Cities: New Orleans LA
| Name |
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| Birthname | Orleans Parish | ||
| born on | 17 February 1805 | ||
| Place | New Orleans LA, USA, 29n57, 90w05 | ||
| Timezone | LMT m90w05 (is local mean time) | ||
| Data source |
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| Astrology data |   28°42'  
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Biography
U.S. city. Population 460,913 (1999) -7.2% 1990-1999. Parish seat of Orleans Parish.
First meeting of the Spanish Cabildo: Dec. 1, 1769
Earliest incorporation, as a city: Feb. 17, 1805
First election: Mar. 4, 1805
Division into three corporations: Mar. 8, 1836
Consolidation into one city again: Feb. 23, 1852
The history of this city and its government is lengthy and complicated, partly because it was alternately French then Spanish then French before it became American as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Early in its history as a French colonial city, New Orleans and the colony of Louisiana were governed by the Superior Council which was appointed by the royal governor (Standard History of New Orleans, Louisiana, edited by Henry Rightor, 1900, Lewis Publishing: Chicago, pp. 79-80). However, the King of France often and arbitrarily imposed laws upon the city and colony (ibid). Rightor (1900) says the government of the city was autocratic under the French and "was as far from municipal as it is possible to conceive. The people of New Orleans had no hand or part in the government of their city, and were in no wise consulted as to it" (pp. 81-82).
By the secret treaty of Fontainebleau, Louisiana and New Orleans were ceded to Spain on November 13, 1762 (ibid, p. 20). When the colonists learned of the cession in October 1764, they met in New Orleans and petitioned the French monarch Louis XV to retain the colony under French rule (ibid, p. 21). Their petition was ignored but the first Spanish Governor, Don Antonio de Ulloa, did not arrive in New Orleans until March 5, 1766 (ibid). Ulloa brought with him only a small contingent of troops so he postponed assuming his official position until he had more troops to back his authority (ibid, p. 22). His orders, issued through the still existent Superior Council, were resented by the residents (ibid). In October 1768, "560 of the most influencial inhabitants signed a petition asking the Superior Council to expel Ulloa from the colony" and on October 29 the Superior Council responded by ordering Ulloa "to show his powers or to leave the colony" (ibid, p. 23). As a result, Ulloa withdrew to a Spanish frigate anchored in the Mississippi River where he remained until setting sail for Cuba on April 20, 1769 (ibid).
New Orleans and the colony of Louisiana then renewed their appeal to Louis XV to reassume his sovereignty over them. New Orleans was essentially self-governing from October 29, 1768 until the arrival of the next Spanish governor on July 23, 1769 (ibid, p. 24). Shortly after his arrival with 4,500 troops, Don Alejandro O'Reilly arrested most of the Superior Council and other leaders of the 1768 rebellion and either imprisoned or executed them (ibid, p. 26). He abolished the Superior Council and instituted the Spanish Cabildo as the body of civil authority in New Orleans (ibid, p. 86). The Cabildo originally consisted of 12 members including the governor, secretary, six members who purchased their seats and served for life and four members elected by the other members (ibid). The governor exercised control over the Cabildo and most appropriations were approved by him (ibid). When organizing the Cabildo, O'Reilly prepared an extensive list of rules and regulations which Rightor (1900) claims were, "to all intents and purposes, the charter of the city" (p. 89). However, the Cabildo, like its predecessor the Superior Council, was not a representative or municipal form of government. The first meeting of the Cabildo of New Orleans was held on December 1, 1769 (ibid, p. 88).
By the treaty of St. Ildephonso, Spain ceded Louisiana back to France on October 1, 1800 but news of the cession was not made public until October 1, 1801 (ibid, p. 35). Laussat, who was appointed the French Intendant of Louisiana, did not arrive in New Orleans until March 26, 1803 and did not take possession of the city and province from the Spanish until November 30, 1803 (ibid). Laussat abolished the Cabildo and established a municipal government by appointing a mayor, two adjuncts and ten municipal councilmen (ibid). Rightor (1900) says, "This government was intended merely as a stop-gap until a charter could be obtained for the city from the Territorial legislature; but it continued in office more than two years" (p. 93).
On December 20, 1803, New Orleans and the Louisiana territory were offically transferred to the U.S. Incorporation of New Orleans as a city was passed and approved by the Governor of the Territory of Orleans February 17, 1805 and the first election of 14 aldermen was held on March 4, 1805, although the mayor and recorder were appointed by the Governor (1804 Territory of Orleans Acts, Chapter 13, pp. 44-73). This was the beginning of self-rule in the city.
An amendment to the incorportion act that divided the city into three separate municipal corporations was approved by the Governor March 8, 1836 (1836 Louisiana Acts at pp. 28-37). Each of these three incorporated muncipalities was separately governed by an elected council (ibid, p. 30). A mayor continued to be vested with and exersize powers collectively within all three muncipalities and on the first Monday in May of each year or at the request of the mayor, the three councils jointly met to discuss and decide upon matters concerning the entire city (ibid, pp. 30, 36). Rightor (1900) says that the division into three separate municipalities was a result of strife between the American and Creole sections of the city (p. 96). Municipality No. one was the city proper with a mostly Creole population, Municipality No. two was the Faubourg St. Marie with a mostly American population, and Municipality No. three was the Faubourg Marigny (ibid, p. 97).
The city was consolidated again by an incorporation act that was approved by the governor February 23, 1852 (1852 Louisiana Acts, No. 72, pp. 42-55).
A hugh fire burned 800-900 buildings and 85% of the town 1:30 pm, 3/21/1788 (Rightor, 1900, p. 31); another hugh fire on 12/8/1794 (ibid, p. 32).
Copyright © 2002 by Gary Brand. All rights reserved.
For more city records call 434/823-6161
Source Notes
Dates from legislation and from Standard History of New Orleans, Louisiana edited by Henry Rightor, 1900, Lewis Publishing: Chicago.
Categories
- Mundane : City Population : 400,000-500,000 population
