United States Census Bureau |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230220004/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/LA |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to [[Immigration to the United States|immigration]] statistics in 2019, approximately 4.2% of Louisianians were immigrants, while 2% were native-born U.S. citizens with at least one immigrant parent. The majority of Louisianian immigrants came from Honduras (18.8%), Mexico (13.6%), Vietnam (11.3%), Cuba (5.8%), and India (4.4%); an estimated 29.4% were undocumented immigrants.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Take a look: How immigrants drive the economy in Louisiana |url=https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/louisiana/ |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=American Immigration Council |language=en-US |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705202111/http://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/louisiana/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Its documented and undocumented population collectively paid $1.2 billion in taxes.<ref name=":2" /> New Orleans has been defined as a [[sanctuary city]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans: How the Crescent City Became a Sanctuary City {{!}} U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee|url=https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=1894|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=judiciary.house.gov|language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818202518/https://judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=1894|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sanctuary city ban advances in Louisiana Legislature, with New Orleans in mind|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_5c63625b-7ab5-573c-8bb9-743dfa0e1f34.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=April 27, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818202517/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_5c63625b-7ab5-573c-8bb9-743dfa0e1f34.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Sanctuary city' policy puts an end to NOPD's immigration enforcement|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_ded80350-e854-540b-a607-7cf2fdd8b90e.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=March 2, 2016 |language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818202518/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_ded80350-e854-540b-a607-7cf2fdd8b90e.html}}</ref>

The population density of the state is 104.9 people per square mile.<ref name="2010.census.gov">{{cite web|author=2010 Census Data|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/index.php|title=2010 Census Data—2010 Census|publisher=2010.census.gov|access-date=February 18, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215083619/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/index.php |archive-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> The [[center of population]] of Louisiana is located in [[Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana|Pointe Coupee Parish]], in the city of [[New Roads, Louisiana|New Roads]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Population and Population Centers by State—2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 5, 2008 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080918020344/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt |archive-date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> According to [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|HUD]]'s 2022 [[Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress|Annual Homeless Assessment Report]], there were an estimated 7,373 [[Homelessness|homeless]] people in Louisiana.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007-2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314020239/https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311234217/https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, Louisiana had the highest percent of births to unmarried women of any US state, at 54.7 percent.<ref>{{cite web | title = Percent of Babies Born to Unmarried Mothers by State | date = February 24, 2022 | publisher = U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | url = https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/unmarried/unmarried.htm | accessdate = September 21, 2024}}</ref>

===Race and ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Racial and ethnic composition as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815165418/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Alone
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|55.8|%|2||background:gray}}
|align=right| {{bartable|58.7|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[African Americans|African American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|31.2|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|align=right| {{bartable|32.6|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]{{efn|Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.}}
|align=right| {{bartable}}
|align=right| {{bartable|6.9|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1.8|%|2||background:purple}}
|align=right| {{bartable|2.3|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| Native American
|align=right| {{bartable|0.6|%|2||background:gold}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.9|%|2||background:gold}}
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.04|%|2||background:pink}}
|align=right| {{bartable|0.1|%|2||background:pink}}
|-
| Other
|align=right| {{bartable|0.4|%|2||background:brown}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.1|%|2||background:brown}}
|}
[[File:Louisiana counties by race.svg|thumb|216x216px|Map of parishes in Louisiana by racial plurality, per the 2020 U.S. census{{Collapsible list
| title = Legend|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

'''Non-Hispanic White'''

{{legend|#dd7e6b|40–50%}}

{{legend|#cc4125|50–60%}}

{{legend|#a61c00|60–70%}}

{{legend|#85200c|70–80%}}

{{legend|#5b0f00|80–90%}}

{{legend|#410b00|90%+}}

{{col-2}}

'''Black or African American'''

{{legend|#ffe599|40–50%}}

{{legend|#ffd966|50–60%}}

{{legend|#f1c232|60–70%}}

{{legend|#bf9000|70–80%}}

{{col-end}}
}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Louisiana   – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Louisiana  |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=P004:+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO,+AND+NOT+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO+BY+RACE+[73]&g=040XX00US22|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 8, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Louisiana  |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US22|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 8, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Louisiana  |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US22|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 8, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,794,391
|2,734,884
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,596,702
|62.53%
|60.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55.75%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,443,390
|1,442,420
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,452,420
|32.30%
|31.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |31.18%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|24,129
|28,092
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25,994
|0.54%
|0.62%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.56%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|54,256
|69,327
|style='background: #ffffe6; |85,336
|1.21%
|1.53%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.83%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1,076
|1,544
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,706
|0.02%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|4,736
|6,779
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,954
|0.11%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|39,260
|57,766
|style='background: #ffffe6; |156,096
|0.88%
|1.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.35%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|107,738
|192,560
|style='background: #ffffe6; |322,549
|2.41%
|4.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.92%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''4,468,976'''
|'''4,533,372'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''4,657,757'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

Several [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] tribes such as the [[Atakapa]] and [[Caddo]] inhabited Louisiana before European colonization, concentrated along the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] and Gulf of Mexico.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Joseph T. Butler|first=Jr.|date=1970|title=The Atakapa Indians: Cannibals of Louisiana|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4231120|journal=Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association|volume=11|issue=2|pages=167–176|jstor=4231120|issn=0024-6816|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213453/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4231120|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Atakapa Indians|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/atakapa-indians|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=TSHA|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213454/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/atakapa-indians}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Early Caddo History – El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)|url=https://www.nps.gov/elte/learn/historyculture/caddo-early-history.htm|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=National Park Service|language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213453/https://www.nps.gov/elte/learn/historyculture/caddo-early-history.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Caddo Nation – Know Louisiana|url=https://64parishes.org/entry/caddo-nation|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=64 Parishes|language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213455/https://64parishes.org/entry/caddo-nation|url-status=live}}</ref> At the beginning of French and Spanish colonization of Louisiana, [[White Americans|white]] and [[African Americans|black Americans]] began to move into the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana as a French Colony {{!}} Articles and Essays {{!}} Louisiana: European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase {{!}} Digital Collections {{!}} Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/articles-and-essays/louisiana-as-a-french-colony/|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=Library of Congress|archive-date=August 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821221602/https://www.loc.gov/collections/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/articles-and-essays/louisiana-as-a-french-colony/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana as a Spanish Colony {{!}} Articles and Essays {{!}} Louisiana: European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase {{!}} Digital Collections {{!}} Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/articles-and-essays/louisiana-as-a-spanish-colony/|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=Library of Congress|archive-date=October 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195718/https://www.loc.gov/collections/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/articles-and-essays/louisiana-as-a-spanish-colony/}}</ref> From French and Spanish rule in Louisiana, they were joined by [[Filipino Americans|Filipinos]], [[German Americans|Germans]], and [[Spanish Americans|Spaniards]] both slave and free, who settled in enclaves within the Greater New Orleans region and Acadiana;<ref>{{cite web|title="Ancestors in the Americas" : Timeline|url=https://www.pbs.org/ancestorsintheamericas/time_06.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=PBS|archive-date=March 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321101112/http://www.pbs.org/ancestorsintheamericas/time_06.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Aráullo|first=Kirby|title=The Earliest Asian American Settlement Was Established by Filipino Fishermen|url=https://www.history.com/news/first-asian-american-settlement-filipino-st-malo|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=HISTORY|date=May 12, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213455/https://www.history.com/news/first-asian-american-settlement-filipino-st-malo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=German Settlers in Louisiana and New Orleans|url=https://www.hnoc.org/research/german-settlers-louisiana-and-new-orleans|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=The Historic New Orleans Collection|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119053926/https://www.hnoc.org/research/german-settlers-louisiana-and-new-orleans}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Getting to Gemütlichkeit: German History and Culture in Southeast Louisiana|url=https://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/German.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=Louisiana Folk Life|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213454/https://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/German.html}}</ref> some of the Spanish-descended communities became the [[Isleños (Louisiana)|Isleños]] of [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]].<ref name=":9">{{cite web |title=Isleños |url=https://64parishes.org/entry/islenos |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=64 Parishes |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117010458/https://64parishes.org/entry/islenos |url-status=live }}</ref>

By the 19th and 20th centuries, the state's most-populous racial and ethnic group fluctuated between white and black Americans; 47% of the population was black or African American in 1900.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990, and by Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990|url=https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/working-papers/2002/demo/POP-twps0056.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=August 12, 2012|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html}}</ref> The [[African Americans in Louisiana|black Louisianian]] population declined following migration to states including New York and California in efforts to flee Jim Crow regulations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legacy of Great Migration of black people from the South lives on, speakers say|url=https://www.nola.com/news/article_0dc3a162-f86b-57ad-b52c-e2b13ff9a719.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=March 10, 2018 |language=en|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213453/https://www.nola.com/news/article_0dc3a162-f86b-57ad-b52c-e2b13ff9a719.html}}</ref>

At the end of the 20th century, Louisiana's population has experienced diversification again, and its [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|non-Hispanic or non-Latino American white]] population has been declining.<ref name=":3" /> Since 2020, the black or African American population have made up the largest non-white share of youths.<ref>{{cite web|last=Frey|first=William H.|date=August 13, 2021|title=New 2020 census results show increased diversity countering decade-long declines in America's white and youth populations|url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-2020-census-results-show-increased-diversity-countering-decade-long-declines-in-americas-white-and-youth-populations/|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=Brookings|language=en-US|quote=In several southern states ranging from Louisiana to Virginia, black youths make up the largest nonwhite share.|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213458/https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-2020-census-results-show-increased-diversity-countering-decade-long-declines-in-americas-white-and-youth-populations/}}</ref> [[Hispanic and Latino Americans]] have also increased as the second-largest racial and ethnic composition in the state, making up nearly 7% of Louisiana's population at the 2020 census.<ref name=":3" /> As of 2018,<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=American Community Survey 2018 Demographic and Housing Estimates|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Louisiana%20population&tid=ACSDP1Y2018.DP05&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105061150/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Louisiana%20population&tid=ACSDP1Y2018.DP05&hidePreview=false}}</ref> the largest single Hispanic and Latino American ethnicity were [[Mexican Americans]] (2.0%), followed by [[Puerto Ricans]] (0.3%) and [[Cuban Americans]] (0.2%). Other Hispanic and Latino Americans altogether made up 2.6% of Louisiana's Hispanic or Latino American population. The [[Asian Americans|Asian American]] and [[Multiracial Americans|multiracial]] communities have also experienced rapid growth,<ref name=":3" /> with many of Louisiana's multiracial population identifying as [[Cajuns|Cajun]] or [[Louisiana Creole people|Louisiana Creole]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New origin options for 2020 census could provide useful Cajun, Creole data|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/coronavirus/article_940221f2-7387-11ea-96f6-87e4a08768c8.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=The Advocate|date=April 2020 |language=en|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016031931/https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/coronavirus/article_940221f2-7387-11ea-96f6-87e4a08768c8.html}}</ref>

