New Orleans

New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 census, New Orleans is the most populous city in Louisiana, the second-most populous in the Deep South after Atlanta, and the twelfth-most populous in the Southeastern United States; the New Orleans metropolitan area, with about 1 million residents, is the 59th-most populous metropolitan area in the country. New Orleans serves as a major port and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region. The city is coextensive with Orleans Parish. New Orleans is renowned for its distinctive music, Creole cuisine, unique dialects, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. The city has been described as the "most interesting" in the United States, owing in large part to its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage. Additionally, New Orleans has increasingly been known as "Hollywood South" due to its prominent role in the film industry and in pop culture. Founded in 1718 by French colonists, New Orleans was once the territorial capital of French Louisiana before becoming part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. New Orleans in 1840 was the third most populous city in the United States, and it was the largest city in the American South from the Antebellum era until after World War II. The city has historically been very vulnerable to flooding, due to its high rainfall, low-lying elevation, poor natural drainage, and proximity to multiple bodies of water. State and federal authorities have installed a complex system of levees and drainage pumps in an effort to protect the city. New Orleans was severely affected by Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005, which flooded more than 80% of the city, killed more than 1,800 people, and displaced thousands of residents, causing a population decline of over 50%. Since Katrina, major redevelopment efforts have led to a rebound in the city's population. Concerns have been expressed about gentrification and consequent displacement. Rates of violent crime in New Orleans remain higher than those in most other U.S. cities, but by mid-2025 a prolonged focus on addressing its root causes and reforming the local criminal justice system have reduced the incidence of violent crime to its lowest levels since the early 1970s.

Infobox

Country

United States

State

Louisiana

Parish

Orleans (coterminous)

Founded

1718; 307 years ago (1718)

Founded by

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville

Named after

Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1674–1723)

• Type

Mayor–council

• Mayor

LaToya Cantrell (D)

• Council

New Orleans City Council

• Consolidated city-parish

$29.482 billion (2023)

• Land

169.42 sq mi (438.80 km2)

• Water

180.43 sq mi (467.30 km2)

• Metro

$102.437 billion (2023)

Elevation

−6.6 to 19.7 ft (−2 to 6 m)

• Estimate (2024)

362,701

• Density

2,267/sq mi (875/km2)

• Urban

963,212 (US: 49th)

• Urban density

3,560/sq mi (1,376/km2)

Demonym

New Orleanian

Time zone

UTC−6 (CST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Area code

504

FIPS code

22-55000

GNIS feature ID

1629985

Website

nola.gov

Tables

· Geography › Cityscape › Tallest buildings

One Shell Square

Name

One Shell Square

Stories

Height

697 ft (212 m)

Place St. Charles

Name

Place St. Charles

Stories

Height

645 ft (197 m)

Plaza Tower

Name

Plaza Tower

Stories

Height

531 ft (162 m)

Energy Centre

Name

Energy Centre

Stories

Height

530 ft (160 m)

First Bank and Trust Tower

Name

First Bank and Trust Tower

Stories

Height

481 ft (147 m)

Name	Stories	Height
One Shell Square	51	697 ft (212 m)
Place St. Charles	53	645 ft (197 m)
Plaza Tower	45	531 ft (162 m)
Energy Centre	39	530 ft (160 m)
First Bank and Trust Tower	36	481 ft (147 m)

Month