Louisiana

• Population- 4,287,800
• Capital- Baton Rouge
• Largest cities– New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport
• Time zone- Central
• Date of Admission to the Union- April 30, 1812
• Slogan- Union, justice, and confidence
• State website URL- www.louisiana.gov

Talk about unique qualities and Louisiana should be an immediate topic. Cajun and Creole cultures are predominant in the southern most areas of the state. This unique amalgam of ethnicities and cultures has created large storehouses of music, language, and food. In fact the French language is so abundantly used that Louisiana has chosen to officially recognize English and French.

Louisiana is separated into parishes, as opposed to counties. The term ‘parish’ indicates a close association with the church, which used measurements like this during medieval times.

In recent history, Hurricane Katrina effectively took New Orleans out of commission as a key tourist center, at least until power and primary amenities had been reconstructed. But now there are renewed interests as far as real estate and new development goes. Prices have come down with the hopes of attracting buyers looking for a steal.

No mention of New Orleans can be complete without the annual Mardi Gras festival. Thousands of revelers flock to the city for wild parties, music and food, each year. Why New Orleans? Historians clam that Creole and Cajun settlers brought the Mardi Gras traditions with them.

A Geographically unique characteristic of Louisiana is the bayous. The shallow rivers that crowd near the mouth of the Mississippi create a one of a kind ecosystem that supports a huge range of flora and fauna. Lake Pontchartrain is Louisiana’s largest. The salt-water feature is unique, one of the biggest in the U.S and is an indication of where the original mouth of the Mississippi may have been.

Tabasco brand hot-sauce is loosely associated with the coastal geography. The Tabasco Company was founded on Avery Island in Louisiana. However, the interesting link is the fact that Avery Island is a renowned spot for rock salt and the mines from which it’s extracted. The island itself is nothing more than a lump of rock salt, along with a handful of other so-called salt domes that dot the Mississippi Delta region.