At the 2019 [[American Community Survey]], the largest ancestry groups of Louisiana were African American (31.4%), [[French Americans|French]] (9.6%), German (6.2%), [[English Americans|English]] (4.6%), [[Italian Americans|Italian]] (4.2%), and [[Scottish Americans|Scottish]] (0.9%).<ref>{{cite web|title=2019 Selected Social Characteristics|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US22&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP02&hidePreview=true|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2021|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818213453/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US22&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP02&hidePreview=true}}</ref> African American and French heritage have been dominant since colonial Louisiana. As of 2011, 49.0% of Louisiana's population younger than age{{spaces}}1 were minorities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2012/06/americas_under_age_1_populatio.html|title=Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot|last=Exner|first=Rich|date=June 3, 2012|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|access-date=February 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714084214/http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2012/06/americas_under_age_1_populatio.html|archive-date=July 14, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Louisiana (2020)<ref name="PRRI2020">{{cite news|url=http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/States/religion/m/US-LA|title=Public Religion Research Institute Study|newspaper=Public Religion Research Institute|date=2020|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221221714/http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/States/religion/m/US-LA|archive-date=February 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|titlebar=
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Protestant]]|Gold|53}}
{{bar percent|[[Catholic]]|Red|22}}
{{bar percent|Other Christian|DarkViolet|1.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|Unaffiliated]]|Black|19}}
{{bar percent|Jewish|Blue|1}}
{{bar percent|Other faith|green|4}}
|caption=}}
As an ethnically and culturally diverse state, pre-colonial, colonial and present-day Louisianians have adhered to a variety of religions and spiritual traditions; pre-colonial and colonial Louisianian peoples practiced various [[Native American religions]] alongside [[Christianity]] through the establishment of [[Spanish missions in Louisiana|Spanish]] and [[French colonization of the Americas|French missions]];<ref name=":8" /> and other faiths including [[Haitian Vodou]] and [[Louisiana Voodoo]] were introduced to the state and are practiced to the present day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voudou |url=https://64parishes.org/entry/voudou |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=64 Parishes |language=en |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123174330/https://64parishes.org/entry/voudou |url-status=live }}</ref> In the colonial and present-day [[U.S. state]] of Louisiana, Christianity grew to become its predominant religion, representing 84% of the adult population in 2014 and 76.5% in 2020,<ref name=":6">{{cite web|title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics|url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/louisiana/|url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2021|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031065154/https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/louisiana/}}</ref><ref name="PRRI2020" /> during two separate studies by the [[Pew Research Center]] and [[Public Religion Research Institute]].
[[File:Antioch Baptist Church Shreveport.JPG|thumb|[[Antioch Baptist Church (Shreveport, Louisiana)|Antioch Baptist Church]] in Shreveport]]
Among its Christian population—and in common with other southern U.S. states—the majority, particularly in the north of the state, belong to various Protestant denominations. [[Protestantism]] was introduced to the state in the 1800s, with Baptists establishing two churches in 1812, followed by Methodists; Episcopalians first entered the state by 1805.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Terry L. |date=July 1, 2019 |title=The Protestant Intrusion |url=https://countryroadsmagazine.com/api/content/47530850-9c35-11e9-a87a-12f1225286c6/ |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=Country Roads Magazine |language=en-us}}</ref> Protestant Christians made up 57% of the state's adult population at the 2014 Pew Research Center study, and 53% at the 2020 Public Religion Research Institute's study. Protestants are concentrated in North Louisiana, Central Louisiana, and the northern tier of the Florida Parishes.

Because of French and Spanish heritage, and their descendants the Creoles, and later Irish, Italian, Portuguese and German immigrants, southern Louisiana and Greater New Orleans are predominantly Catholic in contrast; according to the 2020 Public Religion Research Institute study, 22% of the adult population were Catholic.<ref name="PRRI2020" /> Since Creoles were the first settlers, planters and leaders of the territory, they have traditionally been well represented in politics; for instance, most of the early governors were Creole Catholics, instead of Protestants.<ref name=":8">{{CathEncy|wstitle=Louisiana}}</ref> As Catholics continue to constitute a significant fraction of Louisiana's population, they have continued to be influential in state politics. The high proportion and influence of the Catholic population makes Louisiana distinct among southern states.{{efn|Other Southern states have longstanding indigenous Catholic populations, and Florida's largely Catholic population of Cuban emigres has been influential since the 1960s. Yet, Louisiana is still unusual or exceptional in its extent of aboriginal Catholic settlement and influence. Among states in the [[Deep South]] (discounting [[Florida Panhandle|Florida's Panhandle]] and much of Texas) the historic role of Catholicism in Louisiana is unparalleled and unique. Among the states of the Union, Louisiana's unique use of the term ''parish'' (French {{lang|fr|la parouche}} or "{{lang|fr|la paroisse}}") for ''county'' is rooted in the pre-statehood role of Catholic church parishes in the administration of government.}} The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Diocese of Baton Rouge]], and [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana|Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana]] are the largest Catholic jurisdictions in the state, located within the Greater New Orleans, Greater Baton Rouge, and Lafayette metropolitan statistical areas.[[File:St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans).jpg|thumb|[[St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans)|Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]] in New Orleans]]

Louisiana was among the southern states with a significant Jewish population before the 20th century; Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia also had influential Jewish populations in some of their major cities from the 18th and 19th centuries. The earliest Jewish colonists were [[Sephardic Jews]] who immigrated to the [[Thirteen Colonies]]. Later in the 19th century, German Jews began to immigrate, followed by those from eastern Europe and the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jewish communities have been established in the state's larger cities, notably New Orleans and Baton Rouge.<ref>Isaacs, Ronald H. ''The Jewish Information Source Book: A Dictionary and Almanac'', Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1993. p. 202.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sinai Scholars Seek Students |url=http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/011210_sinai.cfm |agency=Tulane University |date=January 12, 2010 |quote=Registration is open for the spring session of the Sinai Scholars Society, Tulane chapter. The national organization provides funding for a course on Judaism each semester at more than 50 campuses nationwide. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712063709/http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/011210_sinai.cfm |archive-date=July 12, 2015 }}</ref> The most significant of these is the Jewish community of the New Orleans area. In 2000, before the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, its population was about 12,000. Dominant Jewish movements in the state include [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and [[Reform Judaism]]; Reform Judaism was the largest Jewish tradition in the state according to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, representing some 5,891 Jews.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 {{!}} U.S. Religion Census {{!}} Religious Statistics & Demographics |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=U.S. Religion Census |publisher=Association of Religion Data Archives |archive-date=January 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115001940/https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Prominent Jews in Louisiana's political leadership have included Whig (later Democrat) [[Judah P. Benjamin]], who represented Louisiana in the [[U.S. Senate]] before the [[American Civil War]] and then became the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] secretary of state; Democrat-turned-Republican [[Michael Hahn]] who was elected as governor, serving 1864–1865 when Louisiana was occupied by the Union Army, and later elected in 1884 as a U.S. congressman;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knowla.org/entry/940/ |title="Michael Hahn." ''KnowLA Encyclopedia of Louisiana.'' Ed. David Johnson. Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 27 Jul 2011. Web. Mar 2. 2016, accessed March 2, 2016 |access-date=March 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307131517/http://www.knowla.org/entry/940/ |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Democrat [[Adolph Meyer]], [[Confederate Army]] officer who represented the state in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from 1891 until his death in 1908; [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Secretary of State (U.S. state government)|secretary of state]] [[Jay Dardenne]], and Republican ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] before 2011) [[List of Attorneys General of Louisiana|attorney general]] [[Buddy Caldwell]].

Other non-Christian and non-Jewish religions with a continuous, historical presence in the state have been [[Islam]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]]. In the [[Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area]], Muslims made up an estimated 14% of Louisiana's total Muslim population as of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 8, 2014|title=A Look at Religion in Shreveport-Bossier City|url=https://www.shreveportnews.com/shreveport_news/look-religion-shreveport-bossier-city/468/|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=Shreveport News|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026020646/https://www.shreveportnews.com/shreveport_news/look-religion-shreveport-bossier-city/468/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were 24,732 Muslims living in the state.<ref name=":22" /> The largest Islamic denominations in the major metropolises of Louisiana were [[Sunni Islam]], [[Non-denominational Muslim|non-denominational Islam]] and [[Quranism]], [[Shia Islam]], and the [[Nation of Islam]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mosques and Islamic schools in Eastern Louisiana, Louisiana – Salatomatic – your guide to mosques & Islamic schools|url=https://www.salatomatic.com/sub/wGRWFW3KGA?|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=www.salatomatic.com|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427162841/https://www.salatomatic.com/sub/wGRWFW3KGA|url-status=live}}</ref>

Among Louisiana's irreligious community, 2% affiliated with [[atheism]] and 13% claimed no religion as of 2014; an estimated 10% of the state's population practiced nothing in particular at the 2014 study. According to the Public Religion Research Institute in 2020, 19% were religiously unaffiliated.<ref name="PRRI2020" />

==Economy==
{{See also-text|[[Louisiana locations by per capita income]]|[[Agriculture in Louisiana]]}}
[[File:MSC Marina docked at Port of New Orleans.jpg|thumb|Cargo ship at the [[Port of New Orleans]]]]
Louisiana's population, [[Agricultural productivity|agricultural products]], abundance of [[Oil and gas law in the United States|oil and natural gas]], and southern Louisiana's medical and technology corridors have contributed to its growing and diversifying economy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key Industries|url=https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/key-industries|url-status=live|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=Louisiana Economic Development|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108184705/https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/key-industries}}</ref> In 2014, Louisiana was ranked as one of the most [[small business]] friendly states, based on a study drawing upon data from more than 12,000 small business owners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.governing.com/news/headlines/gov-survey-ranks-most-small-business-friendly-states-cities.html|title=The Most Small Business-Friendly States, Metro Areas|first=Mike |last=Maciag|publisher=Governing|access-date=May 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525201827/http://www.governing.com/news/headlines/gov-survey-ranks-most-small-business-friendly-states-cities.html|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2025, 99.5% of businesses in Louisiana were small businesses and employed 54.1% of the state's work force.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Small Business Profile - Texas |url=https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Louisiana_2025-State-Profile.pdf |access-date=February 16, 2026 |website=U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy |archive-date=August 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250803174713/https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Louisiana_2025-State-Profile.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The state's principal agricultural products include seafood (it is the biggest producer of [[crawfish]] in the world, supplying approximately 90%), cotton, [[soybean]]s, cattle, [[sugarcane]], poultry and eggs, dairy products, and rice. Among its energy and other industries, chemical products, petroleum and coal products, processed foods, transportation equipment, and paper products have contributed to a significant portion of the state's GSP. Tourism and gaming are also important elements in the economy, especially in Greater New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana Office of Tourism Research|url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/tourism/louisiana-research/index|url-status=live|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=Louisiana Office of Tourism|date=September 19, 2013|language=en|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108185039/https://www.crt.state.la.us/tourism/louisiana-research/index}}</ref>

