City of New Orleans Ville de La Nouvelle-Orléans
Flag Seal
Nickname: "The Crescent City," "The Big Easy," "The City That Care Forgot," "504," and "NOLA" (acronym for New Orleans, LA).
Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States
Coordinates: 29°57′53″N 90°4′14″W / 29.96472, -90.07056
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Orleans
Founded	1718
Government
- Mayor	C. Ray Nagin (D)
Area
- City	907 km² (350.2 sq mi)
- Land	467.6 km² (180.6 sq mi)
- Water	439.4 km² (169.7 sq mi)
Elevation	-2 to 6 m (-6.5 to 20 ft)
Population (2006[1])
- City	275,000
- Density	973/km² (2,518/sq mi)
- Metro	1,030,363
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Website: http://www.cityofno.com

New Orleans (pronounced /nʲuːˈɔɹliˌɛnz/, locally /ˌnuːˈɔːlɛnz/; French: La Nouvelle-Orléans [lanuvɛlɔʀleɑ̃] (help· info)) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana. It is the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area. Down is an American southern heavy metal supergroup formed in 1991. ... NOLA is Downs first album. ... New Orleans, Louisiana is a US city and a metropolitan area. ... The Big Easy (film) a film shot in New Orleans in 1987 The Big Easy a nickname given to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana The Big Over Easy novel Category: ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2317x584, 268 KB)New Orleans, Louisiana Skyline from Tulane University parking garage, [{february 24]], 2007. ... Image File history File links New_Orleans,_Louisiana_flag. ... // A nickname is a name of an entity or thing that is not its proper name. ... Image File history File links Map_of_Louisiana_and_USA_highlighting_Orleans_Parish. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... Image File history File links Flag_of_Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... List of Louisiana parishes The state of Louisiana is divided into parishes in the same way that the other states of the United States are divided into counties. ... Image File history File links New_Orleans,_Louisiana_flag. ... New Orleans (French: Nouvelle-Orléans) is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... fuck you // Fuck you Fuck you fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you btw Mister Nagin, don`t be angry. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Image File history File links La_Nouvelle-Orleans. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... The New Orleans Metropolitan Area, consisting of the Greater New Orleans region and three addtional parishes which share the perimeter of Lake Ponchartrain, is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Louisiana, centered around the city of New Orleans. ...

New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the Mississippi River. It is coextensive with Orleans Parish, meaning that the boundaries of the city and the parish are the same.^[2] It is bounded by the parishes of St. Tammany (north), St. Bernard (east), Plaquemines (south), and Jefferson (south and west).^[2][3][4] Lake Pontchartrain, part of which is included in the city limits, lies to the north, and Lake Borgne lies to the east.^[4] For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... A parish is a type of administrative subdivision. ... St. ... St. ... Plaquemines Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. ... Lake Pontchartrains north shore at Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville, Louisiana in 2004 Lake Pontchartrain (local English pronunciation ) (French: Lac Pontchartrain, pronounced ) is a brackish lake located in southeastern Louisiana. ... Lake Borgne is a lagoon in eastern Louisiana of the Gulf of Mexico. ...

The city is named after Philippe II, Duc d'Orléans, Regent of France, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It is well known for its multicultural heritage,^[5] cuisine, architecture, music (particularly as the birthplace of jazz),^[6][7] and its annual Mardi Gras and other celebrations and festivals. The city is often referred to as the "most unique" city in America.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, Philippe Charles (August 2, 1674 – December 23, 1723) called Duke of Chartres (1674–1701), and then Duke of Orléans (1701–1723) was Regent of France from 1715 to 1723. ... Multiculturalism or cultural pluralism is a policy, ideal, or reality that emphasizes the unique characteristics of different cultures in the world, especially as they relate to one another in immigrant receiving nations. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Revelers, Frenchmen Street, Faubourg Marigny. ...

History

Main article: History of New Orleans

The history of New Orleans, Louisiana traces its development from its founding by the French, through its period under Spanish control, then back to French rule before being sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. ...

