The population of the city of New Orleans has substantially declined since large numbers of families began relocating from the inner city to the suburbs in the 1950s. The city's population peaked at 627,525 in the 1960 census, but that figure shrank to 496,938 by 1990—a loss of nearly one-third over three decades. In 1998 the city's population was estimated to be 465,538. According to the 1990 census, the black population constituted 62.1 percent of the city's population; the whites, 34.9 percent; Asians and Pacific Islanders, 1.9; and Native Americans, 0.2 percent. Hispanics, who may be of any race, represented 3.2 percent of the people.
The French originally settled New Orleans between 1718 and 1762, and then passed the city into Spanish hands. The result was a unique French-Spanish culture known as Creole. Many Creoles still live in the city and have a major influence on the city's cuisine and cultural life. Another effect of the city's French and Spanish heritage is the dominance of the Catholic faith among the city's inhabitants.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. New Orleans Information info
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