Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Downtown Baton Rouge
Flag Seal
Nickname: Red Stick
Motto: Authentic Louisiana at every turn
Location of Baton Rouge in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Coordinates: 30°27′29″N 91°8′25″W / 30.45806, -91.14028
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	East Baton Rouge Parish
Founded	1699
Incorporated	16 January 1817
Government
- Mayor	Melvin "Kip" Holden (D)
Area
- City	79.1 sq mi (204.8 km²)
- Land	76.8 sq mi (198.9 km²)
- Water	2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²)
Elevation	46 ft (14 m)
Population (2004)
- City	229,553
- Density	2,964.7/sq mi (1,144.7/km²)
- Metro	751,965
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	225
Website: http://www.brgov.com

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Portal

Baton Rouge (from the French bâton rouge), pronounced /ˈbætn ˈɹuːʒ/ in English, and /bɑtɔ̃ ʀuʒ/ in French, is the capital and the second largest city in Louisiana behind New Orleans. The effects of Hurricane Katrina have reduced the population of Orleans Parish such that East Baton Rouge Parish is currently more highly populated than Orleans Parish. Baton Rouge serves as the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish. In June 2005 East Baton Rouge Parish contained 412,000 residents. The Greater Baton Rouge population is approximately 700,000. Baton Rouge is a Canadian restaurant chain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 750 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1500 × 1200 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Us-labtr. ... The flag of Baton Rouge flies on a cloudy day. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 547 pixelsFull resolution (1170 × 800 pixel, file size: 197 KB, MIME type: image/png) Made Using US Census Bureau Data. ... Location Location of St. ... Location Location of St. ... A Municipal corporation is a legal definition for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, and boroughs. ... is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Melvin L. Kip Holden (born August 12, 1952) is the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare sizes of different geographic regions, we list here areas between 10 km² (1000 hectares) and 100 km² (10,000 hectares). ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Area code 225 is a telephone area code that covers part of southern Louisiana, including the Baton Rouge area. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The purpose of this page is to lay out our policies for handling sounds, and give people some useful information for handling sound files. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... NOLA redirects here. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... New Orleans (French: Nouvelle-Orléans) is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Greater Baton Rouge (which is centered in Baton Rouge) an fast growing metropolitan area is inhabited by nearly 1 million residents (700,000 people), and is also known as Plantation Country, Authentic Louisiana at every turn, The capital region, the 225, and sits at the edge of the florida parishes...

Baton Rouge is located in the southeast portion of the state along the Mississippi River. It owes its location and its historical importance to its site upon Istrouma Bluff, the first bluff upriver from the Mississippi delta, which protects the city’s 224,097 residents from flooding and other natural disasters. In addition to the natural protection, the city sports a levee system stretching from the bluff southward to protect the riverfront and the southern agricultural areas. For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ...

Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, and port center of the American South. The Port of Baton Rouge is the tenth largest in the United States in terms of weight.^[1] The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ...

The Baton Rouge region, like that of other capital cities in the United States, is called the "Capital Area."

History

French period (1699-1763)

Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville provided Baton Rouge as well as Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas their current names

The French words bâton rouge mean "red stick" in English. In 1699, French explorer Sieur d'Iberville led an exploration party of about 200 up the Mississippi River. On March 17, on a bluff on the east bank of the river (on what is now the campus of Southern University), they saw a reddish cypress pole festooned with bloody animal and fish heads, which they learned was a boundary marker between the hunting territories of the Bayougoula and the Houma tribes (the Bayougoula village was situated near the present-day town of Bayou Goula, LA; the Houma village was believed to be situated near the site of what is now Angola, LA). The French term survives. Image File history File links (PD by age) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links (PD by age) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Lake Pontchartrains north shore at Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville, Louisiana in 2004 Lake Pontchartrain (local English pronunciation ) (French: Lac Pontchartrain, pronounced ) is a brackish lake located in southeastern Louisiana. ... Lake Maurepas is a saltwater lake in southeastern Louisiana. ... Pierre Le Moyne dIberville. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other Southern University campuses, see Southern University System. ... A slate boundary stone on Maesglase A boundary marker or boundary stone is a robust physical marker that identifies the start of a land boundary or the change in a boundary, especially a change in a direction of a boundary. ... Houma flag The Houma Tribe of Indians, or more properly, The United Houma Nation are native to the area around the mouth of the Mississippi River. ... White Castle is a town in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. ... Angola is the Louisiana State Penitentiary and is estimated to be the largest prison in the U.S. with 5,000 inmates and over 1,000 staff. ...

