HISTORY
Baton Rouge was founded in 1699 when French explorer Sieur d’Iberville leading an exploration party up the Mississippi River saw a reddish cypress pole festooned with bloody animals and fish that marked the boundary between Houma and Bayou Goula tribal hunting grounds. They called the pole and its location “le bâton rouge”, or red stick. The local Native American name for the site had been “Istrouma”. From evidence found along the Mississippi, Comite, and Amite rivers, and in three Native American mounds remaining in the city, archaeologists have been able to date habitation of the Baton Rouge area to 8000 BC.
Baton Rouge was incorporated on January 16th, 1817.
LOCATION
On the east bank of the Mississippi River in south central Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish.
GPS Coordinates: 30°27′29″N 91°8′25″
CLIMATE
Baton Rouge has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with mild winters, hot and humid summers, moderate to heavy rainfall, and the possibility of damaging winds and tornadoes yearlong. Baton Rouge’s proximity to the coastline exposes the metropolitan region to hurricanes. Snow is fairly rare, although it has snowed for two consecutive winters, on 11 December 2008, on 4 December 2009, and again on 12 February 2010. Hurricane Gustav was the worst hurricane to ever strike the Baton Rouge area. Winds topped 90 mph, Knocking down trees and powerlines and making roads impassable. The city was shut down for 5 days and a curfew was put in effect. Rooftop shingles were ripped off, signs blown down, and minor structural damage occurred.
GOVERNMENT
The Mayor-President and a 12-member Metropolitan Council jointly administer the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge. The cities of Baker and Zachary are incorporated with their own governing boards. The City-Parish Planning Commission guides growth and development for the Parish, and coordinates implementation of the comprehensive plan, the Horizon Plan.
POPULATION
Baton Rouge City estimated at 229,503 people.
East Baton Rouge Parish is estimated at 434,633 people.
Greater Baton Rouge Metro is estimated at 774327
LAND AREA
Baton Rouge 76.231 square miles 48,787.84 acres
East Baton Rouge Parish 472.1 square miles 350,009 acres
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
East Baton Rouge Parish – 2006 U.S. Census – $44,286.
TOP EMPLOYERS
The following employers are the largest in the Baton Rouge area, each employing more than 1,000 people: BASF Wyandotte Corporation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Dow Chemical Company, Entergy/Gulf States Utilities, Exxon Chemical Americas, Exxon Chemical Company, Georgia Gulf Corporation, Harmony Corporation, International Maintenance Corporation, J. E. Merit Construction, Inc., Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, Bank One, South Central Bell Telephone, Turner Industries, Baton Rouge City Parish Government, Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Louisiana State Government, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Louisiana State University, Southern University and the United States Post Office.
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT
East Baton Rouge Parish 2006 – 221,524
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
December 2007 Unemployment Rate East Baton Rouge Parish 4.5%.
EDUCATION
East Baton Rouge Parish has 150 schools, including public, parochial and private. The schools serve 71,560 students from kindergarten through high school. Baton Rouge has four business colleges, two trade schools, and two state schools for sight and hearing-impaired students. Two schools of nursing and several corporate and university research and applied science facilities are located in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge has two major universities, a community college, business colleges, trade schools, nursing schools and state schools for sight and hearing impaired students.
HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES
Louisiana State University 28,019
Southern University 7,600
Baton Rouge Community College 7,200
Our Lady of the Lake College 2,000
HOUSING
Total Housing Units
Baton Rouge 100,399
2006 Census
East Baton Rouge Parish 181,076
Median Value of Single Family House
Baton Rouge $132,300
2006
Census
East Baton Rouge Parish $140,400
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work – 2006 Census
Baton Rouge – 22 minutes
East Baton Rouge Parish – 24.8 minutes
AIR
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is located about five miles north of the city center. Five airlines serve Baton Rouge and transport more than 1 million passengers each year.
HIGHWAYS
Interstate 10 Interstate 12 Interstate 110 U.S. 61 U.S. 190
About 1,809 miles of roadway currently exist in East Baton Rouge Parish.
PORT
The Port of Baton Rouge has recently been expanded and upgraded with extensive storage facilities. It ranks ninth in the nation in waterborne commerce. The Port is the farthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
RAIL
Four major rail lines provide railroad freight service.
SPORTS AND LEISURE
The tourist industry has been growing and now annually attracts about 1.9 million visitors, who regularly seek out images of the antebellum South, historic battlefields, the vast and distinctive natural landscapes, Mardi Gras parades and local music and arts festivals. For other events and attractions, contact 1-800-LAROUGE or visit the Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The city supports active arts and theater scene that includes the Baton Rouge Symphony and Baton Rouge Little Theater.
Sports events have long been a popular and essential aspect of Baton Rouge life. Especially exciting are those fall weekends when the LSU Tigers or Southern Jaguars host a football game.
The tourist industry has been growing and now annually attracts about 1.9 million visitors, who regularly seek out images of the antebellum South, historic battlefields, the vast and distinctive natural landscapes, Mardi Gras parades and local music and arts festivals. For other events and attractions, contact 1-800-LAROUGE or visit the Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The city supports active arts and theater scene that includes the Baton Rouge Symphony and Baton Rouge Little Theater.
Sports events have long been a popular and essential aspect of Baton Rouge life. Especially exciting are those fall weekends when the LSU Tigers or Southern Jaguars host a football game.
SOURCES
2006 U.S. Census Louisiana
Baton Rouge Convention and Visitors Bureau
State Department of Employment and Training
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Louisiana State University Southern University
The Horizon Plan
Louisiana Tech University
