East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. The parish seat is Baton Rouge
, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of 471 square miles (1,219.9 km²), of which 455 square miles (1,178.4 km²) is land and 15 square miles (38.8 km²) (3.21%) is water. It is the most populous parish in the state. .
East Baton Rouge Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area
as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part
Combined Statistical Area
.
The parish courthouse in Baton Rouge is one of twenty-six public buildings constructed by the contractor George A. Caldwell
.
of 2010, there were over 440,000 people, making it the largest parish in Louisiana. There are also 156,365 households and 102,575 families residing in the parish. The population density
was 906 people per square mile (350/km²). There were 169,073 housing units at an average density of 371 per square mile (143/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 56.17% White
, 40.09% Black
or African American
, 0.21% Native American
, 2.08% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.49% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 156,365 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.70% were married couples
living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the parish the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 14.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $37,224, and the median income for a family was $47,480. Males had a median income of $38,334 versus $25,073 for females. The per capita income
for the parish was $19,790. About 13.20% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.
East Baton Rouge Parish has both the highest high school graduation rate, at 82.2%, and the highest percentage of residents holding at least a bachelor's degree
, 33.3%, in the state of Louisiana. http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Ranking/index.htm.
in presidential elections, voting for the winner of the presidency in all but one election (it voted for George H.W. Bush in 1992) but not necessarily the winner of Louisiana. The 2008 presidential election helped keep the parish's status as a bellwether because Democrat Barack Obama
won 51% of the vote and 99,652 votes. Republican John McCain
won 48% of the votes and 95,390 votes. In the 2008 Senate election, Democrat Mary Landrieu
who kept her job as a U.S Senator won 57% of the vote and 110,694 votes in East Baton Rouge Parish. Republican John Neely Kennedy won 41% of the vote and 80,222 votes. In the 2004 presidential election, East Baton Rouge Parish cast the majority of its votes to Republican George W. Bush
who won 54% of the votes and 99,943 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 45% of the votes and 82,298 votes.
Baker residents attend the City of Baker School System
http://bakerschools.org/main.cfm.
Zachary residents attend the Zachary Community School Board
http://www.zacharyschools.org/.
Central residents attend the Central Community School System
http://www.centralcsd.org/ schools.
(Combat) a unit of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Two companies of this battalion deployed to Iraq in 2007-2008. Another company sized unit, the 927TH Sapper Company deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009. As of 2011 yet another company, the 926TH MAC (Mobility Augmentation Company) located in Baker, Louisiana
has been alerted for overseas deployment. The 769th Engineers has two other companies, the 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company located in Gonzales, Louisiana
and the 928th Sapper Company located in Napoleonville, Louisiana
.
Geology and Geological Hazards
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
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 in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The parish seat is Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of 471 square miles (1,219.9 km²), of which 455 square miles (1,178.4 km²) is land and 15 square miles (38.8 km²) (3.21%) is water. It is the most populous parish in the state. .
East Baton Rouge Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area
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...
as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part
Pierre Part, Louisiana
Pierre Part is a census-designated place in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,239 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Assumption Parish...
Combined Statistical Area
Baton Rouge-Pierre Part combined statistical area
The 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...
.
The parish courthouse in Baton Rouge is one of twenty-six public buildings constructed by the contractor George A. Caldwell
George Caldwell (Louisiana)
George A. Caldwell, sometimes known as Big George Caldwell , was a powerful Louisiana contractor who supervised the construction of nine buildings on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, including the university library and the structures housing the dairying and physics...
.
Major highways
Interstate 10Interstate 10Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
Interstate 12Interstate 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...
Interstate 110Interstate 110 (Louisiana)Interstate 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...
U.S. Highway 61
U.S. Highway 190
Minor Highways
|
 Louisiana Highway 946Louisiana Highway 946 Louisiana Highway 946 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a south to north direction. It is known locally as Joor Road.-Route description:...  Louisiana Highway 948Louisiana Highway 948 Louisiana Highway 948 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a west to east direction. It is known locally as Highland Road.-Route description:...  Louisiana Highway 958 Louisiana Highway 964 Louisiana Highway 1068Louisiana Highway 1068 Louisiana Highway 1068 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a south to north direction...  Louisiana Highway 1209 Louisiana Highway 1248 Louisiana Highway 3006Louisiana Highway 3006 Louisiana Highway 3006 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a west to east direction. It is known locally as Lavey Lane.-Route description:...  Louisiana Highway 3034Louisiana Highway 3034 Louisiana Highway 3034 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a west to east direction. It is known locally as Sullivan Road, Wax Road, and Magnolia Bridge Road.-Route description:...  Louisiana Highway 3064 Louisiana Highway 3113Louisiana Highway 3113 Louisiana Highway 3113 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a west to east direction. It is known locally as Port Hudson Cemetery Road.-Route description:...  Louisiana Highway 3164 Louisiana Highway 3245Louisiana Highway 3245 Louisiana Highway 3245 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a south to north direction. It is known locally as O'Neal Lane and O'Neal Lane Extension.-Route description:...  Louisiana Highway 3246Louisiana Highway 3246 Louisiana Highway 3246 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves East Baton Rouge Parish. It spans in a south to north direction. It is known locally as Siegen Lane.-Route description:... |
Louisiana Highway 37
Louisiana Highway 64
Louisiana Highway 67
Louisiana Highway 327
Louisiana Highway 427Adjacent parishes and features
- East Feliciana Parish (north)
- West Feliciana Parish (northwest)
- West Baton Rouge Parish (west)
- Iberville Parish (south)
- Ascension Parish (southeast)
- Livingston Parish (east)
- St. Helena Parish (northeast)
- Thompson Creek (northwest)
- Mississippi RiverMississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
(west) - Bayou ManchacBayou ManchacBayou Manchac is an bayou in southeast Louisiana. This bayou was once a very important waterway linking the Mississippi River to the Amite River.-Exploration:...