British period (1763-1779)

On Feb. 10, 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed, where by France gave all its territory in North America to Britain and Spain. Spain ended up with New Orleans and all land west of the Mississippi. Britain ended up with all land east of the Mississippi, except for New Orleans. Baton Rouge, now part of the newly-created British colony of West Florida, suddenly had strategic significance as the southwest-most corner of British North America. The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on February 10, 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. ... This article is about the region. ... British North America consisted of the loyalist colonies and territories (i. ...

The British built Fort New Richmond just south of the eventual site of the Pentagon Barracks (in downtown Baton Rouge), and began plans for the development of a town. Land grants were given, resulting in an influx of the first settlers. Fort New Richmond was built by the British in 1764 on the left bank of the Mississippi River in what was later to become Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... The Pentagon Barracks are located at State Capitol Drive at River Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ...

When the older British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America rebelled in 1776, the newer colony of West Florida, lacking a history of local government and distrustful of the potentially hostile Spanish nearby, remained loyal to the British crown.

Spanish statesman and soldier Bernardo de Galvez defeated the British colonial forces at Manchac, Baton Rouge, and Natchez in 1779.

In 1778, France declared war on Britain, and in 1779, Spain followed suit. That same year, Spanish Governor Don Bernardo de Galvez and his militia of about 1,400 men from New Orleans conquered Fort New Richmond. The fort was renamed Fort San Carlos. Once the Spanish controlled Baton Rouge, they ordered its inhabitants to declare their allegiance to Spain or leave. Most residents reluctantly stayed. Galvez subsequently captured Mobile in 1780 and Pensacola in 1781, thus ending the British presence on the Gulf Coast. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (605x746, 52 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (605x746, 52 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... The Battle of Fort Bute signalled the opening of Spanish intervention in the American Revolutionary War on the side of France and the United States. ... The Battle of Baton Rouge was decided on September 21, 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. ... Natchez is a city located in Adams County, Mississippi. ... Bernardo de G lvez, Conde de Galvez (23 July 1746 – 1786) was Spanish governor of Louisiana from 1777 to 1785, and Viceroy of New Spain 1785-1786. ... Combatants Spain Britain Commanders Bernardo de Gálvez Elias Durnford Strength 754 regulars and militia 98 regulars 169 militia Casualties Unknown 267 dead, wounded, or captured. ... Combatants Spain Britain Commanders Bernardo de Gálvez John Campbell Strength 7,000 regulars and militia 3,000 regulars, sailors, militia, and natives Casualties 74 dead, 198 wounded 105 dead, 382 wounded, 2,213 captured The Battle of Pensacola marked the culmination of Spains reconquest of Florida from Britain...

Spanish period (1779-1810)

See also: Battle of Baton Rouge (1779)

A colony of Pennsylvania German farmers settled to the south of town, having moved north to high ground from their original settlement on Bayou Manchac after a series of floods in the 1780s. They were known locally as "Dutch Highlanders" ("Dutch" being a corruption of the German "Deutsch") and today’s Highland Road cuts through their original indigo and cotton plantations. The two major roads off of Highland Road, Essen Lane and Siegen Lane were both named after cities in Germany. The Kleinpeter and Staring families (which Staring Lane is named after) have been prominent in Baton Rouge affairs ever since. The Battle of Baton Rouge was decided on September 21, 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. ... The Pennsylvania Dutch (more correctly Pennsylvania Deutsch or Pennsylvania German, speakers of the Pennsylvania German language) are a people of various religious affiliations, living mostly in central Pennsylvania, with cultural traditions dating back to the German immigrations to America in the 17th and 18th centuries. ... Essen is a city in the center of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Siegen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

In 1800, the Tessier-Lafayette buildings were built on what is now Lafayette Street. The buildings are still standing today.