The [[Port of South Louisiana]], located on the [[Mississippi River]] between New Orleans and [[Baton Rouge]], was the largest volume shipping port in the [[Western Hemisphere]] and 4th largest in the world, as well as the largest [[bulk cargo]] port in the U.S. in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/Statistics/2004%5FUS%5FPORT%5FCARGO%5FTONNAGE%5FRANKINGS.xls |title=U.S. Port Ranking by Cargo Volume 2004 |work=American Association of Port Authorities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107091819/http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/Statistics/2004_US_PORT_CARGO_TONNAGE_RANKINGS.xls |archive-date=January 7, 2010 |access-date=September 28, 2006}}</ref> The Port of South Louisiana continued to be the busiest port by tonnage in the U.S. through 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bts.gov/content/tonnage-top-50-us-water-ports-ranked-total-tons |title=Tonnage of Top 50 U.S. Water Ports, Ranked by Total Tons |work=US Bureau of Transportation Statistics |access-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016175533/https://www.bts.gov/content/tonnage-top-50-us-water-ports-ranked-total-tons |url-status=live }}</ref> South Louisiana was number 15 among world ports in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.sisi-smu.org/index.php?c=article&id=16280 |title=Table 2.1 2016 Global Top 20 Ports by Cargo Throughput |work=Global Port Development Report |date=May 2017 |location=Shanghai |access-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108235229/http://en.sisi-smu.org/index.php?c=article&id=16280 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Tabasco-varieties.jpg|thumb|Tabasco varieties produced in Louisiana]]
[[New Orleans]], [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], and [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] are home to a thriving film industry.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Eve |last=Troeh |title=Louisiana to be Southern Filmmaking Capital? |date=February 1, 2007 |publisher=Voice of America |url=http://voanews.com/english/archive/2007-02/2007-02-01-voa58.cfm |work=VOA News |access-date=December 25, 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202193843/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-02/2007-02-01-voa58.cfm |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }}</ref> State financial incentives since 2002 and aggressive promotion have given Louisiana the nickname "Hollywood South". Because of its distinctive culture within the United States, only [[Alaska]] is Louisiana's rival in popularity as a setting for reality television programs.<ref name="robertson20130516">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/us/louisiana-inspires-reality-tv-shows.html?pagewanted=all | title=Seeking Fame in the Bayou? Get Real | work=The New York Times | date=May 16, 2013 | access-date=May 16, 2013 | author=Robertson, Campbell | pages=A13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516023541/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/us/louisiana-inspires-reality-tv-shows.html?pagewanted=all | archive-date=May 16, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2007 and early 2008, a {{convert|300000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} film studio was scheduled to open in [[Tremé]], with state-of-the-art production facilities, and a film training institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/careerwise/index.ssf?/careerwise/html/articles/0215071503_filmjobs.html |title=New Jersey Local Jobs |publisher=Nj.com |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120192412/http://www.nj.com/careerwise/index.ssf?%2Fcareerwise%2Fhtml%2Farticles%2F0215071503_filmjobs.html |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Tabasco sauce]], which is marketed by one of the United States' biggest producers of hot sauce, the [[McIlhenny Company]], originated on [[Avery Island]].<ref>Shevory, Kristina. "The Fiery Family", ''The New York Times'', March 31, 2007, p. B1.</ref>

From 2010 to 2020, Louisiana's [[Gross regional domestic product|gross state product]] increased from $213.6{{spaces}}billion to $253.3{{spaces}}billion, the [[List of states and territories of the United States by GDP|26th highest]] in the United States at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. federal state of Louisiana—real GDP 2000–2019|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/187887/gdp-of-the-us-federal-state-of-louisiana-since-1997/|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=Statista|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101043640/https://www.statista.com/statistics/187887/gdp-of-the-us-federal-state-of-louisiana-since-1997/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=GDP by State|url=https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state|url-status=live|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis|archive-date=August 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817010902/https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state}}</ref> As of 2020, its GSP is [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|greater than the GDPs]] of [[Economy of Greece|Greece]], [[Economy of Peru|Peru]], and [[Economy of New Zealand|New Zealand]]. Ranking 41st in the United States with a [[Per capita personal income in the United States|per capita personal income]] of $30,952 in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|date=April 6, 2014|title=US Government Revenue|url=http://usgovernmentrevenue.com/state_rev_summary.php?chart=Z0&year=2010&units=d&rank=a|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512000234/http://www.usgovernmentrevenue.com/state_rev_summary.php?chart=Z0&year=2010&units=d&rank=a|archive-date=May 12, 2014|access-date=April 23, 2014|publisher=U.S. Government Revenue}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Katrina Effect: LA Tops Nation in Income Growth |publisher=2theadvocate.com |year=2007 |url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/6728801.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707062704/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/6728801.html |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref> its residents per capita income decreased to $28,662 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=2019 Per Capita Income Estimates|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Louisiana%20per%20capita&tid=ACSDT1Y2019.B19301|url-status=live|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108184717/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Louisiana%20per%20capita&tid=ACSDT1Y2019.B19301}}</ref> The median household income was $51,073, while the national average was $65,712 at the 2019 [[American Community Survey]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2019 Annual Income Estimates|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US22&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1901&hidePreview=true|url-status=live|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108184716/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US22&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1901&hidePreview=true}}</ref> In August 2025, the state's unemployment rate was 4.4%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current Unemployment Rates for States and Historical Highs/Lows |url=https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/lauhsthl.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251122090149/https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/lauhsthl.htm |archive-date=2025-11-22 |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en-US}}</ref>

Louisiana has three personal [[income tax]] brackets, ranging from 2% to 6%. The state [[sales tax]] rate is 5% (effective January 1, 2025), and [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parishes]] can levy additional sales tax on top of this.<ref>{{cite web
 |title=What is the state sales tax rate?
 |url=https://revenue.louisiana.gov/businesses/sales-taxes/general-sales-use-tax/
 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue
 |access-date=2025-12-29
}}</ref> The state also has a [[use tax]], which includes 4% to be distributed to local governments. Property taxes are assessed and collected at the local level. Louisiana is a subsidized state, and Louisiana taxpayers receive more federal funding per dollar of federal taxes paid compared to the average state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pew: Arizona, Louisiana among seven states that receive more federal dollars than state tax revenue|url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/pew-arizona-louisiana-among-seven-states-that-receive-more-federal-dollars-than-state-tax-revenue/article_eca6d34a-ec4e-11e9-a230-e7e35e9024ac.html|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=The Center Square|date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031090658/https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/pew-arizona-louisiana-among-seven-states-that-receive-more-federal-dollars-than-state-tax-revenue/article_eca6d34a-ec4e-11e9-a230-e7e35e9024ac.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Per dollar of federal tax collected in 2005, Louisiana citizens received approximately $1.78 in the way of federal spending. This ranks the state fourth highest nationally and represents a rise from 1995 when Louisiana received $1.35 per dollar of taxes in federal spending (ranked seventh nationally). Neighboring states and the amount of federal spending received per dollar of federal tax collected were: Texas ($0.94), Arkansas ($1.41), and Mississippi ($2.02). Federal spending in 2005 and subsequent years since has been exceptionally high due to the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Nearly a third of Louisianans are Medicaid recipients.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLaney |first=Margaret |date=April 2, 2025 |title=Louisiana has the second-highest rate of Medicaid coverage in the country. See parish data. |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/louisiana_health/medicaid-coverage-rate-louisiana/article_05f4e195-917c-4813-acaa-964aeb8d5c83.html |access-date=August 8, 2025 |website=NOLA.com |language=en |archive-date=July 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722020325/https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/louisiana_health/medicaid-coverage-rate-louisiana/article_05f4e195-917c-4813-acaa-964aeb8d5c83.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Louisiana|Literature of Louisiana|Music of Louisiana}}

Louisiana is home to many cultures; especially notable are the distinct cultures of the [[Louisiana Creoles]] and [[Cajuns]], descendants of French and Spanish settlers in colonial Louisiana.

===African culture===
The French colony of ''La Louisiane'' struggled for decades to survive. Conditions were harsh, the climate and soil were unsuitable for certain crops the colonists knew, and they suffered from regional tropical diseases. Both colonists and the slaves they imported had high mortality rates. The settlers kept importing slaves, which resulted in a high proportion of native Africans from West Africa, who continued to practice their culture in new surroundings. As described by historian [[Gwendolyn Midlo Hall]], they developed a marked Afro-Creole culture in the colonial era.<ref>Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, ''Africans in Colonial Louisiana: The Development of Afro-Creole Culture in the Eighteenth Century'' (1992)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/laslave/|title=Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy|website=Ibiblio.org|access-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430233835/http://www.ibiblio.org/laslave/|archive-date=April 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the turn of the 18th century and in the early 1800s, New Orleans received a major influx of White and mixed-race refugees fleeing the violence of the [[Haitian Revolution]], many of whom brought their slaves with them.<ref>{{cite web|title=AAME|url=http://www.inmotionaame.org/texts/viewer.cfm;jsessionid=f8301863741603865579076?id=5_000T&bhcp=1|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=Inmotionaame.org|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031172524/http://www.inmotionaame.org/texts/viewer.cfm;jsessionid=f8301863741603865579076?id=5_000T&bhcp=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> This added another infusion of African culture to the city, as more slaves in [[Saint-Domingue]] were from Africa than in the United States. They strongly influenced the African-American culture of the city in terms of dance, music and religious practices.

===Creole culture===
[[File:CreoleFood.jpg|thumb|Typical dishes of [[Louisiana Creole cuisine]]]]
[[Louisiana Creole people|Creole]] culture is an amalgamation of French, African, Spanish (and other European), and Native American cultures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laheritage.org/CreoleHeritage/index.html |title=French Creole Heritage |publisher=Laheritage.org |access-date=April 23, 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830084559/http://www.laheritage.org/CreoleHeritage/index.html |archive-date=August 30, 2014 }}</ref> Creole comes from the Portuguese word ''crioulo''; originally it referred to a colonist of European (specifically French) descent who was born in the New World, in comparison to immigrants from France.<ref>Delehanty, Randolph. ''New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence, Chronicle Books'', 1995, pg. 14</ref> The oldest Louisiana manuscript to use the word "Creole", from 1782, applied it to a slave born in the French colony.<ref>Kein, Sybil. ''Creole: The History and Legacy of Louisiana's Free People of Color'', Louisiana State University Press, 2009, p. 73.</ref> But originally it referred more generally to the French colonists born in Louisiana.

