The city was founded in 1718 by French colonists, and it quickly became a major port city. However, the city was also located on a low-lying plain, and it was frequently flooded by the Mississippi River. These floods caused widespread damage and made it difficult for the city to grow.
In the 19th century, the city built a system of levees to protect itself from flooding. However, the levees were not always effective, and the city continued to flood. In 1927, the Great Mississippi Flood caused devastating damage to New Orleans, and the city was forced to rebuild.
Since then, the city has built a more extensive system of levees and floodwalls, and it has also raised the elevation of many of its streets. These measures have helped to protect the city from flooding, and it has been able to grow and develop into a major metropolis.