Cemeteries in Louisiana (State)

Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, who claimed the Mississippi River drainage basin for France in 1682. French colonial control lasted from 1682 to 1800, interrupted by Spanish administration from 1762 to 1803 following the French and Indian War.

The territory attracted diverse European settlers including French colonists, German immigrants, and French-Canadian Acadians, who became ancestors of present-day Cajuns after their expulsion from Canada. Spanish, Latin American, Anglo, and African populations also contributed to Louisiana's multicultural foundation.

Louisiana was transferred from Spain to France on November 30, 1803, then to the United States on December 20, 1803, through the Louisiana Purchase. The Territory of Orleans achieved statehood as Louisiana in 1812. Primary cemeteries serving Louisiana include historic burial grounds in New Orleans such as St. Louis Cemetery and numerous parish cemeteries reflecting the state's multicultural heritage from colonial times to present day.