Louisiana is a southeastern U.S. state on the Gulf of Mexico. Its history as a melting pot of French, African, American and French-Canadian cultures is reflected in its Creole and Cajun cultures. The largest city, New Orleans, is known for its colonial-era French Quarter, raucous Mardi Gras festival, jazz music, Renaissance-style St. Louis Cathedral and wartime exhibits at the huge National WWII Museum. Abbreviation: LA Capital: Baton Rouge Temperature: 100 degrees - humid & sunny, heat advisory Time:  1:00 (1 hour behind)   Nickname: Pelican State Population: 4.6 million (PA 12.8) Size: 52,378 sq mi (PA 46,000) Cost of living: $33,585 (PA $49,040) The cost of living in Louisiana is  8% lower than the national average . Housing is 16% lower than the national average, while utilities are 12% lower. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 4% lower than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs 4% lower. Minimum wage: $7....