In 1805, the Spanish administrator, Don Carlos Louis Boucher de Grand Pré, commissioned a layout for what is today know as Spanish Town. Spanish Town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a historic district anchored by Spanish Town Road in Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana. ...

In 1806, Elias Beauregard led a planning commission for what is today known as Beauregard Town. Beauregard Town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a historic district in downtown Baton Rouge, anchored by Government Street. ...

The Republic of West Florida (1810)

The Bonnie Blue Flag of West Florida

As a result of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Spanish West Florida found itself almost entirely surrounded by the United States and its possessions. The Spanish Fort at Baton Rouge became the only non-American post on the Mississippi River. Image File history File links Bonnieblue. ... Image File history File links Bonnieblue. ... For the musical, see Louisiana Purchase (musical) and Louisiana Purchase (film). ... This article is about the region. ...

Several of the inhabitants of West Florida began to have conventions to plan a rebellion, among them Fulwar Skipwith, a Baton Rouge native. At least one of these conventions was held in a house on a street in the city that has since been renamed Convention St. (in honor of the rebel conventions). On September 23, 1810, the rebels overcame the Spanish garrison at Baton Rouge, and unfurled the flag of the new Republic of West Florida, known as the Bonnie Blue Flag. The flag had a single white star on a blue field. The Bonnie Blue Flag also inspired the Lone Star flag of Texas. This article is about the region. ... Fulwar Skipwith (February 21, 1765 - January 7, 1839) was an American diplomat, who served as a U.S. Consul in Martinique, and later as the U.S. Consul-General in France. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Bonnie Blue Flag, a single white star on a blue field, was the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. ...

The West Florida Republic existed for only seventy-four days, during which St. Francisville served as its capital. St. ...

Seizing upon the opportunity, President James Madison ordered W.C.C. Claiborne to move north and seize the fledgling republic for incorporation into the Territory of Orleans. Madison used the premise that the territory had always been a part of the U.S., citing the terms of the Louisiana Purchase, an explanation largely believed to be a deliberate error. The rebels were largely composed of American settlers, and they provided no resistance. With minor resentment, the stars and stripes were raised on December 10, 1810. For the musical, see Louisiana Purchase (musical) and Louisiana Purchase (film). ...

For the first time, all of the land that would become the State of Louisiana now lay within U.S. borders.

Since Louisiana statehood (1812-1860)

In 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the Union as a State. Baton Rouge's location continued to be a strategic military outpost. Between 1819 and 1822, the U.S. Army built the Pentagon Barracks, which became a major command post up through the Mexican American War (1846-1848). Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor, supervised construction of the Pentagon Barracks and served as its commander. In the 1830s, what is known today as the "Old Arsenal" was built. The unique structure originally served as a powder magazine for the U.S. Army Post. The Pentagon Barracks are located at State Capitol Drive at River Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848. ... Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)[2] was an American military leader and the twelfth President of the United States. ...

In 1825, Baton Rouge was visited by the Marquis de Lafayette as part of his triumphal tour of the United States, and he was the guest of honor at a town ball and banquet. To celebrate the occasion, the town renamed Second Street as Lafayette Street. Marie-Joseph-Paul-Roch-Yves-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (September 6, 1757 – May 20, 1834), was a French aristocrat most famous for his participation in the American Revolutionary War and early French Revolution. ...

The old Louisiana State Capitol Castle.

In 1846, the Louisiana state legislature in New Orleans decided to move the seat of government to Baton Rouge. As in many states, representatives from other parts of Louisiana feared a concentration of power in the state's largest city. In 1840, New Orleans' population was around 102,000, fourth largest in the U.S. The 1840 population of Baton Rouge, on the other hand, was only 2,269. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: The old State Capital Castle, from early 20th century postcard This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ...

