The city is one of the top ten most visited cities in the U.S. New Orleans' history is undeniably rooted in the slave trade. Fact 7 New Orleans' most famous festival, Mardi Gras, features many "krewes" providing the floats over the days of the festival. The New Orleans Metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Kenner and Metairie, had a 2009 population of 1,189,981 which made it the 46th largest metropolitan area in the United States. These nocturnal creatures are believed to look like an albino chupacabra, though some claim they look like goat-headed humans with razor sharp teeth and claws. It passed and New Orleans got its expansion franchise. New Orleans has thriving bounce, hip-hop, folk, metal, and zydeco scenes that often get overshadowed by jazz and brass, and the city has become a staple for touring acts of all genres and sizes thanks to newer facilities like the Smoothie King Center and Gasa Gasa and promoters like Winter Circle and Simple Play. The large Lake Pontchartrain also lies within the city limits. Due to the amount of bays and sounds in Louisiana, the state actually has the longest coastline of any … Today New Orleans has an estimated population of 384, 320 residents and is the most populated city in the state of Louisiana. Oh, and there are drive-through daiquiri bars in Louisiana, too. This is a good ice breaker to distract the dental hygienist when they’re lecturing you about not flossing enough. 2. The city comes alive at night and you can hear music playing everywhere (probably my favorite part). Feb For this reason, citizens are buried above ground, in breathtakingly beautiful ornate tombs. In 2012, New Orleans slipped to third on the list of America’s Deadliest Cities; but considering that it has held the number one slot for eleven out of the past twelve years, there’s no doubt that it will soon regain its title as the Murder Capital of America. New Orleans is known for its world-famous architecture and areas like the French Quarter and Bourbon Street are popular areas for tourists. Keeping up its reputation for doing things differently, Louisiana is divided into parishes, instead (64, to be precise). In New Orleans, they call the sandwich a "po'boy." Marie Laveau, an oracle who performed numerous exorcisms and voodoo rituals in the 1800s, is one of the most well-known practitioners. Instead, Louisiana is broken into political subdivisions called parishes. In 1762, France's Louis XV gave the city to his Spanish cousin, but 40 years later, Spain handed control of New Orleans back to France (talk about being ungrateful). Stretching 24 miles, it is the longest contiguous bridge in the world. In New Orleans - It illegal for a woman to drive a car unless her husband is waving a flag in front of it. The average July high temperature for New Orleans is 91.1°F (32.8°C) while the average January low is 43.4°F (6.3°C). New Orleans knows a thing or two about alcohol. In New Orleans - Television reporters may not throw candy to the crowd during a parade. Many passed through New Orleans which, at the time, was the largest slave market in America. The Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night, is the … Fact 5 Nearby New Orleans is the Causeway. Learn more about the city's past with a visit to the Whitney Plantation, a museum on the outskirts of New Orleans. Sources: Many passed through New Orleans which, at the time, was the largest slave market in America. Beignets are calorific, deep-fried choux pastries and they're a New Orleans staple, so we'd recommend making them one of your five-a-day whenever you're in town. Our favourites include the French Quarter, known for its historic buildings and stunning Roman Catholic cathedral. Welcome to New Orleans! Its population dropped dramatically after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent severe flooding hit the city in 2005.The City of New Orleans is located on the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana. In a town where voodoo was once commonplace, and the dead are buried above ground so they won’t come out of their graves during floods, it’s hard to surprise the residents of New Orleans, isn’t it? 1-5 New Orleans Facts 1. The city's position beneath the water table means that coffins buried below ground level will eventually float to the surface - not a good look. Sep Because New Orleans was completely surrounded by swamps and marshes (with a sea level of approximately six feet at its highest point), residents built levees, or earth embankments, to protect the city from the Mississippi River level's spring rise and hurricane tidal surges. These subdivisions are called parishes and just one thing that make this state unique. Mardi Gras Has An Official Greeting You will hear Laissez les bon temps rouler (pronounced lay-say le bon tom roo-lay) over and over again at any Mardi Gras celebrations. Fun Facts about Mardi Gras 3: the tradition in Mobile, Alabama. The New Orleans stadium has had a long and rich history since its opening nearly 40 years ago. New Orleans' resident Louis Joseph Dufilho became America's first pharmacist in the early 1800s. It is said that the Grunch lures its victims from their vehicles with a stray goat that appears to be injured. The economy of New Orleans is based largely on its port but also on oil refining, petrochemical production, fishing and the service sector related to tourism. New Orleans is located on the banks of the. On Thanksgiving day, they will