View source for Baton Rouge, Louisiana

{{Short description|Capital city of Louisiana, United States}}
{{redirect|Baton Rouge}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Baton Rouge
| native_name        = {{small|{{native name|fr|Bâton-Rouge}}<br />{{native name|lou|Batonrouj}}}}
| settlement_type    = [[List of capitals in the United States|State capital city]] and [[Consolidated city–county|consolidated city-parish]]
| etymology          = {{ety|fr|bâton rouge|3=red stick}}
| population_total   = 227470
| population_demonym = Baton Rougean
| population_density_sq_mi = 2635.32
| population_density_km2 = 1017.50
| population_urban   = 631326 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|67th]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 615.0
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 1,592.9
| population_metro   = 870569 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|66th]])
| population_rank    = US: [[List of United States cities by population|107th]]
| population_footnotes = 
| utc_offset         = &minus;6
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_est     = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| area_water_km2     = 5.71
| area_total_km2     = 229.27
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref>
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| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank_info         = 22-05000
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| footnotes          = 
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;5
| website            = {{URL|https://www.brla.gov}}
| elevation_ft       = 46
| elevation_m        = 14
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|26|51|N|91|10|43|W|region:US-LA|display=inline,title}}
| area_code          = [[Area code 225|225]]
| postal_code        = 70801–70817, 70819–70823, 70825–70827, 70831, 70833, 70835–70837, 70874, 70879, 70883, 70884, 70892–70896, 70898
| postal_code_type   = ZIP Codes
| area_water_percent = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 2.20
| mapsize            = 270
| subdivision_type   = Country
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| caption_align          = center
| image1                 = Baton Rouge skyline 2013 cropped-2.jpg
| alt1                   =
| caption1               = Downtown Baton Rouge
| image2                 = Louisiana Old State Capitol recolorized.jpg
| alt2                   =
| caption2               = [[Old Louisiana State Capitol]]
| image3                 = Baton Rouge, Louisiana - panoramio (68) recolorized.jpg
| alt3                   =
| caption3               = [[Louisiana State Capitol]]
| image4                 = St. Joseph Cathedral - Baton Rouge, Louisiana.JPG
| alt4                   =
| caption4               = [[St. Joseph Cathedral (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)|St. Joseph Cathedral]]
| image5                 = Huey P. Long Bridge at night (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) recolorized.jpg
| alt5                   =
| caption5               = [[Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)|Huey P. Long Bridge]]
| image6                 = LSU Tiger Stadium.jpg
| alt6                   =
| caption6               = [[Tiger Stadium (LSU)]]
| image7                 = USS Kidd at sunset, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.jpg
| alt7                   =
| caption7               = [[USS Kidd (DD-661)|USS ''Kidd'']]}}
| imagesize          = 280px
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Baton Rouge
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
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| seal_size          = 100px
| image_seal         = Baton-Rouge seal.png
| image_flag         = Flag of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.svg
| nicknames          = Red&nbsp;Stick, The&nbsp;Capital&nbsp;City, B.R.
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Louisiana]]
| area_land_km2      = 223.56
| established_date2  = January 16, 1817
| area_land_sq_mi    = 86.32
| area_blank1_km2    = 204.89
| area_blank1_title  = Total{{NoteTag|Total area for the City of Baton Rouge, not all of East Baton Rouge Parish}}
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| established_date1  = 1721
| subdivision_type2  = Parish
| established_date   = 1699
| established_title2 = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
| established_title1 = Settled
| established_title  = Founded
| leader_name        = [[Sharon Weston Broome]]<ref name="br-mayor">{{cite web |title=Office of Mayor President |url=http://www.brgov.com/dept/Mayor/ |website=Baton Rouge Government Website |access-date=3 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107201744/http://www.brgov.com/dept/Mayor/ |archive-date=January 7, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]-President
| subdivision_name2  = [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|East Baton Rouge]]
| area_total_sq_mi   = 88.52
| image_blank_emblem = Wordmark of Baton Rouge.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Wordmark
| image_shield       = Arms of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.png
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/1629914 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref>{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}
}}

