City (pop., 2000: 484,674), southeastern Louisiana, U.S. Situated between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain , it is the state's largest city and a major deepwater port.
Founded in 1718 by French colonist Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville , it was ceded to Spain in 1763. In 1803 it was ceded back to France and sold to the U.S. by Napoleon . Incorporated in 1805, it was the state capital from 1812 to 1849. During the American Civil War the city was captured and occupied by Union forces (1862). A notable tourist centre, its attractions include Mardi Gras and the French Quarter, a popular tourist area noted for its nightclubs and Creole architecture. It is also a medical, industrial, and educational centre.