Chapter 10: The Coastal South

The Coastal South includes the land along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from southeastern Virginia to the Mexican Border. The state of Louisiana is featured in the coastal south which is also home to the port city of New Orleans. Though it may be vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding, the Coastal South remains as one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.

Louisiana 

The climate of New Orleans is consistent with the climate of the Coastal South. It is humid and subtropical which features long, hot, rainy summers and mild, wet winters. On average New Orleans receives about 62 inches of precipitation annually. Unlike other parts of the United States, summer in New Orleans is generally the wettest time of the year whereas October is the driest month. Due to its low elevation and water surroundings, the city is especially vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding. The most well-known of these hurricanes would have to be Hurricane Katrina which would lead to the first ever evacuation of the city. Hundreds and thousands of homes were lost and the city of New Orleans faced a major decrease in population.

               

Yearly Climate Levels

According to the 2010 Census, the population of New Orleans consisted of 60% African American, 33% white, 5% Hispanic or Latino, and 3% Asian American. The dominance of the African American population was due to the migration of slaves into the Coastal South. Therefore no other region has as much African American influence on music, food, speech patterns, and architecture as the Coastal South.

                

Population Over the Years

The Coastal South is also home to many tourist destinations. These destinations feature attractions such as Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida to the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas. New Orleans in its own right has become a major tourist destination primarily because of the celebration of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras or French for “Fat Tuesday,” represents the diverse nature of the Coastal South. The holiday is the climax of the carnival season celebrated by many Catholics prior to the beginning of Lent.

National Geographic Coverage of Mardi Gras

               

New Orleans is also known for its strategic location being a port city and residing near the mouth of the Mississippi River. The easy access to the Mississippi River allowed the city to control major trade within the central United States. This ease of access is one of the major reasons that prompted the United States to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase with France. Though many trade routes have been replaced by airlines, New Orleans remains as one the major port cities in the United States. 

Louisiana Purchase

Cited Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/2255000.html

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lix

Textbook

The Big Easy

President Obama Speaks on the Economy at the Port of New Orleans

Tourism in New Orleans

Hotel Exterior located in the French Quarter

Scenic New Orleans

Chapter 4: The Political Economy of New Orleans

New Orleans or otherwise known as “The Big Easy,” is a major port city and boasts the largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The economy of New Orleans is dominated by four major sectors: oil and gas related activities, port and ship production, aerospace manufacturing, and tourism. The city’s strategic location straddling along the Mississippi river in addition to being a port city allows for several US Navy and other military operations. The unique geographic location of New Orleans allows the city to provide many primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary jobs. 

Because of the city’s maritime location, it is responsible for a major sector of the country’s oil refining in conjunction with petroleum and natural gas production. Many primary and secondary occupations are also developed through the production of ships/vessels and aerospace technologies.

New Orleans Oil Refinery

The city also boasts as a huge tourist attraction. The tourist sector of New Orleans features many attractions such as the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and the Mardi Gras festival. New Orleans tourism sector is so prominent that it accounts for nearly forty percent of the city’s tax revenue. The emergence of tourism in New Orleans has allowed the city to contribute to its tertiary sector.

Mardi Gras Festivites 

Finally, the city’s military sector features many facilities in the area. Such facilities include the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, the US Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Command, and finally the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. The city’s combination of military activities with raw material production and R&D has contributed to the quaternary sector.

New Orleans Air Station Joint Reserve Base

Although the city boasts a stable economy, one of the major problems facing the city was the population decline following Hurricane Katrina. Following the disaster, the city faced a limited restoration of its basic infrastructure. The lack of stability combined with the devastation from Hurricane Katrina has led to New Orleans accounting for only 76% of its population in 2010.

Today New Orleans is one of few cities that are looking to come out of this recession strong.  Consistent increase in population, rise of new businesses, and the influx of tourists has given the city a jumpstart to recovery. 

Sources:

http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/New-Orleans-Economy.html

Wikipedia