Natchitoches ( ; ) is the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana. It was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February 5, 1819. It is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Natchitoches's sister city is Nacogdoches, Texas.