5 Historical Facts About New Orleans

New Orleans is an international city that attracts millions of visitors to its hotels and restaurants every year. But many of these people don’t know much about the city, including where it’s located.

In this article, we’ll tell you some facts about one of the most famous cities in America.

5 Facts About New Orleans

While New Orleans is known as a vibrant city with an around-the-clock pulse, there are indications that it wasn’t always that way.

Let’s look at some facts about the city so you can have a better understanding.

1. When Was New Orleans Founded?

New Orleans was founded around 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville. The city was claimed by the French Crown as La Nouvelle-Orleans.

New Orleans is named after Orleans, a ruler in France. As you can see from the city’s architecture, New Orleans has a lot of French influence.

2. What Was New Orleans’ First Name?

New Orleans was not originally called New Orleans. The city was first known for the town situated in the center of a serious curve in the Mississippi River, Vieux Carré, aka the French Quarter.

As you might have guessed, the French Quarter has had little problem keeping its name and significance today.

New Orleans is located in Louisiana. For those that don’t know, Louisiana became part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, which took place in 1802.

French explorer La Salle christened the territory Louisiana in honor of French King Louis XIV in the 1680s.

The city’s location was nearly 100 miles from the gaping mouth of the Mississippi River.

4. When Did New Orleans Become A Part Of America?

It is said that the Louisiana Purchase is one of the cheapest land deals in official history when you account for inflation. The Louisiana Purchase only costs $15 million.

Adding the Louisiana Territory, as it was called then, immediately doubled the size of the United States,

As for France, the deal secured much-needed capital that was needed for a pending war with Great Britain.