(south) - Amite RiverAmite RiverThe Amite River is a tributary of Lake Maurepas in Mississippi and Louisiana in the United States. It is about long. It starts as two forks in southwestern Mississippi and flows south through Louisiana, passing Greater Baton Rouge, to Lake Maurepas. The lower of the river is navigable...
(east)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A 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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were over 440,000 people, making it the largest parish in Louisiana. There are also 156,365 households and 102,575 families residing in the parish. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 906 people per square mile (350/km²). There were 169,073 housing units at an average density of 371 per square mile (143/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 56.17% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
, 40.09% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
, 0.21% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
, 2.08% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
, 0.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 0.93% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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...
of any race.
There were 156,365 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the parish the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 14.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $37,224, and the median income for a family was $47,480. Males had a median income of $38,334 versus $25,073 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the parish was $19,790. About 13.20% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.
East Baton Rouge Parish has both the highest high school graduation rate, at 82.2%, and the highest percentage of residents holding at least a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, 33.3%, in the state of Louisiana. http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Ranking/index.htm.
2008 and 2004 Election Results
Since 1980, East Baton Rouge Parish has been a bellwetherBellwether
A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings.The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram leading his flock of sheep.The movements of...
in presidential elections, voting for the winner of the presidency in all but one election (it voted for George H.W. Bush in 1992) but not necessarily the winner of Louisiana. The 2008 presidential election helped keep the parish's status as a bellwether because Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won 51% of the vote and 99,652 votes. Republican John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
won 48% of the votes and 95,390 votes. In the 2008 Senate election, Democrat Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
who kept her job as a U.S Senator won 57% of the vote and 110,694 votes in East Baton Rouge Parish. Republican John Neely Kennedy won 41% of the vote and 80,222 votes. In the 2004 presidential election, East Baton Rouge Parish cast the majority of its votes to Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
who won 54% of the votes and 99,943 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 45% of the votes and 82,298 votes.
Education
Sections of the parish not in Baker, Zachary, or the City of Central are zoned to schools in East Baton Rouge Parish School System http://www.ebrpss.k12.la.us/.Baker residents attend the City of Baker School System
City of Baker School System
City of Baker School System is a school district headquartered in Baker, Louisiana, United States.The school district serves the City of Baker.-Secondary schools:* Baker High School * -Elementary schools:* * * -External links:*...
http://bakerschools.org/main.cfm.
Zachary residents attend the Zachary Community School Board
Zachary Community School Board
Zachary Community School Board is a school district in Zachary, Louisiana, United States. The district serves the City of Zachary.The Zachary Community School Board took five schools from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in 2002.-Secondary schools:...
http://www.zacharyschools.org/.
Central residents attend the Central Community School System
Central Community School System
Central Community School System is a school district headquartered in Central, Louisiana, United States. The school district serves the City of Central.-History:...
http://www.centralcsd.org/ schools.
National Guard
The 769th Engineer BattalionBattalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
(Combat) a unit of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Two companies of this battalion deployed to Iraq in 2007-2008. Another company sized unit, the 927TH Sapper Company deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009. As of 2011 yet another company, the 926TH MAC (Mobility Augmentation Company) located in Baker, Louisiana
Baker, Louisiana
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.-Geography:Baker is located at...
has been alerted for overseas deployment. The 769th Engineers has two other companies, the 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company located in Gonzales, Louisiana
Gonzales, Louisiana
Gonzales 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. Gonzales is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.State...
and the 928th Sapper Company located in Napoleonville, Louisiana
Napoleonville, Louisiana
Napoleonville is a village in and the parish seat of Assumption Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 686 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
See also
- East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's OfficeEast Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's OfficeThe 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...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in East Baton Rouge Parish, LouisianaNational Register of Historic Places listings in East Baton Rouge Parish, LouisianaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States...
External links
- Baton Rouge City and Parish government's website
- Visit Baton Rouge
- Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
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.