Baton Rouge is the capital city and the second largest city of
LouisianaThe State of Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state divided into parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish which contains 428,000 residents. The Greater Baton Rouge population is approximately 774,327. The
Baton Rouge-Pierre Part combined statistical areaThe Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical Area is made up of ten parishes in southeastern Louisiana. The statistical area consists of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, consisting of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and Pierre Part micropolitan area, has a population of 797,208, making it the
64th-largest metropolitan areaThe following table of the 717 primary census statistical areas of the United States of America compares the single-core and multi-core metropolitan areas of the United States. A primary census statistical area is a census defined metropolitan area that is not a component of a more extensive...
in the United States.
Baton Rouge is located in the southeast portion of the state along the
Mississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
. 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 227,017 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.
Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, and port center of the American South. The Port of Baton Rouge is the ninth largest in the United States in terms of weight.
The Baton Rouge region, like that of other capital cities in the United States, is called the "Capital Area."
History
Beginnings
Baton Rouge dates back to 1699, when French explorer
Sieur d'IbervillePierre Le Moyne d'Iberville [pronounced as described in note] ,was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of the order of Saint-Louis, adventurer, privateer, trader, and founder of the French colony of Louisiana. He was born at Ville-Marie, on 16...
leading an exploration party up the
Mississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
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 tree "le bâton rouge", or red stick. The native name for the site had been Istrouma. From evidence found along the Mississippi, Comite, and Amite rivers, and in three native mounds remaining in the city, archaeologists have been able to date habitation of the Baton Rouge area to 8000 B.C.
Since European settlement, Baton Rouge has been governed by France, England, Spain, Louisiana, the Florida Republic, the Confederate States, and the United States. In the mid-1700s when French-speaking settlers of
AcadiaAcadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day New England, stretching as far south as Philadelphia...
in Canada's Maritime were driven into exile by British forces, many took up residence in rural Louisiana. Popularly known as Cajuns, the descendants of the Acadians maintained a separate culture that immeasurably enriched the Baton Rouge area. Incorporated in 1817, Baton Rouge became Louisiana's state capital in 1849. 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 castleLouisiana's Old State Capitol is a building in Baton Rouge, La. that served as the Legislature building before the current capitol tower was built...
overlooking the Mississippi, complete with turrets and crenelations. During the first half of the nineteenth century the city grew steadily as the result of steamboat trade and transportation; at the outbreak of the Civil War the population was 5,500 people. The Civil War halted economic progress but did not actually touch the town until it was occupied by Union forces in 1862. The Confederates gave up Baton Rouge without a fight, deciding to consolidate their forces elsewhere, during which time, the state capital had been moved to
OpelousasOpelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the juncture of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
and later
ShreveportShreveport is the third-largest city and the principal city of the third largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Louisiana, as well as being the 99th-largest city in the United States....
. After the war's end, New Orleans served as the seat of the Reconstruction-era state government; but once
Bourbon DemocratBourbon Democrat was a term used in the United States from 1876 to 1904 to refer to a conservative or classical liberal member of the Democratic Party, especially one who supported President Grover Cleveland in 1884–1896 and Alton B. Parker in 1904. After 1904, the Bourbons faded away...
rule was restored in 1882, the state government returned to Baton Rouge where it has remained since.
Today
In the 1950s and 1960s, Baton Rouge experienced a boom in the petrochemical industry, causing the city to expand away from the original center, resulting in the modern suburban sprawl. In recent years, however, government and business have begun a move back to the central district. A building boom that began in the 1990s continues today, with multi-million dollar projects for quality of life improvements and new construction happening all over the city. In the 2000s, Baton Rouge has proven to be one of the fastest growing cities in the
SouthThe Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, Down South, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive region in the southeastern and south-central United States...
in terms of technology. Baton Rouge's population exploded after
Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States...
as residents from the
New Orleans metropolitan areaNew Orleans–Metairie–Kenner is a metropolitan area designated by the US Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans...
moved northward following the devastation. Estimates in late 2005 put the displaced population at about 200,000 in the Baton Rouge area. Despite claims from mayor-president
Kip HoldenMelvin L. "Kip" Holden is the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The parish includes the state capitol of Baton Rouge and smaller suburban cities like Baker, Central City and Zachary. He was elected the city's mayor on November 3, 2004. He unseated the Republican...
of permanent growth in the region, however, the growth proved to be temporary as displaced citizens returned to their home regions. Due to the Katrina victims returning home and native Baton Rouge residents moving to outlying parishes, such as Ascension Parish and Livingston Parish the U.S. Census Bureau has designated Baton Rouge the second fastest declining city in its 2007–2008 estimate. The United States Census Bureau released their estimate for July 1, 2008 on March 19, 2009 and found East Baton Rouge Parish's population to be declining for the second consecutive year.
However, the Metropolitan Baton Rouge is one of the more faster growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. (under 1 million), with 600,000 in 2000 and an estimate of 770,000 in 2008. 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".
Geography and climate
Baton Rouge is located at (30.458090, -91.140229).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 79.1 square miles (204.8 km²), of which, 76.8 square miles (199.0 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it (2.81%) is water.
Baton Rouge along with Tallahassee, FL, and Austin, TX, is one of the southernmost capital cities in the lower 48 United States.
