Parishes Instead of Counties: Because Louisiana’s early government grew out of French and Spanish colonial rule—where church parishes were used as primary community boundaries—the state divides its local governments into 64 parishes rather than counties.
The Tallest Capitol Building: Located in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana State Capitol is a skyscraper standing 450 feet tall with 34 floors. It was built in 1930 during the governorship of Huey P. Long.
World’s Longest Overwater Bridge: Connecting Metairie with St. Tammany Parish, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is roughly 24 miles (over 38 kilometers) long, making it the longest continuous bridge over a body of water on earth.