New Orleans is the largest city/metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. It has a population of over 1.2M, the 46th largest in the USA. It is named after Philippe d'Orleans, Duke of Orleans, Regent of France. It is known for its distinct French Creole architecture, as well as its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage. New Orleans is famous for its cuisine, jazz music and its annual celebration, Mardi Gras.