Climate
Baton Rouge is humid-subtropical, with mild winters, hot and humid summers, rainfall, damaging winds, and tornadoes all year. Snow is rare with the most recent snowfall on 11 December 2008.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Rec High °F (°C) |
84 (28.8) |
85 (29.4) |
91 (32.7) |
92 (33.3) |
98 (36.6) |
103 (39.4) |
101 (38.3) |
105 (40.5) |
104 (40) |
94 (34.4) |
87 (30.5) |
85 (29.4) |
| Norm High °F (°C) |
60 (15.5) |
63.9 (17.7) |
71 (21.6) |
77.3 (25.2) |
84 (28.8) |
89.2 (31.7) |
90.7 (32.6) |
90.9 (32.7) |
87.4 (30.7) |
79.7 (26.5) |
70.1 (21.2) |
62.8 (17.1) |
| Norm Low °F (°C) |
40.2 (4.5) |
43.1 (6.2) |
49.6 (9.7) |
55.8 (13.2) |
64.1 (17.8) |
70.2 (21.2) |
72.7 (22.6) |
71.9 (22.2) |
67.5 (19.7) |
56.4 (13.5) |
47.9 (8.8) |
42.1 (5.6) |
| Rec Low °F (°C) |
9 (-12.7) |
15 (-9.4) |
20 (-6.6) |
32 (0) |
44 (6.6) |
53 (11.6) |
58 (14.4) |
58 (14.4) |
43 (6.1) |
30 (-1.1) |
21 (-6.1) |
8 (-13.3) |
| Precip in. (mm) |
6.19 (157.2) |
5.1 (129.5) |
5.07 (128.8) |
5.56 (141.2) |
5.34 (135.6) |
5.33 (135.4) |
5.96 (151.4) |
5.86 (148.8) |
4.84 (122.9) |
3.81 (96.8) |
4.76 (120.9) |
5.26 (133.6) |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-louisiana/baton-rouge-weather.asp |
Economy
Baton Rouge is the farthest inland port on the Mississippi that can accommodate ocean-going tankers and cargo carriers. As such, those ships transfer their cargo (grain, crude, cars, containers) at Baton Rouge onto rails and pipelines (to travel east-west) or barges (to travel north-south). Deep draft vessels cannot pass the old Huey Long Bridge because the clearance is insufficient, and the river depth decreases significantly just to the north, near
Port HudsonPort Hudson is a small town in Louisiana located about northwest of Baton Rouge. It is most famous for an American Civil War battle known as the Siege of Port Hudson...
.
Baton Rouge's biggest industry is petrochemical production.
ExxonMobilThe Exxon Mobil Corporation, or ExxonMobil, is an American oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil....
has the second largest refinery in the country here and among the top 10 in the world. Baton Rouge also has rail, highway, pipeline, and deep water access. Dow Chemical has a large plant in Iberville Parish near Plaquemine. NanYa Plastics has a large facility in North Baton Rouge that makes PVC and CPVC pipes.
Shaw ConstructionThe Shaw Group is a Fortune 500 corporation headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As of August 31, 2008, the company employed approximately 26,000 people all over the world...
, Turner, and Harmony all started with performing construction work at these plants.
As well as being the state capitol and parish seat, the city is also the home of
Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 near Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State...
. The largest employer in Baton Rouge is government, which recently consolidated all branches of state government downtown in a complex called "Capitol Park".
The research hospitals Our Lady of the Lake and Earl K. Long, helped by an emerging medical corridor at Essen Lane/Summa Avenue/Bluebonnet Boulevard, are positioning Baton Rouge to eventually support a medical district similar to the
Texas Medical CenterThe Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
.
Thanks to generous state and local tax credits for the film industry, Baton Rouge has followed other Louisiana cities in developing into an important part of the "Hollywood South" initiative. The new Celtic Media Centre is Louisiana's first and to-date only full service studio/sound stage, and two other studios are being built to meet the needs of this growing industry.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 227,818 people, 88,973 households, and 52,672 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 2,964.7 people per square mile (1,144.7/km²). There were 97,388 housing units at an average density of 1,267.3/sq mi (489.4/km²). 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 racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
Of all households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
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.
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 incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
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 ages 65 or over.
Tallest buildings
Baton Rouge currently has several towers in the works. One project includes a 12 story office building, another a 30+ story condominium. They will be the first towers built downtown in two decades.
| Name |
Stories |
Height |
Louisiana State CapitolThe Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. The capitol houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the governor's office, and parts of the executive branch...
(tallest state capitol building in the U.S.) |
34 |
460 ft (140 m) |
RiverPlace CondominiumsRiverPlace 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 in 2009. The project is headed up by real estate executive Richard Preis...
(groundbreaking early 2009) |
30+ |
|
| One American Place One American Place is a skyscraper in Downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Its exterior surface is clad entirely in mirrored glass.Completed in 1974, with 24 floors, it stands tall. It is currently the second-tallest building in Downtown Baton Rouge....
|
24 |
310 ft (94 m) |
| JPMorgan Chase Tower |
21 |
277 ft (84 m) |
| Riverside Tower North |
20 |
229 ft (70 m) |
MarriottMarriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
Hotel Baton Rouge |
22 |
224 ft (68 m) |
| Catholic-Presbyterian Apartments |
14 |
|
| Dean Tower |
14 |
|
| Two City Plaza (under construction) |
12 |
|
| Galvez Office Building |
12 |
|
| Kirby Smith Hall (LSU) |
13 |
|
| Memorial Tower Memorial Tower, or the Campanile as it is sometimes called, is a 175 foot clock tower in the center of Louisiana State University's campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA...
