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New Orleans Facts & Worksheets

New Orleans, a city in southeastern Louisiana, United States, stands without a doubt among the most outstanding cities in the world.

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New Orleans, a city in southeastern Louisiana, United States, stands without a doubt among the most outstanding cities in the world. It was founded at an enormous cost in a conflict-ridden environment.

See the fact file below for more information on New Orleans, or you can download our 29-page New Orleans worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ORIGINS

  • John Law’s Company of the West, which had acquired possession of Louisiana that year, decided to build New Orleans, or Nouvelle-Orléans, in Paris in 1717. New Orleans (named after the French regent, Philippe II, Duc d’Orléans) was envisioned by the colony’s new owners as a “port of deposit,” or transshipment center, for potential deals from upriver in the Mississippi River basin.
  • The individual who recommended the location, Jean-Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville, was tasked with the actual building of the city. Underbrush clearing for such a new city most likely started in March 1718.
  • As they built the initial primitive homes covered with bark and reeds, the engineers faced obstacles such as unwilling prisoner labor, a lack of materials, two powerful hurricanes (1721 and 1722), and the uncomfortable physical conditions of mosquito-infested marshes.
  • For instance, Adrien de Pauger, an engineer, created the original town design made up of 66 squares arranged in a parallelogram. The original settlers included a colorful mix of Canadian backwoodsmen, corporate craftsmen and military, prisoners, enslaved people, prostitutes, and indigents.
  • New Orleans had 470 inhabitants, according to a census taken in November 1721: 277 whites, 17 enslaved black people, and 21 enslaved Indians. New Orleans was proclaimed the capital of Louisiana in 1722, and the city returned to French sovereignty in 1731.
  • More respectable colonists started to arrive, but growth remained shaky. Tobacco and indigo for export, as well as rice and vegetables for local consumption, were the main economic staples farmed in the New Orleans area. In 1762, France, ready to give up her unprofitable port, secretly decided to cede Louisiana to Spain, who obtained New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi in the Treaty of Paris (1763).

TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

  • The city of New Orleans and Orleans Parish (county) are joined at the head of the Mississippi River delta at the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River along Jefferson Parish to the west and Lake Pontchartrain to the north create the boundaries.
  • The Rigolets waterway connects Lake Pontchartrain to Lake Borgne on the east (and hence to the gulf), St. Bernard Parish, and the Mississippi River from New Orleans’ southern boundary.
  • The Mississippi River divides the city, with the main town on the east bank. Algiers, on the west bank, has grown significantly. The Greater New Orleans Bridge connects it to eastern New Orleans (the Crescent City Connection).
  • The early city was positioned on the east bank around a steep buckle in the Mississippi, from whence the moniker “Crescent City” was derived. The contemporary metropolis has expanded well beyond its origins. Because its saucer-shaped topography is 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) beneath sea level and receives a total rainfall of 57 inches (1,448 mm), a levee system and efficient drainage have always been critical.
  • The average daily temperature in New Orleans is 60 °F (16 °C) from October to March and 77 °F (25 °C) from April to September. 
  • Moreover, cold weather is uncommon, and the temperature rarely reaches over 95 °F (35 °C) more than six days per year.

COMMUNITY

  • New Orleans’ population has been shrinking. Whites make up fewer than one-third of the total, while they made up about two-thirds in 1960. The African American population in most nearby parishes is minor. These data reflect the broader trend of white migration to the suburbs in most major U.S. cities since 1950.
  • The fact that New Orleans contains upper-class and middle-class African residents has also played a role in such ventures.

ECONOMY: THE PORT

  • New Orleans has always existed predominantly as a commercial center, with manufacturing serving as a secondary economic activity. Besides contributing to the city’s cosmopolitan ambiance, the busy harbor is the backbone of the metropolitan economy, influencing many facets of urban life.
  • The present Port of New Orleans era began around 1879 with the building of jetties in South Pass, one of three routes from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. Since the city’s inception, sandbars have accumulated regularly along these crossings, impeding ships’ entry into the river.
  • South Pass was restricted by jetties, allowing the river to cut a deeper passage to 30 feet (9 meters). Eventually, jetties were installed to deepen a second channel, Southwest Pass, to 40 feet (12 meters); it is currently the major pass used by seagoing vessels entering and departing the river. The distance between New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 110 miles (180 km).
  • Other exports from New Orleans comprise processed and raw farm goods, fabricated metals, chemicals, fabrics, oils, petroleum and petroleum products, tobacco, and paper products.
  • During the early 1980s, bulk exports have grown significantly, making New Orleans the world’s lighter aboard ship (LASH) cargo and Seabee barge capital. Grain, coal, and animal feed account for a significant percentage of the LASH and Seabee trade.

