LOUISIANA - When exploring the deep colonial history of the Pelican State, the timeline leads not to the famous French Quarter of New Orleans, but to the banks of the Cane River Lake in central Louisiana. The city of Natchitoches (pronounced NACK-a-tish), established in 1714, holds the title of the oldest permanent European settlement in the entire Louisiana Purchase territory.
The Founding: 1714
Natchitoches was born out of French ambition to establish trade with the Spanish in Mexico and to halt Spanish expansion from the west.
- Louis Juchereau de St. Denis: In 1714, this French Canadian explorer and soldier established a trading post near two groves of pecan trees. He was a skilled diplomat who spoke several indigenous languages and eventually married the granddaughter of a Spanish commandant, cementing ties between the rival empires.
- Fort St. Jean Baptiste: To protect the post, the French built Fort St. Jean Baptiste in 1716. For decades, Natchitoches served as the primary interface between French Louisiana and Spanish Texas (whose capital, Los Adaes, was located just 15 miles to the west).
Indigenous Roots
The city takes its name from the Natchitoches tribe, a member of the powerful Caddo Confederacy. Long before St. Denis arrived, the Natchitoches people inhabited the area, living in beehive-shaped grass lodges and practicing sophisticated agriculture along the Red River. They were essential allies to the French, providing food, trade goods, and military support against hostile tribes. The complex cultural exchange between the French, African enslaved people, and the Caddo gave rise to the distinct Creole culture that still defines the region today.
A Technical Distinction: Natchitoches vs. New Orleans
A common misconception is that New Orleans is the oldest city in Louisiana due to its size and fame.
- New Orleans (1718): Founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, New Orleans was established four years after Natchitoches.
- The "Louisiana" Colony: While the French had established settlements earlier at Mobile (1702) and Biloxi (1699), those cities are now in Alabama and Mississippi, respectively. Within the modern boundaries of the state of Louisiana, Natchitoches is the undisputed eldest.
Settlement vs. Incorporation
Natchitoches began as a trading outpost and military fort, but it quickly evolved into a prosperous agricultural community known for tobacco and later cotton. Because of its early founding, it was already a thriving town by the time the United States acquired the territory in 1803. It was formally incorporated as a city in 1819, confirming its status as a political entity under American law.
Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana, founded in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis. It served as the strategic border post between French Louisiana and Spanish Texas. The city is named after the Natchitoches (Caddo) people who originally inhabited the land. Although New Orleans (1718) is larger and better known, Natchitoches predates it by four years, making it the oldest city within the current state borders.
Sources
- Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau. "History of Natchitoches."
- Louisiana Office of State Parks. "Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site."
- Caddo Nation. "Tribal History."
- Know Louisiana (Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities). "Natchitoches."
- National Park Service. "Cane River Creole National Historical Park."