Beginnings through the 19th century

See also: New Orleans in the Civil War

Map of New Orleans from the 1888 Meyers Konversations-Lexikon

La Nouvelle-Orléans (New Orleans) was founded August 25, 1718 by the French Mississippi Company, under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. It was named for Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who was Regent of France at the time; his title came from the French city of Orléans. The French colony was ceded to the Spanish Empire in the Treaty of Paris (1763) and remained under Spanish control until 1801, when it reverted to French control. Most of the surviving architecture of the Vieux Carré (French Quarter) dates from this Spanish period. Napoleon sold the territory to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The city grew rapidly with influxes of Americans, French, and Creole French. Major commodity crops of sugar and cotton were cultivated with slave labor on large plantations outside the city. Panoramic View of New Orleans-Federal Fleet at Anchor in the River, ca. ... 1888 German Map of New Orleans - From German Wikipedia File links The following pages link to this file: New Orleans, Louisiana History of New Orleans Categories: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon ... 1888 German Map of New Orleans - From German Wikipedia File links The following pages link to this file: New Orleans, Louisiana History of New Orleans Categories: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon ... Meyers Konversations-Lexikon was a German encyclopaedia. ... In the history of French trade, the French Mississippi Company was a chartered company first established in 1684. ... Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville (February 23, 1680–March 7, 1767) was a colonizer and governor of Louisiana. ... Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, Philippe Charles (August 2, 1674 – December 23, 1723) called Duke of Chartres (1674–1701), and then Duke of Orléans (1701–1723) was Regent of France from 1715 to 1723. ... Orléans (Latin, meaning golden) is a city and commune in north-central France, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Paris. ... The Spanish colonization of the Americas was Spains conquest, settlement, and rule over much of the western hemisphere from 1492-1898. ... The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on February 10, 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. ... French Quarter: upper Chartres street looking down towards Jackson Square and the spires of St. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... The Louisiana Purchase (French: Vente de la Louisiane) was the acquisition by the United States of America of 828,000 square miles (2,140,000 km²) of French territory (Louisiana) in 1803. ... This article is about an ethnic culture in Louisiana, USA. For uses of the term Creole in other countries and cultures, see Creole (disambiguation). ...

The Haitian Revolution of 1804 established the second republic in the Western Hemisphere and the first led by blacks. Haitian refugees both white and free people of color (affranchis) arrived in New Orleans, often bringing slaves with them. While Governor Claiborne and other officials wanted to keep out more free black men, French Creoles wanted to increase the French-speaking population. As more refugees were allowed in Louisiana, Haitian émigrés who had gone to Cuba also arrived. Nearly 90 percent of the new immigrants settled in New Orleans. The 1809 migration brought 2,731 whites; 3,102 free persons of African descent; and 3,226 enslaved refugees to the city, doubling its French-speaking population. Sixty-three percent of Crescent City inhabitants were now black, as Americans classified people.^[13] Combatants Haiti France Commanders Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines Charles Leclerc, vicomte de Rochambeau, Napoleon Bonaparte Strength Regular army: <55,000, Volunteers: <100,000 Regular army: 60,000, 86 warships and frigates Casualties Military deaths: unknown, Civilian deaths: <100,000 Military deaths: 57,000 (37,000 combat; 20,000 yellow...

During the War of 1812, the British sent a force to conquer the city. The Americans decisively defeated the British troops, led by Sir Edward Pakenham, in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. This article is about the U.S.–U.K. war. ... Sir Edward Michael Pakenham (pro. ... For other uses of the name, see Battle of New Orleans (disambiguation). ... is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ...

As a principal port, New Orleans had the major role of any city during the antebellum era in the slave trade. Its port handled huge quantities of goods for export from the interior and import from other countries to be traded up the Mississippi River. The river was filled with steamboats, flatboats and sailing ships. At the same time, it had the most prosperous community of free persons of color in the South, who were often educated and middle-class property owners.^[6][14] This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The population of the city doubled in the 1830s, and by 1840 New Orleans had become the wealthiest and third-most populous city in the nation. It had the largest slave market. Two-thirds of the more than one million slaves brought to the Deep South arrived via the forced migration of the internal slave trade. The money generated by sales of slaves in the Upper South has been estimated at fifteen percent of the value of the staple crop economy. The slaves represented half a billion dollars in property, and an ancillary economy grew up around the trade in slaves - for transportation, housing and clothing, fees, etc., estimated at 13.5 percent of the price per person. All this amounted to tens of billions of dollars during the antebellum period, with New Orleans as a prime beneficiary.^[15]

The Union captured New Orleans early in the American Civil War, sparing the city the destruction suffered by many other cities of the American South.^[16] Animated map of secession, Civil War and re-admission:  States of the Union  Territories of the Union (including occupied territory)  States of the Confederacy  Territories claimed by Confederacy During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the twenty-three states of the United States... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Historic Southern United States. ...

