Louisiana: Pelican State

Louisiana, in the Deep South, is known for unique French-Spanish-African-Cajun culture, New Orleans's jazz and Mardi Gras, swamps and bayous, and distinctive cuisine. No other American state has such distinct cultural identity.

New Orleans, the largest city, is famous for French Quarter, jazz music, Mardi Gras, and Creole/Cajun cuisine. Baton Rouge is the capital. Louisiana has extensive wetlands, cypress swamps, and Mississippi River delta. Cajun culture in Acadiana region preserves French Canadian heritage. The state's legal system uniquely uses Napoleonic Code rather than English common law.

Louisiana's economy includes oil and gas, petrochemicals, shipping (Port of New Orleans/South Louisiana), agriculture, and tourism. Hurricane Katrina (2005) devastated New Orleans and Gulf Coast. The state faces land loss from subsidence and sea-level rise. Gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, and po' boys define cuisine. Jazz, zydeco, and blues music originated here. Louisiana's motto "laissez les bons temps rouler" (let the good times roll) captures joie de vivre.