(LSU) |
|
175 ft (52m) |
| Saint Joseph's Cathedral |
|
165 ft (50m) |
| Louisiana State Office Building |
12 |
160 ft (49 m) |
| Jacobs Plaza |
13 |
144 ft (44 m) |
| Bluebonnet Towers (2 residential towers and one to be renovated into a Renaissance Hotel) |
12 |
|
| LaSalle Office Building |
12 |
|
ShawThe Shaw Group is a Fortune 500 corporation headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As of August 31, 2008, the company employed approximately 26,000 people all over the world...
Plaza |
12 |
|
| Wooddale State Office Building |
12 |
|
| Hilton Capitol Center Hilton Capitol Center, located at 201 Lafayette St. in the Downtown Baton Rouge area is a 11-story, -tall skyscraper. The hotel is part of the Hilton Hotels chain. The building was originally the Heidelberg Hotel, in 1982, the Heidelberg Hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places...
|
11 |
132 ft (40 m) |
| 19th Judicial District Court Building(under construction) |
12 |
|
| Sheraton Sheraton may refer to:*Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, a hotel chain*Sheraton, County Durham, a village in County Durham, in England*Sheraton Centre, a mall complex located in the parish of Christ Church, Barbados....
Baton Rouge Convention Center Hotel |
10 |
125 ft (38 m) |
Neighborhoods
Baton Rouge has many neighborhoods both inside and outside the city limits:
- Banks
- Beauregard Town
Beauregard Town, also known as Beauregard Town Historic District, is a historic district in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, anchored by Government Street. The historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Its boundaries were increased twice in 1983, and once...
- Bird Station (Old)
- Bird Station (New)
- Bocage
- Broadmoor
- Brookstown
- Brownfields
- Camelot
- Capitol Heights
- Cedarcrest
- Centurion Place
- Concord
- Country Club of Louisiana
- Dixie
- Eden Park
- Easytown
- Fairfields
- Belfair
- Gardere
Gardere is a census-designated place in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,992 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Garden District
The Garden District is a residential neighborhood 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 and an active civic association ....
|
Goodwood
Glen Oaks
Greendale
Inniswold Inniswold is a census-designated place in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,944 at the 2000 census...
Jefferson Terrace
Kenilworth
Lake Beau Pre
Lake Side
Mall City
Magnolia Woods
Melrose Place
Mid-City
Millerville
MonticelloMonticello is a census-designated place in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,763 at the 2000 census...
Northdale
Oak Hills PlaceOak Hills Place is a census-designated place in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,996 at the 2000 census...
|
Old Hermitage
Old Jefferson Old Jefferson is a census-designated place in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA. The population was 5,631 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
Parkview Oaks
Park Forest
Park Forest East
Poets and Philosophers
Pollard Estates
Riverbend
Santa Maria
Scotlandville
ShenandoahShenandoah is a census-designated place in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,070 at the 2000 census...
Sherwood Forest
- South Baton Rouge
- Southdowns
- Southern Heights
- Spanish Town
Spanish Town is a historic district anchored by Spanish Town Road in Baton Rouge, the capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana.Spanish Town was commissioned in 1805 when Baton Rouge was under the control of the Spanish government. Spanish Town holds the title of the oldest neighborhood in Baton...
- Stratford Place
- Tara
- Tigerland
|
University Acres
University Club
University Gardens
University Hills
University Lakes
Wedgewood
Westminster
Woodgate
Woodlawn Estates
Woodstone
Village St. George
Zion City |
Federal representation
The
United States Postal ServiceThe United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States. It is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution. Within the United States, it is commonly...
operates post offices in Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge Central Post Office is located at 750 Florida Street in Downtown Baton Rouge.
Culture
Baton Rouge is the middle ground of South Louisiana cultures, having a mix of Cajun and Creole Catholics and Baptists of the Florida Parishes and South Mississippi. Baton Rouge is a college city with college students from Baton Rouge Community College, Louisiana State University, Our Lady of the Lake College, and Southern University who make up approximately 20% of the city population. In addition, there's a sizable international population of about 11,300, the largest of which are people of Hispanic or Vietnamese descent. Due to this, Baton Rouge has come to have its own unique culture as well as be a representation of many different heritages.
Arts and theater
Baton Rouge has an expanding visual arts scene, which is centered downtown. This increasing collection of venues is anchored by the
Shaw Center for the ArtsThe Shaw Center for the Arts is a 125,000 square foot performing art venue, fine arts museum, and education center located at 100 Lafayette Street in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It opened in 2005...
. Opened in 2005, this award winning facility houses the Brunner Gallery, LSU Museum of Art, the Manship Theatre, a contemporary art gallery, traveling exhibits, and several eateries. Another prominent facility is the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. Also known as LASM, it contains Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, traveling art exhibits, space displays, and an ancient Egyptian section. Several smaller art galleries, including the
Baton Rouge GalleryBaton Rouge Gallery, founded in 1965, is a multi-media art gallery located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana's historic City Park. Baton Rouge Gallery is one of the United States' oldest artist co-ops and an important aspect of Baton Rouge's arts community....
, offering a range of local art are scattered throughout the city.
There is also an emerging performance arts scene. The Baton Rouge Little Theater,
Baton Rouge River CenterThe Baton Rouge River Center is a municipally owned multi-purpose
200,000 square feet entertainment facility located on the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana.It is maintained by a private management...