'''Baton Rouge''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|æ|t|ən|_|ˈ|r|uː|ʒ|audio=BatonRouge.ogg}} {{respell|BAT|ən|_|ROOZH}}; {{langx|fr|Baton Rouge}} or {{lang|fr|Bâton-Rouge}}, {{IPA|fr|bɑtɔ̃ ʁuʒ|pron}}; {{langx|lou|Batonrouj}}) is the [[List of capitals in the United States|capital city]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]]. Located on the eastern bank of the [[Mississippi River]], it had a population of 227,470 {{As of|2020|alt=[[2020 United States Census|as of 2020]]}};<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=2019 Demographic and Housing Census for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/eastbatonrougeparishlouisiana |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> it is the [[county seat|seat]] of Louisiana's most populous [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parish]] (county-equivalent),<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |access-date=2021-08-18 |website=United States Census Bureau |language=EN-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Louisiana |url=https://www.louisiana.gov/local-louisiana/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Government of Louisiana |quote=The state of Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes, which are analogous to counties in other states. There are various forms of government being used within the parishes.}}</ref> [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|East Baton Rouge Parish]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=East Baton Rouge Parish |url=https://www.louisiana.gov/local-louisiana/east-baton-rouge-parish |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Government of Louisiana}}</ref> and the center of Louisiana's second-largest metropolitan area and city, [[Baton Rouge metropolitan area|Greater Baton Rouge]].<ref name=":7" />

The Baton Rouge area owes its historical importance to its strategic site upon the Istrouma Bluff, the first natural [[cliff|bluff]] upriver from the [[Mississippi River Delta]] at the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. This allowed development of a business quarter safe from seasonal flooding. In addition, it built a [[levee]] system stretching from the bluff southward to protect the riverfront and low-lying agricultural areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LSU Libraries - Special Collections - Andrew David Lytle, photographic artist - Baton Rouge: Levee Construction, Mississippi River |url=https://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/exhibits/Lytle/A14.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829112857/https://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/exhibits/Lytle/A14.html |archive-date=August 29, 2008 |access-date=2021-07-29 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref>

Baton Rouge has developed as a culturally rich center, with settlement by immigrants from numerous European nations and African peoples brought to North America as slaves or indentured servants. It was ruled by seven different nations: the French, Spanish and British in the colonial era; briefly the [[Republic of West Florida]]; the United States as a territory and a state; the [[Confederate States of America]];  and the United States again since the end of the [[American Civil War]]. Throughout the governance of these various occupying national governments of Baton Rouge, the city and its metropolitan area have developed as a multicultural region practicing many religious traditions from [[Catholicism]] to [[Protestantism]] and [[Louisiana Voodoo]].

