Louisiana is rich in culture and history. Here are seven facts you might not know about the Pelican State.
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1. The first gas pipeline was laid in Louisiana in 1908. Today,
more than 112,000 miles of pipeline run through the state.
Louisiana also accounts for one-quarter of gas production in the United States.
2.
According to History.com, Louisiana became a state in 1812. Prior to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the land was colonized by the French. The rich history of the region remains today and is evident in the state’s cultural makeup. Two prominent ethnic groups in the state are Cajuns, descendants of a French-speaking group of Acadians from Canada, and Creoles, people with a mixed descent, including French, Spanish, Caribbean, African and Indian backgrounds.
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3. The New Orleans French Quarter is actually filled with colonial structures that were built by the Spanish.
4.
Louisiana is the only state in the country that is not divided into counties. Divisions are defined as “parishes.”
5.
The oldest city in Louisiana is Natchitoches, which is pronounced Nack-a-tish. This original French colony was established in 1714 and continues to embrace its European roots today with lifestyle and architecture. The city is also known as the bed and breakfast capital of the state and the site of the film "Steel Magnolias."
6. In 1861, Louisiana seceded from the union and joined the Confederate States of America. The state remained independent for two months prior to joining the Confederacy and flew a pelican flag in place of an American flag. Seven years later, in 1868, Louisiana rejoined the United States.
7. The geographic location of Louisiana has made it prime territory for floods of great force. In 1927, one of the most devastating floods occurred in the state. As a result of rainstorms filling streams that filled the Mississippi River, 10,000 square miles of Louisiana went under water. Pumps that normally drain the city became disabled by torrential rainfall and, while the levees didn’t breach, there was no way to get the water out of the city.
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According to the Encyclopedia of Louisiana, engineers blew a levee apart with dynamite in order to release the water from being held within the city. Damages from the flood were estimated at $35 million.
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