, and Manship Theatre mostly host traveling shows, including broadways, musical artists, and plays. Opera Louisiane is Baton Rouge's newest and only professional opera company. Other venues include Reilly Theater which is home to Swine Palace, a non-profit professional theater company associated with the Louisiana State University Department of Theatre.
Events
Many events take place throughout the year, the biggest of which is Mardi Gras. Every year in either February or March(whenever Mardi Gras falls that year) Baton Rouge hosts many Mardi Gras parades, the largest one being held in historic Spanish Town. Other festivals include FestforAll, Louisiana Earth Day, Mardi Gras season, Pennington Balloon Festival, the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and
Red Stick International Animation FestivalThe Red Stick International Animation Festival is an annual event is hosted by the Lab for Creative Arts & Technologies , a research group within the Louisiana State University's Center for Computation and Technology. The first festival took place from April 21 until April 23, 2005, and has...
.
Media
The major daily newspaper is
The Advocate, publishing since 1925. Prior to October 1991, Baton Rouge also had an evening newspaper, The State-Times—at that time, the morning paper was known as "The Morning Advocate." Other publications include:
225Alive 225batonrouge, LSU Daily Reveille, Tiger Weekly, Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge, Southern University Digest,
Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, and the South Baton Rouge Journal. Other newspapers in East Baton Rouge Parish include the Central City News and the Zachary Post.
Greater Baton Rouge area is well served by television and radio. The market is the 87th largest Designated Market Area (DMA) in the U.S. Major television network affiliates serving the area include:
- 2 WBRZ
WBRZ, digital channel 13, is an ABC affiliate serving Baton Rouge, Louisiana, south-central and southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi. It is owned by the Manship family, who also publishes the Baton Rouge daily newspaper, The Advocate. Its transmitter is located in Sunshine, Louisiana...
(ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
)
- 9 WAFB
WAFB is the CBS-affiliated television station for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter southwest of Arlington. Owned by Raycom Media, WAFB is sister to Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CA. The two share studios on Government...
(CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
)
- 11 KPBN
KPBN-LP is an America One affiliate station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The station airs on broadcast channel 11 and over Cox Communications and Charter Communications cable channel 113. It is also available online....
(America OneAmerica One is an over-the-air television network in the United States. The network serves over 170 LPTV, Class A, Full Power, Cable and Satellite affiliate stations...
)
- 19 KZUP
KZUP-CA is the local low-powered, Class-A affiliate of Retro Television Network for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It transmits its digital signal on UHF channel 20...
(RTNThe Retro Television Network is a system of television stations primarily airing classic television programming from the 1950s through the 1980s, such as Leave it to Beaver, Kojak, McHale's Navy, Adam-12, Emergency!, and The Rockford Files, as well as the horror film showcase Midnight Monster Hop...
)
- 21 WBRL
WBRL-CA is a class A television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana affiliated with The CW network. It is available to viewers in the south central Louisiana area on channel 21 on broadcast and DirecTV, and on Cox Communications cable channel 10....
(The CWThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
)
- 27 WLPB (PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television service with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. However, its operations are largely funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting...
/LPBLouisiana Public Broadcasting is a state-run, viewer-supported network of PBS member stations serving the state of Louisiana outside Greater New Orleans...
)
- 30 WLFT
WLFT-CA is a low-power UHF outlet, located on channel 30. It is locally owned via Touch Family Broadcasting. It airs local sports, The 700 Club, and other Christian ministry programming...
(INDAn independent station is television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any network...
)
- 33 WVLA
WVLA-TV is the local NBC affiliate for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It transmits its digital signal on UHF channel 34. The station is seen via satellite through DirecTV and Dish Network. It is owned by Malara Broadcast Group, but is managed by White Knight Broadcasting, and is sister station to the...
(NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
)
- 39 WBXH
WBXH-CA is the Class A MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It broadcasts an analog signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter southwest of Arlington. Owned by Raycom Media, the station is sister to CBS affiliate WAFB. The two share studios on Government Street in...
(My Network TV)
- 41 WBTR
KBTR-CA channel 41, known on-air as WBTR 41, is a television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The station is owned by Louisiana Television Broadcasting, the owners of WBRZ-TV, and airs on Channel 19 on local Cox Communications cable systems....
(INDAn independent station is television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any network...
)
- 44 WGMB
WGMB-TV is the local Fox affiliate for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is owned by Communications Corporation of America, and is sister station to the area's The CW affiliate, WBRL-CA. WGMB also shares facilities and staff with WVLA and KZUP-CA...
(FOXThe Fox Broadcasting Company , commonly referred to as Fox , is an American television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, from 2004 to 2009 Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the 18–49 demographic...
)
Baton Rouge also offer local cable only channels on
Cox CableCox Communications, also known as Cox Cable and formerly Cox Broadcasting Corporation is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television and telecommunications services in the United States...
.
Metro 21Metro 21 is a local cable government access station in Baton Rouge. It is operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Public Information and broadcasts 24 hours a day...
on channel 21,
Cox 4Cox 4 is a local cable-only station in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, which signed on the air around 2001. It provides local programming which reflects the diversity of Louisiana...
on channel 4, and Catholic Life on channel 15.