Baton Rouge is a major,  growing  industrial, [[petrochemical]], medical, research, motion picture,<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianalopez/2014/06/09/growing-louisiana-based-businesses-sustain-hollywood-south/ "Growing Louisiana-Based Businesses Sustains Hollywood South"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227040618/https://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianalopez/2014/06/09/growing-louisiana-based-businesses-sustain-hollywood-south/ |date=February 27, 2018 }}, ''Forbes,'' June 9, 2014</ref> and technology center of the [[American South]].<ref>[http://theadvocate.com/home/5551260-125/state-expected-to-make-ibm "IBM selects BR"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526032140/http://theadvocate.com/home/5551260-125/state-expected-to-make-ibm |date=May 26, 2016 }}, ''The Advocate'' – Baton Rouge, LA<!-- Bot generated title --></ref> It is the location of [[Louisiana State University]]—the [[Louisiana State University System|LSU system]]'s [[flagship university]] and the state's largest institution of higher education.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=http://www.lsu.edu/about/index.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220025758/http://lsu.edu/about/index.php |archive-date=February 20, 2018 |access-date=2018-02-26 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref> It is also the location of [[Southern University]], the flagship institution of the [[Southern University System]]—the nation's only [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]] system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-26 |title=Louisiana historically black universities host inaugural 'HBCU Day at the Capitol' |url=http://www.subr.edu/news/2723 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Southern University and A&M College |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Port of Greater Baton Rouge]] is the tenth-largest in the U.S. by tonnage shipped, and it is the farthest upstream Mississippi River port capable of handling [[Panamax]] ships.<ref name="FHWA-HOP-07-033">{{cite web |date=November 2006 |title=Top 25 Water Ports by Weight: 2004 (Million short tons) |url=https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/nat_freight_stats/docs/06factsfigures/fig2_8.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121214040/http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/nat_freight_stats/docs/06factsfigures/fig2_8.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2007 |access-date=August 18, 2007 |work=Freight Facts and Figures 2006 |publisher=Federal Highway Administration}}</ref><ref name="portgbr1">{{cite web |title=About the Port |url=http://www.portgbr.com/content/3-about-the-port |publisher=portgbr.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206142406/http://www.portgbr.com/content/3-about-the-port |archive-date=February 6, 2011}}</ref> Major corporations participating in the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area's economy include [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], [[Lamar Advertising Company]], [[BBQGuys]], [[Marucci Sports]], [[Piccadilly Restaurants]], [[Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers]], [[ExxonMobil]], [[Brown & Root]], [[Shell plc|Shell]], and [[Dow Chemical Company]].

==History==
{{main|History of Baton Rouge, Louisiana}}
{{For timeline}}

=== Pre-history ===
Human habitation in the Baton Rouge area has been dated to [[Paleo-Indians|12000–6500 BC]], based on evidence found along the Mississippi, [[Comite River|Comite]], and [[Amite River|Amite]] rivers.<ref name="corps">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2uE0AQAAMAAJ&q=baton+rouge+paleo+indians&pg=PA341|title=Comite River Basin, Amite River and Tributaries Flood Protection, Baton Rouge/Livingston Parishes: Environmental Impact Statement, Volume 2|publisher=Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development|year=1991|pages=B–7–5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Baton Rouge Historical Marker|url=http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/East-Baton-Rouge/Baton+Rouge/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802034500/http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/East-Baton-Rouge/Baton+Rouge/|archive-date=August 2, 2009|access-date=August 1, 2009|website=Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism}}</ref> [[Mound Builders|Earthwork mounds]] were built by hunter-gatherer societies in the [[Archaic period in North America|Middle Archaic period]], from roughly the fourth millennium BC.<ref name="RSaunders">{{cite journal |last=Saunders |first=Rebecca |title=The Case for Archaic Period Mounds in Southeastern Louisiana |journal=Southeastern Archaeology |volume=13 |number=2 |pages=118–134 |date=Winter 1994 |jstor=40656501}}</ref> The speakers of the Proto-[[Muskogean]] language divided into its descendant languages by about 1000 BC; and a cultural boundary between either side of [[Mobile Bay]] and the [[Black Warrior River]] began to appear between about 1200 BC and 500 BC—a period called the Middle "Gulf Formational Stage". The Eastern Muskogean language began to diversify internally in the first half of the first millennium AD.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hopkins |first=Nicholas A. |url=http://www.famsi.org/research/hopkins/SouthEastUSLanguages.pdf |url-status=live |title=The Native Languages of the Southeastern United States |publisher=FAMSI |year=2007 |access-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024153/http://www.famsi.org/research/hopkins/SouthEastUSLanguages.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>

The early Muskogean societies were the bearers of the [[Mississippian culture]], which formed around 800 AD and extended in a vast network across the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, with numerous [[chiefdom]]s in the Southeast, as well. By the time the [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] made their first forays inland from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in the early 16th century, by some evidence many political centers of the Mississippians were already in decline, or abandoned. At the time, this region appeared to have been occupied by a collection of moderately sized native chiefdoms, interspersed with autonomous villages and tribal groups.<ref name=north_ga>{{cite web
 | url = http://ngeorgia.com/history/early.html
 | title = Moundbuilders, North Georgia's early inhabitants
 | access-date = May 2, 2008
 | author = About North Georgia
 | date = 1994–2006
 | publisher = Golden Ink
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080509164702/http://ngeorgia.com/history/early.html
 | archive-date = May 9, 2008
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> Other evidence indicates these Mississippian settlements were thriving at the time of the first Spanish contact. Later Spanish expeditions encountered the remains of groups who had lost many people and been disrupted in the aftermath of infectious diseases, chronic among Europeans, unknowingly introduced by the first expedition.

