Louisiana is named after the French king Louis XIV.
The French settled the area in the early 18th century.
Over the next 100 years, several wars were fought and secret treaties forged over this territory, among Spain, France, Great Britain, and the United States.
Finally, in 1803, the portion of what is now Louisiana west of the Mississippi River and including New Orleans was purchased by the United States.
Along with Louisiana, this $15 million deal included the territories that now make up portions of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota west of the Mississippi River, and Colorado east of the Rocky Mountains.
It was the largest land acquisition the United States ever made at one time.
