Colonial history of the United States Lower Louisiana. This vast tract was first settled at Mobile and Biloxi around 1700, and continued to grow when 7,000 French immigrants founded New Orleans in 1718. Settlement proceeded very slowly; New Orleans became an important port as the gateway to the Mississippi River, but there was little other economic development because the city lacked a prosperous hinterland. In 1763, Louisiana was ceded to Spain around New Orleans and west of the Mississippi River. In the 1780s, the western border of the newly independent United States stretched to the Mississippi River. The United States reached an agreement with Spain for
France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 following Luxembourg and preceding Spain. At the close of voting "Autant d'amoureux que d'étoiles" had received 61 points (including a maximum 12 from the Netherlands), placing France 8th of the 19 entries. The French jury awarded its 12 points to Belgium. France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 France was represented by Annick Thoumazeau, with the song '"Autant d'amoureux que d'étoiles", at the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 5 May in Luxembourg City. The song was chosen through a national final organised by broadcaster Antenne 2. The national final was held on 25 March, hosted by Jean-Pierre