New Orleans

Population: 1.2 million

Altitude: 35 feet

Louisiana, named for Louis XIV of France, was settled in 1699 by Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, a Canadian and his younger brother, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville. The city of New Orleans, however, did not have its beginnings until 1717, when Bienville was instructed to seat of government of Louisiana from the Biloxi area to a location on the Fleure Saint Louis, as the French had renamed the Indians' misi sipi, or "great water." The site he had selected was at an old Indian portage leading from the river to the big lake in the area. The area was christened Nouvelle-Orleans.

Floods, epidemics and food shortages made survival a constant struggle for early settlers. the derelicts France had swept from its prisons onto Louisiana-bound boats refused to work. There was no real communication with the government in Paris. But somehow levees rose, and New Orleans became a territorial capital. The nucleus of Creole society took form, modeled after the court life of Versailles.

After 4 years of neglect by France, Louisiana was ceded to Spain in 1762. Spanish rule was generally wise. During this period the great sugar industry developed in nearby plantations. Granulated sugar was perfected and sprinkled around the world despite restrictive trade policies of the mother country. The city burned twice, emerging as the lovely French Quarter that stands today.

Within a month in late 1803, ownership of Louisiana passed from Spain to France and then to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase.

Statehood was attained in 1812, and by 1840 New Orleans was the nation's fourth largest city. With two floats and a theme, the first organized Mardi Gras parade passed through the street of New Orleans in 1857; the parade was one of the first local institutions revived after the Civil War.

By the 1880s New Orleans had nearly recovered from the Civil War through Reconstruction efforts. Today New Orleans serves as a large distribution center, and a major center for higher education. Some of the schools include Louisiana State University's Medical Center, Dillard University, Loyola University, Tulane University, the University of New Orleans, and Xavier University.

The French Quarter, or Vieux Carre (VOO-cah-RAY) - the 70 blocks between Canal Street, Rampart Street, Esplande Avenue, and the Mississippi River.