Over time, there developed in the French colony a relatively large group of [[Creoles of Color]] (''gens de couleur libres''), who were primarily descended from African slave women and French men (later other Europeans became part of the mix, as well as some Native Americans). Often the French would free their concubines and [[mixed-race]] children, and pass on social capital to them.<ref>{{cite web|title=Creoles|url=https://64parishes.org/entry/creoles|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=64 Parishes|language=en|quote=By the 1720s, free mixed-race Louisianans made up such a substantial part of the population that the Code Noir (laws governing race relations in Louisiana) spelled out the group’s special place in colonial society. These Creoles of color, as they were known (gens de couleur libres in French, "free persons of color"), occupied a middle ground between whites and enslaved blacks. They commonly owned property, including slaves, and received formal educations, sometimes in Europe.|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701153301/https://64parishes.org/entry/creoles|url-status=live}}</ref> They might educate sons in France, for instance, and help them enter the French Army. They also settled capital or property on their mistresses and children. The free people of color gained more rights in the colony and sometimes education; they generally spoke French and were Roman Catholic. Many became artisans and property owners. Over time, the term "Creole" became associated with this class of Creoles of color, many of whom achieved freedom long before the American Civil War.

Wealthy French Creoles generally maintained town houses in [[New Orleans]] as well as houses on their large sugar plantations outside town along the Mississippi River. New Orleans had the largest population of free people of color in the region; they could find work there and created their own culture, marrying among themselves for decades.

===Acadian culture===
The ancestors of [[Cajun]]s immigrated mostly from west central France to New France, where they settled in the Atlantic provinces of [[New Brunswick]], Nova Scotia and [[Prince Edward Island]], known originally as the French colony of [[Acadia]]. After the British defeated France in the [[French and Indian War]] ([[Seven Years' War]]) in 1763, France ceded its territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain. After the Acadians refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the British Crown, they were [[Expulsion of the Acadians|expelled from Acadia]], and made their way to places such as France, Britain, and New England.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cajuns|url=https://64parishes.org/entry/cajuns|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=64 Parishes|language=en|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080920/https://64parishes.org/entry/cajuns|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other Acadians covertly remained in [[British America|British North America]] or moved to [[New Spain]]. Many Acadians settled in southern Louisiana in the region around [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] and the LaFourche Bayou country. They developed a distinct rural culture there, different from the French Creole colonists of New Orleans. Intermarrying with others in the area, they developed what was called Cajun music, cuisine and culture.

===Isleño culture===
{{Main|Isleños (Louisiana)}}

[[File:El_Museo_de_los_Isleños.jpg|alt=|thumb|El Museo de los Isleños (Isleño Museum) in [[Saint Bernard, Louisiana|Saint Bernard]]]]
A third distinct culture in Louisiana is that of the Isleños. Its members are descendants of colonists from the [[Canary Islands]] who settled in [[Spanish Louisiana]] between 1778 and 1783 and intermarried with other communities such as [[French people|Frenchmen]], [[Acadians]], [[Louisiana Creole people|Creoles]], [[Spaniards]], and other groups, mainly through the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In Louisiana, the Isleños originally settled in four communities which included Galveztown, Valenzuela, Barataria, and San Bernardo. The large migration of [[Acadian]] refugees to [[Bayou Lafourche]] led to the rapid gallicization of the Valenzuela community while the community of San Bernardo ([[Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana|Saint Bernard]]) was able to preserve much of its unique culture and language into the 21st century. The transmission of Spanish and other customs has completely halted in St. Bernard with those having competency in Spanish being octogenarians.<ref name=":02">{{cite book|title=The Language of the Isleños: Vestigial Spanish in Louisiana|last1=Lipski|first1=John|date=July 1, 1990|publisher=Louisiana State University Press|isbn=0807115347|pages=i, 4}}</ref>

Through the centuries, the various Isleño communities of Louisiana have kept alive different elements of their Canary Islander heritage while also adopting and building upon the customs and traditions of the communities that surround them. Today two heritage associates exist for the communities: Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society of St. Bernard as well as the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana. The [[Isleños Fiesta|Fiesta de los Isleños]] is celebrated annually in St. Bernard Parish which features heritage performances from local groups and the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fink|first=Shawn|title=Photos: The Los Isleños Fiesta celebrates Canary Island immigrants, cultural heritage of St. Bernard|url=https://www.nola.com/multimedia/photos/collection_97e45d44-622f-11ea-b007-ef634a18db88.html|access-date=October 28, 2020|website=NOLA.com|date=March 9, 2020 |archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031061003/https://www.nola.com/multimedia/photos/collection_97e45d44-622f-11ea-b007-ef634a18db88.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==
{{Further|List of school districts in Louisiana|List of high schools in Louisiana|List of colleges and universities in Louisiana|French immersion#United States{{!}}French immersion in Louisiana}}
[[File:Louisiana State University (aerial view).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Louisiana State University's flagship campus]]

Despite ranking as the third-least educated state as of 2023, preceded by Mississippi and [[West Virginia]],<ref name=":10" /> Louisiana is home to over 40 public and private [[List of colleges and universities in Louisiana|colleges and universities]] including: [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge; [[Louisiana Tech University]] in Ruston, the [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette]] in Lafayette; and [[Tulane University]] in New Orleans. Louisiana State University is the largest and most comprehensive university in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lsu.edu/about/index.php|title=About Us|first=Louisiana State University|last=(LSU)|website=Lsu.edu|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220025758/http://lsu.edu/about/index.php|archive-date=February 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Louisiana Tech University is one the most well regarded public universities in the state.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 25, 2023|title=Louisiana Tech earns 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools Rankings|url=https://www.latech.edu/2023/04/25/louisiana-tech-earns-2024-u-s-news-world-report-best-graduate-schools-rankings/|access-date=June 2, 2023|archive-date=June 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602061657/https://www.latech.edu/2023/04/25/louisiana-tech-earns-2024-u-s-news-world-report-best-graduate-schools-rankings/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=January 24, 2023|title=Louisiana Tech ranks number one in the state for online MBA program|url=https://www.knoe.com/2023/01/24/louisiana-tech/?outputType=amp|access-date=June 2, 2023|archive-date=June 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602061656/https://www.knoe.com/2023/01/24/louisiana-tech/?outputType=amp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 20, 2022|title=Forbes names Tech one of two top Louisiana Publics|url=https://www.latech.edu/2022/09/20/forbes-names-tech-one-of-two-top-louisiana-publics/|access-date=June 2, 2023|archive-date=June 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602061656/https://www.latech.edu/2022/09/20/forbes-names-tech-one-of-two-top-louisiana-publics/|url-status=live}}</ref> The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the second-largest institution in the state, became the third university in the state to achieve [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|''R1: Doctoral universities – very high research activity'']] status in December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 17, 2021|title=UL Lafayette achieves Carnegie's prestigious R1 designation|url=https://louisiana.edu/news-events/news/20211217/ul-lafayette-achieves-carnegie%E2%80%99s-prestigious-r1-designation|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=University of Louisiana at Lafayette|language=en|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124015823/https://louisiana.edu/news-events/news/20211217/ul-lafayette-achieves-carnegie%E2%80%99s-prestigious-r1-designation|url-status=live}}</ref> Tulane University is a major private research university and the wealthiest university in Louisiana with an endowment over $2{{spaces}}billion in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Piper |title=Louisiana university endowment growth trails national average |url=https://lailluminator.com/2024/02/15/louisiana-university-endowment-growth-trails-national-average/ |website=Louisiana Illuminator |access-date=March 25, 2025 |date=February 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250326135837/https://lailluminator.com/2024/02/15/louisiana-university-endowment-growth-trails-national-average/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Tulane is also highly regarded for its academics nationwide, consistently ranked in the top 100 on ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'s'' [[U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking|list of best national universities]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities |title=National University Rankings &#124; Top National Universities &#124; US News Best Colleges |access-date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223062922/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Louisiana's two largest [[historically black colleges and universities]] (HBCUs) are [[Southern University]] in Baton Rouge and [[Grambling State University]] in Grambling. Both these [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]] (SWAC) schools compete against each other in football annually in the much anticipated [[Bayou Classic]] during Thanksgiving weekend in the [[Mercedes-Benz Superdome|Superdome]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bayou Classic|url=https://ehbcsports.com/bayou-classic/|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=Black College Sports History & Legends|language=en-US|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124022818/https://ehbcsports.com/bayou-classic/|url-status=live}}</ref>

While Louisiana has historically struggled to improve its test scores nationwide, recent [[Mississippi Miracle|improvements in policy and practice]] have led to substantial growth.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://louisianaradionetwork.com/2025/01/29/louisiana-takes-huge-leap-up-the-rankings-in-the-latest-nations-report-card/ | title=Louisiana takes huge leap up the rankings in the latest Nation's Report Card | access-date=June 2, 2025 | archive-date=January 30, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130025635/https://louisianaradionetwork.com/2025/01/29/louisiana-takes-huge-leap-up-the-rankings-in-the-latest-nations-report-card/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2000, of all of the states, Louisiana had the highest percentage of students in private schools. Danielle Dreilinger of ''[[The Times Picayune]]'' wrote in 2014 that "Louisiana parents have a national reputation for favoring private schools."<ref name="Dreilingerenrollmentfalls">{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/02/private_school_enrollment_fall.html|title=Private school enrollment falls 5% in Louisiana, even more in New Orleans, Baton Rouge areas|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=February 3, 2014|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=February 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208170047/https://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/02/private_school_enrollment_fall.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of students in enrolled in private schools in Louisiana declined by 9% from {{Circa|2000–2005}} until 2014, due to the proliferation of [[charter schools]], the [[Great Recession]] and [[Hurricane Katrina]]. Ten parishes in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area had a combined 17% decline in private school enrollment in that period. This prompted private schools to lobby for [[school vouchers]].<ref name="Dreilingerenrollmentfalls" />

Louisiana's school voucher program is known as the Louisiana Scholarship Program. It was available in the New Orleans area beginning in 2008 and in the rest of the state beginning in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_4de31720-5901-5315-999c-8608c2248574.html|title=Half of Louisiana's voucher students at D or F schools in program's first year, data shows|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=November 29, 2013|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529192517/https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_4de31720-5901-5315-999c-8608c2248574.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, the number of students using [[school vouchers]] to attend private schools was 6,751, and for 2014 it was projected to exceed 8,800.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/07/private_school_vouchers_will_be_used_to_educate_almost_9000_louisiana_students.html|title=Private school vouchers will be used to educate almost 9,000 Louisiana students|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=July 9, 2014|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216112752/http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/07/private_school_vouchers_will_be_used_to_educate_almost_9000_louisiana_students.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=July 2023}} As per a ruling from [[Ivan Lemelle]], a U.S. district judge, the federal government has the right to review the charter school placements to ensure they do not further racial segregation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/11/federal_government_has_right_t.html|title=Federal government has right to examine voucher assignments, judge says|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=November 22, 2013|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216073855/http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/11/federal_government_has_right_t.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transportation==
The [[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]] is the state government organization in charge of maintaining [[public transportation]], roadways, bridges, [[canal]]s, select [[levee]]s, floodplain management, port facilities, commercial vehicles, and aviation which includes 69 airports.