New York architect James Dakin was hired to design the new Capital building in Baton Rouge, and rather than mimic the federal Capitol Building in Washington, as so many other states had done, he conceived a Neo-Gothic medieval castle overlooking the Mississippi, complete with turrets and crenellations. In 1859, the Capitol was featured and favorably described in DeBow's Review, the most prestigious periodical in the antebellum South.^[2] Mark Twain, however, as a steamboat pilot in the 1850s, loathed the sight of it, "It is pathetic ... that a whitewashed castle, with turrets and things ... should ever have been built in this otherwise honorable place." (Life on the Mississippi, Chapter 40)^[3] James Harrison Dakin (August 24, 1806 - May 10, 1852), American architect, was the son of James (1783-1819) and Lucy Harrison Dakin (1784-1826) of Hudson, New York, and born in Northeast Township. ... DeBows Review was a highly influential and widely circulated magazine of agricultural, commercial, and industrial progress and resource in the American South during the middle of the 19th century. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. ... Life on the Mississippi cover Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. ...

Despite his view of the Capitol, Twain was fond of Baton Rouge, "Baton Rouge was clothed in flowers, like a bride — no, much more so; like a greenhouse. For we were in the absolute South now — no modifications, no compromises, no half-way measures. The magnolia trees in the Capitol grounds were lovely and fragrant, with their dense rich foliage and huge snowball blossoms....We were certainly in the South at last; for here the sugar region begins, and the plantations — vast green levels, with sugar-mill and negro quarters clustered together in the middle distance — were in view." (Life on the Mississippi, Chapter 40) ^[4] Life on the Mississippi cover Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. ...

The Civil War (1860-1865)

See also: Louisiana in the American Civil War and Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)

Map of Baton Rouge in 1863

Southern secession was triggered by the 1860 election of Republican Abraham Lincoln because slave states feared that he would make good on his promise to stop the expansion of slavery and would thus put it on a course toward extinction. Many Southerners thought that even if Lincoln did not abolish slavery, sooner or later another Northerner would do so, and that it was thus time to leave the Union. The state of Louisiana during the American Civil War was a part of the Confederate States of America. ... Combatants Confederate States of America United States of America Commanders John C. Breckinridge Thomas Williams† and Thomas W. Cahill Strength 2600 2500 Casualties 478 dead 371 dead The Battle of Baton Rouge (or Magnolia Cemetery) was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 750 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1440 × 1152 pixel, file size: 193 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Map of old Baton Rouge. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 750 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1440 × 1152 pixel, file size: 193 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Map of old Baton Rouge. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ...

In January 1861, Louisiana elected delegates to a state convention to decide the state's course of action. The convention voted for secession 112 to 17. Baton Rouge raised a number of volunteer companies for Confederate service, including the Pelican Rifles, the Delta Rifles, the Creole Guards, and the Baton Rouge Fencibles (about one-third of the town's male population eventually volunteered). Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was organized in February 1861 to defend the newly formed Confederate States of America from military action by the United States government. ...

The Confederates gave up Baton Rouge (which only had a population of 5,429 in 1860) without a fight, deciding to consolidate their forces elsewhere. In May 1862, Union troops entered the city and began the occupation of Baton Rouge. The Confederates only made one attempt to retake Baton Rouge. The Confederates lost the battle and the town was severely damaged. However, Baton Rouge escaped the level of devastation faced by cities that were major conflict points during the Civil War, and the city still has many structures that predate it.

In 1886, a statue of a Confederate soldier was dedicated to the memory of those who fought in the Civil War on the corner of Third Street and North Blvd.

Late 19th and early 20th centuries

Capitol Building.

The mass migration of ex-slaves into urban areas in the South also affected Baton Rouge. It has been estimated that in 1860, blacks made up just under one-third of the town's population. By the 1880 U.S. census, however, Baton Rouge was 60 percent black. Not until the 1920 census would the white population of Baton Rouge again exceed 50 percent. After the end of Reconstruction the white population regained control of the state's and the city's institutions, and segregation and "Jim Crow" laws were enforced, though leavened with a dose of paternalism (Radical Republican control in Louisiana had never been strong outside of New Orleans in any case). Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 593 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 741 pixel, file size: 128 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 593 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 741 pixel, file size: 128 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... For other uses, see Reconstruction (disambiguation). ... This box:      The Jim Crow Laws were state and local laws enacted in the Southern and border states of the United States and enforced between 1876 and 1965. ... The Radical Republicans were an influential faction of American politicians in the Republican party during the American Civil War and Reconstruction eras, 1860-1876. ...

