Map of Louisiana Parishes

Louisiana has 64 parishes. It is the only U.S. state that uses "parishes" instead of counties as its primary administrative divisions. The term dates back to Louisiana's French and Spanish colonial period, when Catholic church parish boundaries defined civil jurisdictions. The original 19 parishes were established in 1807, and the current 64 were finalized by 1871.

Plaquemines Parish is the largest parish by area at 2,429 square miles (6,290 km²). It stretches southeast of New Orleans along the Mississippi River delta toward the Gulf of Mexico. Its name comes from a Creole/Atakapa word meaning "persimmons."

West Baton Rouge Parish is the smallest parish by area at 203 square miles (530 km²). It sits on the west bank of the Mississippi River, directly across from Baton Rouge, the state capital.

Ouachita Parish is the most populous parish with 157,874 residents according to the 2020 Census. Its parish seat is Monroe, a commercial center in northeastern Louisiana. The least populous parish is Tensas Parish with just 3,844 residents (2020 Census).

Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties because of its French and Spanish colonial heritage. Under colonial rule, the Catholic Church organized the territory into ecclesiastical parishes for administration. When Louisiana became a U.S. territory and later a state, these church-based boundaries carried over into civil government, and the term "parish" was retained. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. that uses this terminology.

New Orleans, famous for the French Quarter and Mardi Gras, is in Orleans Parish. Baton Rouge, the state capital and home to Louisiana State University, is in East Baton Rouge Parish. Lafayette, a cultural hub known for Cajun heritage, is in Lafayette Parish. Shreveport, the northwest gateway city, is in Caddo Parish. The Atchafalaya Basin, the largest wetland in the U.S., spans St. Martin, Iberville, and Pointe Coupee parishes.

The New Orleans metropolitan area centers on Orleans Parish, which is coterminous with the city of New Orleans. Surrounding parishes include Jefferson Parish (seat: Gretna), St. Tammany Parish (seat: Covington, population 277,615 in 2020), and St. Bernard Parish. Plaquemines Parish, the largest by area at 2,429 square miles, also extends southeast from the metro area along the Mississippi River delta.

The capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge, located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Baton Rouge is home to the Louisiana State Capitol and Louisiana State University. East Baton Rouge Parish is one of the state's most urbanized parishes.

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