- See also: List of radio stations in Louisiana (Baton Rouge area)
Sports
Baton Rouge is a city that is heavily into college sports. The LSU Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars are the two most popular teams and provide the city's biggest entertainment each football season. The teams' dominance of the city's sports scene is distinguished by the numerous shops and restaurants around town that sell and display memorabilia. College baseball, basketball, and gymnastics are also popular.
Baton Rouge has a very successful rugby team, the Baton Rouge Redfishes. The team began in 1977 and has won numerous conference championships. Currently, the team competes the Deep South Rugby Union as a Division II team.
.
The city also has a minor league soccer team, the Capitals, who play in the PDL (Premier Development League). Currently, the team plays their home games in Olympia Stadium.
.
Tourism and recreation
There are many architectural points of interest in Baton Rouge, ranging from antebellum to modern. The neo-gothic Old Louisiana State Capitol was originally built in the 1890s as the first state house in Baton Rouge and was lattar replaced by the 450 feet (137 m) tall, art-deco New
Louisiana State CapitolThe Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. The capitol houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the governor's office, and parts of the executive branch...
which finished was the tallest building in the South. Several plantation homes in the area such as
Magnolia Mound Plantation HouseThe Magnolia Mound Plantation House is a French Creole house constructed in 1791 near the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Many period documents refer to the plantation as Mount Magnolia...
,
Myrtles PlantationThe Myrtles Plantation is an antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, near Baton Rouge. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the plantation is a bed and breakfast, and it offers historical and mystery tours.-History:...
, and
Nottoway PlantationNottoway Plantation, also known as Nottoway Plantation House is located in White Castle, Louisiana. This home was completed in 1859 for the John Hampton Randolph family. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.-Early History:...
showcase architecture during the antebellum era. The Louisiana State University has over 250 buildings done in the style of
Italian RenaissanceThe Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
, one of the nation's largest college stadiums, and is endowed with many live oaks. Several up and coming examples of modern and contemporary buildings are located downtown and include the Louisiana State Museum. A number of structures, including the Baton Rouge River Center, Louisiana State Library, LSU Student Union, Louisiana Naval Museum, Bluebonnet Swamp Interpretive Center, Louisiana Arts and Sciences Center, Louisiana State Archives, and the
Pennington Biomedical Research CenterThe Pennington Biomedical Research Center, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts both clinical and basic research. Its mission is to promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and preventive medicine...
, were designed by the Baton Rouge
architectAn architect is trained and licensed in planning and designing buildings, and participates in supervising the construction of a building. Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, itself derived from the Greek arkhitekton , i.e. chief builder...
John DesmondJohn Jacob Desmond was an American architect in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who designed such public buildings as the Baton Rouge River Center, the Louisiana State University Student Union, Bluebonnet Swamp Interpretive Center, Louisiana Arts and Sciences Center, Louisiana State Archives, the...
.
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Company DepotThe Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Company Depot is located at 100 South River Road. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was also known as the Illinois Central Railroad Station. The building currently serves as the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum....
, currently houses Louisiana Arts and Science Museum.
Museums around town offer a variety of genres. The Louisiana State Museum and the Old Louisiana State Capitol Museum display information on state history and have any interactive exhibits. The Shaw Center for the Arts showcase art exhibits along with Louisiana Art and Science Museum. LASM also includes science exhibits and a planetarium. Other museums include LSU Museum of Natural Science and
USS KiddUSS Kidd may refer to:* USS Kidd , a Fletcher class destroyer, serving from 1943 to 1964*USS Kidd , the first ship of the Kidd class of destroyers, serving from 1981 to 1998...
.
Baton Rouge has an extensive park collection run through BREC. The largest park is City Park near LSU and is current undergoing a complete remodeling. The
Baton Rouge ZooThe Baton Rouge Zoo is located 15 minutes North of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Zoo is operated by BREC, the Recreation and Park Commission of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is home to over 1,800 animals from around the world...
is run through BREC and includes 1800+ species.
Other things to include shopping at the
Mall at CortanaThe Mall at Cortana is a mid-tier shopping mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is at the intersection of Airline Hwy. and Florida Blvd.Opening in 1976, it is was one of the top 10 largest malls in the world and still remains the largest mall in the state of Louisiana. It is currently owned and...
and the
Mall of LouisianaMall of Louisiana is an upscale shopping mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is located between I-10 and Bluebonnet Blvd.Built in 1997 by developer Jim Wilson & Associates which also built the Riverchase Galleria in Alabama, it is the second largest mall in Louisiana and is currently owned and...
(Louisiana's two largest malls) and
Perkins RowePerkins Rowe is a large mixed use development in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that opened in early 2008. Perkins Rowe was developed by JTS Interests and the main architectural firm that designed the projects is Development Design Group...
, a trip to the local amusement parks of Dixie Landin'/ Blue Bayou, or dining at any number of the revered Louisiana cuisine restaurants.
Education
The Baton Rouge area contains 12 public school districts—Ascension, Baker, Central Community, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Zachary. School districts in the region provide opportunities for advanced learning through Gifted and Academic Magnet programs and tailored programs in music, visual arts, and dramatic arts. Additionally, the Capital Region is home to four of the top ten performing districts (Ascension, Livington, West Feliciana, Zachary) in the state.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, generally known as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public, coeducational university that is the main campus of the
Louisiana State University SystemThe Louisiana State University System is budgetarily the largest public university system in Louisiana. System President William Jenkins announced in 2006 that he would be stepping down. On July 13, 2007, LSU's Board of Supervisors unanimously elected John V...
