Explore this Map of Louisiana to know everything you want to know about the eighteenth State of the US. Learn about this State’s location in the United States of America, geography, climatic conditions, time zones, area codes, zip codes, flag, and seal. Also, learn about its history, major cities, national parks, hiking trails, name of the capital city, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and many more.

About Louisiana

The US State of Louisiana is the 18th State in the United States. On April 30, 1812, it was admitted to the Union. Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s capital. New Orleans is the largest city, and Greater New Orleans is the largest metro-urban area. 

This State has no official language. Over 90% of the population speaks English. French and Spanish are spoken by around 3% of Louisiana’s population. The Vietnamese language is the other popular spoken language in Louisiana. In the US, Louisiana is the 10th most populous State. 

The official nickname of the US state of Louisiana is Pelican State. Its other nicknames are:

• Bayou State
• Creole State
• Sportsman’s Paradise
• The Boot

“Union, Justice, Confidence” is the motto of the State. Check Key Facts of Louisiana to learn more about this US state. 

Louisiana Flag 

The current design of Louisiana’s flag was adopted on November 22, 2010. However, the original design was adopted in 1912. 

 The Louisiana flag’s design includes a dark blue background and a crest at the center. Design of the crest features:

• A nest has three pelican chicks.
• A mother pelican is seen vulning herself to feed her chicks. Its head is turned to the right of the viewer. Three drops of blood can be seen on the breast of the mother pelican. 
• A banner of the white color is there below the nest, where the state motto “Union Justice Confidence.” is written. 

Louisiana State Symbols

Louisiana state’s official government emblem is the Seal of Louisiana. Though it was devised originally in 1812, the latest version of the seal was adopted in 2006. 

The Seal of Louisiana’s design features two circles. While the inner circle consists of a central crest, the outer circle bears the State’s name and ornamentation. The artwork within the inner circle of the seal is identical to the flag’s crest. However, the only difference is that the seal’s artwork doesn’t have the banner (present in the flag’s design). 

Above the mother pelican in the seal’s crest, Louisiana’s motto is partial “Union Justice.” A single bullet separates the words “union” and “Justice.” The term “Confidence” is written below the crest. The words are written in hand-rendered font, the same as in the case of the state flag. 

“State of Louisiana” is written along the uppermost part of the seal in the outer circle. AgaramondPro-Bold (OpenType) is the font of the words. Learn more exciting aspects of the State from Louisiana Facts & Trivia.

Louisiana Location

Louisiana Location Map shows the exact location of the US state of Louisiana on the United States map. This map shows the US state’s boundaries, neighboring countries, and oceans. 

The State of Louisiana is spread across the USA’s south-central and deep southern regions. It shares its border with:

• Texas (in the west)
• Arkansas (in the north)
• Mississippi (in the east)
• The Gulf of Mexico (in the south)
• The Mississippi River demarcates a large part of Louisiana’s eastern boundary.

Louisiana’s precise location is 28° 56′ N to 33° 01′ N Latitude and 88° 49′ W to 94° 03′ W Longitude. Check the Louisiana Longitude and Latitude Map to learn more about the location.

Louisiana History

The Native Americans were the early settlers in the Louisiana area. They have been living here for the last 15,000 years. The early European settlers arrived here during the 1700s. By the year 1980, only 1/5th of the Native American population remained. 

Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, was the first European to visit the current Louisiana area in 1541. France started to colonize this area in 1702. French colonialists Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville were the first French people to start serious colonization of Louisiana. In 1714, the city of Natchitoches (the first permanent settlement in the State) was established. 

In 1718, Bienville established New Orleans city, which became an important port city as it is based on the banks of the Mississippi River. In 1722, New Orleans also became the territory’s capital. Sugarcane and cotton were produced on large farms during this time. To work on the plantation fields, slaves were brought from Africa. 

In 1763, Spain wrested control of Louisiana territory. However, in 1800, they returned the territory to France. In 1803, as part of the Louisiana Purchase, the United States bought the Louisiana territory from the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812, as the eighteenth State of the United States. 

The last major battle in this region was fought during 1812-1815. It was known as the War of 1812. After the British invasion of New Orleans with 11,000 troops, General Andrew Jackson led the US Army to defeat the British. 

