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Did You Know!

Louisiana is the only state in the United States that uses “parishes” instead of counties as its primary local government divisions. Today, Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes, but the unusual terminology dates back centuries. During the French and Spanish colonial periods, the region was heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, and communities were commonly organized around church parishes. After the United States acquired Louisiana through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, much of the country adopted the familiar county system, but Louisiana retained its distinctive parish tradition. The term became officially established for the state's local divisions in the early 1800s and remains in use today. Although Louisiana parishes generally perform many of the same governmental functions as counties elsewhere — including maintaining roads, administering local services, and overseeing certain public records — the name serves as a lasting reminder of Louisiana's unique French, Spanish, Catholic, and Creole heritage.