Editing Louisiana, Missouri (section)

==History==

The town was founded in 1816 by John Walter Basye and named after his daughter, Louisiana Basye.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_pike.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624070919/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_pike.html | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | url-status = live | title=Pike County Place Names, 1928–1945 | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date= December 7, 2016}}</ref> Other notable early residents were Samuel Caldwell and Joel Shaw, both of whom purchased land from Basye in 1818. All three properties became the original town [[plat]] and comprised mainly riverfront properties. Many of the town's residents trace their ancestry to these town pioneers. Louisiana proved to be a profitable shipping point on the [[Mississippi River]], and that wealth led to numerous substantial [[History of the United States (1789–1849)|antebellum]] homes. Many of those remain and, along with the [[Georgia Street Historic District]] in downtown Louisiana, are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has noted that the town has "the most intact Victorian Streetscape in the state of Missouri."

Louisiana is one of three communities forming the 50 Miles of Art corridor, linked by history, heritage and Route 79; Louisiana, [[Clarksville, Missouri|Clarksville]] and [[Hannibal, Missouri|Hannibal]] are home to many artists, crafts persons and artisans. The community is also home to the annual Louisiana Country Colorfest.

In 1946, the town was the site of a [[Fischer-Tropsch]] plant capable of producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Seven scientists brought into the United States by [[Operation Paperclip]] from [[Nazi Germany]] took part in the research.<ref>Fischer-Tropsch.org</ref>

Louisiana hopes to be part of the "green energy" revolution as a former [[ammonia]] plant has been converted for the study and production of synthetic fuels. The city is also the headquarters of Lens.com.<ref name="Lens About">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.lens.com/about-us/ |website=Lens.com |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref>

Louisiana is home to Pike County's largest festival, the Louisiana Country Colorfest, which began in 1984. The event is held the third weekend in October and is attended by over 8,000 people annually.

In addition to the Georgia Street Historic District, the [[Charles Bacon House]], [[Capt. George and Attella Barnard House]], [[Bethel Chapel AME Church]], [[City Market (Louisiana, Missouri)|City Market]], [[Goodman-Stark House]], [[Louisiana Chicago & Alton Railroad Depot]], [[Louisiana Public Library]], [[North Third Street Historic District (Louisiana, Missouri)|North Third Street Historic District]], [[Pike County Hospital]], and [[Gov. Lloyd Crow Stark House and Carriage House]] are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>