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln became the US President. Louisiana joined the confederates to form the Confederate States of America and ceded from the Union. The Union military forces took over New Orleans in 1862 from the confederates. The reconstruction of the State took place in 1965 after the war ended. In 1868, Louisiana was readmitted into the Union. Oil was discovered in the State in 1901.

Louisiana Geography

Louisiana is spread across a total area of 52,069.13 sq mi (135,382 sq km), where 43,601 sq mi (112,927 sq km) is land area and 8,283 sq mi (21,455 sq km) is water area. It is the 31st largest state in the United States in terms of size. 

Driskill Mountain is the highest elevation point at 535 feet (163 m). The State’s lowest point in New Orleans is 8 feet below sea level. The average elevation is one hundred feet (30.5 m) above sea level. Atchafalaya River, Sabine River, Red River, Ouachita River, and Mississippi River are the major rivers in Louisiana. The major lakes in Louisiana are Catahoula Lake, Calcasieu Lake, White Lake, Grand Lake, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas.

Louisiana has three distinct landforms:

1. East Gulf Coastal Plain: This landform is situated to Lake Pontchartrain’s north and the Mississippi River’s east. This terrain features marshland near the river area and is significantly low-lying. As you move towards the north, the low-lying landform rises slightly to become rolling hills. 
2. Mississippi Alluvial Plain: It starts north of Arkansas, stretches along the Mississippi River, and continues to the Gulf of Mexico as you move towards the south. This terrain features hollows and ridges. Above the ridges, you will find fields. They are known as “front lands”, which can be found along the river. You will also find “backlands” in Mississippi Alluvial Plain. They are land contours that slope away from the front lands. These backlands are made up of silt and clay. At the Mississippi River’s mouth, the Mississippi Delta is located. This delta covers around one-quarter of the State, covering about 13,000 square miles (33,669.8 sq mi) of land area. In Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta is the most fertile area of land. 
3. West Gulf Coastal Plain: The West Gulf Coastal Plain is situated on the western side of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Barrier beaches are located along the gulf in the southern part of the State. Marshes extending around 20 miles (32.2 km) north to Louisiana’s interior are found behind the barrier beaches. Louisiana Prairie is there to the marshlands’ north. They are a gently rolling landscape. As you move towards Arkansas in the north, the land rises gradually. Driskill Mountain, the highest elevation point in Louisiana, is located around 40 miles (64.4 km) from the state line of Arkansas. Check this Louisiana Topographic Map to learn more.

Learn about the location of mountain peaks, rivers, lakes, the state capital, state boundary, ocean, and neighboring states from this Physical Map of Louisiana.

Louisiana Parishes

Louisiana has 64 parishes, which are equivalent to counties. It is the only State where each subdivision of a state is called a Parish instead of a County. Plaquemines Parish is the largest parish, having a total area of 2,429 sq mi (6,291 sq km). West Baton Rouge Parish is the smallest county, having a total area of 203 sq mi (526 sq km). Check the Louisiana Parish Map to learn more about the location and boundaries of different counties in the State. 

Louisiana Area Codes

The US State of Louisiana has five area codes: 

• 225: Baton Rouge area as well as south central Louisiana’s parts.
• 318: Northern Louisiana
• 337: Southwestern Louisiana
• 504: New Orleans area
• 985: Southeast Louisiana

The Louisiana Area Codes Map helps you locate a particular area code. You can also use it to learn more about the area code boundary, county and state boundaries, and state capital. 

Louisiana Zip Codes

There are 515 active zip codes in Louisiana in 2022. Some of the best zip codes to live in the State include 70503, 70808, 70124, 70115, 70471, and many more. You can locate a particular zip code’s location, boundary, state boundary, and state capital with the help of the Louisiana Zip Codes Map. 

Louisiana Major Cities

Learn about the State’s major cities from this Louisiana cities map. It also helps you to know the exact location of the state capital, other cities, state boundaries, neighboring states and oceans, and many more. 

Louisiana’s most prominent cities are New Orleans, Lafayette, Metairie, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and many more. Check out the Louisiana Cities Map for more details.

Louisiana Airports Map

The busiest airports in Louisiana are Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Shreveport Regional Airport, etc. Check the location of different airports in the State on the Louisiana Airports Map. This map also shows Louisiana’s state and country boundaries, cities, the state capital, neighboring states, and oceans.

