18th state to join the Union, Louisiana is located in south-central region of the United States. The state is boardered by Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico. The capital is Baton Rouge, but the largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the United States to employ the term parish instead of county, and to utlize a legal code based on anything other than English Common Law. Louisiana uses Spanish, French, and German legal codes as the basis for the Louisiana Civil Code. The Creole and Cajun cultural influences are strongly felt thoughout the state. The state's nick name is The Pelican State.