Louisiana is a state located in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is bordered by Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east, with a coastline along the Gulf of Mexico to the south. A large portion of its eastern boundary is defined by the Mississippi River, which also shapes much of the state's lower topography.
Ranking 31st in area and 25th in population among the 50 U.S. states, Louisiana has approximately 4.6 million residents. Baton Rouge serves as the state capital, while New Orleans is its most populous city with a population of about 363,000 people.
Reflecting its French heritage, Louisiana is unique among U.S. states for using political subdivisions termed parishes instead of counties. It is one of only two states in the country that does not use the county system for local government.