History of New Orleans

In 1718, the French started settling in New Orleans and brought farmers to provide for the colony. They held control over the Mississippi an Missouri Rivers while they had the city. Spanish gained control of the area in 1762 but lost it to the French again in 1801. In 1803 the city was sold as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. At this time the  population of whites and freeblacks was only about 8,000 but began to increase quickly and steadily. The Americans then created the American District or Uptown but was made separately and even had its own government. In 1804, thousands of Haitians began moving to the area to find their new home. In 1809 French and free blacks and slaves came to new orleans from San Dominique creating the Creole people. With them they brought spices from the West Indies and combined them with French foods which became signature dishes of New Orleans. In the mid 1800's the English came to New Orleans and brought Victorian architecture with them. In the 1900s large lumber companies started coming to New Orleans which increased industry and decreased the amount of plantations in the area. During this time Irish, Italian, and German immigrants settled near the river and built canals.
New Orleans Timeline: http://www.good.is/posts/new-orleans-a-timeline/

New Orleans Now

Parts of New Orleans are still in recovery from katrina, however the major industries in New Orleans today are oil/gas and related activities, tourism, the port and ship/boat building, and aerospace manufacturing. Although, tourism is the top driving force of New Orleans's economy. Including the French Quarter and America's largest Mardis Gras festival. Some of New Orleans's largest private employers are shipbuilding firms, where workers build and repair vessels for the US Navy, merchant fleets and cruise ship lines. The population is about 67% African American and 28% White but the population has decreased by about 29% between 2000 & 2010.