1. Louisiana becomes a state: On June 30, 1812, Louisiana officially became the 18th state of the United States after being granted statehood by President James Madison.

2. Huey Long’s assassination: On September 8, 1935, Louisiana’s infamous governor, Huey P. Long, was shot in Baton Rouge by Dr. Carl Weiss. Long died two days later from the resulting injuries.

3. Hurricane Cindy makes landfall: On June 30, 2005, Hurricane Cindy made landfall in Louisiana, causing widespread flooding and other damage. The storm caused four deaths and resulted in approximately $320 million in damages.

4. Louisiana Purchase finalized: On June 30, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was officially finalized, with France ceding over 828,000 square miles of land to the United States for a sum of $15 million. This acquisition doubled the size of the young nation and paved the way for westward expansion.

5. Louisiana’s first woman governor: On June 30, 2004, Louisiana’s first woman governor, Kathleen Blanco, was sworn in. She served until 2008 and oversaw the state’s recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.