===Colonial period===
{{further|Louisiana (New France)|West Florida|Red Sticks}}
[[File:Portrait, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, Montréal Archives.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Pierre Le Moyne]], Sieur d'Iberville, named Baton Rouge and lakes [[Lake Pontchartrain|Pontchartrain]] and [[Lake Maurepas|Maurepas]] in the early French colonial era]]
French explorer [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]] led an exploration party up the Mississippi River in 1698. The explorers saw a red pole marking the boundary between the [[Houma people|Houma]] and [[Bayagoula]] tribal hunting grounds. The French name ''le bâton rouge'' ("the red stick") is the translation of a native term rendered as ''Istrouma'', possibly a corruption of the [[Choctaw language|Choctaw]] ''iti humma'' ("red pole");<ref>Rose Meyers, ''A History of Baton Rouge 1699–1812'' (1976),  [https://books.google.com/books?id=rvt8XrCzlwQC&pg=PA4 4] ff.</ref> André-Joseph Pénicaut—a carpenter traveling with d'Iberville—published the first full-length account of the expedition in 1723. According to Pénicaut:
<blockquote>From there &#91;[[Bayou Manchac|Manchacq]]&#93; we went five leagues higher and found very high banks called ''écorts'' in that region, and in savage called ''Istrouma'' which means red stick [''bâton rouge''], as at this place there is a post painted red that the savages have sunk there to mark the land line between the two nations, namely: the land of the Bayagoulas which they were leaving and the land of another nation—thirty leagues upstream from the ''baton rouge''—named the Oumas.</blockquote>The red pole was presumably at Scott's Bluff, on what is now the campus of Southern University.<ref name="Stocksieker_307">{{cite book| editor1-first=Irene Stocksieker| editor1-last=Di Maio| title=Gerstäcker's Louisiana: Fiction and Travel Sketches from Antebellum Times Through Reconstruction| publisher=[[Louisiana State University Press]]| year=2006| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vN2-0lQpZHkC&pg=PA307| page=307| isbn=9780807131466}}</ref> It was reportedly a {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} painted pole adorned with fish bones.<ref>{{cite journal| first=Andrew C.| last=Albrecht| title=The Origin and Early Settlement of Baton Rouge, Louisiana| journal=Louisiana Historical Quarterly| volume=28| number=1| year=1945| pages=5–68}}</ref>

European settlement of Baton Rouge began in 1721 when French colonists established a military and trading post. Since then, Baton Rouge has been governed by France, Britain, Spain, Louisiana, the [[Republic of West Florida]], the United States, the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate States]], and the United States again. In 1755, when French settlers in the colony of [[Acadia]] (known as [[Acadians]]) were [[Expulsion of the Acadians|deported]] from there by British authorities, many took up residence in rural Louisiana, including Baton Rouge. Popularly known as [[Cajuns]] they maintained a distinct culture for centuries. From 1763 to 1783, Baton Rouge was part of the [[British North America]]n colony of [[West Florida]], though it was captured by [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] forces in [[Battle of Baton Rouge (1779)|in September 1779]]. During the first half of the 19th century, Baton Rouge grew steadily as the result of [[Riverboat|steamboat]] trade and transportation.

