The first people of Louisiana arrived around 1200 years ago.Native American tribes lived here. The tribes were Atakapa, Choctaw, Chitimacha, Natchez, and Tunica. In 1541 the explorer named Hernando De Soto claimed the territory for Spain. Later in 1682 France claimed the region. Ownership of the region would go Back and fourth until the United States bought the area that would be Louisiana. The United States bought the land  that was the Louisiana purchase. In 1812 Louisiana became the 18th state on April 30.