. LSU includes nine senior colleges and three schools, in addition to specialized centers, divisions, institutes, and offices. Enrollment stands at more than 32,000 students, and there are 1,300 full-time faculty members. LSU is also one of twenty-one American universities designated as a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant research center. [2] In order to reverse decades of underfunding, the university recently launched an ambitious fundraising drive, called the "Forever LSU" campaign.
Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive institution offering two associate degree programs, 42 bachelor degree programs, 19 master's degree programs, and five doctoral programs. The university is part of the only historically black land grant university system in the United States. Southern became a land-grant school in 1890, and an Agricultural and Mechanical department was established. The University offers programs of study ranging from associate degree to doctoral and professional degrees. Southern University also provides opportunities for students to participate in internships and summer assignments in industry and with the federal government.
Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge Community College, an open admissions, two-year post-secondary public community college in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was established on June 28, 1995. The college settled into a permanent location in 1998...
is an open-admissions, two-year post-secondary public
community collegeA community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-United States:In the United States, community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, are primarily two-year public institutions providing...
, established on June 28, 1995. The college settled into a permanent location in 1998. The campus consists of five main buildings: Governors Building, Louisiana Building, Cypress Building, Bienvenue Building (student center), and the Magnolia Library Building. The college's current enrollment is more than 8,000 students. The curricular offerings include courses and programs leading to transfer credits, certificates and associate degrees.
Health and medicine
Baton Rouge is served by a number of
hospitalA hospital is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often but not always providing for longer-term patient stays....
s and
clinicA clinic is a small private or public health facility that is devoted to the care of outpatients, often in a community, in contrast to larger hospitals, which also treat inpatients. Some grow to be institutions as large as major hospitals, whilst retaining the name clinic...
s:
- Baton Rouge Clinic - 7373 Perkins Road
- Baton Rouge General Medical Center - Mid-City Campus
- Information :Baton Rouge General - Mid-City Campus, also known as Mid-City or The General, is an acute care hospital located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This hospital was the first official hospital to operate in the city, opening in 1900. The hospital offers many services, including a regional...
- 3600 Florida Boulevard
- Baton Rouge General Medical Center - Bluebonnet Campus - 8585 Picardy Avenue
- Benton Rehabilitation Hospital - 7660 Convention Street
- Earl K. Long Medical Center (LSUMC)
- Information :Earl K. Long Medical Center, named after the Louisiana politician Earl K. Long, is an acute-care hospital located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The hospital is a member of the Louisiana State University Medical Center, commonly abbreviated "LSUMC." Earl K. Long Medical Center is...
- 5825 Airline Highway
- HealthSouth
HealthSouth Corporation , based in Birmingham, Alabama, is one of the nation's largest healthcare services providers. Best known for its rehabilitation services, HealthSouth has more than 200 facilities in United States and Puerto Rico...
Rehabilitation Hospital - 8595 United Plaza Boulevard
- HealthSouth Surgi-Center - 5222 Brittany Drive
- Lane Memorial Hospital – Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,275 at the 2000 census....
.
- Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Treatment Center - 4950 Essen Lane
- Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is a Catholic Hospital and is a member of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
- 5000 Hennessy Boulevard
- Ochsner Medical Center - 1700 Medical Center Drive
- Sage Integra Hospital Baton Rouge, a rehabilitation hospital - 8225 Summa Avenue
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
- 7777 Hennessy Boulevard
- Surgical Specialty Centre 8080 Bluebonnet Blvd
- Vista Surgical Hospital(LSU Health System Surgical Facility) - 9032 Perkins Road
- Womans Hospital - 9050 Airline Highway
Utilities
- Electric: Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, DEMCO, Entergy
Entergy Corporation , based in New Orleans, Louisiana is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations...
- Natural Gas: Entergy, Louisiana Gas Service Company, Mid-Louisiana Gas Company
- Telephone: AT&T Inc.
- Water: Baton Rouge Water Company, City of Baker
Baker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,793 at the 2000 census....
, City of ZacharyZachary is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,275 at the 2000 census....
- Sewer: City of Baker, City of Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish
- Trash: Allied Waste
Military
Baton Rouge is home station to the Army National Guard 769th Engineer
BattalionA battalion is a military unit of around 1000-1500 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel...
a units that has recently had units deployed to
IraqIraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , also known as Mesopotamia, is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.Iraq shares borders with Jordan to the west, Syria...
and
AfghanistanThe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East...
. The
armoryArmory or armoury may mean:*Armory , a military location used for the storage of arms and ammunition.*Armory , the study of coats of arms.Other:*Armory , a Marvel Comics character...
located near the Baton Rouge Airport houses three company sized units. These are: 769th HSC (headquarters support company); 769th FSC (forward support company); and the 927th
SapperA sapper or combat engineer is an individual soldier who performs a variety of combat engineering duties. Such tasks typically include bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, and building, road and airfield construction and repair...
CompanyA company is a form of business organization.In the United States, a company is a corporation—or, less commonly, an association, partnership, or union—that carries on an industrial enterprise." Generally, a company may be a "corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company,...
. Other units of the battalion are located at Napoleonville (928th Sapper Company);
Baker, LouisianaBaker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,793 at the 2000 census....
(926th MAC mobility augmentation company); and
Gonzales, LouisianaGonzales is a city in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It has been called the "jambalaya capital of the world" and is famous for its annual Jambalaya Festival...
(922nd Horizontal Construction Company).