===Roads===
{{See also|List of Interstate Highways in Louisiana|List of U.S. Highways in Louisiana|List of state highways in Louisiana}}
{{col-begin|width=}}
{{col-1-of-2}}

====Interstate highways====
{|----- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
* {{jct|state=LA|I|10}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|110}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|210}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|310}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|510}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|610}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|910|name1=unsigned}}
* {{jct|country=USA|I|12}}
* {{jct|state=LA|I|20}}
** {{jct|state=LA|I|220}}
* {{jct|state=LA|I|49}}
* {{jct|state=LA|I|55}}
* {{jct|state=LA|I|59}}
* Future {{jct|state=LA|I|69}}
|}
{{col-2-of-2}}

====United States highways====
{|
|- valign="top"
|
* {{jct|state=LA|US|11}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|51}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|61}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|63}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|65}}
** {{jct|state=LA|US|165}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|167}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|71}}
** {{jct|state=LA|US|171}}
** {{jct|state=LA|US|371}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|79}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|80}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|84}}
|
* {{jct|state=LA|US|90}}
** {{jct|state=LA|US|190}}
* {{jct|state=LA|US|425}}
|}
{{col-end}}

In 2022, Louisiana ranked 5th highest for fatal crashes in the US with a rate of 19.7 deaths per 100,000 population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fatality Facts 2022: State by state |url=https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state#fatal-crash-totals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914095206/https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state#fatal-crash-totals |archive-date=September 14, 2024 |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=IIHS-HLDI crash testing and highway safety |language=en}}</ref>

===Rail===
{{Louisiana rail network}}
{{See also|List of Louisiana railroads}}

Six [[Class I railroad|Class I]] freight railroads operate in Louisiana: [[BNSF]], [[Canadian National]], [[CPKC]], [[CSX]], [[Norfolk Southern]] and [[Union Pacific]]. A number of Class II and Class III railroads also carry freight.

[[Amtrak]], the national passenger railroad, operates three long-distance rail routes through Louisiana. All three originate at [[New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal]]. The ''[[Crescent (train)|Crescent]]'' serves {{amtk|Slidell}} then runs northeast to {{amtk|New York}} via {{amtk|Birmingham}}, {{amtk|Atlanta}}, {{amtk|Charlotte}}, and {{amtk|Washington, D.C.}} The ''[[City of New Orleans]]'' stops at {{amtk|Hammond}} before continuing north to {{amtk|Chicago}} by way of {{amtk|Jackson||City of New Orleans}} and {{amtk|Memphis}}. The ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' serves {{amtk|Schriever}}, {{amtk|New Iberia}}, {{amtk|Lafayette}}, and {{amtk|Lake Charles}} on its route west to {{amtk|Los Angeles}} via {{amtk|Houston}}, {{amtk|San Antonio}}, {{amtk|El Paso}}, and {{amtk|Tucson}}. Before [[Hurricane Katrina]], the ''Sunset Limited'' ran as far east as {{amtk|Orlando}}.

===Mass transit===
[[File:New Orleans Streetcar 461 on Carondelet Street, 24 August 2021 - 04.jpg|thumb|A streetcar on the [[Streetcars in New Orleans|St. Charles Avenue Line]] in New Orleans]]
Predominantly serving [[New Orleans]], the [[New Orleans Regional Transit Authority]] is the largest transit agency in the state. Other transit organizations are [[St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit]], [[Jefferson Transit (Louisiana)|Jefferson Transit]], [[Capital Area Transit System]], [[Lafayette Transit System]], [[Shreveport Area Transit System]], and [[Monroe Transit]], among others.

The Louisiana Transportation Authority (under the [[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]]) was created in 2001 to "promote, plan, finance, develop, construct, control, regulate, operate and maintain any tollway or transitway to be constructed within its jurisdiction. Development, construction, improvement, expansion, and maintenance of an efficient, safe, and well-maintained [[Intermodal passenger transport|intermodal transport]]ation system is essential to promote Louisiana's economic growth and the ability of Louisiana's business and industry to compete in regional, national, and global markets and to provide a high quality of life for the people of Louisiana."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Administration/LTA/Pages/default.aspx#:~:text=The+Louisiana+Transportation+Authority+%5BLTA,improvement,+expansion,+and+maintenance+of|title=Louisiana Transportation Authority|website=Wwwsp.dotd.la.gov|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419203116/http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Administration/LTA/Pages/default.aspx#:~:text=The+Louisiana+Transportation+Authority+%5BLTA,improvement,+expansion,+and+maintenance+of|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Air===
{{See also|List of airports in Louisiana}}
[[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport]] (MSY) is the busiest airport in Louisiana by an order of magnitude. It is also the second lowest-lying international airport in the world, at just {{convert|4.5|ft|m}} above sea level. There are six other [[FAA airport categories|primary airports]] in the state: [[Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport|Baton Rouge Metropolitan]], [[Shreveport Regional Airport|Shreveport Regional]], [[Lafayette Regional Airport|Lafayette Regional]], [[Alexandria International Airport (Louisiana)|Alexandria International]], [[Monroe Regional Airport (Louisiana)|Monroe Regional]], and [[Lake Charles Regional Airport|Lake Charles Regional]]. A total of 69 public-use airports exist in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aviation |url=http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Multimodal/Aviation/Pages/default.aspx |website=wwwsp.dotd.la.gov |publisher=[[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]] |access-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627021913/http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Multimodal/Aviation/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Waterways===
[[File:Intracoastal Waterway Louisiana.jpg|thumb|[[Gulf Intracoastal Waterway]] near New Orleans]]

The [[Gulf Intracoastal Waterway]] is an important means of transporting commercial goods such as petroleum and petroleum products, agricultural produce, building materials and manufactured goods. In 2018, the state sued the federal government to repair erosion along the waterway.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana sues federal government to repair erosion along Gulf Intracoastal Waterway|url=https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_230c4837-0e54-5049-86b1-7e53f8c41953.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=February 9, 2018 |language=en|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810175755/https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_230c4837-0e54-5049-86b1-7e53f8c41953.html}}</ref>

==Law and government==
{{Politics of Louisiana}}
<!--This section is linked from [[Law of the United Kingdom]]-->
:{{Further|List of Louisiana Governors|Louisiana law|Louisiana Constitution}}
[[File:Louisiana State Capitol Building.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Louisiana State Capitol]] in Baton Rouge, the [[Heights of state capitols|tallest state capitol building]] in the United States]]
[[File:LAGovMansion.JPG|right|thumb|The Louisiana Governor's Mansion]]

In 1849, the state moved the capital from New Orleans to [[Baton Rouge]]. [[Donaldsonville, Louisiana|Donaldsonville]], [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]], and [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]] have briefly served as the seat of Louisiana state government. The [[Louisiana State Capitol]] and the [[Louisiana Governor's Mansion]] are both located in Baton Rouge. The [[Louisiana Supreme Court]], however, did not move to Baton Rouge but remains headquartered in New Orleans.

Louisiana has six [[congressional district]]s and is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] by four Republicans and two Democrats. Louisiana had eight votes in the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]] for the [[2020 United States presidential election in Louisiana|2020 election]].

In a 2020 study, Louisiana was ranked as the 24th hardest state for citizens to vote in.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=J. Pomante II |first1=Michael |last2=Li |first2=Quan |title=Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020 |journal=Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy |date=December 15, 2020 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=503–509 |doi=10.1089/elj.2020.0666 |s2cid=225139517 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Louisiana has one of the most restrictive [[Abortion in Louisiana|abortion]] laws in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana |url=https://reproductiverights.org/maps/state/louisiana |website=Center for Reproductive Rights |access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref>

The [[Louisiana State Penitentiary|Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola]] is the largest [[Types of US federal prisons|maximum-security prison]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simone |first=Paul James |title=Top 10 worst prisons in the United States – Exploring-USA |date=May 12, 2022 |url=https://exploring-usa.com/worst-prisons-united-states/ |access-date=November 5, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105142111/https://exploring-usa.com/worst-prisons-united-states/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
Louisiana is divided into 64 [[Parish (administrative division)|parishes]] (the equivalent of [[County (United States)|counties]] in most other states).<ref name="nativeamericans">{{Handbook of Texas|id=bzi04|name=Native Americans}}</ref>
*[[List of parishes in Louisiana]]
*[[Louisiana census statistical areas]]

Most parishes have an elected government known as the Police Jury,<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the Police Jury? – Acadia Parish Police Jury|url=http://www.appj.org/what-is-the-police-jury/|access-date=August 10, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810175757/http://www.appj.org/what-is-the-police-jury/|url-status=live}}</ref> dating from the colonial days. It is the legislative and executive government of the parish, and is elected by the voters. Its members are called Jurors, and together they elect a president as their chairman.

A more limited number of parishes operate under [[home rule]] charters, electing various forms of government. This include mayor–council, council–manager (in which the council hires a professional operating manager for the parish), and others.

===Civil law===
The Louisiana political and legal structure has maintained several elements from the times of French and Spanish governance. One is the use of the term "[[parish (Louisiana)|parish]]" (from the French: {{Lang|fr|paroisse}}) in place of "[[County (United States)|county]]" for administrative subdivision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why parishes? The story behind Louisiana's unique map|url=https://www.nola.com/300/article_114112d3-89f7-5044-801b-b4a9fe981938.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=NOLA.com|date=September 8, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810175757/https://www.nola.com/300/article_114112d3-89f7-5044-801b-b4a9fe981938.html}}</ref> Another is the legal system of [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] based on French, German, and Spanish [[legal code]]s and ultimately [[Roman law]], as opposed to English [[common law]].

