New Orleans: A Legendary American City by Art Gib
The city of New Orleans has become legendary in American lore for its great jazz and raucous Mardi Gras celebrations. It is one of the quintessential historic cities in the United States, and always has its arms of hospitality open wide to visitors and new residents alike. Here's a brief history of its early beginnings.
As in all areas of the country, Native Americans were the first to inhabit this part of what later became Louisiana. Conveniently located at the mouth of the might Mississippi, it was an essential trade route for Indians, fur trappers, French explorers, and adventure seekers in the late 17th century.
New Orleans itself was founded in 1718 by a Frenchman with the last name of Bienville (which, ironically, means "good town"). He chose the city's present site because the land was higher than the flood plain which surrounded it.
It was given the French name "Nouvelle-Orleans," after the name of the current Regent of Bienville's native country. Although the newly developing area was rough and hardly liveable yet, the importance of its strategic trading location trumped the primitive conditions. New Orleans replaced Biloxi as the capital of French Louisiana in 1722.
The mark of the French influence is still seen today in the narrow streets and charming architecture found in the French quarter, although most of its buildings were erected by Spanish colonists after the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788! Nearly all of the local landmarks have names which originated in Bienville's time, and different varieties of Cajun French are spoken across southern Louisiana.
Ownership of the area went back and forth between France and Spain until Napoleon sold it to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The 10,000 permanent residents at that time were now subject to American authority. During the 1800's, New Orleans was a wild trading town, with a mixture of ethnic populations uncommon in American cities at that time.
The British tried to regain it by force in 1812, but were repulsed by President Andrew Jackson's armies who had even recruited the services of famous local pirates! Unlike many old towns, New Orleans did not suffer massive destruction during the Civil War, and its historic areas and buildings remain largely intact today.
In this century, New Orleans has suffered through and survived the ravaging effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Despite the flooding, its historical architecture remained relatively unscathed, and hardy residents have been rebuilding the city ever since, while strengthening the levees to protect again future storms.
It remains one of the most charming cities on the continent, and people from all over the world still come to enjoy its wonderful music, cuisine, and ambience.
If you are moving to Louisiana, and are interested in beautiful New Orleans homes in any price range, contact the professionals at RE/MAX of Louisiana (http://www.remax-louisiana.com/remaxla/default.asp?p=neworleans-la-real-estate.asp). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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The city of New Orleans has become legendary in American lore for its great jazz and raucous Mardi Gras celebrations. It is one of the quintessential historic cities in the United States, and always has its arms of hospitality open wide to visitors and new residents alike. Here's a brief history of its early beginnings.
As in all areas of the country, Native Americans were the first to inhabit this part of what later became Louisiana. Conveniently located at the mouth of the might Mississippi, it was an essential trade route for Indians, fur trappers, French explorers, and adventure seekers in the late 17th century.
New Orleans itself was founded in 1718 by a Frenchman with the last name of Bienville (which, ironically, means "good town"). He chose the city's present site because the land was higher than the flood plain which surrounded it.
It was given the French name "Nouvelle-Orleans," after the name of the current Regent of Bienville's native country. Although the newly developing area was rough and hardly liveable yet, the importance of its strategic trading location trumped the primitive conditions. New Orleans replaced Biloxi as the capital of French Louisiana in 1722.
The mark of the French influence is still seen today in the narrow streets and charming architecture found in the French quarter, although most of its buildings were erected by Spanish colonists after the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788! Nearly all of the local landmarks have names which originated in Bienville's time, and different varieties of Cajun French are spoken across southern Louisiana.
Ownership of the area went back and forth between France and Spain until Napoleon sold it to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The 10,000 permanent residents at that time were now subject to American authority. During the 1800's, New Orleans was a wild trading town, with a mixture of ethnic populations uncommon in American cities at that time.
The British tried to regain it by force in 1812, but were repulsed by President Andrew Jackson's armies who had even recruited the services of famous local pirates! Unlike many old towns, New Orleans did not suffer massive destruction during the Civil War, and its historic areas and buildings remain largely intact today.
In this century, New Orleans has suffered through and survived the ravaging effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Despite the flooding, its historical architecture remained relatively unscathed, and hardy residents have been rebuilding the city ever since, while strengthening the levees to protect again future storms.
It remains one of the most charming cities on the continent, and people from all over the world still come to enjoy its wonderful music, cuisine, and ambience.
If you are moving to Louisiana, and are interested in beautiful New Orleans homes in any price range, contact the professionals at RE/MAX of Louisiana (http://www.remax-louisiana.com/remaxla/default.asp?p=neworleans-la-real-estate.asp). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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