New Orleans, LA

1. New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean Baptiste La Moyne, Sieur de Bienville.
2. Canal Street, once the widest street in the world, was named for a canal that was planed for, but never built, in the median.
3. The great chess master Paul Morphy was born in the house at 1113 Chartres St. in the French Quarter.
4. Because New Orleans is located above sea level, they bury their dead above ground.
5. The first Mardi Gras took place in New Orleans in 1827.
6. The infamous Superdome of New Orleans was completed in 1975.
7. Before Hurricane Katrina, Mardi Gras drew in approximately 1 million visitors.
8. The tourism industry is the number one employer in the metropolitan New Orleans area.
9. Following the devestation of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has suffered a loss of $1 billion.
10. There are presently over 140 metro area hotels and motels in operation.
11. The New Orleans Saints have announced sell-out season ticket sales for 2007-2008.
12. 62,300 out of 81,000 local businesses have reopened since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
13. New Orleans reported a population of 255,000 in March 2007, about 56% of its pre-Katrina population.

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New Orleans, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Katrina, Canal Street, French Quarter, Mardi Gras, thursday thirteen