The 769th Engineer Battalion is part of the 225th Engineer Brigade which is headquartered in
Pineville, LouisianaPineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area...
at
Camp BeauregardFor the American Civil War site, see Camp Beauregard Memorial in Water Valley.Camp Beauregard is a U.S. Army installation located northeast of Pineville, Louisiana in Rapides Parish. It is currently operated by the Louisiana National Guard as one of their main training areas...
. There are four engineer battalions and an independent bridging company in the 225th Engineer Brigade which makes it the largest engineer group in the US Army Engineer
CorpsA Corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
.
Highways and roads
Baton Rouge is connected by the following major routes:
I-10Interstate 10 is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway in the United States. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica, California to Interstate 95 in Jacksonville, Florida...
(Capital City Expressway via the
Horace Wilkinson BridgeThe Horace Wilkinson Bridge is a cantilever bridge carrying Interstate 10 across the Mississippi River from Port Allen in West Baton Rouge Parish to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This is the only point where Interstate 10 crosses the Mississippi River in Louisiana...
),
I-12Interstate 12 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana. I-12 starts in Baton Rouge at Interstate 10, and travels along the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain before ending at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Interstate 59 near Slidell...
(Republic of West Florida Parkway),
I-110Interstate 110 is an spur route in Baton Rouge, running from Interstate 10 in the city's downtown area north to U.S. Highway 61 and the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport in the northern part of the city. The freeway serves as the border between what is considered downtown Baton Rouge and mid-city...
(Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway), Airline Highway (US 61), Florida Boulevard (US 190) (via the
Huey P. Long BridgeThe Huey P. Long Bridge is a truss cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River carrying US 190 and one rail line between East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana and West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana....
), Greenwell Springs Road (LA 37), Plank Road/22nd Street (LA 67), Burbank Drive & Highland Road(LA 42), Nicholson Drive (LA 30), Jefferson Highway (LA 73), Louisiana Highway 1 (LA 1) and Scotland/Baker/Zachary Highway (LA 19). The business routes of US 61/190 run west along Florida Blvd. from Airline Highway to River Road downtown. The routes also run along River Rd., Chippewa Street, and Scenic Highway from Chippewa to Airline. US 190 joins US 61 on Airline Hwy. from Florida Blvd. to Scenic Hwy., where the two highways split. US 190 continues westward on Airline to the Huey P. Long Bridge, while US 61 heads north on Scenic Hwy.
To accommodate the rapid growth of Baton Rouge, sections of its freeways have been upgraded in recent decades. However, there is still much work to be done to relieve traffic congestion. According to the 2008 INRIX National Traffic Scorecard, which ranks the top 100 congested metropolitan areas in the U.S., Baton Rouge is the 33rd-most-congested metro area in the country. However, at a population rank of 67 out of 100, it has the second-highest ratio of population rank to congestion rank, higher than even the
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
-
Long BeachLong Beach is a large city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast. It is situated in Los Angeles County, about south of downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach borders Orange County on its southeast edge....
-
Santa AnaSanta Ana is the county seat and most populous city in Orange County, California, and the 53rd-most populous city in the United States with a 2007 estimated population of 339,555...
metropolitan area, indicating a remarkably high level of congestion for the comparatively low amount of people living in the area. Moreover, according to the Scorecard, Baton Rouge was the only area out of all 100 to show an increase in congestion from 2007 to 2008 (+6%). The city also tied for the highest jump in congestion rank over the same period (14 places).
Specific problem areas include a stretch of I-12E between the Airline Highway and O'Neal Lane exits, which extends even further to the Denham Springs exit in Livingston Parish. The S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Millerville Road, and O'Neal Lane exits all made the list of the nation's top 1000 bottlenecks in the aforementioned INRIX study. Three lanes wide until the O'Neal Lane exit, the interstate abruptly becomes two lanes thereafter. This stretch of road, called "a deathtrap" by one lawmaker, has become notorious for traffic accidents, many with fatalities. In 2007, ten people died in traffic accidents within a three-month period on this section of road. Plans are in the works to widen the two-lane portions of this segment to three lanes, eastbound and westbound, by November 2011 at a cost of 100 million dollars.
I-10W at Bluebonnet Road also ranks within the top 1000 bottlenecks for 2008, and I-10E at Essen Lane and at Nicholson Drive rank not far out of the top 1000. Though significant improvements to I-10 were made to allow for easier access to the
Mall of LouisianaMall of Louisiana is an upscale shopping mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is located between I-10 and Bluebonnet Blvd.Built in 1997 by developer Jim Wilson & Associates which also built the Riverchase Galleria in Alabama, it is the second largest mall in Louisiana and is currently owned and...
, the stretch of I-10 from the I-10/I-12 split to Siegen Lane, which includes the Bluebonnet exit, was not part of these improvements and remains heavily congested during peak hours. Initial work in the 87-million-dollar project to widen this segment to three lanes in both directions has begun and may take up to three years to complete.
Surface streets in Baton Rouge are no stranger to severe congestion, either. However, relief is starting to be felt after years of stagnation in road upgrades. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has instituted an extensive upgrade of East Baton Rouge Parish roads known as the Green Light Plan. This plan is geared specifically toward improving areas of congestion on the city's surface streets. With its first project completed in October 2008, it has seen numerous others reach completion as of mid-2009, with several more under construction and still others yet to break ground.