ECONOMY: INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION

  • Came New Orleans is a significant industrial area. Along the Mississippi above New Orleans, a cluster of petrochemical plants has cropped up. In 1961, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency created the Michoud Assembly Complex in New Orleans to manufacture the massive Saturn rocket boosters for Moon missions.
  • Food products, apparel and related things, stone, clay, glass articles, bare metal, fabricated metal items, and transportation equipment are among the main goods manufactured in Greater New Orleans. Tourism is a leading industry.
  • However, petrochemical industries all along Mississippi above New Orleans and offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico are becoming major polluters due to oil-rig fires, oil slicks, and mercury, arsenic, and lead discharges, which have threatened the city’s drinking water, ruined the taste of river fish, and jeopardized the gulf’s ecology. Notwithstanding government actions against the offenders, considerable work has to be done.
  • New Orleans has three airports: New Orleans International Airport, located west of the city; New Orleans Airport, located on Lake Pontchartrain and dedicated to private and corporate usage; and the U.S. Naval Air Station, which serves the various armed services’ aviation reserve forces.
  • The Huey P. Long Bridge, which crosses the body of water well above the city, and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, a twin-span framework among the world’s longest bridges, stretching nearly 24 miles, are the main access bridges serving the Greater New Orleans.

ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIETY

  • Both New Orleans’ political life and municipal governance have been dominated by Democratic Party groups. The conflict between governmental involvement in city affairs and home rule has long been a contention. New Orleans eventually gained a robust home rule charter in 1954, which replaced the mayor-commission style of administration which had prevailed since 1912.
  • A position of chief administrative manager to the mayor was formed in addition to the mayor and council members, five chosen from districts and two at large, who serve four-year terms. The mayor is the chief administrator of the 14 local authorities and is in charge of the different committees and boards.
  • The mayor appoints the chief operations officer, who is in charge of supervising city departments, preparing annual budgets, and coordinating city contacts with state and federal authorities. The council serves solely as a legislative body.
  • The political landscape has shifted. The rivalry between state and municipal governments that lasted from Huey Long in the 1920s to Earl Long in the 1940s has ended. Political corruption is no longer a concern in city politics, and Blacks have become increasingly politically vocal since becoming the city’s majority.
  • Whereas most city and parish government in New Orleans has merged, Orleans parish authorities continue to play a crucial role. The county prosecutor, the board of assessors, as well as the Orleans Parish School Board, which oversees public education under the supervision of the State Department of Education, are among these officials.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES: HEALTH AND EDUCATION

  • The growth of new residential neighborhoods in New Orleans, along with the rising cost of services, has resulted in a huge increase in the general fund for municipal services. The municipality is already hampered by a shortage of cash required to carry out its duties.
  • Moreover, The Orleans Levee District Board of Commissioners is in charge of flood prevention along the river, Lake Pontchartrain, including tributary waterways in the city. In addition to its principal function of flood management, the board has reclaimed several hundred acres of Lake Pontchartrain bottomland and converted it into one of the most scenic lakefront regions in the United States since the 1920s.
  • New Orleans has evolved into a healthcare and educational hub. The Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans is a teaching hospital for two local universities, the Tulane and Louisiana State University medical schools, and the nearby veterans’ hospital.
  • Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of New Orleans, Delgado Community College, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Dillard University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Southern University at New Orleans is among the city’s educational institutions.
  • Furthermore, there are numerous private, parochial, and professional schools. The public education system began in 1841 with 83 students and four teachers and has since grown to over 1,000 students and teachers.
  • Whenever an attempt was made to token integrate two white schools in 1960, a public school crisis erupted that drew international notice. Within 20 years, most pupils and teachers in the school system were black.

