SISTER CITY SINCE 2008
29:97:28N 90:05:490W
NEW ORLEANS
Country:
UNITED STATES
Province:
LOUISIANA
Official Languages:
Spoken Languages:
Demonym:
Nickname:
Population:
Population Density:
Time Zone:
Municipality: NEW ORLEANS
2
Area:
907 km (350 sq mi)
Elevation:
-0.5m – 5m
HUMID
SUBTROPICAL
SHIPPING
OIL & PETROCHEMICAL
CONVENTIONS
TOURISM
ENGLISH
ENGLISH FRENCH (LOUISIANA)
NEW ORLEANIAN
THE BIG EASY
360 740
759 / km2 (1 965 /sq mi)
CST (GMT -6)
25°C (77°F)
14°C (58°F)
MAY - SEPT
1 580 mm (62 in)
Summer Average
Winter Average
Summer Rainfall
Annual Average
PORT of NEW ORLEANS
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
NEW ORLEANS
INTERNATIONAL
Fifth Largest Port in United States
19 km From Central New Orleans
9 million Tourists Per Year
New Orleans is a major United States port located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the
Mississippi River Delta. The city is named after the French city Orlèans and is well known for its distinct
French Creole architecture, as well as its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage. The city is often referred
to as the ‘most unique’ in America and is one of the top ten most visited cities in the United States.
Historically, New Orleans was controlled by the Spanish, then the French. Napoleon sold the territory to
the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. As a principal port, New Orleans played a major role
during the slave trade when slaves brought to the Deep South arrived via the city. During the American
Civil War, the Union captured New Orleans early, sparing the destruction suffered by many other cities
of the American South. By the mid-20th century, the city was being surpassed as the leading urban area
in the South. While the port remained one of the largest in the nation, automation and containerization
resulted in significant job losses resulting in a steady decliene in the city’s fortunes.
New Orleans has always been vulnerable to flooding and the city was catastrophically affected by Hurricane
Katrina in 2005. By the time the hurricane approached, most residents had evacuated. As the hurricane
passed through the Gulf Coast region, the city's federal flood protection system failed, resulting in the
worst civil engineering disaster in American history leaving 80% of the city flooded. The city is now well
on the way to a full recovery with both residents and business returning to the city in increasing numbers.
New Orleans has many major attractions, from the world-renowned French Quarter and Bourbon Street's
notorious nightlife. New Orleans' unique musical heritage was born in its early days by the blending of
European instruments with African rhythms and so becoming the birthplace of jazz. New Orleans is worldfamous for its Creole and Cajun cuisine and street food.
New Orleans' professional sports teams include the 2009 NFL Super Bowl champion’s the New Orleans
Saints. The Louisiana Superdome is the home of the Saints, the Sugar Bowl, and other prominent sporting
events. It has hosted the Super Bowl a record seven times.
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International & Governance Relations