Research Center

Louisiana Business Profile

Louisiana Quality of Life

History

Louisiana abounds with a rich diversity of cultures. They include those of the original Indian inhabitants plus the descendants of a variety of settlers, including the French, Spanish, English, German, Acadians, West Indians, Africans, Irish and Italians.

Through much of its early history, Louisiana was a trading and financial center. The fertility of its land made it one of the richest regions in America. Although the plantation economy was shattered by the Civil War, the state continued to be a powerful agricultural region. The discoveries of sulphur in 1969 and oil in 1901, coupled with the rise of forestry, sent the state on a new wave of economic growth. Eventually, Louisiana became a major American producer of oil and natural gas and a center of petroleum refining and petrochemical manufacturing, which it remains to this day.

Climate

Louisiana features a warm, humid subtropical climate determined by the continental land mass to the north, its subtropical latitude, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. As prevailing winds are from the south or southeast, the influence of the warm, moist air from the Gulf is quite great. Snow rarely falls in the southern sections, with only small snowfalls usually recorded in the northern areas.

Culture and Recreation

Louisiana prides itself on its cultural offerings. The state has some of the finest restaurants, museums, and art galleries in America. From the Cajun dance halls of rural Louisiana to the honky-tonk jazz clubs of New Orleans' French Quarter, there's something for everyone when it comes to music. For theater goers, the Saenger Performing Arts Center features Broadway hits direct from New York, while northern Louisiana cities such as Monroe, Ruston and Minden host colorful cultural festivals unique to that region. Adding to this richness, major museums and historic sights abound, including the Louisiana State Museum in Shreveport, the Louisiana Arts and Science Center in Baton Rouge, the pre-historic Indian mounds of Poverty Point in northeast Louisiana, the famous Chalmette Battlefield, and the Acadian House at Longfellow-Evangeline State Commemorative Area.

Louisiana has 26 state parks and commemorative areas, including 13 with camping facilities. Many hiking trails are found in national forest areas. Boating is also a favorite sport available almost year round, with sailing on Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Charles in south Louisiana and Cross Lake near Shreveport, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico. Freshwater fishing is available virtually everywhere in the state, and saltwater fishing is found in abundance along the Gulf Coast.

Louisiana's most famous event is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent). Parades and balls are held throughout the Mardi Gras Season, culminating in the parades on Mardi Gras day. While Mardi Gras is the largest carnival celebration, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival attracts the most famous musicians to entertain thousands of tourists and Louisianians. In addition, approximately 400 other festivals are held in the state each year to commemorate crops such as sugar cane and sweet potatoes, seafood and forestry.

Golf is played year round in Louisiana-included are courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones. Tennis, polo, thoroughbred horse racing, hunting, sport ballooning, and yachting also are among the many leisure activities enjoyed by the residents of Louisiana.

Activities

Museums/Art

New Orleans Museum of Art
Confederate Museum
Louisiana Children's Museum
Independence Italian Cultural Museum
Timbermill Museum
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
Louisiana State Museum
Louisiana State Archives
Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
New Orleans City Ballet
Little Theater
Louisiana Philharmonic Symphony
Plantations and Gardens
Oak Alley Plantation
Parlange Plantation
San Francisco Plantation
Rosedown Plantation
Houmas House
Louisiana State Arboretum
Madewood Plantation
The Myrtles
Shadows-on-the-Teche
Longue Vue House and Gardens

Other Attractions

Aquarium of the Americas
Audubon Park and Zoological Gardens
Cajun Swamp Tours
Cookin' Cajun Cooking School
The Historic French Quarter
Garden District
Louisiana Superdome
Magazine Street Antique Shopping
St. Louis Cathedral

State Parks

Audubon State Commemorative Area, St. Francisville
Bayou Segnette State Park, Westwego
Chemin-A-Haut State Park, Bastrop
Chicot State Park, Ville Platte
Cypremort Point State Park, Franklin
Fairview-Riverside State Park, Madisonville
Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville
Fort Jesup State Commemorative Area, Many
Fort Pike State Commemorative Area, New Orleans
Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Commemorative Area, Natchitoches
Grand Isle State Park, Grand Isle
Lake Bistineau State Park, Doyline
Lake Bruin State Park, St. Joseph
Lake Claiborne State Park, Homer
Lucust Grove State Commemorative Area, St. Francisville
Longfellow-Evangeline State Commemorative Area, St. Martinville
Los Adaes State Commemorative Area, Marthaville
Louisiana State Aboretum, Ville Platte
Mansfield State Commemorative Area, Mansfield
Marksville State Commemorative Area, Marksville
Port Hudson State Commemorative Area, Zachary
Poverty Point State Commemorative, Epps

Links to web sites about New Orleans:

New Orleans Museum of Art

Aquarium of the Americas