Louisiana Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.la.us/

Income

The population of Louisiana in 2002 was 4,476,192. Its rank was 24th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Louisiana had a per capita personal income of $25,296. This per capita personal income ranked 45th in the United States and was 82 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 3.2 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Louisiana was $16,771 and ranked 46th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.2 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME

In 2002 Louisiana had a total personal income of $113,231,111. This total personal income ranked 25th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Louisiana was $71,999,951 and ranked 23rd in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.4 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 4.6 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

COMPONENTS OF TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Louisiana. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 65.2 percent of total personal income (compared with 66.0 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 15.7 percent (compared with 16.0 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 19.2 percent (compared with 18.1 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 3.0 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 6.6 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 4.5 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.4 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.3 percent.

EARNINGS BY PLACE OF WORK

Earnings of persons employed in Louisiana increased from $79,536,001 in 2001 to $82,006,912 in 2002, an increase of 3.1 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $52,765,333 to the 2002 estimate was 4.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Louisiana, which ranks 31st in size among the states, covers 128,593 sq km (49,650 sq mi), including 10,756 sq km (4153 sq mi) of inland water and 5001 sq km (1931 sq mi) of coastal water over which it has jurisdiction. It has a maximum length, from north to south, of about 440 km (about 275 mi) and a maximum width of about 480 km (about 300 mi). Elevations range from 2.4 m (8 ft) below sea level, at New Orleans, to 163 m (535 ft) above sea level, at Mount Driskill, in northwestern Louisiana. It has an average elevation of only about 30 m (about 100 ft) and is one of the three lowest states.

Climate - The climate of all the major regions of Louisiana is characterized by short mild winters and long, hot, and generally humid summers. Average January temperatures range from less than 8° C (46° F) in northwestern Louisiana to more than 13° C (55° F) in the southeastern delta country. Temperatures in the -20°s C (below 0° F) have been recorded, but prolonged periods of cold weather are extremely rare. July averages are in the upper 20°s C (lower 80°s F) throughout the state. Daytime highs are rarely more than 35° C (95° F), but the constantly high relative humidity causes some discomfort. In the coastal areas the high temperatures and relative humidity are tempered by cool breezes that blow inshore from the Gulf. Nighttime lows are generally in the mid-20°s C (higher 70°s F) during much of the summer. Total annual precipitation, mostly in the form of rain, ranges from about 1100 mm (about 48 in) in northwestern Louisiana to more than 1500 mm (60 in) in the southeast. Snow, ice and hail are rare in Louisiana. Thunderstorms are frequent in July, which is the wettest month, and tropical storms and hurricanes sometimes strike the coast, usually between July and September. Droughts are seldom severe. Ice storms are an infrequent but dangerous event.

State Flag

State Flower - Magnolia

State Capitol - Baton Rouge
Louisiana's present constitution, the state's 11th, was adopted in 1974. Previous state constitutions were adopted in 1812, 1845, 1852, 1861, 1864, 1868, 1879, 1898, 1913, and 1921. A proposed amendment to the constitution must initially be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the elected membership in each house of the state legislature. To be adopted, it must then be approved by a simple majority of the electorate voting on it. Amendments also may be proposed at a constitutional convention; these too are subject to approval by a majority of voters.

Famous People

Al Hirt trumpeter, New Orleans
Bryant Gumbel TV newscaster, New Orleans
Cokie Roberts journalist, New Orleans
Dorothy Lamour actress, New Orleans
Fats Domino musician, New Orleans
Geoffrey Beene fashion designer, Haynesville
Huey Newton black activist, New Orleans
Huey P. Long politician, Winnfield
Jelly Roll Morton jazz musician, composer, New Orleans
Jerry Lee Lewis singer, Ferriday
Kitty Carlisle singer, actress, New Orleans
Kordell Stewart football player, Marrero
Lillian Hellman playwright, New Orleans
Louis Armstrong musician, New Orleans
Louis Moreau Gottschalk pianist, composer, New Orleans
Mahalia Jackson gospel singer, New Orleans
Michael De Bakey heart surgeon, Lake Charles
Paul Prudhomme chef, Opelousas
Ray Walston actor, New Orleans
Truman Capote writer, New Orleans
Van Cliburn concert pianist, Shreveport
Wynton Marsalis musician, New Orleans