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History of New Orleans Timeline
(1718 - Present)New Orleans, founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, is one of America's most culturally distinctive cities. Shaped by French and Spanish colonial rule, the Louisiana Purchase, its role as a major slave trade port, the birth of jazz in the early 20th century, and the devastation and recovery following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city's history reflects a unique blend of Creole, African, Caribbean, and American influences. More Less
Colonial Era
French explorers claim Louisiana for France
Apr 9, 1682
Explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, traveled down the Mississippi River and claimed the entire Mississippi Valley for France, naming the territory Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV. This claim laid the foundation for the eventual founding of New Orleans at the river's mouth.
Image source: René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
Founding of New Orleans by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville
May 7, 1718
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, founded the city of Nouvelle-Orléans on behalf of the Mississippi Company on a crescent-shaped bend of the Mississippi River. The site was chosen for its access to the river and proximity to Lake Pontchartrain.
Image source: History of New Orleans
First African slaves arrive in New Orleans
Jun 1, 1719
The first shiploads of enslaved Africans arrived in New Orleans in 1719, beginning the institution of slavery that would shape the city's economy, culture, and demographics for the next century and a half.
Image source: History of slavery in Louisiana
Hurricane destroys much of early New Orleans
Sep 12, 1722
A powerful hurricane struck New Orleans in September 1722, destroying most of the young settlement's buildings. The disaster prompted the rebuilding of the town on higher ground with a more organized grid plan that became the French Quarter's layout.
Image source: Hurricane preparedness in New Orleans
Great New Orleans Fire of 1788
Mar 21, 1788
A devastating fire on Good Friday destroyed over 850 buildings, including most of the original French colonial structures. The city was rebuilt largely in Spanish architectural style, giving the French Quarter its distinctive look with courtyards and wrought-iron balconies.
Image source: Great New Orleans Fire (1788)
Spain cedes Louisiana back to France
Oct 1, 1800
Under the secret Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain returned the Louisiana Territory to Napoleonic France, though Spanish administration continued until the Louisiana Purchase. The transfer set the stage for the sale of New Orleans to the United States.
Image source: Third Treaty of San Ildefonso
United States acquires New Orleans through Louisiana Purchase
Dec 20, 1803
The United States formally took possession of New Orleans after purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. Control of the port city gave America command of the Mississippi River's mouth, transforming it into a gateway for westward expansion.
Image source: Louisiana Purchase
19th Century Growth
New Orleans incorporated as a city
Feb 17, 1805
The Louisiana Territorial legislature officially incorporated New Orleans as an American city, establishing municipal government as the former colonial outpost transitioned into a growing urban center under U.S. rule.
Image source: New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
Jan 8, 1815
General Andrew Jackson led American forces to a decisive victory over the British in the final major battle of the War of 1812, fought after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed but before news reached America. The triumph made Jackson a national hero and sparked a surge of American pride.
Image source: Battle of New Orleans
New Orleans becomes major cotton and sugar port
Jan 1, 1820 - Jan 1, 1860
During the antebellum decades, New Orleans grew into one of the busiest ports in the world, exporting vast quantities of cotton and sugar produced by enslaved labor along the Mississippi River. By 1840, it was among the largest cities in the United States.
Image source: Port of New Orleans
Key Facts
- New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville as the capital of French Louisiana.
- The city was ceded to Spain in 1763, returned to France in 1800, and sold to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
- In the 19th century, New Orleans became one of the largest slave markets in the United States and a major port for the cotton trade.
- New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of jazz, which emerged in the early 1900s from African American communities like Congo Square and Tremé.
- Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on August 29, 2005, causing catastrophic flooding that killed over 1,800 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.
Source
This History of New Orleans timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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