Twentieth century

A view across Uptown New Orleans, with the Central Business District in the background (1991).

In the early 20th century, New Orleans was a progressive major city whose most portentous development was a drainage plan devised by engineer and inventor A. Baldwin Wood. Until then, urban development was largely limited to higher ground along natural river levees and bayous; Wood's pump system allowed the city to expand into low-lying areas. Over the 20th century, rapid subsidence, both natural and human-induced, left these newly populated areas several feet below sea level.^[17][18] Download high resolution version (874x494, 99 KB)New Orleans, the CBD from Uptown, larger version of photo by User:Infrogmation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (874x494, 99 KB)New Orleans, the CBD from Uptown, larger version of photo by User:Infrogmation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Albert Baldwin Wood (December 1, 1879 - May 10, 1956) was an inventor and engineer from New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Big Cypress Bayou in Jefferson, Texas off U.S. Route 59. ... A road destroyed by subsidence and shear. ...

New Orleans was vulnerable to flooding even before the age of negative elevation. In the late 20th century, however, scientists and New Orleans residents gradually became aware of the city's increased vulnerability. In 1965, Hurricane Betsy killed dozens of residents, even though the majority of the city remained dry. The rain-induced 1995 flood demonstrated the weakness of the pumping system; since that time, measures were taken to repair New Orleans's hurricane defenses and restore pumping capacity. Hurricane Betsy was a powerful hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. ... The May 8th 1995 New Orleans Flood struck the New Orleans metropolitan area, shutting down the city for two days. ...

Throughout the 20th Century, New Orleans experienced a significant drop in economic activity compared with newer southern cities such as Houston and Atlanta. While the port remained important, automation and containerization resulted in fewer local jobs for locals at the ports. Manufacturing in the city also diminished. New Orleans became increasingly dependent on tourism as an economic mainstay. Poor education and rising crime became increasingly problematic in the later decades of the century.

Hurricane Katrina

Main article: Hurricane Katrina

An aerial view from a United States Navy helicopter showing floodwaters around the entire downtown New Orleans area (2005).

By the time Hurricane Katrina approached the city at the end of August 2005, 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.^[19] Floodwalls and levees constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed below design specifications and 80% of the city flooded. Tens of thousands of residents who had remained in the city were rescued or otherwise made their way to shelters of last resort at the Louisiana Superdome or the Morial Convention Center. Over 1,500 people died in Louisiana.^[20] This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... States that border the Gulf of Mexico are shown in red The Gulf Coast region of the United States comprises the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... The Petronas Twin Towers, designed by Thornton-Tomasetti and Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd engineers, and Cesar Pelli, were the worlds tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. ... This article is about the type of dam. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... The United States Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is a federal agency made up of some 34,600 civilian and 650 military men and women. ... The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the Superdome, The Dome or even the New Orleans Superdome is a large, multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana. ... The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is a collection of buildings in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

Hurricane Rita

Main article: Hurricane Rita

The city was declared off-limits to residents while efforts to clean up after Katrina began. The approach of Hurricane Rita in September 2005 caused repopulation efforts to be postponed,^[21] and the Lower Ninth Ward was reflooded by Rita's storm surge. Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most... The two Lower Ninth Ward areas, including Holy Cross and the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood in relation to the rest of the city of New Orleans. ...

See also: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and Drainage in New Orleans

The effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, Louisiana was catastrophic and long-lasting. ... Drainage has been a major concern since the founding of New Orleans in the early 18th century, and an important factor in the citys history. ...

