History of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans (pronounced {{IPA|[nu ˈorlɪnz]}} or {{IPA|[nu ˈorliənz]}} in American English, with many with Southern American English|Southern accents pronouncing it {{IPA|[nʊ orlĒnz]}}; French language|French: La Nouvelle-Orléans, pronounced Image:ltspkr.png Media:La Nouvelle-Orleans.ogg|{{IPA|/la nuvɛl ɔʀleɑ̃/}} in standard French) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana.
New Orleans is located in Southeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River. The city is bordered by Lake Pontchartrain to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the east and is coextensive with Orleans Parish. It is named after Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. New Orleans is known for its Multiculturalism|multicultural heritage as well as its music and cuisine and is considered the birthplace of jazz.{{cite web
| title=New Orleans: The Birthplace of Jazz
| work=PBS – JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns
| format=primarily excerpted from Jazz: A History of America's Music
| url=http://www.pbs.org/jazz/places/places_new_orleans.htm
| accessdate=2006-05-17}}
{{cite web
| title=America Savors Its Music During Jazz Appreciation Month
| work=U.S. Dept. of State – USINFO
| url=http://usinfo.state.gov/scv/Archive/2006/Apr/03-859354.html
| accessdate=2006-05-17}}
Its status as a world-famous Tourism|tourist destination is due in part to its architecture, music, cuisine, its annual New Orleans Mardi Gras|Mardi Gras, and other celebrations and festivals. The city is often referred to as "The most unique city in America."[http://www.gmc.edu/library/neworleans/NOhistory.htm Institute of New Orleans History and Culture] at Gwynedd-Mercy College[http://hurricaneonthebayou.com/html/behind.htm Behind the Scenes: Hurricane on the Bayou][http://www.mapsofworld.com/cities/usa/new-orleans/ Maps of World: New Orleans][http://www.forusa.org/fellowship/nov-dec_05/billings.html New Orleans: A Choice Between Destruction and Reparations], by David Billings, The Fellowship of Reconciliation, November/December 2005[http://www.bringneworleansback.org/ BringNewOrleansBack.org][http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13865422/ Spike Lee offers his take on Hurricane Katrina], by Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press, July 14 2006
The Greater New Orleans population was approximately 1.4 million people prior to Hurricane Katrina (the metro area has rebounded to 1.2 million since, according to the Census Bureau). The Greater New Orleans area is still Louisiana's largest urban center.[http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/factstats.html#recovery]) The population of the city itself was 484,674 according to the 2000 U.S. Census. A population study from July 2006 to March 2007 found that the city gained 32,000 people during that seven month time frame, bringing its population to 255,000, or 56% of its pre-Katrina population.[http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/05/citys_population_up_14_percent.html City's Population up 14 Percent Since July 2006]. nola.com, 2007-05-03. Retrieved on 2007-05-03. For more information, see the section on New Orleans, Louisiana#Demographics|Demographics below.
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