Louisiana's civil law system is what the majority of [[sovereign state]]s in the world use, especially in Europe and its former colonies, excluding those that derive their legal systems from the [[British Empire]]. However, it is incorrect to equate the [[Louisiana Civil Code]] with the [[Napoleonic Code]]. Although the Napoleonic Code and Louisiana law draw from common legal roots, the Napoleonic Code was never in force in Louisiana, as it was enacted in 1804, after the United States had [[Louisiana Purchase|purchased]] and annexed Louisiana in 1803.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.louisiana.gov/about-louisiana/|title=About Louisiana|website=Louisiana.gov|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111060352/https://www.louisiana.gov/about-louisiana/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Louisiana Civil Code is the controlling authority on civil matters in the state and has been continuously revised and updated since its enactment in 1808. While some of the differences between the legal systems have been bridged due to the strong influence of common law tradition,<ref name="kinsellalaw">{{cite web|url=http://www.kinsellalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/dictionary.pdf |title=A Civil Law to Common Law Dictionary |access-date=December 7, 2010 |last=Kinsella |first=Norman |year=1997 |website=KinsellaLaw.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225105448/http://www.kinsellalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/dictionary.pdf |archive-date=December 25, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the civil law tradition is still deeply rooted in most aspects of Louisiana private law.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Thus property, contractual, business entities structure, much of civil procedure, and family law, as well as some aspects of criminal law, are based mostly on traditional Roman legal thinking.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

===Marriage===
In 1997, Louisiana became the first state to offer the option of a traditional marriage or a [[covenant marriage]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marriage.about.com/cs/covenantmarriage/a/covenant.htm |title=Covenant Marriage—Pros and Cons |publisher=Marriage.about.com |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307225008/http://marriage.about.com/cs/covenantmarriage/a/covenant.htm |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a covenant marriage, the couple waives their right to a "no-fault" divorce after six months of separation, which is available in a traditional marriage. To divorce under a covenant marriage, a couple must demonstrate cause. Marriages between ascendants and descendants, and marriages between collaterals within the fourth degree (i.e., siblings, aunt and nephew, uncle and niece, first cousins) are prohibited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=111053|title=Louisiana Law Search|website=Legis.state.la.us|access-date=January 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618043512/http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=111053|archive-date=June 18, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Same-sex marriage]]s were prohibited by statute,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=111041|title=Louisiana Law Search|website=Legis.state.la.us|access-date=January 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618043507/http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=111041|archive-date=June 18, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[[Louisiana Civil Code]] [https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110540 §3520B] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711001705/https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110540 |date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> but the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] declared such bans unconstitutional in 2015 in ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges]]''. [[LGBT rights in Louisiana|Same-sex marriages are now performed statewide]]. Louisiana is a [[community property]] state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=109401|title=Louisiana Law Search|website=Legis.state.la.us|access-date=August 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220125649/http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=109401|archive-date=December 20, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Elections===
{{Main|Elections in Louisiana|Political party strength in Louisiana|Louisiana congressional districts}}

[[File:United States presidential election in Louisiana, 2016.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Treemap]] of the popular vote by parish, 2016 presidential election]]
{{PresHead|place=Louisiana|whig=yes|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=22&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|title=Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Louisiana|publisher=US Election Atlas|access-date=October 27, 2022|author=Leip, David|archive-date=October 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028022829/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=22&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1836|Democratic|3,583|3,842|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1840|Whig|11,296|7,616|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1844|Democratic|13,083|13,782|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1848|Whig|18,487|15,379|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1852|Democratic|17,255|18,647|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|0|22,164|20,709|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|0|7,625|42,885|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|33,263|80,225|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|71,663|57,029|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1876|Republican|75,315|70,508|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|38,978|65,047|437|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|46,347|62,594|458|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|30,660|85,032|199|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|26,963|87,926|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|22,037|77,175|1,834|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|14,234|53,668|4|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|5,205|47,708|995|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|8,958|63,568|2,591|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,833|60,871|14,544|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|6,466|79,875|6,641|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|38,538|87,519|339|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|24,670|93,218|4,063|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|51,160|164,655|18|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|18,853|249,418|533|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|36,791|292,894|93|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|52,446|319,751|108|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|67,750|281,564|69|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|72,657|136,344|207,335|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|306,925|345,027|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|329,047|243,977|44,520|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|230,980|407,339|169,572|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|509,225|387,068|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|257,535|309,615|530,300|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|686,852|298,142|66,497|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|587,446|661,365|29,628|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|792,853|708,453|47,285|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,037,299|651,586|17,937|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|883,702|717,460|27,040|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|733,386|815,971|240,660|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|712,586|927,837|143,536|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|927,871|792,344|45,441|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,102,169|820,299|20,638|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,148,275|782,989|29,497|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,152,262|809,141|32,662|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,178,638|780,154|70,240|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,255,776|856,034|36,252|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,208,505|766,870|31,600|Louisiana}}
{{PresFoot}}

From 1898 to 1965, a period when Louisiana had effectively [[Disfranchisement after the Civil War|disfranchised]] most African Americans and many poor whites by provisions of a new constitution,<ref name="GWUweb">{{cite web|title=Reading the Fine Print: The Grandfather Clause in Louisiana|url=http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5352/|website=History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web|publisher=George Washington University|access-date=October 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031073422/http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5352|archive-date=October 31, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> this was essentially a [[one-party state]] dominated by white Democrats. Elites had control in the early 20th century, before populist [[Huey Long]] came to power as governor.<ref name="Cashman">{{cite book|last=Cashman|first=Sean Dennis|title=African-Americans and the Quest for Civil Rights, 1900–1990|year=1991|publisher=New York University Press|isbn=9780814714416|page=[https://archive.org/details/africanamericans00cash/page/8 8]|url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericans00cash|url-access=registration|access-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref> In multiple acts of resistance, blacks left behind the segregation, violence and oppression of the state and moved out to seek better opportunities in northern and western industrial cities during the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migrations]] of 1910–1970, markedly reducing their proportion of population in Louisiana. The franchise for whites was expanded somewhat during these decades, but blacks remained essentially disfranchised until after the [[civil rights movement]] of the mid-20th century, gaining enforcement of their constitutional rights through passage by Congress of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].

Since the 1960s, when civil rights legislation was passed under President [[Lyndon Johnson]] to protect voting and civil rights, most African Americans in the state have affiliated with the Democratic Party. In the same years, many white social conservatives have moved to support Republican Party candidates in national, gubernatorial and statewide elections. In 2004, [[David Vitter]] was the first Republican in Louisiana to be popularly elected as a U.S. senator.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Vitter|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDOC-114sdoc24/html/CDOC-114sdoc24.htm|url-status=live|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=www.govinfo.gov|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810175755/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDOC-114sdoc24/html/CDOC-114sdoc24.htm}}</ref> The previous Republican senator, [[John S. Harris]], who took office in 1868 during Reconstruction, was chosen by the state legislature under the rules of the 19th century.

Louisiana is unique among U.S. states in using a system for its state and local elections similar to that of modern France. All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, run in a [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] (or "jungle primary") on [[Election Day (United States)|Election Day]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Review Types of Elections|url=https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/ReviewTypesOfElections/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=www.sos.la.gov|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819025824/https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/ReviewTypesOfElections/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> If no candidate has more than 50% of the vote, the two candidates with the highest vote totals compete in a runoff election approximately one month later. This run-off method does not take into account party identification; therefore, it is not uncommon for a Democrat to be in a runoff with a fellow Democrat or a Republican to be in a runoff with a fellow Republican.

Congressional races have also been held under the jungle primary system. All other states (except [[Washington Initiative 872 (2004)|Washington]], [[California Proposition 14 (2010)|California]], and [[Maine]]) use single-party primaries followed by a general election between party candidates, each conducted by either a [[plurality voting system]] or [[Two-round system|runoff voting]], to elect senators, representatives, and statewide officials. Between 2008 and 2010, federal [[United States Congress|congressional]] elections were run under a closed primary system—limited to registered party members. However, on the passage of House Bill 292, Louisiana again adopted a nonpartisan blanket primary for its federal congressional elections.

Louisiana has six seats in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], five of which are currently held by Republicans and one by a Democrat. Though the state historically flips between Republican and Democratic governors, Louisiana is not classified as a [[swing state]] in presidential elections, and has it has been considered a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party stronghold]] during the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brasted |first=Chelsea |date=November 4, 2024 |title=Why Louisiana votes Republican, even with more registered Democrats on its rolls |url=https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/11/04/why-does-louisiana-vote-republican |access-date=December 19, 2024 |website=Axios |language=en |archive-date=December 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220050501/https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/11/04/why-does-louisiana-vote-republican |url-status=live }}</ref> Louisiana's incumbent governor is [[Republican Party of Louisiana|Republican]] [[Jeff Landry]], and the state's two U.S. senators are [[Bill Cassidy]] (R) and [[John Neely Kennedy]] (R).

{| class=wikitable style="float:center"
! colspan = 6 | Louisiana's party registration as of March 1, 2026:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louisiana Secretary of State |title=Statewide Report of Registered Voters |url=https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/RegistrationStatisticsStatewide.aspx |access-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411071348/https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/RegistrationStatisticsStatewide.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (US)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align=center | 1,074,359 
| align=center | 36.24%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (US)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align=center | 1,053,975
| align=center | 35.56%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other parties (US)}}
| [[List of political parties in the United States|Other]]
| align=center | 835,722 
| align=center | 28.19%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align=center | 2,964,056 
! align=center | 100.00%
|}

===Law enforcement===
{{See also|List of law enforcement agencies in Louisiana}}
Louisiana's statewide police force is the [[Louisiana State Police]]. In 1988, the Criminal Investigation Bureau was reorganized.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lsp.org/about_hist.html |title=Louisiana State Police—About Us—LSP History |publisher=Lsp.org |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504001036/http://www.lsp.org/about_hist.html |archive-date=May 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its troopers have statewide jurisdiction with power to enforce all laws of the state, including city and parish ordinances. Each year, they patrol over {{convert|12|e6mi|e6km|abbr=off}} of roadway and arrest about 10,000 impaired drivers. The State Police are primarily a traffic enforcement agency, with other sections that delve into trucking safety, narcotics enforcement, and gaming oversight.
[[File:Spanish Town Mardi Gras 2015 - 15922509443.jpg|thumb|Mardi Gras celebrations in the Spanish Town section of Baton Rouge]]

