On 213 years ago today, April 30, 1812 (March 20, 1812 in the lunar calendar), Louisiana joined the United States. Louisiana (LA) is a state in the south-central United States. It borders Arkansas in the north, Texas in the west, Mississippi in the east, and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. It covers an area of 125675 square kilometers, ranking 31st among 50 states. Population 4287768(2006). The capital is Baton Rouge. The state was named in honor of King Louis XIV of France. The state flower is Southern Magnolia. The state bird is the Eastern Brown Pelican. The state tree is Cypress. The motto is "Union, Justice, Confidence". According to the literature, the first discovery of a river valley in northern Louisiana was the Spaniard Hernando de Soto. In 1682, the Frenchman Rene-Robert Cavalier (Sieur de LaSalle) declared Louisiana a dependency of France. In 1762, Spain obtained the Louisiana colony from France. The state was named in honor of King Louis XIV of France. Indians settled here before BC. It is estimated that there were 15000 Indians in this area in the early 18th century, when Europeans began to immigrate, but now only one-fifth remain. In 1541, Spanish explorer Desato arrived in the northern part of the state. In 1682, French explorer Lassalle named this area Louisiana after the then French King Louis XIV, meaning "Louis 'Land." It became a French colony in 1731. It belonged to Spain in 1762. He returned to France in 1800. In 1803, the United States purchased the entire area from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, including Louisiana, from France for US$15 million. It joined the Union on April 30, 1812 and became the 18th state of the United States. In 1861, he withdrew from the Union during the Civil War and joined the Confederacy. Rejoined the Union in 1868. In the mid-19th century, many sugarcane and cotton plantations used large amounts of black slaves and accumulated countless wealth. By 1860, the state had become the richest agricultural area in the country. Black descendants still account for one-third of the state's residents, and they have made outstanding contributions to society. However, racial discrimination has always been a major problem in the state. Since 1865, the Ku Klux Klan has wantonly persecuted blacks, which has seriously hindered social progress. In 1965, the state established the Louisiana Commission on Human Relations, Rights and Responsibilities to try to ease racial tensions. Comments: New Orleans, the largest city, is the birthplace of jazz in the world. KFC's New Orleans is delicious!