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Article: Louisiana
- Article from:
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
CopyrightThe Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information)
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Louisiana , state in the S central United States. It is bounded by Mississippi, with the Mississippi R. forming about half of the border (E), the Gulf of Mexico (S), Texas (W), and Arkansas (N).
Facts and Figures
Area,
48,523 sq mi (125,675 sq km).
Pop.
(2000) 4,468,976, a 5.9% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital,
Baton Rouge.
Largest city,
New Orleans.
Statehood,
Apr. 30, 1812 (18th state).
Highest pt.,
Driskill Mt., 535 ft (163 m);
lowest pt.,
New Orleans, 5 ft (2 m) below sea level.
Nickname,
Pelican State.
Motto,
Union, Justice and Confidence.
State bird,
Eastern brown pelican.
State flower,
magnolia.
State tree,
cypress.
Abbr.,
La.; LA
Geography