The elected sheriff in each parish is its chief law enforcement officer. They are the keepers of the local parish prisons, which house felony and misdemeanor prisoners. They are the primary criminal patrol and first responder agency in all matters criminal and civil. They are also the official tax collectors in each parish. The sheriffs are responsible for general law enforcement in their respective parishes, with the exception of Orleans Parish where this falls to the New Orleans Police Department. Before 2010, Orleans Parish was the only parish to have two sheriff's offices, with a different elected sheriff overseeing civil and criminal matters. In 2006, a bill was passed which eventually consolidated the two sheriff's departments into one parish sheriff responsible for both.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana Laws – Louisiana State Legislature|url=http://legis.la.gov/Legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=763316|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=legis.la.gov|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310103305/http://legis.la.gov/Legis/LawPrint.aspx?d=763316|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Louisiana had a higher murder rate (10.3 per 100,000) than any other state in the country for the 27th straight year. Louisiana is the only state with an annual average murder rate (13.6 per 100,000) at least twice as high as the U.S. annual average (6.6 per 100,000) during that period, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics from FBI Uniform Crime Reports. In a different kind of criminal activity, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' reports that Louisiana is the most corrupt state in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|last=Witt|first=Howard|title=Most corrupt state: Louisiana ranked higher than Illinois|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-corruption-louisiana_wittmar27,0,2957672.story|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 27, 2009|access-date=June 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602125255/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-corruption-louisiana_wittmar27,0,2957672.story|archive-date=June 2, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to a 2012 article in ''[[Times Picayune|The Times Picayune]]'', Louisiana is the prison capital of the world. Many [[Private prison|for-profit]] private prisons and sheriff-owned prisons have been built and operate here. Louisiana's incarceration rate is nearly five times Iran's, 13 times China's and 20 times Germany's. Minorities are incarcerated at rates disproportionate to their share of the state's population.<ref>{{cite web |author=Cindy Chang |website=The Times-Picayune |url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/05/louisiana_is_the_worlds_prison.html |title=Louisiana is the world's prison capital |date=May 13, 2012 |publisher=Nola.com |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303130905/http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/05/louisiana_is_the_worlds_prison.html |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are more people serving life sentences without parole in Louisiana than in Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi combined.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2023 |title=The Scandal That Never Happened |last= Rubin |first= Anat |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/louisiana-judges-ignored-prisoners-petitions-without-review-fifth-circuit |access-date=November 23, 2023 |website=[[ProPublica]] |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122175457/https://www.propublica.org/article/louisiana-judges-ignored-prisoners-petitions-without-review-fifth-circuit |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[New Orleans Police Department]] began a [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary policy]] to "no longer cooperate with federal immigration enforcement" beginning on February 28, 2016.<ref>Robert McClendon, [http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/sanctuary_city_immigration_new.html 'Sanctuary city' policy puts an end to NOPD's immigration enforcement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107143900/https://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/sanctuary_city_immigration_new.html |date=November 7, 2018 }}, ''NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune'' (March 1, 2016).</ref>

On June 19, 2024, [[Jeff Landry]] signed a bill to officially require that the [[Ten Commandments]] be displayed in every classroom in public schools and colleges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-ten-commandments-displayed-classrooms-571a2447906f7bbd5a166d53db005a62|title=New law requires all Louisiana public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments|date=June 19, 2024|website=AP News|access-date=June 21, 2024|archive-date=March 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316070319/https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-ten-commandments-displayed-classrooms-571a2447906f7bbd5a166d53db005a62|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2024, the law was overturned by a federal court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2024 |title=Federal judge blocks Louisiana Ten Commandments law |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6vxqe14nwo |access-date=April 22, 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=April 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427031048/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6vxqe14nwo |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Judiciary===
The [[judiciary of Louisiana]] is defined under the [[Constitution of Louisiana|constitution]] and [[law of Louisiana]] and comprises the [[Louisiana Supreme Court]], the [[Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal]], the district courts, the Justice of the Peace courts, the mayor's courts, the city courts, and the parish courts. The chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court is the chief administrator of the judiciary. Its administration is aided by the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, the [[Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board]], and the Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

==National Guard==
Louisiana has more than 9,000 soldiers in the [[Louisiana Army National Guard]], including the [[225th Engineer Brigade]] and the [[256th Infantry Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana National Guard—Louisiana National Guard|url=https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031074828/https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/|url-status=live}}</ref> Both these units have served overseas during the [[war on terror]].<ref>{{cite web|title=225th Engineer Brigade—Louisiana National Guard|url=https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/225th-engineer-brigade/|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031053521/https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/225th-engineer-brigade/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team—Louisiana National Guard|url=https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/256th-infantry-brigade-combat-team/|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031073956/https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/256th-infantry-brigade-combat-team/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Louisiana Air National Guard]] has more than 2,000 airmen, and its 159th Fighter Wing has likewise seen combat.<ref>{{cite web|title=159th Fighter Wing—Louisiana National Guard|url=https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/159th-fighter-wing/|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031031620/https://geauxguard.la.gov/organization/louisiana-national-guard/159th-fighter-wing/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Training sites in the state include [[Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville]] near [[Pineville, LA|Pineville]], Camp Villere near [[Slidell, LA|Slidell]], Camp Minden near [[Minden, LA|Minden]], [[England Air Park]] (formerly [[England Air Force Base]]) near [[Alexandria, LA|Alexandria]], Gillis Long Center near [[Carville, LA|Carville]], and [[Jackson Barracks]] in [[New Orleans]].

==Sports==
{{See also|List of sports teams in Louisiana|Sports in New Orleans}}
[[File:Mercedes Benz SuperDome and Smoothie King Arena, New Orleans LA.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Mercedes-Benz Superdome|Caesars Superdome]] and [[Smoothie King Center]] in [[New Orleans]].]]

Louisiana is the least populous state with more than one [[major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major professional sports league]] franchise: the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[New Orleans Pelicans]] and the [[National Football League]]'s [[New Orleans Saints]].

Louisiana has 12 collegiate [[NCAA]] Division I programs, a high number given its population. The state has no NCAA Division II teams and only two NCAA Division III teams. As of 2019, the [[LSU Tigers]] football team has won 12 [[Southeastern Conference]] titles, six [[Sugar Bowl]]s and four national championships.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Pickman|first=Ben|title=How Many National Championships Has LSU Won?|url=https://www.si.com/college/2020/01/13/lsu-national-championships-won-history-results|access-date=July 31, 2021|magazine=Sports Illustrated|language=en-us|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731134143/https://www.si.com/college/2020/01/13/lsu-national-championships-won-history-results|url-status=live}}</ref>

Each year New Orleans plays host to the [[Bayou Classic]], and the [[New Orleans Bowl]] college football games, while Shreveport hosts the [[Independence Bowl]]. New Orleans has hosted the [[Super Bowl]] a record eleven times,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Super Bowl LIV: What city has hosted the most Super Bowls?|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/19/most-super-bowls-city|url-status=live|access-date=July 31, 2021|magazine=Sports Illustrated|language=en-us|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731134144/https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/19/most-super-bowls-city}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=October 14, 2020|title=New Orleans to host Super Bowl in 2025, not '24|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30115794/new-orleans-host-super-bowl-2025-24-due-conflict-mardi-gras|access-date=July 31, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731134143/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30115794/new-orleans-host-super-bowl-2025-24-due-conflict-mardi-gras|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the [[BCS National Championship Game]], [[NBA All-Star Game]] and [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship]].

The [[Zurich Classic of New Orleans]], is a [[PGA Tour]] golf tournament held since 1938. The [[Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon]] and [[Crescent City Classic]] are two road running competitions held at New Orleans.

As of 2016, Louisiana was the birthplace of the most [[NFL]] players per capita for the eighth year in a row.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usafootball.com/news/press-box/woodland-hills-high-school-pittsburgh-has-most-nfl-players-california-leads-states-ho |title=Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh has most NFL players; California leads states; Houston leads hometowns |publisher=Usafootball.com |date=September 24, 2010 |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413085303/http://usafootball.com/news/press-box/woodland-hills-high-school-pittsburgh-has-most-nfl-players-california-leads-states-ho |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Louisiana State University]], the most famous college campus in Louisiana, has a total of 53 national championships throughout the college, the most championship is [[NCAA Baseball|college baseball]] championship in May, 2025.

