New Orleans, Louisiana
Flag of New Orleans, Louisiana
Nickname(s): 
"The Crescent City", "The Big Easy", "The City That Care Forgot"
Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States
Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States
Coordinates: 29°57′53″N 90°4′14″W / 29.96472°N 90.07056°W / 29.96472; -90.07056
Country
State
Parish
United States
Louisiana
Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Founded1718
Government
 • MayorRay Nagin (D)
Area
 • City907.0 km2 (350.2 sq mi)
 • Land467.6 km2 (180.5 sq mi)
 • Water439.4 km2 (169.7 sq mi)
Highest elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Lowest elevation
−2 m (−7 ft)
Population
 (2000)
 • City484,674
 • Density1,036.4/km2 (2,684/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,337,726
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Websitehttp://www.cityofno.com/

New Orleans is a major United States port city and historically the largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is in southeastern Louisiana at a strategic location on the Mississippi River. It is one of the oldest and most historic cities in the United States.

New Orleans is known for its multicultural heritage as well as its music and cuisine. It is considered the birthplace of jazz.[1][2] Its status as a world-famous tourist destination is due in part to its architecture and its annual Mardi Gras and other celebrations.

The 2000 U.S. census put New Orleans' population at 484,674. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused the city's evacuation. Population estimates as of June 2006 range from 192,000[3] to 220,000.[4]

Name edit

New Orleans was originally la Nouvelle-Orléans (French   /la nuvɛl ɔʀleɑ̃/), named for the Duke of Orléans, Regent of France.

New Orleans is usually pronounced by locals as "noo-AW-lyenz," "noo-AW-linz," "noo-OR-linz," or "noo-OR-lyenz." The tendency among people around the world to say "noo-or-LEENZ" stems from the use of that pronunciation by singers and songwriters, who find it easy to rhyme. The pronunciation "NAW-linz" is likewise not generally used nor liked by locals but has been popularized by the tourist trade.

/nuːˈɔɹliːnz/, /nuːˈɔɹliːənz/, /nuːˈɔɹlənz/

Nicknames for the city include "Crescent City," which alludes to the course of the Mississippi River around and through the city; "The Big Easy," a reference by musicians to the relative ease of finding work there; and "The City that Care Forgot," which refers to the outwardly easy-going, carefree nature of many of the residents.[5][6][7]

History edit

 
Sign at Jackson Square in the French Quarter

New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi Company as la Nouvelle-Orléans, under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. The site was selected because of its relatively high elevation along the flood-prone banks of the Lower Mississippi River and its location adjacent to a Native American trading route and portage between the river and Lake Pontchartrain.

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Et cetera edit

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References edit

  1. ^ "New Orleans: The Birthplace of Jazz" (primarily excerpted from Jazz: A History of America's Music). PBS – JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
  2. ^ "America Savors Its Music During Jazz Appreciation Month". U.S. Dept. of State – USINFO. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
  3. ^ Whoriskey, Peter (2006-06-11). "New Orleans' population remains low". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 2006-06-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Henderson, Peter (2006-06-07). "New Orleans population whiter, smaller post-storm". Reuters AlertNet. Retrieved 2006-06-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Origins of New Orleans Words and Traditions". Louisiana Division, New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  6. ^ "New Orleans—"The City That Care Forgot" and Other Nicknames: A Preliminary Investigation". New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  7. ^ "Blake Ponthchartrain, New Orleans Know-it-all". Gambit Weekly. 2002-04-09. Retrieved 2006-06-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)