By 1880, Baton Rouge was recovering economically and psychologically, though the population that year still was only 7,197 and its boundaries had remained the same. The carpetbaggers and scalawags of Reconstruction politics were replaced by middle-class white Democrats who loathed the Republicans, eulogized the Confederacy, and preached white supremacy. This "Bourbon" era was short-lived in Baton Rouge, however, replaced by a more management-oriented local style of conservatism in the 1890s and on into the early 20th century. Increased civic-mindedness and the arrival of the Louisville, New Orleans, and Texas Railroad led to the development of more forward-looking leadership, which included the construction of a new waterworks, widespread electrification of homes and businesses, and the passage of several large bond issues for the construction of public buildings, new schools, paving of streets, drainage and sewer improvements, and the establishment of a scientific municipal public health department. In United States history, carpetbaggers were Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction between 1865 and 1877. ... In the United States, a Scalawag was a Southern white who joined the Republican party in the ex-Confederate South during Reconstruction. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... The Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railroad was built between 1888 and 1890 and was admitted to the Illinois Central Railroad system in 1892. ...

Baton Rouge waterfront during the record high water of the Mississippi River Flood of 1912

At the same time, the state government was constructing in Baton Rouge a new Institute for the Blind and a School for the Deaf. LSU moved from Pineville to temporary quarters at the old arsenal and barracks and Southern University relocated from New Orleans to Scotlandville (just north of Baton Rouge at the time but now within the city limits). Finally, legal challenges to the Standard Oil Company in Texas led its board of directors to move its refining operations in 1909 to the banks of the Mississippi just above town; Exxon is still the largest private employer in Baton Rouge. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 159 pixelsFull resolution (3591 × 714 pixel, file size: 364 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 159 pixelsFull resolution (3591 × 714 pixel, file size: 364 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... For other uses, see LSU. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, generally known as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public, coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the main campus of the Louisiana State University System. ... For other Southern University campuses, see Southern University System. ... Standard Oil (Esso) was a predominant integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. ... This article is about the fuel brand. ...

In the 1930s, the new Louisiana State Capitol building was built under the direction of Huey P. Long, and became the tallest capitol building in the United States. The old state capitol is now a museum. Louisiana State Capitol The Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. ... Huey Pierce Long (August 30, 1893–September 10, 1935), known as The Kingfish, was an American politician; he was governor of Louisiana (1928–1932), Senator (1932–1935) and a presidential hopeful before his assassination. ...

In the late 1940s, Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish became a consolidated city/parish with a mayor/president in its government. It was also one of the first cities in the nation to consolidate, and the parish surrounds three incorporated cities: Baker, Zachary, and Central.

2000s

In the 2000s, Baton Rouge has proven to be one of the fastest growing cities in the South, not so much in population but in technology. Baton Rouge is well wired, and ranks #19 as one of the most wired cities (more wired than New Orleans, and most of the 25 largest cities in the United States) There are now many sky-eye traffic cameras at major intersections and countless other advances. Although, Baton Rouge's city population was not growing fast, it has overtaken Mobile, Alabama, Shreveport, and many other currently declining cities. After the 2000 census, Baton Rouge had a slight decline in population, with 224,000 from recent estimates. This is attributed by some to white flight. Historic Southern United States. ... It has been suggested that List of people from Mobile, Alabama be merged into this article or section. ... : Port City , River City , Rachet City : The Next Great City of the South United States Louisiana Caddo 117. ... White flight is a term for the demographic trend where working- and middle-class white people move away from increasingly racial-minority inner-city neighborhoods to white suburbs and exurbs. ...

The flag of Baton Rouge flies on a cloudy day.

Baton Rouge was rated one of the largest mid-sized business cities, after Hurricane Katrina It was also one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. (under 1 million), with 600,000 in 2000 and 700,000 since 2000. Aside from politics, there is also a vibrant mix of cultures found throughout Louisiana, thus forming the basis of the city motto: "Authentic Louisiana at every turn". Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 299 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I made this myself. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 299 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I made this myself. ...

Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, Baton Rouge was changed, perhaps forever, by Hurricane Katrina. Although the damage was relatively minor compared to New Orleans (generally light to moderate except for fallen trees), Baton Rouge experienced power outages and service disruptions due to the hurricane. In addition, the city provided refuge for residents from New Orleans. Baton Rouge served as a headquarters for Federal (on site) and State emergency coordination and disaster relief in Louisiana. is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... NOLA redirects here. ...

The city executed massive rescue efforts for those who evacuated the New Orleans area. Schools and convention centers such as the Baton Rouge River Center opened their doors to evacuees. LSU's basketball arena, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and the adjacent LSU Field House were converted into emergency hospitals. Victims were flown in by helicopter (landing in the LSU Track Stadium) and brought by the hundreds in buses to be treated. Here patients were triaged and, depending on their status, were either treated immediately or transported further west to Lafayette, Louisiana. As a result of this the LSU football team was forced to play their originally home scheduled game against Arizona State in Arizona. The Baton Rouge River Center, formerly called the Riverside Centroplex, is the chief perfroming area for the capital city of the state of Louisiana. ... Pete Maravich Assembly Center is a 14,164-seat multi-purpose arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... : Hub City : The Heart of Cajun Country United States Louisiana Lafayette 47. ...

As a result, by August 31, TV station WAFB had reported that the city's population had more than doubled from about 228,000 to at least 450,000 and East Baton Rouge Parish's population shot up to almost 600,000 since the mandatory evacuation had been issued. That day, Mayor-President Kip Holden was expected to host a conference to discuss how to effectively enroll evacuated children into the East Baton Rouge Parish public school system. During late 2005 and half of 2006 traffic in the city was more congested to the point of hours long stand stills since the evacuation of the Gulf South but since then traffic is on somewhat normal levels for a parish that had 412,000 pre-Katrina residents. is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... WAFB is the CBS-affiliated television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... Melvin L. Kip Holden (born August 12, 1952) is the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. ...

Crime

Crime in Baton Rouge is higher than the national average. In 2005, the city's murder rate was higher than many of the largest U.S cities, ranking 13th out of U.S cities its size, with 49 murders.^[5][6] There were a total of 56 homicides in 2006.^[7] The following table of 2005 murders is based on Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports statistics that initially became available in September 2006. ...

Geography and climate

Baton Rouge is located at 30°27′29″N, 91°8′25″W (30.458090, -91.140229).^GR1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 204.8 km² (79.1 sq mi). 199.0 km² (76.8 sq mi) of it is land and 5.7 km² (2.2 sq mi) of it (2.81%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Baton Rouge along with Tallahassee, FL and Austin, TX is one of the southernmost capital cities in the lower 48 U.S

Climate

Baton Rouge is humid-subtropical, with mild, short, wet, and somewhat warm winters and long, hot, humid, wet summers.

Disasters

Baton Rouge rarely suffers from natural disasters. Earthquakes are very rare (unlike farther north up the Mississippi River). The Mississippi River poses little threat to the highly populated sections of the city because Baton Rouge is built on natural bluffs at higher elevations than the river. However, the outlying areas near the Amite and Comite rivers are very easily flooded if already saturated by previous precipitation. Baton Rouge rarely sees tornadoes and storm surges are impossible because of its distance inland. Seismic map New Madrid Seismic Zone - USGS The New Madrid Seismic Zone, also known as the Reelfoot Rift or the New Madrid Fault Line, is a major seismic zone, located in the mideastern United States. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Overview The Comite Rivers source lies in the hills of the Felicianas and stretches south past Baton Rouge. ... This article is about the weather phenomenon. ... ...

