Fun Facts About New Orleans
Learn all about The Big Easy with these fun facts about New Orleans.
Basic Facts About New Orleans
Although New Orleans is not the capital city of Louisiana, it is the largest city by population in the state.
New Orleans has a population of just over 380,000 people.
New Orleans sits on the Mississippi River Delta, just south of Lake Pontchartrain, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi River itself cuts right through the city.
The city of New Orleans was founded in 1718 by French colonists. It is named for the city of Orleans in France.
Now that you know some basic facts about the city, let’s dive into some fun facts about New Orleans.
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10 Fun Facts About New Orleans
These interesting facts about New Orleans will have you planning a trip to this incredible city!
People Often Mispronounce “New Orleans”
Because of the French roots of the city, the name is not pronounced the way some suspect.
The correct pronunciation is “New Or-lens,” like the lens in a camera.
Many people mispronounce the city name as “New Or-leens.” This is not correct.
Another mispronunciation is “Nah-lins.” It’s a slang term for the city, not the name’s pronunciation.
Some others mispronounce the city as “New Or-lee-ans.”
This is likely because the French city of Orleans is pronounced “Or-lee-an.”
Even though New Orleans is named after the city in France, the pronunciation is different.
Stick with “New Or-lens” to say the name correctly.
New Orleans Has Nicknames Like NOLA and The Big Easy
NOLA is a common nickname for the city. It is an acronym for its name: New Orleans (NO), Louisiana (LA).
Another nickname is The Big Easy. This name is a little mysterious.
Some theorize the city was called The Big Easy by musicians in the early 1900s who had an easy time finding gigs in the city.
After all, New Orleans is the Birthplace of Jazz (another nickname).
New Orleans is also known as Crescent City. The Mississippi River cuts through the city’s heart in the shape of a crescent.
New Orleans Was Once Louisiana’s Capital
The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803.
Louisiana itself became a state in 1812, and its capital was New Orleans.
The city remained the capital until 1835 when Donaldsonville (and later Baton Rouge) was given the title.
The reason for the change was that elected officials did not want all the power in the state to rest in New Orleans.
New Orleans was already the state’s largest city. Representatives from other parts of the state wanted a more neutral location for the center of government.
New Orleans Has the World’s Longest Bridge
New Orleans sits just south of Lake Pontchartrain, and the causeway bridge across this body of water is the longest in the world.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous bridge over water at 23.83 miles.
This bridge is supported by 9,500 concrete pilings and opened in 1956.
A New Orleans Dentist Invented Dental Floss
If you use dental floss to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth, you can thank a New Orleans dentist for that invention.
Levi Spear Palmly recommended running a waxen silk thread between your teeth back in 1819.
The invention did not make him rich. Dental floss was not sold in stores until 1882 (and only then by a medical supply company).
Cemeteries in New Orleans Look Different
New Orleans is a low-lying city on the Mississippi River.
This means the city is prone to flooding, and the underground water supply is quite close to the surface.
Because of this, burying coffins can be quite tricky.
The coffin could fill with water or, worse, emerge from the ground after a while.
New Orleans found a way around this: they built above-ground tombs.
In other cities, you may only see rows of tombstones in a cemetery.
New Orleans has rows of stone coffins and mausoleums sitting on top of the earth.
New Orleans Is Famous for Fluffy French Doughnuts
The most iconic sweet in New Orleans is a beignet (pronounced “ben-yay”).
A beignet is a fluffy French doughnut made of choux pastry.
The beignet is typically cut into a square and fried. Then it is dusted with powdered sugar.
Although you can’t see it at a glance, a beignet does have a hole in its center like its American cousin.
Technically, it is more of a cavern than a hole. The pastry is light and airy, so the center of the beignet is hollow.
Some NOLA eateries serve their beignets with dipping sauces like chocolate, caramel, and raspberry.
The beignet is the state doughnut of Louisiana.
You Must Wear a Mask on a Mardi Gras Float
New Orleans is famous for its celebration of Mardi Gras, which culminates on Fat Tuesday, the day before the Christian season of Lent.
Originally, Mardi Gras was the day for masquerade balls. Over time, the evening began with torchlight processions through the streets.
Today, tourists and native New Orleanians celebrate the holiday with parades.
If you are lucky enough to find yourself on a float during Mardi Gras, you must wear a mask. It’s the law!
The state passed the Mardi Gras Act in 1875, mandating that anyone on a Mardi Gras float must be masked to preserve the air of mystery!
The Fleur-de-lis is the Symbol of New Orleans
The word fleur-de-lis is French for “flower of lily.”
It is a traditional symbol on the coat of arms of France.
The three petals of the flower symbolize faith, hope, and charity.
The city of New Orleans embraces the fleur-de-lis as its symbol to recognize the city’s French roots and cultural pride.
You will find the fleur-de-lis everywhere in New Orleans: on flags, fence posts, and on the helmets of the NFL team, the New Orleans Saints.
The Caesars Superdome Has Seats of Many Colors
The largest venue in the city is The Caesars Superdome (formerly the Mercedes Benz Superdome).
It is the home field for the New Orleans Saints NFL team, and it also hosts many concerts and other sporting events.
The Superdome can seat over 76,000 people, but even if it is not packed to capacity, it appears to be.
Every seat in the Superdome is painted a different color, so from a distance, it looks like the stands are always full.
Children’s Books About New Orleans
If you want your kids to learn more about this city, check out these children’s books.
The Runaway Beignet
This version of the Gingerbread Man tracks a feisty beignet as he runs through the city.
The ABCs of New Orleans
With bright illustrations, this book teaches the ABCs using iconic scenes in New Orleans.
On the Loose in New Orleans
The zoo animals have escaped into the city! Kids will have fun spotting the animals on every page.
Interesting Facts About New Orleans
These ten fun facts about the city of New Orleans are just the corner of the beignet!
This fascinating city has a rich and storied history and a swirl of cultures contributing to its vibrant atmosphere.