CULTURAL EVENTS

  • New Orleans’ cultural life is a blend of white and black contributions. The white American heritage is reflected in the city’s corporate and commercial activity, whereas the immigrant heritage, which includes Irish societies, German Oktoberfests, and Italian St. Joseph’s Day altars, lends ethnic color to urban homogeneity.
  • New Orleans is well-known for its recreation and relaxation opportunities. New Orleans is known as “the city that care forgot,” and it’s always been an excellent destination for those looking for a good time. Its inhabitants enjoy music, dancing, and a “Continental Sunday” filled with amusements.
  • Jackson Square, which faces the Cabildo and the Presbytère (previous administrative buildings, which have become part of the Louisiana State Museum), is central to the Vieux Carré. All are from the colonial era but have undergone significant aesthetic alterations since their construction.
  • Every year during Spring Fiesta, tours are offered of private homes and patios in the Vieux Carré, as well as the expansive Garden District uptown, the affluent 19th-century neighborhood. Boats cruise the substantial harbor facilities and the spectacular landscape of adjacent waterways.
  • The New Orleans Carnival season starts on January 6 every year and concludes with Mardi Gras, the “Fat Tuesday” preceding Ash Wednesday. The two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras are jam-packed with parades, both day and night, culminating with the Rex procession on Mardi Gras.

New Orleans Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about New Orleans across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about New Orleans. New Orleans, a city in southeastern Louisiana, United States, stands without a doubt among the most outstanding cities in the world. It was founded at an enormous cost in a conflict-ridden environment.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. New Orleans Facts
  2. Words of Thought
  3. #Minutiae
  4. N.O.T: New Orleans Twist
  5. The Mardi Gras
  6. #Official_Seal
  7. City Profile
  8. City Symbols
  9. New Orleans Economy
  10. What Happens Next?
  11. Flap Tag

Frequently Asked Questions

What is New Orleans known for?

New Orleans is known for its rich culture, music, cuisine, and vibrant festivals. It is famous for its unique architecture, historic neighborhoods such as the French Quarter, and its lively music scene that includes jazz, blues, and zydeco. New Orleans is also known for its delicious cuisine, including dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets.

What is the significance of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?

Mardi Gras is a significant festival in New Orleans and is known as the city’s biggest annual celebration. It is a festive season that includes parades, parties, and elaborate costumes, and is celebrated in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, the day before the Christian season of Lent begins. Mardi Gras has become synonymous with New Orleans and is known for its unique blend of music, dance, and colorful street performances.

What are some popular tourist attractions in New Orleans?

New Orleans has numerous popular tourist attractions, including:

  1. The French Quarter: Known for its historic architecture, lively music scene, and vibrant atmosphere, the French Quarter is one of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans and a must-visit for tourists.
  2. Garden District: This neighborhood is known for its beautiful mansions, tree-lined streets, and historic cemeteries, making it a popular spot for walking tours.
  3. Jackson Square: Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Jackson Square is a historic park that features stunning views of the Mississippi River and is surrounded by iconic landmarks such as St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère.
  4. Steamboat Natchez: Taking a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the Steamboat Natchez is a popular tourist activity, offering stunning views of the city and its surroundings.
  5. National WWII Museum: This world-class museum is dedicated to the history of World War II and features immersive exhibits, artifacts, and interactive experiences.

What is the history of New Orleans?

New Orleans has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1718 by the French as a strategic port city. Over the years, it has been under French, Spanish, and American control, which has shaped its unique culture and architecture. New Orleans has been influenced by various cultures, including French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Haitian, which have contributed to its diverse heritage and traditions. It has also faced challenges such as devastating hurricanes, fires, and epidemics, but has rebuilt and preserved its rich cultural heritage.

What is the music scene like in New Orleans?

The music scene in New Orleans is vibrant and diverse, with a rich heritage of jazz, blues, zydeco, and other genres. Music is an integral part of the city’s culture and is often performed in clubs, bars, and street corners throughout the city. Many famous musicians have originated from New Orleans, and the city has a deep musical tradition that is celebrated through festivals, live performances, and events. Some popular music venues in New Orleans include Preservation Hall, Tipitina’s, and The Spotted Cat Music Club

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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