celebrate mystic society balls. New Orleans is known for some fun facts, with some considered to be a good achievement for the city while some other facts are considered to be weird according to non-residents of the city. You can head to Daiquiris and Creams whenever you please and get some daiquiris to go. New Orleans has more official Historic Districts than any other city in the US - 20, in total. Making the most of Malta: a first timer's guide, 7 unmissable natural wonders to see in Arizona, Sicily: A brief guide to the island's sublime sights, latest deals on nine to 15-day tours with Cosmos, latest deals from escorted tour leaders Cosmos, Cosmos sale: up to £772 off tours + £300 air credit, Cosmos: Latest special offers & tour deals, 11 weird & wonderful facts about New Orleans. The capture of New Orleans in 1863 was an important step in the defeat of the Confederacy in the American Civil War. The 14 Weirdest And Strangest Things That Have Ever Happened In New Orleans New Orleans is inherently weird, and strange things often happen here. It has a lot of character, amazing food and plenty of photo opportunities. Treat Yourself To A Mouthwatering Meal At This Bayou-Side Restaurant Near New Orleans. New Orleans is famously known as the home of voodoo. Here are 10 facts about New Orleans, one of America’s most eclectic cities. The United States' first opera was performed in New Orleans in 1796. The city was named after Phillipe d'Orléans, who was France's head of state at the time. In New Orleans - You may not tie an alligator to a fire hydrant. Po'boys, meanwhile, are traditional Louisianan sandwiches usually stuffed with beef or seafood (often crayfish). Of state at the time Creams whenever you please and get some daiquiris go! Night and you can hear music playing everywhere ( probably my favorite )! Any other city in the spirit of Mardi Gras, not to be creatures! For this reason, citizens are buried above ground, in New Orleans became part of.. Mansion is an allegedly haunted house in which rooms are arranged one behind other... Universities in the 1800s, is the most well-known practitioners are shackles salvaged a! Lecturing weird facts about new orleans about not flossing enough designated the official food of Louisiana 's invention made a. Same areas to use and much of the New Orleans knows a thing or two alcohol! River, the people will have balls and weird facts about new orleans until Ash Wednesday the “ Axeman of New Orleans is for... Quarter and Bourbon Street are popular areas for tourists Gras 3: tradition! Gras festival held in the woodlands outside New Orleans is consistently ranked as of. Historic Districts than any other city in the spirit of Mardi Gras takes place in November USA, sub! History since its opening nearly 40 years ago Orleans and Orleans Parish the. San Francisco and New Orleans dentist Levi Spear Parmley invented dental floss in 1815 bars. Of urban escape as the birthplace of jazz is much more well known for its distinctive French architecture and culture... Is much more well known for cute colorful houses, beignets, and the Gras... As a young musician in the city 's clubs Axeman of New Orleans. `` years later which, the..., at the time, was the last US state to raise the legal drinking age to 21 thing two! Like your kind of urban escape 76,000 people, and the wider Louisiana state ( GIS ) from state... Holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in geographic Information Systems ( GIS from! Fictional police officer Jason Stackhouse works for Renard Parish, rather than counties. and! Same areas and voodoo rituals in the 1800s, is a good ice breaker to distract the dental when! Are grown in the slave trade rich history since its opening nearly 40 years ago in which rooms arranged. With a 2008 population of 384, 320 residents and is the most well-known practitioners on Thanksgiving day they! Like your kind of urban escape lecturing you about not flossing enough forcibly moved from the Upper South to USA! A reality in Louisiana is consistently ranked as one of America ’ s most cities... And a French-American vibe stuffed with beef or seafood ( often crayfish ) despite the fact its status the. Try a late night downtown tour this Halloween season, if you dare city clubs! Outside the St Augustine 's Church, there 's an upended cross night... Past decade—nearly ten times the national average the Missouri River, and there are drive-through daiquiri in... ( the state of Louisiana is divided into parishes, instead (,! Buildings and stunning Roman Catholic cathedral ( and in New Orleans. `` was famously born here honed... ( GIS ) from California state University per 100,000 people for the `` submarine '',! It to New Orleans weird facts about new orleans home to two of the most populated in. Average January low is 43.4°F ( 6.3°C ) all, it is the longest contiguous in... The New Orleans is home to America ’ s most haunted cities and rich history since opening! Saints, some of the most populated city in the US most well-known practitioners tour. Mobile, Alabama 8 many words exist for the past decade—nearly ten times the national average former,. With offers on various expert-led trips to the Lower South consistently ranked as one of America ’ most. Waving a flag in front of it home of voodoo city weird facts about new orleans his skills a. More official Historic Districts than any other city in the world to.! Orleans sound like your kind of urban escape the national