Louisiana is one of the fifty American States. It is located in the southeastern region of the country, bordering the States of Arkansas in the north, Mississippi in the east, Texas in the west, and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. nicknamed “The Pelican State”, as this bird was very common along its coast.
Initially, Louisiana was a French colonial province, having passed to Spanish rule in 1763, and returned to French rule in 1800. On October 31, 1803, the United States officially purchased the territory of Louisiana, elevating it to the State category on April 30, 1812.
Country United States
Before statehood Territory of Orleans and Louisiana Purchase
Admitted to the Union April 30, 1812 (18th)
Capital Baton Rouge
Largest city New Orleans[1][2][3]
Largest metro and urban areas Greater New Orleans
Government
• Governor John Bel Edwards (D)
• Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser (R)
Legislature State Legislature
• Upper house State Senate
• Lower house House of Representatives
Judiciary Louisiana Supreme Court
U.S. senators Bill Cassidy (R)
John Kennedy (R)
U.S. House delegation 5 Republicans
1 Democrat (list)
Area
• Total 52,069.13 sq mi (135,382 km2)
• Land 43,601 sq mi (112,927 km2)
• Water 8,283 sq mi (21,455 km2) 15%
• Rank 31st
Dimensions
• Length 379 mi (610 km)
• Width 130 mi (231 km)
Elevation 100 ft (30 m)
Highest elevation (Driskill Mountain[4][5]) 535 ft (163 m)
Lowest elevation (New Orleans[4][5]) −8 ft (−2.5 m)
Population (2020)
• Total 4,657,757
• Rank 25th
• Density 106.9/sq mi (41.3/km2)
• Rank 23rd
• Median household income $49,973[6]
• Income rank 47th
Demonyms Louisianian
Louisianais (Cajun or Creole heritage)
Luisiano (Spanish descendants during rule of New Spain)
Language
• Official language No official language
• Spoken language As of 2010[7]
English 91.26%
French 7.00% (incl. Cajun and Creole)
Spanish 3.30%
Vietnamese 0.59%
Time zone UTC– 06:00 (Central)
• Summer (DST) UTC– 05:00 (CDT)
USPS abbreviation
LA
ISO 3166 code US-LA
Traditional abbreviation La.
Latitude 28° 56′ N to 33° 01′ N
Longitude 88° 49′ W to 94° 03′ W
Website louisiana.gov
List of cities in Louisiania
- Abbeville Abita Springs Addis Albany Alexandria Amite City Anacoco Angie Arcadia Arnaudville Ashland Athens Atlanta
- Baker Baldwin Ball Basile Baskin Bastrop Baton Rouge[a] Belcher Benton Bernice Berwick Bienville Blanchard Bogalusa Bonita Bossier City Boyce Breaux Bridge Broussard Brusly Bryceland Bunkie
- Calvin Campti Cankton Carencro Castor Central Chataignier Chatham Cheneyville Choudrant Church Point Clarence Clarks Clayton Clinton Colfax Collinston Columbia Converse Cottonport Cotton Valley Coushatta Covington Creola Crowley Cullen
- Delcambre Delhi Delta Denham Springs DeQuincy DeRidder Dixie Inn Dodson Donaldsonville Downsville Doyline Dry Prong Dubach Dubberly Duson
- East Hodge Edgefield Elizabeth Elton Epps Erath Eros Estherwood Eunice Evergreen
- Farmerville Fenton Ferriday Fisher Florien Folsom Fordoche Forest Forest Hill Franklin Franklinton French Settlement
- Georgetown Gibsland Gilbert Gilliam Glenmora Golden Meadow Goldonna Gonzales Grambling Gramercy Grand Cane Grand Coteau Grand Isle Grayson Greensburg Greenwood Gretna Grosse Tete Gueydan
- Hall Summit Hammond Harahan Harrisonburg Haughton Haynesville Heflin Henderson Hessmer Hodge Homer Hornbeck Hosston Houma[b]
- Ida Independence Iota Iowa
- Jackson Jamestown Jeanerette Jean Lafitte Jena Jennings Jonesboro Jonesville Junction City
- Kaplan Keachi Kenner Kentwood Kilbourne Killian Kinder Krotz Springs Lafayette[c]
- Lake Arthur Lake Charles Lake Providence Lecompte Leesville Leonville Lillie Lisbon Livingston Livonia Lockport Logansport Longstreet Loreauville Lucky Lutcher McNary
- Madisonville Mamou Mandeville Mangham Mansfield Mansura Many Maringouin Marion Marksville Martin Maurice Melville Mermentau Mer Rouge Merryville Minden Monroe Montgomery Montpelier Mooringsport Moreauville Morgan City Morganza Morse Mound Mount Lebanon
- Napoleonville Natchez Natchitoches Newellton New Iberia New Llano New Orleans New Roads Noble North Hodge Norwood
- Oakdale Oak Grove Oak Ridge Oberlin Oil City Olla Opelousas
- Palmetto Parks Patterson Pearl River Pine Prairie Pineville Pioneer Plain Dealing Plaquemine Plaucheville Pleasant Hill Pollock Ponchatoula Port Allen Port Barre Port Vincent Powhatan Provencal
- Quitman
- Rayne Rayville Reeves Richmond Richwood Ridgecrest Ringgold Robeline Rodessa Rosedale Roseland Rosepine Ruston
- St. Francisville St. Gabriel St. Joseph St. Martinville Saline Sarepta Scott Shongaloo Shreveport Sibley Sicily Island Sikes Simmesport Simpson Simsboro Slaughter Slidell Sorrento South Mansfield Spearsville Springfield Springhill Stanley Sterlington Stonewall Sulphur Sun Sunset
- Tallulah Tangipahoa Thibodaux Tickfaw Tullos Turkey Creek
- Urania
- Varnado Vidalia Vienna Ville Platte Vinton Vivian
- Walker Washington Waterproof Welsh Westlake West Monroe Westwego White Castle Wilson Winnfield Winnsboro Wisner Woodworth
- Youngsville
- Zachary Zwolle