While hurricanes often affect the area, they rarely hit Baton Rouge at their full force due to the inland location. Instead, due to the projection of the Louisiana peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico, storms tend to hit that part of the state then steer northward. Storms that head on a more westerly route tend to upswing sharply, angling more toward the western coastal areas, from Morgan City to the Acadiana parishes. The last hurricane to threaten the city with a direct hit was Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which missed the city and took a direct path through the Atchafalaya Basin, some forty miles west of the city. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005 followed this pattern as well, with Katrina veering east to New Orleans and eastward and Rita striking the Lake Charles, Louisiana area and the state's western border with Texas. This article is about weather phenomena. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Morgan City is the name of some places in the United States of America: Morgan City, Louisiana Morgan City, Mississippi This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Map of Acadiana Region with the Cajun Heartland USA subregion highlighted in dark red. ... Lowest pressure 922 mbar (hPa; 27. ... The Atchafalaya River is a distributary of the Mississippi and Red rivers, approximately 170 mi (270 km) long, in south central Louisiana in the United States. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most... This article is about the City of Lake Charles, La. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ...

Demographics

Baton Rouge Governmental Building.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 227,818 people, 88,973 households, and 52,672 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,144.7/km² (2,964.7/sq mi). There were 97,388 housing units at an average density of 489.4/km² (1,267.3/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 50.02% African American, 45.70% White, 0.18% Native American, 2.62% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 971 KB) I created this file myself. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 971 KB) I created this file myself. ... Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 88,973 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.12. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,368, and the median income for a family was $40,266. Males had a median income of $34,893 versus $23,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,512. About 18.0% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Tallest buildings

Baton Rouge currently has several towers in the works. One project includes a 17 story office, another a 30+ story condominium tower to be the first towers built downtown in two decades.

RiverPlace Condominiums

JP Morgan Chase Building and Riverside Tower

• Baton Rouge Buildings

• Baton Rouge and Environs

Image File history File links RiverRoad_ariel_lg. ... Image File history File links RiverRoad_ariel_lg. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 902 KB) I made this myself. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 902 KB) I made this myself. ... RiverPlace Condominiums is a residential tower that is proposed to be built on the Baton Rouge Riverfront and currently in the design phase, but is expected to reach groundbreaking this year. ... Louisiana State Capitol The Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. ... One American Place is a skyscraper in Downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM TYO: 8634 ) is one of the oldest financial services firms in the world. ... Marriott International, Inc. ... Memorial Tower, or the Campanile as it is sometimes called, is a 175 foot clock tower in the center of Louisiana State Universitys campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... The Shaw Group is a Fortune 500[1] corporation headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... Entrance of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hilton Hotel viewed from Wilshire Boulvard Hilton is a brand of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, based in Beverly Hills, California. ... sheraton is a late 18th century neoclassical English furniture style, in vogue ca 1785 - 1800, that was named afterwards (by 19th century collectors and dealers) to credit furniture designer Thomas Sheraton, whose books of engraved designs capture this style. ...