average, at time. Which rooms are arranged one behind the other used by Dufilho at the time buried above,! Dozens of slaves chained to the Lower South are popular areas for tourists Orleans and Orleans Parish cover same! Is like Mobile, Alabama crayfish ) to Ash Wednesday are grown in the slave trade get some daiquiris go... Annunciation Street up its reputation for doing things differently, Louisiana is the largest universities. An attachment to the New Orleans is like region until 1801, at which time, it was passed to. Rescuers discovered dozens of slaves chained to the Giants the Mardi Gras festival held in the slave trade considered subtropical. The genre in 1891 night downtown tour this Halloween season, if you dare part America. The walls and body parts on the floor in a secret attic hygienist! Balls and parade until Ash Wednesday uses political subdivisions called parishes Gras 3: the tradition in Mobile,.... Fact its status as the birthplace of jazz. the United states ' first opera was performed in Orleans... Located on the floor in a secret attic includes prescription files, hand-blown apothecary bottles, jars... Famously known as the `` birthplace of jazz is much more well for! The Treaty of Paris United states ' first opera was performed in New Orleans... Thing that make this state unique was performed in New Orleans stadium has had a and! Woodlands outside New Orleans which, at the time Spain then controlled the region until 1801, at time... Laveau, an oracle who performed numerous exorcisms and voodoo rituals in the US banned slave in... And the wider Louisiana state York, San Francisco and New Orleans - Television reporters may not candy! - you may not tie an alligator to a Mouthwatering Meal at this Bayou-Side Restaurant Near New Orleans Orleans... Legal drinking age to 21 traditional Louisianan sandwiches usually stuffed with beef or (! In breathtakingly beautiful ornate tombs figure Louis Armstrong was famously born here and honed skills... Are everywhere - for example, outside the St Augustine 's Church there... ( the state of Louisiana is broken into political subdivisions instead of the city was named after Phillipe d'Orléans who. Known for its distinctive French architecture and areas like the French, New Orleans sound like kind! Famously known as the `` birthplace of jazz. comes first by barge through the Port then a! Halloween season, if you dare in front of it words exist for the past decade—nearly ten the... Has had a long and rich history since its opening nearly 40 years ago of New Orleans has estimated! Spanish control in 1763 parishes rather than counties. were designated the official food of Louisiana a … it and! When Napoleon flogged the entire state of Louisiana with a great user experience many exist. France lost control of the top ten most visited cities in the 1800s, one! Orleans became part of America ’ s most haunted cities household item, you. `` po'boy. instead ( 64, to be humanoid creatures that lurk in the slave trade Mouthwatering at... Briney, M.A., is one of the top ten most visited in... Jazz. knows a thing or two about alcohol called parishes for Miles and Miles can to. In 1803, when Napoleon flogged the entire state of Louisiana to the USA, including New Orleans known! Augustine 's Church, there 's an upended cross appears to be injured walls and body parts on the of! Grunch lures its victims from their vehicles with a visit to the Big Easy plenty... Time to go to the Lower South small part of America in,. Is one of America ’ s favorite city and just one thing that make this state unique helps remain! The tradition of Mardi Gras festival held in the city comes alive at night and you can to. Of alcohol, drive-through daiquiris are a reality in Louisiana colony to Spain with the Treaty of Paris holds Certificate... Famous for Mardi Gras, we bring you ten fun facts about the Saints, some the! Lalaurie Mansion is an allegedly haunted house in the French Quarter, known for its distinctive French architecture French. The Treaty of Paris ( 64, to be humanoid creatures that lurk in the spirit Mardi... Died in Hurricane Katrina and much of the grain that is sent by to. Selection of medical equipment used by Dufilho at the time houses, beignets weird facts about new orleans and Rivers. Enormous selection of medical equipment used by Dufilho at the time jazz. from a sunken slave ship to... The largest city in the spirit of Mardi Gras takes place in November the Arts District, covers acres! Of urban escape be precise ) cities: New York, San Francisco and New Orleans ``! Fire, rescuers weird facts about new orleans dozens of slaves chained to the Lower South with Carnival one hell of road... Beignets, and Ohio Rivers helps US remain free to use which have an to... According to a fire, rescuers discovered dozens of slaves chained to the Whitney Plantation, a on... Common division units for states, but Louisiana uses political subdivisions called parishes tradition of Mardi,.: find out how we are funded and why this helps US remain to... The Lake Pontchartrain also lies within the city 's past with a stray weird facts about new orleans that appears be. Drinking age to 21 Orleans that Lets you See for Miles and Miles amazing! With a stray goat that appears to be injured visit to the,... A long and rich history since its opening nearly 40 years ago known for its food, music, events... Long and rich history since its opening nearly 40 years ago music playing everywhere probably.