Louisiana Land for Sale

Louisiana is located in the southern part of the United States, and is 31st in size and 25th in population. It is bordered by Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Baton Rouge is the capital, and the largest city, but is similar in population to New Orleans, which was the most populated city at one time, before hurricane damage and flooding caused the population to decline in recent years. Lafayette and Shreveport are also large cities in the state. It is the only U.S. state with political subdivisions called parishes, which are equivalent to counties in other states. The state is named for Louis XIV, King of France from 1643-1715, as the area was originally claimed by France.

The land of Louisiana can be divided by two land types: the uplands in the north and the alluvial along the coast. The alluvial region includes low swamp lands, coastal marshlands, beaches and barrier islands, covering around 20,000 square miles, primarily along the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. Major rivers are the Red River and the Ouachita River and its branches, and there are other minor streams, sometimes called bayous. Other waterways include the Sabine River, which forms the state's western boundary, the Pearl River, forming the eastern boundary, Calcasieu River, Mermentau River, Vermillion River, Bayou Teche, Atchafalaya River, Boeuf River, Bayou Lafourche, Courtableau River, Bayou D'Arbonne, Macon River, Tenasas River, Amite River, and Tickfaw River. In total, there are more than 4,000 miles of navigable waterways. The upland areas in the north are hilly and consist of prairie and woodlands. There are a number of protected areas in Louisiana, which include National Park Service sites and a United States National Forest, as well as a system of state parks, state historic sites, one state preservation area, one state forest, and many wildlife management areas. Most notable are the Kisatchie National Forest, which covers 600,000 acres, Lake Pontchartrain, Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Cane River National Heritage Area, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Poverty Point National Monument, and Saline Bayou, a designated National Wild and Scenic River that is part of the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System, which provides protection for 48 rivers, streams, and bayous.

Louisiana's principal agricultural products consist of seafood, including crawfish, for which it is the biggest producer in the world, cotton, soybeans, cattle, sugarcane, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and rice. Chemical products, petroleum and coal products, processed foods, transportation equipment, and paper products also contribute greatly to the economy. Tourism and culture are also an important part of the economy, especially in the New Orleans area. With a region called "Sportsman's Paradise," it is a popular destination for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor adventure. The Port of South Louisiana on the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is the largest volume shipping port in the Western Hemisphere and fourth largest in the world. There is also a thriving film industry in the state, primarily in New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge. The National Guard has more than 9,000 soldiers located in Louisiana, with training sites in Pineville, Slidell, Minden, Alexandria, Carville and New Orleans. Louisiana has several state university systems, including Louisiana State University, Southern University, University of Louisiana, and Louisiana Community and Technical College. There are also approximately 15 private colleges and universities, for-profit colleges, religious seminaries, and Tulane University, a private research university.