===Incorporation and growth===
[[File:Old baton rouge.jpg|thumb|Baton Rouge in 1863]]

Baton Rouge was [[Incorporated town|incorporated]] in 1817. In 1822, the [[Pentagon Barracks]] complex of buildings was completed. The site was used by Spanish, French, and British authorities and was occupied by both the [[Confederate States Army]] and [[United States Army]]. It was also part of the short-lived Republic of West Florida.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/louisiana/pen.htm |title=Pentagon Barracks |access-date=August 12, 2008 |work=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615203032/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/louisiana/pen.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1951, ownership of the barracks was transferred to the state of Louisiana. In 1976, the complex was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=lahouse>{{cite web| url=http://house.louisiana.gov/pubinfo/virtual%20tour/pentagon_barracks.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419134518/http://house.louisiana.gov/pubinfo/virtual%20tour/pentagon_barracks.htm| archive-date=April 19, 2009 |title=Pentagon Barracks |access-date=August 12, 2008 |work=Louisiana Capitol History and Tour }}</ref>

Acquisition of Louisiana by the United States in 1803 was a catalyst for increased [[Anglo-Americans|Anglo-American]] settlement, especially in the northern part of the state. In 1846, the state legislature designated Baton Rouge as Louisiana's new capital to replace "sinful" [[New Orleans]]. The architect [[James Dakin]] was hired to design the [[old Louisiana State Capitol]], with construction beginning in late 1847.<ref name="Stocksieker_307"/>

Rather than mimic the [[United States Capitol]], as many other states had done, he designed a capitol in [[Neo-Gothic]] style, complete with turrets and crenellations, and stained glass; it overlooks the Mississippi. It has been described as the "most distinguished example of Gothic Revival" architecture in the state and has been designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]].<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/louisiana/ocap.htm "Old Louisiana State Capitol"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102100106/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/louisiana/ocap.htm |date=January 2, 2012 }}, National Park Service</ref>

By the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], the population of Baton Rouge was nearly 5,500. The war nearly halted economic progress, except for businesses associated with supplying the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] Army occupation of the city, which began in the spring of 1862 and lasted for the duration of the war. The Confederates at first consolidated their forces elsewhere, during which time the state government moved to [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]] and later [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]].<ref name="Stocksieker_307"/> In the summer of 1862, about 2,600 Confederate troops under generals [[John C. Breckinridge]] (the former [[Vice President of the United States]]) and [[Daniel Ruggles]] attempted to recapture Baton Rouge.

After the war, New Orleans temporarily served as the seat of the [[Reconstruction era]] state government. When the [[Bourbon Democrat]]s regained power in 1882, after considerable intimidation and voter suppression of black Republicans, they returned the state government to Baton Rouge, where it has since remained. In his 1893 guidebook, [[Karl Baedeker]] described Baton Rouge as "the Capital of Louisiana, a quaint old place with 10,378 inhabitants, on a bluff above the Mississippi".<ref>Baedeker, Karl, ed. ''The United States with an Excursion into Mexico: A Handbook for Travelers'', 1893: p. 321 (Reprint by Da Capo Press, New York, 1971)</ref>

In the 1950s and 1960s, the petrochemical industry boomed in Baton Rouge, stimulating the city's expansion beyond its original center. The changing market in the oil business has produced fluctuations in the industry, affecting employment in the city and area. In 1953, [[Baton Rouge bus boycott|there was a bus boycott]] by black riders who were forbidden to occupy seats reserved for whites, leading eventually to some improvement of their rights.<ref>{{cite web |title=Martha White dies, sparked '53 Louisiana capital bus boycott |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/06/08/martha-white-dies-sparked-53-louisiana-capital-bus-boycott/ |website=Toronto City News |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=8 June 2021 |quote=When the driver ordered her to get up, White refused and another Black woman sat beside her in solidarity. The bus driver threatened to have the women arrested.}}</ref>