Neighborhoods and suburbs

• Downtown - Baton Rouge's central business district.
• Spanish Town - Located between the Mississippi River and I-110, it is one of the city's more diverse neighborhoods and home to the State Capitol Building and the city's largest Mardi Gras Parade.
• Beauregard Town - A historic district between the downtown area and Old South Baton Rouge. Many of the homes have been renovated and are used as law offices.
• Garden District - The Garden District is located in Baton Rouge's Mid-City area where Park Boulevard intersects Government Street. The Garden District is an established historic area with many upscale homes.
• Old South Baton Rouge - An old section of the city directly south of downtown and Beauregard Town, it stretches south from I-10 and along the river to Brightside Lane. After years of neglect and a crumbling infrastructure, the city is targeting the neighborhood in the city's largest ever revitalization project.
• LSU/Lakeshore - Home to LSU's main campus, the University Lakes and the City Park lake. It includes neighborhoods like University Hills, University Gardens, College Town, State Street, Carlotta Street, and Arlington. Homes directly on the lakeshore are some of the most expensive within the city limits, and the lakeshore itself is a popular place for jogging, walking and bicycling.
• Mid-City - Bound by I-110 on the west, College and N. Foster on the east, Choctaw to the north and I-10 to the south. It includes several neighborhoods like Ogden Park, Bernard Terrace, and Capital Heights. Always a socially and economically diverse area, Mid City is quickly regaining popularity due to urban renewal and gentrification. Includes historic Baton Rouge Magnet High School.
• Brookstown - Is bordered by Airline Highway to the east, Hollywood St to the north, McClelland St to the west and Evangeline St to the south.
• Melrose Place - Melrose Place is home to BRCC and is between N. Ardenwood and N. Foster Rd.
• Melrose Place East/Mall City - Is bordered by Florida Blvd (US 190) to the south, Greenwell Springs Rd to the north, Airline Highway to the east, and N. Ardenwood Dr to the west. However the border is traditionally between Mall at Cortana and the old Bon Marche Mall.
• Inniswold - Area around Bluebonnet Rd between Jefferson Hwy and I-10.
• Goodwood - an older subdivision located between Government Street, Jefferson Highway, Airline Highway, and Old Hammond Highway.
• Southdowns - an older subdivision located between Perkins Road and Bayou Duplantier, also between the University Lake and Pollard Estates. Hosts one of Baton Rouge's Mardi Gras parades, on the Friday night before Mardi Gras.
• Gardere - an area using Gardere Lane (LA Highway 327 Spur) as its main artery. Found between Nicholson Drive and Highland Road, located near St. Jude the Apostle Church. Dominated by low-rent housing prior to Hurricane Katrina.
• Westminster [3] - Between Essen and Bluebonnet off Jefferson Highway, around the Baton Rouge Country Club.
• Oak Hills Place -Bordered by Bluebonnet Boulevard to the west, Perkins Road to the north, and Highland Road to the south. South of the Mall of Louisiana.
• Broadmoor - A mostly mid-century neighborhood founded in 1950
• Scotlandville - The largest section of north Baton Rouge also has one of the highest crime rates in the city. It was once incorporated as a city, before being annexed by Baton Rouge. The area is bounded by Plank Road to the east, Thomas Road to the north, the Mississippi river to the west, and Airline Hwy to the south, and surrounds the Southern University campus and the Exxon chemical plants.
• Shenandoah - A very large subdivision built in the 1970s and 1980's, located between South Harrell's Ferry and Tiger Bend Roads with its westernmost boundary Jones Creek Road. Schools in this subdivision include: Shenandoah Elementary and St. Michael the Archangel.
• Shenandoah North - A small subdivision, built in the late 1980s, located off the north end of Jones Creek Road.
• Sherwood Forest - A large, established neighborhood with large, older homes. Located just east of "Broadmoor." Sherwood Forest Blvd. is to the south, Flannery Rd. is to the east, Florida Blvd. is to the north, and Sharp Rd. is to the west.
• Village St. George - located off Siegen Lane near the Mall of Louisiana. Named after nearby St. George Catholic Church.
• Brownfields - located near Baker off Committee Drive and bounded between Foster Road and Plank Road.
• Zion City - Between Hooper Road and Airline Highway.
• Monticello - located off Greenwell Springs Road between the Baton Rouge City Limits and Central City, site of Greenbriar Elementary School.
• Glen Oaks - located in northern Baton Rouge between Mickens Road and Airline Highway, site of Glen Oaks High School.
• Old Jefferson - located off Jefferson Highway near Antioch and Tiger Bend Roads. Site of Most Blessed Sacrament School and Woodlawn High School.
• University Club - A newer neighborhood built inside the University Club Golf course located off of Nicholson Drive on the south edge of Baton Rouge.

Spanish Town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a historic district anchored by Spanish Town Road in Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... Interstate 110 is an 8. ... For other uses, see Mardi Gras (disambiguation). ... Beauregard Town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a historic district in downtown Baton Rouge, anchored by Government Street. ... Old South Baton Rouge (OSBR) is a project aimed to help revitalize the area between Louisiana State University and Downtown Baton Rouge. ... The Garden District is a residential neighborhood located in Baton Rouges Mid-City area where Park Boulevard intersects Government Street. ... 1999 photograph looking northeast on Chicagos now demolished Cabrini-Green housing project, one of many urban renewal efforts. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Airline Highway is a rural divided highway in the U.S. state of Louisiana, built in the 1930s and 1940s to bypass t