TODAY IN HISTORY: The Founding of New Orleans (May 7, 1718)

On May 7, 1718, one of America’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities, New Orleans, was founded by the French. Originally known as La Nouvelle-Orléans, the city was named in honor of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France. The French established New Orleans as a strategic stronghold due to its ideal location along the Mississippi River, making it a key port for trade, particularly for the French Mississippi Company led by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville.

Under the Treaty of Paris in 1763, New Orleans was ceded to Spain, only to be returned to French control in 1801. Two years later, in 1803, Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, transferring not only New Orleans but a vast expanse of territory from France to the United States, significantly expanding the young nation.

New Orleans became an economic powerhouse, fueled by slave labor and fertile land that supported the booming sugar and cotton industries. Over time, the city’s unique Creole culture emerged—a blend of French, African, Spanish, and Caribbean influences—infusing the city with a rich cultural texture that remains unparalleled in America today.

Interestingly, Louisiana’s legal system is still based on Napoleonic principles, a reflection of its French heritage, making it the only state in the U.S. to operate under civil law rather than English Common Law. From its historic roots to its modern-day allure, New Orleans continues to stand out as a city with a truly unique flavor and legacy.