On January 10, 1972, [[1972 Baton Rouge shooting|a violent shootout]] between members of the [[Nation of Islam]] (NOI) and the police ensued, which left two sheriff's deputies and two black males dead at the scene. 31 individuals were injured, including 14 police officers. In response, then-Louisiana Governor [[John McKeithen]] ordered 700 members of the [[Louisiana National Guard]] to patrol the streets to tamp down further intercity violence.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nordheimer |first=Jon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/11/archives/4-in-baton-rouge-are-slain-in-clash-2-deputies-and-2-blacks-die-and.html |title=4 in Baton Rouge Are Slain in Clash |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=1 |date=January 11, 1972 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312055551/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/11/archives/4-in-baton-rouge-are-slain-in-clash-2-deputies-and-2-blacks-die-and.html |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Baton Rouge Mayor-President Woodrow Wilson "W. W." Dumas subsequently imposed an evening to early-morning curfew. On January 14, the curfew was lifted.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bankston |first=Bill |title=Police Keep Vigil: Baton Rouge Remains Quiet After Guardsmen Exit City |newspaper=Baton Rouge State-Times |date=January 14, 1972 |pages=1, 8}}</ref>

A building boom began in the city in the 1990s and continued into the 2000s, during which Baton Rouge became one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southern United States in terms of technology.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.businessreport.com/article/business-report-companies-along-airline-migrate-south-mean-left-behind|title=As companies along Airline migrate south, what does it mean for those left behind?|journal=Baton Rouge Business Report|date=2015-02-10|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002083524/https://www.businessreport.com/article/business-report-companies-along-airline-migrate-south-mean-left-behind|archive-date=October 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Metropolitan Baton Rouge was ranked as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. (with a population under 1 million), with 602,894 in 2000 and 802,484 people as of the 2010 U.S. census.<ref>Metropolitan Areas Ranked by Population 1990–2000{{clarify|date=October 2015}}<!--how does that include the population for 2010?--> [[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division</ref> After the extensive damage in New Orleans and along the coast from [[Hurricane Katrina]] on August 29, 2005, the city took in as many as 200,000 displaced residents.

In 2010, Baton Rouge started a market push to become a test city for [[Google]]'s new super high speed [[fiber optic]] line known as GeauxFiBR.<ref>[http://www.wafb.com/story/12261173/groups-plan-to-make-push-for-google-fiber-experiment "Groups plan to make push for Google Fiber experiment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725061154/http://www.wafb.com/story/12261173/groups-plan-to-make-push-for-google-fiber-experiment |date=July 25, 2014 }}, [[WAFB]], April 5, 2010.</ref>

In July 2016, the Greater Baton Rouge metropolitan area was heavily affected by the shooting of [[Killing of Alton Sterling|Alton Sterling]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who was Alton Sterling? What we know so far about the man killed by Baton Rouge police |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alton-sterling-article-1.2700893 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=New York Daily News|date=July 6, 2016 }}</ref> His death led to multiple protests and the [[2016 shooting of Baton Rouge police officers|shooting of police officers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dupuy |first=Kevin |title=TIMELINE: Alton Sterling shooting and protests |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/timeline-alton-sterling-shooting-and-protests/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=WBRZ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mustian |first=Jim |title=Alton Sterling protesters treated 'like animals' in Baton Rouge prison, advocacy group claims |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_83d4ec44-626c-11e7-86ae-dbcc39e06536.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Advocate |date=July 8, 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Visser |first=Steve |date=2016-07-17 |title=Baton Rouge shooting: 3 officers dead; shooter was Missouri man, sources say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/baton-route-police-shooting/index.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-07-17 |title=Baton Rouge shooter was ex-Marine who denied ties to any group |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-police-shooter-idUSKCN0ZX0WC |access-date=2022-12-12}}</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] also made remarks on the shooting of Alton Sterling.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-07 |title=President Obama on the Fatal Shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/07/07/president-obama-fatal-shootings-alton-sterling-and-philando-castile |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Obama White House |language=en}}</ref> By February 2021, Sterling's family was given a $4.5 million settlement to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-11 |title=Officials offer $4.5M settlement over Alton Sterling's death |url=https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-police-alton-sterling-lawsuits-louisiana-a746a96ce79431c2721d45a783ebe4f5 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Associated Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Metro council approves $4.5 million settlement offer for Alton Sterling's family |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/metro-council-passes-4-5-million-settlement-for-alton-sterling-s-family/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=WBRZ |language=en}}</ref> In August 2016, the city and metropolitan area were [[2016 Louisiana floods|severely flooded]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Floods - 2016 Floods |url=https://64parishes.org/entry/2016-floods |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=64 Parishes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Diana |title=Looking back at the Louisiana Flood of 2016: From 2 feet of rain to sodden drywall |url=https://www.nola.com/news/weather/looking-back-at-the-louisiana-flood-of-2016-from-2-feet-of-rain-to-sodden/article_843a2f36-b5ff-5f06-b361-0c328b09c9e9.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=NOLA.com |date=August 12, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