A circumferential loop freeway has been proposed for the greater Baton Rouge metro area to help alleviate congestion on the existing through-town routes. The proposed loop would pass through the outlying parishes of Livingston, Ascension, West Baton Rouge, and Iberville, as well as northern East Baton Rouge Parish. This proposal has been subject to much contention, particularly by residents living in the outer parishes through which the loop would pass. If made a reality, the project would cost approximately $4 billion and would not be completed until 2016 at the earliest.
Commuting
The average one-way commute time in Baton Rouge is 22 minutes, a trip 13% shorter than that taken by the average American city worker. Interstates 10 and 12, the two interstates that feed into the city, are highly traveled and connected by highways and four-lane roads that connect the downtown business area to surrounding parishes. 99% of the Baton Rouge workforce drives a personal vehicle to work.
Airport
Located 10 minutes north of downtown near
BakerBaker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,793 at the 2000 census....
, the
Baton Rouge Metropolitan AirportBaton Rouge Metropolitan Airport , also known as Ryan Field, is a public use airport located four nautical miles north of the central business district of Baton Rouge, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States....
connects the area with more than 300 cities around the world. Commercial carriers include
American EagleAmerican Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly-owned subsidiaries...
,
Continental AirlinesContinental Airlines is a United States certificated air carrier. Based in Downtown Houston, Texas, it is the fourth-largest airline in the US based on revenue passenger miles. Since 1998, Continental's marketing slogan has been "Work Hard, Fly Right."Continental operates flights to destinations...
, Delta Airlines, and
Northwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines, Inc. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, Inc., is a major United States airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport...
. Nonstop service is available to Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and Memphis. The airport is currently going through an expansion to improve its facilities and better compete with other markets.
Buses
Capital Area Transit System (CATS) provides modern urban transportation throughout Baton Rouge, including service to
Southern UniversitySouthern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.-History:The concept of Southern University was put forth by P. B. S. Pinchback, T. T...
, Baton Rouge Community College, and
Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 near Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State...
, with affordable fares and an updated fleet of buses. Many CATS buses are also equipped with bike racks for commuters to easily combine biking with bus transit.
Greyhound Bus Lines offers passenger and cargo service throughout the United States. The terminal is located in the downtown area on Florida Boulevard.
Sister cities
Aix-en-ProvenceAix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city in southern France, some north of Marseille...
, FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
Cordoba, MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Port-au-PrincePort-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti.The city of Port-au-Prince faces the Gulf of Gonâve, at . The bay on which the city lies, which acts as a natural harbor, has sustained economic activity since the civilizations of the Arawaks...
, HaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Creole- and French-speaking Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago...
TaichungTaichung is a city located in west-central Republic of China with a population of just over one million people, making it the third largest city on the island after Taipei and Kaohsiung. The city presently constitutes a provincial city apart from the adjacent Taichung County...
, TaiwanTaiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
After a visit to the
Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, is a state in East Asia that has evolved from a single-party state with full global recognition and jurisdiction over China into a democratic state with limited international recognition and jurisdiction only over Taiwan and minor islands, though it...
(Taiwan), Mayor-President
Kip HoldenMelvin L. "Kip" Holden is the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The parish includes the state capitol of Baton Rouge and smaller suburban cities like Baker, Central City and Zachary. He was elected the city's mayor on November 3, 2004. He unseated the Republican...
unveiled plans to pursue a sister city agreement with a second Taiwanese city,
TaipeiTaipei is the largest city in Taiwan and has served as the de facto capital of the Republic of China since the Chinese Civil War in 1949. It is situated on the Danshui River, almost at the northern tip of the island, about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
.
See also
- Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area
The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a sprawling area consisting of nine parishes in Louisiana, anchored by the city of Baton Rouge...
- Baton Rouge Refinery
ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge Refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the second-largest oil refinery in the United States, with an input capacity of 503,000 barrels per day as of January 1, 2007 ....
- Baton Rouge Police Department
The Baton Rouge Police Department, or BRPD, is the primary law enforcement agency in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Chief of Police, as of October 2008, is Jeff LeDuff. LeDuff was preceded by Pat Englade and Greg Phares...
- East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency of East Baton Rouge Parish, and has jurisdiction anywhere in the parish. It falls under the authority of the Sheriff, who is the chief law enforcement officer of the parish...
External links
Geology and Geological Hazards
- Heinrich, P. V., and W. J. Autin, 2000, Baton Rouge 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- McCulloh, R. P., 2001, Active Faults in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Public Information Series, no. 8, Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- McCulloh, R. P., 2008a, The Scotlandville, Denham Springs, and Baton Rouge Faults — A Map Guide for Real Estate Buyers, Sellers, and Developers in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. Public Information Series, no. 13, Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- McCulloh, R. P., 2008b, Field Trip Guide to Selected Locations Along the Baton Rouge Fault Trace Spanning the Pleistocene–Holocene Transition in Western East Baton Rouge Parish. Public Information Series, no. 8, Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Authorities
News sources
- The Advocate (Baton Rouge)
- WBRZ
- WAFB
WAFB is the CBS-affiliated television station for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter southwest of Arlington. Owned by Raycom Media, WAFB is sister to Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CA. The two share studios on Government...
- WVLA
WVLA-TV is the local NBC affiliate for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It transmits its digital signal on UHF channel 34. The station is seen via satellite through DirecTV and Dish Network. It is owned by Malara Broadcast Group, but is managed by White Knight Broadcasting, and is sister station to the...
- WJBO AM 1150