French in Louisiana

In the 1990 census, approximately 250,000 Louisianians responded that French was the language they spoke at home. The 2000 census showed 198,784 Louisiana francophones over the age of 5, including 4,470 who speak Creole French. The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) was created in 1968 by the state legislature, because of the existence of this corps of native French speakers. According to Legislative Act No. 409, CODOFIL is empowered to "do any and all things necessary to accomplish the development, utilization, and preservation of the French language as found in Louisiana for the cultural, economic and touristic benefit of the state.