Unrivaled for the uniqueness of its rich culture and heritage, this area combines the pulsating excitement of one of America’s most celebrated cities with vibrant suburbs, growing cities, friendly small towns, and vast expanses of pristine countryside. This water-rich region enjoys a strategic location near the Mississippi River as it flows to the Gulf of Mexico, an advantage that has spurred the development of thriving industrial operations for the energy and petroleum industries. Long-established agricultural activity flourishes in this fertile land, joining an ever-expanding number of exceptional services that include nationally and internationally recognized healthcare centers and some of the finest colleges and universities in the nation. Take your time exploring the colorful and exciting New Orleans Area, truly a place like no other.