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Historical Background
In early 1699, a French expedition headed by Pierre le Moyne, whose
title was Sieur d'Iberville, first saw the site on which the City
of Baton Rouge is now located. On February 27, d 'Iberville
chose a party to explore the site. It included André Pénicaut, a ship's
carpenter; and d'Iberville's brother, Jean Baptiste le Moyne, whose
title was Sieur d'Bienville. Both of these men, who were to
become very important in the history of Louisiana, were under the
age of twenty. |
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The party first saw the bluffs of Baton Rouge on March 17, 1699. D'Iberville
and his men reached a small stream at the right of the river. This
river separated the hunting grounds of the Bayagoulas and the Oumas Indians,
living on the Istrouma Bluffs (istrouma apparently a derivation of an Indian
word for crawfish, the symbol topping Indian totem poles). Its banks were
separated by a reddened, 30-foot-high maypole with several heads of fish
and bear attached in sacrifice and dripping with blood that the natives
had sunk there to mark the land line between the two nations. The
red stick the French saw was probably used both as a boundary marker and
for ceremonial purposes. D'Iberville called this area Baton Rouge
(French for red stick), and hence the region's name was born. One
can readily believe that the site was used as a point of reference by priests,
traders, and settlers as they traveled up and down the Mississippi River.
Significantly, no one was ever able to change the name though it was attempted
severaltimes. Le Baton Rouge had become a permanent part of the landscape.
One-third of Louisiana’s population today is of French descent, and one
becomes accustomed to hearing the French accent throughout the area.
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Economy and Growth
From its origin as the site of an Indian village, through many years
as a sleepy river town, to its emergence as a major educational, governmental,
and industrial center of the south, Baton Rouge has been a city of
change and diversity. Baton Rouge was incorporated in 1817 and became
the capital of the state in 1882. Today, with the City of Baton Rouge
the dominant center of business, culture, education, and finance,
the Parish of East Baton Rouge looks forward to even greater prosperity.
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is the parish seat of government, the key
industrial city in the area, and the center of an immense chemical and petroleum
complex on the Mississippi River. The metropolitan area is the second largest
in the state. The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (Ryan Field) is served
by three major airlines. Rail service is provided by five railroads. The
expanding Port of Greater Baton Rouge ranks fourth among the major ports
of the nation and second in Louisiana. Projected population figures show
that this progressive city will have a phenomenal growth in future decades.
We can only guess what Baton Rouge will be like tomorrow, but from all accounts,
it seems certain that the future will be filled with bright promise and
a continued dedication to growth and progress.
State Capitol
Baton Rouge is the site of the state capitol. The capitol, one of
America’s most beautiful, is 34 stories, 450 feet in height, erected
on the old campus of LSU, surrounded by 27 acres of landscaped grounds.
It was constructed in March 1932, at a cost of $5 million. Broad steps
of Minnesota granite mark the entrance to the building. The building
is efficiently designed and provides 249,000 square feet (nearly six
acres) of floor space for use by governmental agencies. From the observation
tower, it is possible to see the surrounding country for a distance
of 30 miles. Former Governor Huey P. Long, under whose aegis it was
built, is |
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buried in front of the building. A 12-foot
bronze statue of him stands on front grounds of the capitol facing his dream.
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Education
The East Baton Rouge Parish school system consists of 101 public and
49 private schools. Baton Rouge supports 35 libraries; 13 of these
are public parish libraries. Higher education is provided by two state
universities, Louisiana State University, a traditional leader among
the nation's institutions; and Southern University, recognized as
the largest predominantly African-American institution in the nation. |
Climate and Location
Baton Rouge has a subtropical climate free of extreme temperatures. Winters
are mild with only occasional cold spells. East Baton Rouge Parish comprises
471.81 square miles along the Mississippi River, in the southeast part of
the state. The parish includes three major cities: Baton Rouge, with a population
of 231,219 and an area of 75 square miles; Baker, with a population of 13,315
and an area of 4 square miles; and Zachary, with a population of 10,348
and an area of 20 square miles.
City Flag
The city's flag is a field of crimson representing the great Indian
nations that once inhabited the area. The name Baton Rouge in white
appears prominently on the field of crimson. The crest on the lower
left uses the red, white, and blue, representing the colors of the
United States. The upper left of the shield is the 'fleur de lis'
of France, the upper right is the 'Castille' of Spain, and the lower
portion is the 'Union Flag' of Great Britain. The crest encompasses
the emblems of the three foreign countries, whose flags have flown
over Baton Rouge. |
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Internet links for additional information
on Baton Rouge and its surroundings:
Baton Rouge Net
Baton Rouge
Area Guide
Welcome to
Baton Rouge
Museums
Baton Rouge Cuisine
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