During the runoff for District 3 of the [[Louisiana Public Service Commission]] in December 2022, many Baton Rougeans helped elect [[Davante Lewis]]—the first openly LGBT politician to the state government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-10 |title=Newcomer wins seat on Louisiana Public Service Commission |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-politics-louisiana-baton-rouge-utilities-62ce147befa39e377cd9a48716590d90 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Associated Press |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=O'Donoghue |first=Julie |date=2022-12-11 |title=Davante Lewis becomes Louisiana's first openly LGBTQ person elected to state government |url=https://lailluminator.com/2022/12/10/davante-lewis-becomes-louisianas-first-openly-lgbtq-person-elected-to-state-government/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Louisiana Illuminator |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 28 April 2024, the Louisiana State Supreme Court gave the city of [[St. George, Louisiana|St. George]] the right to secede from Baton Rouge, in a 4–3 decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-28 |title=Louisiana Will Get a New City After a Yearslong Court Battle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/28/us/louisiana-st-george.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Aerial of Baton Rouge, LA from ISS 2011.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Baton Rouge as viewed from the [[International Space Station]], May 2011, looking west|alt=]]

The city of Baton Rouge lies on the banks of the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana's [[Florida Parishes]] region.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The city is about {{Convert|79|mi|km|abbr=}} from [[New Orleans]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Distance between Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA|url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-baton-rouge-la-to-new-orleans-la|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.distance-cities.com}}</ref> {{Convert|126|mi|km|abbr=}} from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Distance between Baton Rouge, LA and Alexandria, LA|url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-baton-rouge-la-to-alexandria-la|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.distance-cities.com}}</ref> {{convert|56|mi}} from [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] and {{Convert|250|mi|km|abbr=}} from [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between Baton Rouge, LA and Shreveport, LA |url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-baton-rouge-la-to-shreveport-la |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Distance Cities}}</ref> It is also {{Convert|173|mi|km|abbr=}} from [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], [[Mississippi]] and {{Convert|272|mi|km|abbr=}} from [[Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between Baton Rouge, LA and Jackson, MS |url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-baton-rouge-la-to-jackson-ms |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Distance Cities}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between Baton Rouge, LA and Houston, TX |url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-baton-rouge-la-to-houston-tx |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Distance Cities}}</ref> Baton Rouge lies on a low elevation of 56 to a little over 62 feet above [[sea level]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate Baton Rouge – Louisiana and Weather averages Baton Rouge |url=https://usclimatedata.com/climate/baton-rouge/louisiana/united-states/usla0033 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321182727/https://usclimatedata.com/climate/baton-rouge/louisiana/united-states/usla0033 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=2019-03-21 |website=U.S. Climate Data}}</ref>

Baton Rouge is the [[Capital city|capital]] of Louisiana and the [[parish seat]] of [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|East Baton Rouge Parish]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|79.15|sqmi|1}}, of which {{convert|76.95|sqmi|1}} are land and {{convert|2.2|sqmi|1}} (2.81%) are covered by water.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Baton Rouge city, Louisiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/batonrougecitylouisiana/PST045219 |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=United States Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> 