Post-disaster recovery

Main article: Reconstruction of New Orleans

The Census Bureau in July 2006 estimated the population of New Orleans to be 223,000; a subsequent study estimated that 32,000 additional residents had moved to the city as of March 2007, bringing the estimated population to 255,000, approximately 56% of the pre-Katrina population level. Another estimate, based on data on utility usage from July 2007, estimated the population to be approximately 274,000, or 60% of the pre-Katrina population. These estimates are somewhat smaller than a third estimate, based on mail delivery records, from the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center in June 2007, which indicated that the city had regained approximately two-thirds of its pre-Katrina population.^[22] The effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans was catastrophic due to failure of the flood protection that experts agree worldwide should have protected the city. ...

The New Orleans cityscape as of 2007.

Several major tourist events and other forms of revenue for the city have returned. Large conventions are being held again, such as those held by the American Library Association and American College of Cardiology.^[23][24] College football events such as the Bayou Classic, New Orleans Bowl, and Sugar Bowl returned for the 2006-2007 season. The New Orleans Saints returned that season as well, following speculation of a move. The New Orleans Hornets returned to the city fully for the 2007-2008 season, having partially spent the 2006-2007 season in Oklahoma City. In March 2007 a local group of investors began conducting a study to see if the city could support a Major League Soccer team.^[25] New Orleans successfully hosted the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, and Tulane University hosted the first and second rounds of the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The Superdome played host to the 2008 BCS National Championship Game in January 2008. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1268x360, 72 KB) Skyline de New Orleans a la nuit tombante, photo prise le 02/02/07 par lauteur, vue du pont reliant LUpper Ninth Ward a Gentilly. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1268x360, 72 KB) Skyline de New Orleans a la nuit tombante, photo prise le 02/02/07 par lauteur, vue du pont reliant LUpper Ninth Ward a Gentilly. ... ALA Logo The American Library Association (ALA) is a group based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. ... Categories: Organization stubs | Medical associations ... The State Farm Bayou Classic is the annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars, first held in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... The New Orleans Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. ... The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... City New Orleans, Louisiana Team colors Gold and black Head Coach Sean Payton Owner Tom Benson and Rita Benson LeBlanc General manager Mickey Loomis Mascot Gumbo the dog League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1967–present) Eastern Conference (1967-1969) Capitol Division (1967; 1969) Century Division (1968) National Football Conference... The New Orleans Hornets are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Nickname: Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma. ... 2008 NBA All-Star Game Logo The 2008 NBA All-Star Game will be played on February 17, 2008 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, home of the New Orleans Hornets. ... Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... The 2007 NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of mens NCAA Division I college basketball. ... Date January 7, 2007 Stadium Louisiana Superdome Location New Orleans, Louisiana United States TV Coverage Network FOX The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game will be played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and feature the #1 and #2 college football teams in...

Major events such as Mardi Gras and the Jazz and Heritage Festival were never displaced. For other uses, see Mardi Gras (disambiguation). ... Leroy Jones Quintet The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. ...

Geography

A true-color satellite image of New Orleans taken on NASA's Landsat 7

New Orleans is located at 29°57′53″N, 90°4′14″W (29.964722, −90.070556)^[26] on the banks of the Mississippi River, approximately 105 miles (169 km) upriver from the Gulf of Mexico. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 350.2 square miles (907 km²), of which 180.56 square miles (467.6 km²), or 51.55%, is land.^[27] Image File history File links from nasa. ... Image File history File links from nasa. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

The city is located in the Mississippi River Delta on the east and west banks of the Mississippi River and south of Lake Pontchartrain. The area along the river is characterized by ridges and hollows. False-color image of the larger Mississippi Delta Closeup of the currently active delta front Mississippi Delta Lobes The Mississippi River Delta is the modern area of land (the river delta) built up by alluvium deposited by the Mississippi River as it slows down and enters the Gulf of Mexico. ... Lake Pontchartrains north shore at Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville, Louisiana in 2004 Lake Pontchartrain (local English pronunciation ) (French: Lac Pontchartrain, pronounced ) is a brackish lake located in southeastern Louisiana. ...

