- Nickname: Pelican State
- Motto: Union, justice, and confidence
- Flower: Magnolia
- Bird: Eastern brown pelican
- Area: 51,839.7 square miles (2000; U.S. rank:
31st)
- Elevation: Ranges from eight feet below sea level
to 535 feet above sea level
- Climate: Subtropical and humid, with long, hot
summers and short, mild winters
- Admitted to Union: April 30, 1812
- Capital: Baton Rouge
- Head Official: Governor Kathleen Blanco (D)
(until 2008)
- Population
- 1980: 4,206,000
- 1990: 4,220,164
- 2000: 4,468,976
- 2004 estimate: 4,515,770
- Percent change, 1990–2000: 5.9%
- U.S. rank in 2004: 24th
- Percent of residents born in state: 79.4% (2000)
- Density: 102.6 people per square mile (2000)
- 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 228,528
- Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
- White: 2,856,161
- Black or African American: 1,451,944
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 25,477
- Asian: 54,758
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 1,240
- Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 107,738
- Other: 31,131
- Age Characteristics (2000)
- Population under 5 years old: 317,392
- Population 5 to 19 years old: 1,050,637
- Percent of population 65 years and over: 11.6%
- Median age: 34 years (2000)
- Vital statistics
- Total number of births (2003): 65,020
- Total number of deaths (2003): 42,676 (infant
deaths,596)
- AIDS cases reported through 2003: 7,592
- Economy
- Major industries: Chemicals, construction,
mining, transportation equipment, trade, government,
manufacturing
- Unemployment rate: 5.5% (December 2004)
- Per capita income: $26,048 (2003; U.S. rank:
44th)
- Median household income: $34,307 (3-year
average,2001-2003)
- Percentage of persons below poverty level: 16.9%
(3-year average, 2001-2003)
- Income tax rate: Ranges from 2.0% to 6.0%
- Sales tax rate: 4.0% (food sales exempt)
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