Louisiana National Park and Trails

Louisiana has five national parks. Around 219,671 visitors visit these national parks annually. Major national parks in the State are Cane River Creole National Historic Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve, and others.

In Louisiana, you can enjoy 240 recreational trails (hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and other adventurous trails). Bogue Chitto State Park Gorge Run Trail, Comite Park Trail, Wild Azalea Trail, Tunica Hills C Trail, Driskill Mountain Trail, etc., are some of the most popular trails in Louisiana. 

Check out the National Parks in Louisiana Map to get a clear idea about the locations of different national parks, monuments, preserves, etc.

Louisiana Time Zones

The time zone in Louisiana is UTC−06:00 (Central). Its Summer (DST) time zone is UTC−05:00 (CDT).

Louisiana Climate 

The climatic condition in Louisiana is categorized as subtropical. This is mainly because of the State’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. However, you’ll also find continental weather patterns in Louisiana because of its location at the vast Mississippi-Missouri river valley’s mouth. 

The summer season remains hot and humid. However, thundershowers occur frequently in the afternoon, which tempers the climatic condition. Tropical storms are shared here. The season of hurricanes in the State ranges from June to November, extending for 6-months. 

In the extreme north of Louisiana, the average yearly temperature hovers around 64 °F (18 °C). However, at the Mississippi River’s mouth, the average yearly temperature hovers around 71 °F (21 °C). In July, the average highest monthly temperature remains around 82 °F (28 °C). In January, the average highest monthly temperature hovers around 50 °F (10 °C). 

As Louisiana has a subtropical climate, it remains humid during the summer season. In northern Louisiana, frost season starts on and around November 1. In the extreme southeast of the State, frost season starts on and around December 14. 

Louisiana’s average annual precipitation level ranges from 45 inches (1,140 mm) in Shreveport to over 56 inches (1,420 mm) in New Orleans. 220-to-320 days is the average growing season in the State.

FAQs on Louisiana

FAQ #1: What Time Zone Is Louisiana? 

Ans: The time zone in Louisiana is UTC−06:00 (Central). Its Summer (DST) time zone is UTC−05:00 (CDT).

FAQ #2: When Was The Louisiana Purchase?

Ans: On April 30, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was made. 

FAQ #3: What Was The Louisiana Purchase?

Ans: The imperial rights to the Mississippi River basin’s western half were bought by the United States from France in 1803 at the cost of US$27,267,622. This purchase helped the United States obtain land directly (either by conquest or contract) from the Native Americans and other indigenous inhabitants. In US history, it is regarded as the greatest land bargain. 

FAQ #4: How Much Was The Louisiana Purchase?

Ans: The cost of the Louisiana Purchase was US$27,267,622.

FAQ #5: Is Louisiana A Red State or a Blue State?

Ans: Louisiana can be considered a red state if the US Presidential election is considered (since 1976). This is because the Republican Party (the Reds) won this State 9-times (1980, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020), and the Democratic Party (the Blues) won thrice (1976, 1992, and 1996) since 1976.

FAQ #6: Where Is Louisiana?

Ans: Louisiana is located in the USA’s South Central and Deep South regions. 

FAQ #7: Who Was President During The Louisiana Purchase?

Ans: President Thomas Jefferson was the US President when the Louisiana Purchase was made. 

FAQ #8: What is the population of Louisiana?

Ans: The population of Louisiana was estimated at US$4.57 million in 2022, making it the twenty-fourth largest State in the United States. 

FAQ #9: Who Is The Governor Of Louisiana?

Ans: Democratic Party’s John Bel Edwards is the incumbent Governor of Louisiana in 2022. He assumed the office as the 56th Governor of Louisiana on January 11, 2016. 

FAQ #10: What Is Louisiana Known For?

Ans: Louisiana is known for Mardi Gras celebrations, Cajun and Creole cuisine, as the birthplace of American blues, jazz music, bayous, diverse cultural heritage, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Essence Music Festival, and many tourists attractions such as New Orleans’ French Quarter, National WW2 Museum, Melrose Plantation, Old State Capitol, Swamp Tours, and many more.