==Notable people==
{{Div col|small=no}}
* [[Phil Anselmo]], singer, songwriter, best known for being member of the metal band [[Pantera]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/tags/phil-anselmo/|title=Phil Anselmo|website=loudwire.com|access-date=December 16, 2022|archive-date=December 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216072658/https://loudwire.com/tags/phil-anselmo/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Terry Bradshaw]], former NFL quarterback and sports personality<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-terry-bradshaw-alias-20210304-u2t55tvffzarbfr357vr3ptxey-story.html|title=Terry Bradshaw confirms he checked in for 1983 surgery under alias 'Tom Brady'|first=Storm|last=Gifford|website=New York Daily News|date=March 4, 2021 |access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417192447/https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-terry-bradshaw-alias-20210304-u2t55tvffzarbfr357vr3ptxey-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[James Carville]], political strategist known for his success with Bill Clinton's presidential campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prcno.org/carville-matalins-new-orleans-home/|title=James Carville and Mary Matalin's New Orleans home features stunning historic details and a mural that captures one of the "city's most glorious treasures"|date=December 1, 2020|website=Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310102404/https://prcno.org/carville-matalins-new-orleans-home/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Patricia Clarkson]], actress
* [[Ellen DeGeneres]], comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_3c9fbdfa-7d68-51a5-8c09-10b8de0b16e0.html|title=Louisiana native Ellen Degeneres scheduled to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom today|first=Elizabeth|last=Crisp|date=November 22, 2016|website=[[Nola.com]]|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=April 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418042721/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_3c9fbdfa-7d68-51a5-8c09-10b8de0b16e0.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Armand Duplantis]], pole vaulter. IAAF male [[World Athlete of the Year]] 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/es/athletes/detail/armand-duplantis/|title=Armand Duplantis News, Videos, Results|website=Olympic Channel|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126155715/https://www.olympicchannel.com/es/athletes/detail/armand-duplantis/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Mannie Fresh]]; DJ, producer, and rapper<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amoeba.com/mannie-fresh/artist/161249/bio|title=Mannie Fresh – Biography – Amoeba Music|website=Amoeba.com|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815235137/https://www.amoeba.com/mannie-fresh/artist/161249/bio|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Kevin Gates]]; rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.passionweiss.com/2013/02/07/question-in-the-form-of-an-answer-an-interview-with-kevin-gates/|title=Question in the Form of an Answer: An Interview with Kevin Gates|website=Passionweiss.com|date=February 7, 2013|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501074558/https://www.passionweiss.com/2013/02/07/question-in-the-form-of-an-answer-an-interview-with-kevin-gates/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[John Kennedy (Louisiana politician)|John Kennedy]], US Senator
* [[DJ Khaled]]; American DJ, record executive and media personality<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/296648|title=7 Things You Didn't Know About DJ Khaled|date=July 5, 2017|website=Entrepreneur|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225173554/https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/296648|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Sal Khan]]; Educator, and founder of Khan Academy
* [[Angela Kinsey]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/angela-kinsey/3030390365/|title=Angela Kinsey|website=TV Guide|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310102620/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/angela-kinsey/3030390365/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ali Landry]], actress and Miss USA 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=https://1079ishot.com/ali-landry-louisiana-snowball/|title=Ali Landry Visits Home, Reveals Favorite Louisiana Obsession|website=HOT 107.9|date=March 30, 2016 |access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310103334/https://1079ishot.com/ali-landry-louisiana-snowball/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Jared Leto]], actor and musician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/jared-leto/|title=Jared Leto. Biography, news, photos and videos|website=Hellomagazine.com|date=January 28, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124191747/https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/jared-leto/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], singer and piano-player<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jerryleelewis.com/about/biography/|title=Biography|website=jerryleelewis.com|date=2022|access-date=June 25, 2022|archive-date=June 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625092112/https://jerryleelewis.com/about/biography/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Huey Long]], politician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/huey-pierce-long|title=Huey Pierce Long Statue, U.S. Capitol for Louisiana &#124; AOC|website=Aoc.gov|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521232216/https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/huey-pierce-long|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Peyton Manning]], former American football quarterback<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/tennessee-football/peyton-manning-louisiana-sports-hall-fame/|title = WATCH: Peyton Manning humbled by the honor of being inducted into Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame|date = June 10, 2019|access-date = May 24, 2021|archive-date = May 24, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210524195652/https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/tennessee-football/peyton-manning-louisiana-sports-hall-fame/|url-status = live}}</ref>
* [[Tim McGraw]], singer, actor and record producer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/music/article_d43022f0-8a63-595e-80c5-e61e55a53128.html|title=Country star and north Louisiana native Tim McGraw riffs on 'Southern Voice,' sobriety, song searches and Sandra Bullock|first=Keith Spera, NOLA com &#124; The|last=Times-Picayune|website=Nola.com|date=April 9, 2010 |access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310102900/https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/music/article_d43022f0-8a63-595e-80c5-e61e55a53128.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Tyler Perry]], actor, director, producer, and screenwriter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/coronavirus/article_00777506-79c0-11ea-b5d3-277809f02d41.html|title=New Orleans native Tyler Perry buys groceries for senior shoppers at 73 stores|date=April 8, 2020 |access-date=May 24, 2021|archive-date=May 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524195647/https://www.nola.com/news/coronavirus/article_00777506-79c0-11ea-b5d3-277809f02d41.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Dustin Poirier]]; American mixed martial artist, currently signed to the UFC
* [[Addison Rae]]; American singer and actress<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a64462999/addison-rae-interview-2025/|title=Addison Rae Knows You Can't Stop Watching Her|last=Exposito|first=Suzy|magazine=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]|date=April 22, 2025|access-date=July 30, 2025|archive-date=July 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730041253/https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a64462999/addison-rae-interview-2025/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Erin Reed]]; American journalist and transgender activist<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Reed |first=Erin |interviewer=[[William Brangham]] |title=Parents concerned as new state laws restrict rights of transgender children |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/parents-concerned-as-new-state-laws-restrict-rights-of-transgender-children |access-date=September 26, 2023 |date=March 1, 2023 |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901123651/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/parents-concerned-as-new-state-laws-restrict-rights-of-transgender-children |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Zachary Richard]]; Cajun singer, songwriter and poet<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lafayettetravel.com/explore/music/zachary-richard/|title=Zachary Richard &#124; Music in Lafayette, LA|website=Lafayettetravel.com|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609233640/https://www.lafayettetravel.com/explore/music/zachary-richard/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Fred L. Smith (political writer)|Fred L. Smith Jr.]], founder of [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cei.org/studies/labor-of-love-a-fred-smith-story/|title=Labor of Love: A Fred Smith Story|website=Competitive Enterprise Institute|date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516115613/https://cei.org/studies/labor-of-love-a-fred-smith-story/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ian Somerhalder]], actor, model and director<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/southbound-articles/ian-somerhalder/|title=Where the Heart Is: Ian Somerhalder reflects on the allure of his Louisiana parish|first=Emma|last=Hunt|website=Atlantamagazine.com|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=February 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227133943/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/southbound-articles/ian-somerhalder/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Britney Spears]]; singer, songwriter, dancer and actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/02/12/britney-spears-childhood-home-sells-for-less-than-300k/|title=Britney Spears' childhood home sells for less than $300K|first=Sarah|last=Paynter|website=New York Post|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=July 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702090445/https://nypost.com/2021/02/12/britney-spears-childhood-home-sells-for-less-than-300k/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Jamie Lynn Spears]], singer and actress<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1578525/jamie-lynn-spears-hometown-reacts-residents-respond-to-pregnancy-news/|title=Jamie Lynn Spears' Hometown Reacts: Residents Respond To Pregnancy News|first=James|last=Montgomery|website=MTV News|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420003115/http://www.mtv.com/news/1578525/jamie-lynn-spears-hometown-reacts-residents-respond-to-pregnancy-news/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[$uicideboy$]]; singer, rapper and producer<ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans' own Suicideboys deliver a dose of darkness at BUKU Fest| date=March 24, 2019 |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/new-orleans-own-suicideboys-deliver-a-dose-of-darkness-at-buku-fest/article_840fa374-f0e0-509e-8f34-fabad8801e15.html#:~:text=The%20Suicideboys%20are%20a%20rap,up%20in%20Metairie%27s%20Fat%20City.url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Summrs]]; singer, rapper and songwriter
* [[Lil Wayne]]; rapper, singer, songwriter, record executive, entrepreneur, and actor<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266309/lil-wayne-plays-farewell-show-in-new-orleans|title=Lil Wayne Plays Farewell Show in New Orleans|magazine=Billboard|date=December 29, 2009|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928234539/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266309/lil-wayne-plays-farewell-show-in-new-orleans|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Shane West]], actor, singer and songwriter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/shane-west-on-salem-star-wars-paraphernalia-and-his-japanese-craftsman-home|title=Shane West on ''Salem'', ''Star Wars'' Paraphernalia, and His Japanese Craftsman Home|first=Laura|last=Morgan|website=Architectural Digest|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029082431/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/shane-west-on-salem-star-wars-paraphernalia-and-his-japanese-craftsman-home|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Reese Witherspoon]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brproud.com/news/reese-witherspoon-cast-of-big-little-lies-donate-money-to-help-frontline-workers-in-nola/|title=Reese Witherspoon & cast of 'Big Little Lies' donate money to help frontline workers in NOLA|website=Brproud.com|date=June 8, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310103351/https://www.brproud.com/news/reese-witherspoon-cast-of-big-little-lies-donate-money-to-help-frontline-workers-in-nola/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[YoungBoy Never Broke Again]]; rapper, singer, and songwriter<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/youngboy-never-broke-again-builds-momentum-at-second-tour-stop-in-l-a-9330365/|title=YoungBoy Never Broke Again Builds Momentum at Second Tour Stop in L.A.|magazine=Billboard|date=March 8, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228230812/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9330365/youngboy-never-broke-again-builds-momentum-at-second-tour-stop-in-l-a/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Index of Louisiana-related articles]]
* [[Outline of Louisiana]]
* [[USS Louisiana|USS ''Louisiana'']], 5 ships
* [[USRC Louisiana (1819)|USRC ''Louisiana'']]
* '''''<small>{{portal-inline|Louisiana}}</small>'''''
* '''''<small>{{portal-inline|United States}}</small>'''''

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

'''Pronunciation'''
{{reflist|group=pronunciation}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ''The Sugar Masters: Planters and Slaves in Louisiana's Cane World, 1820–1860'' by Richard Follett, Louisiana State University Press, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-8071-3247-0}}
* ''The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1440–1870'' by Hugh Thomas. 1997: Simon and Schuster. p.&nbsp;548.
* ''[[Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World]]'' by [[David Brion Davis]] 2006: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-533944-4}}
* [[Yiannopoulos, A.N.]], ''The Civil Codes of Louisiana'' (reprinted from Civil Law System: Louisiana and Comparative law, A Coursebook: Texts, Cases and Materials, 3d Edition; similar to version in preface to Louisiana Civil Code, ed. by Yiannopoulos)
* Rodolfo Batiza, "The Louisiana Civil Code of 1808: Its Actual Sources and Present Relevance", 46 ''TUL. L. REV.'' 4 (1971); Rodolfo Batiza, "Sources of the Civil Code of 1808, Facts and Speculation: A Rejoinder", 46 ''TUL. L. REV.'' 628 (1972); Robert A. Pascal, Sources of the Digest of 1808: A Reply to Professor Batiza, 46 TUL. L. REV. 603 (1972); Joseph M. Sweeney, Tournament of Scholars Over the Sources of the Civil Code of 1808,46 TUL. L. REV. 585 (1972).
* The standard history of the state, though only through the Civil War, is [[Charles Gayarré]]'s ''History of Louisiana'' (various editions, culminating in 1866, 4 vols., with a posthumous and further expanded edition in 1885).
* A number of accounts by 17th- and 18th-century French explorers: Jean-Bernard Bossu, François-Marie Perrin du Lac, Pierre-François-Xavier de Charlevoix, Dumont (as published by Fr. Mascrier), Fr. [[Louis Hennepin]], Lahontan, Louis Narcisse Baudry des Lozières, [[Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe]], and Laval. In this group, the explorer [[Antoine Simon Le Page du Pratz]] may be the first historian of Louisiana with his ''Histoire de la Louisiane'' (3 vols., Paris, 1758; 2 vols., London, 1763)
* [[François Xavier Martin]]'s ''History of Louisiana'' (2 vols., New Orleans, 1827–1829, later ed. by J. F. Condon, continued to 1861, New Orleans, 1882) is the first scholarly treatment of the subject, along with [[François Barbé-Marbois]]' ''Histoire de la Louisiane et de la cession de colonie par la France aux Etats-Unis'' (Paris, 1829; in English, Philadelphia, 1830).
* [[Alcée Fortier]]'s ''A History of Louisiana'' (N.Y., 4 vols., 1904) is the most recent of the large-scale scholarly histories of the state.
* The official works of Albert Phelps and [[Grace King]], the publications of the Louisiana Historical Society and several works on [[history of New Orleans|the history of New Orleans (q.v.)]], among them those by Henry Rightor and John Smith Kendall provide background.

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Louisiana|voy=Louisiana}}
* {{Official website|http://louisiana.gov/}}
* [https://guides.loc.gov/louisiana-state-guide Louisiana: State Resource Guide, from the Library of Congress]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080424033038/http://lagic.lsu.edu/ Louisiana Geographic Information Center]
* [http://www.leh.org/ Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities]
* [http://www.saltycajun.com/forum/view.php?pg=info_weather Louisiana Weather and Tides] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029112424/http://www.saltycajun.com/forum/view.php?pg=info_weather |date=October 29, 2020 }})
* {{cite web |title=Louisiana Laws - Louisiana State Legislature |url=https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=84519 |website=legis.la.gov}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union]]|years=Admitted on April 30, 1812 (18th)}}
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{{s-end}}
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