Elevation of New Orleans

New Orleans was originally settled on the natural levees or high ground along the Mississippi River. In fact, when the capital of French Louisiana was moved from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans, the French colonial government cited New Orleans' inland location as one of the reasons for the move as it would be less vulnerable to hurricanes.^[28] After the Flood Control Act of 1965, the US Army Corps built floodwalls and man-made levees around a much larger geographic footprint that included previous marshland and swamp. Whether or not this human interference has caused subsidence is a topic of debate. A study by the Geological Society of America reported Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x949, 351 KB)Elevation profile of New Orleans. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x949, 351 KB)Elevation profile of New Orleans. ... This article is about the type of dam. ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Mobile Founded 1702 Incorporated 1814 Government  - Mayor Sam Jones Area  - City 412. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... A road destroyed by subsidence and shear. ... The Geological Society of America (or GSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. ...

On the other hand, a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers claims that "New Orleans is subsiding (sinking)":^[30]

Vertical cross-section of New Orleans, showing maximum levee height of 23 feet (7 m).

A recent study by Tulane and Xavier University notes that 51% of New Orleans is at or above sea level, with the more densely populated areas generally on higher ground. The average elevation of the city is currently between one and two feet (0.5 m) below sea level, with some portions of the city as high as 16 feet (5 m) and others as low as 10 feet (3 m) below sea level.^[31] New Orleans (French: Nouvelle-Orléans) is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... St. ... Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian university headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Xavier University of Louisiana is a historically African-American Roman Catholic University located off Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

In 2005, storm surge from Hurricane Katrina caused catastrophic failure of the federally designed and built levees, flooding 80% of the city.^[32][33] A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers says that "had the levees and floodwalls not failed and had the pump stations operated, nearly two-thirds of the deaths would not have occurred".^[30] There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

New Orleans has always had to consider the risk of hurricanes, but the risks are dramatically greater today due to coastal erosion from human interference.^[28] Since the beginning of the 20th century it has been estimated that Louisiana has lost 2,000 square miles (5,000 km²) of coast (including many of its barrier islands) which once protected New Orleans against storm surge. Following Hurricane Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers has instituted massive levee repair and hurricane protection measures to protect the city. United States Army Corps of Engineers logo The United States Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is made up of some 34,600 military men and women. ...

In 2006, Louisiana voters overwhelmingly adopted an amendment to the state's constitution to dedicate all revenues from off shore drilling to restore Louisiana's eroding coast line.^[34] Congress has allocated $7 billion to bolster New Orleans' flood protection.^[35]

National protected areas

• Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (part)
• New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is a unit of the National Park Service in southeastern Louisiana. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Climate

Hurricanes of Category 3 or greater passing within 100 miles (160 km) of New Orleans

The climate of New Orleans is humid subtropical, with short, generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. In January, morning lows average around 43 °F (6 °C), and daily highs around 62 °F (17 °C). In July, lows average 74 °F (23 °C), and highs average 91 °F (33 °C). The lowest recorded temperature was 7 °F (−14 °C) on February 13, 1899. The highest recorded temperature was 102 °F (39 °C) on August 22, 1980. The average precipitation is 64.2 inches (1,630 mm) annually; the summer months are the wettest, while October is the driest month.^[37] Precipitation in winter usually accompanies the passing of a cold front. Hurricanes pose a severe threat to the area, and the city is particularly vulnerable because of its low elevation. According the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the city is the most vulnerable in the country when it comes to hurricanes.^[38] Since 1965, portions of New Orleans have been flooded by four different storms: Hurricane Betsy, Hurricane Georges, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.^[39][40] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... FEMA redirects here. ... Hurricane Betsy was a powerful hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. ... Lowest pressure 937 mbar (hPa; 27. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most...

New Orleans experiences snowfall only on rare occasions. A small amount of snow fell during the 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm. On December 25, a combination of rain, sleet, and snow fell on the city, leaving some bridges icy. Before that, the last white Christmas was in 1954 and brought 4.5 inches (11 cm). The last significant snowfall in New Orleans fell on December 22, 1989, when most of the city received 1–2 inches (2–5 cm) of snow. For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ... The 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm was an extremely rare weather event that took place in Louisiana and Texas in the United States on December 24, 2004. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...