Louisiana Information

Here is some general information about Louisiana:

Recommended Reading

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide

This guide contains information about the symbols, mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and even license plates for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

Click here for more information...

Name
Offical Names	Etat de Louisiane, State of Louisiana
Nicknames	Child of the Mississippi, Creole State, Pelican State, Sportsman's Paradise, Sugar State, Bayou State
Abbreviations	LA, USLA
Origin of Name	Named after King Louis XIV of France

Government
Official Languages	De Facto: English, French
Admission to Union	April 30 1812
Time Zone	Central
Official Web Site	www.louisiana.gov

Population
Capital	Baton Rouge
Largest City	Baton Rouge
Population	4,468,976 (as of 2000 census)
Economy	Agriculture: seafood, cotton, soybeans, cattle, sugarcane, poultry and eggs, dairy products, rice Industry: chemical products, petroleum and coal products, food processing, transportation equipment, paper products, tourism

Geography
Area	51,885 square miles (134,382 km²)
Major Rivers	Atchafalaya River, Ouachita River, Red River, Sabine River, Mississippi River
Major Lakes	Calcasieu Lake, Catahoula Lake, Grand Lake, Lake Maurepas, Toledo Bend Reservoir, White Lake, Lake Pontchartrain
Highest Point	Driskill Mountain - 535 feet (163 meters)
Bordering States	Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas
Bordering Country	None
Bordering Body of Water	Gulf of Mexico

Symbols
Flag
Motto	Union, justice and confidence
Songs	You are my sunshine and Give Me Louisiana
Song - March	Louisiana My Home Sweet Home
Song - Environmental	The Gifts of Earth
Mammal	American Black Bear
Dog	Catahoula Leopard Dog
Bird	Brown Pelican
Insect	Honeybee
Saltwater Fish	Sac-au-Lait
Freshwater Fish	Spotted Sea Trout
Amphibian	Green Tree Frog
Reptile	American Alligator
Crustacean	Crawfish
Fossil	Petrified Palmwood
Flower	Magnolia
Wildflower	Louisiana Iris
Fruit	Strawberry
Vegetable	Sweet Potato
Vegetable Plant	Louisiana Tomato
Tree	Bald Cypress
Beverage	Milk
Jellies	Mahaw Jelly and Louisiana Sugar Cane Jelly
Meat Pie	Natchitoches Meat Pie
Gemstone	Agate
Soil	Ruston
Musical Instrument	Diatonic Accordion
Tartan	Louisiana State Tartan
Colors	Gold, White, Blue