Baton Rouge is on the first set of bluffs north of the [[Mississippi River Delta]]'s coastal plains. Because of its prominent location along the river and on the bluffs, which prevents flooding, the French built a fort in the city in 1719.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-baton-rouge.htm |title= Geography of Baton Rouge |publisher= How Stuff Works |access-date= June 26, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140222003901/http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-baton-rouge.htm |archive-date= February 22, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> Baton Rouge is the third-southernmost capital city in the continental United States, after [[Austin, Texas]], and [[Tallahassee, Florida]]. It is the cultural and economic center of the [[Baton Rouge metropolitan area|Greater Baton Rouge]] metropolitan area.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Baton Rouge Flood August 2016 20160815-OC-DOD-0010.jpg|thumb|Baton Rouge, 2016 Louisiana flood]]
Baton Rouge has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''). It has mild winters, hot and humid summers, moderate to heavy rainfall, and the possibility of damaging winds and tornadoes yearlong. The area's average precipitation is 61.94 inches (141.1&nbsp;cm) of rain and 0.1 inches (0.25&nbsp;cm) of snow annually. With ample precipitation, Baton Rouge is fifth on the list of wettest cities in the United States. Snow in the Baton Rouge area is usually rare, although it snowed in three consecutive years at the first decade of the 21st century: December 11, 2008, December 4, 2009, and February 12, 2010. In 2017, Baton Rouge received snow again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fradella |first=Zack |title=This Date in History: 2017 Snow Day |url=https://www.wafb.com/2019/12/08/this-date-history-snow-day/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=WAFB |date=December 8, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The yearly average temperature for Baton Rouge is {{convert|68.4|°F}}. The average temperature for January is {{convert|51.7|°F}} and July is {{convert|83.0|°F}}.<ref name= NOAA/> The area is usually free from extremes in temperature, with some cold winter fronts, but those are usually brief.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.answers.com/topic/baton-rouge-geography-and-climate |title= Baton Rouge: Geography and Climate |publisher= Answers |access-date= June 26, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131231191113/http://www.answers.com/topic/baton-rouge-geography-and-climate |archive-date= December 31, 2013 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Baton Rouge's proximity to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] exposes the city and metropolitan area to hurricanes. On September 1, 2008, [[Hurricane Gustav]] struck the city and became the worst hurricane ever to hit the Baton Rouge area.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Deaton|first=Diane|title=The Fifth Season: Ten year anniversary of Hurricane Gustav|url=https://www.wafb.com/story/38309470/the-fifth-season-ten-year-anniversary-of-hurricane-gustav|access-date=2021-07-29|website=WAFB|date=May 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Winds topped {{convert|100|mph}}, knocking down trees and powerlines and making roads impassable.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Department of Homeland Security. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Public Affairs Division. 3/1/2003-|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5699644|title=[Hurricane Gustav] Baton Rouge, LA, September 1, 2008 -- Hurricane Gustav hit the city of Baton Rouge with 100 mph plus winds and took the roof off of the Alpha Kappa Alpha alumni-house in the downtown area. Barry Bahler/FEMA|date=2008-09-01|series=Series: Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials, 1956 - 2008}}</ref> The roofs of many buildings suffered tree damage, especially in the Highland Road, Garden District, and Goodwood areas. The city was shut down for five days and a curfew was put in effect. Rooftop shingles were ripped off, signs blew down, and minor structural damage occurred.{{Weather box
| location = Baton Rouge, Louisiana ([[Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport|Metropolitan Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals,{{NoteTag|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1892–present
| single line = yes
| Jan record high F = 85
| Feb record high F = 88
| Mar record high F = 93
| Apr record high F = 96
| May record high F = 101
| Jun record high F = 103
| Jul record high F = 103
| Aug record high F = 110
| Sep record high F = 104
| Oct record high F = 98
| Nov record high F = 91
| Dec record high F = 88
| year record high F = 110
| Jan avg record high F = 77.5
| Feb avg record high F = 80.3
| Mar avg record high F = 84.3
| Apr avg record high F = 87.7
| May avg record high F = 92.2
| Jun avg record high F = 95.5
| Jul avg record high F = 96.7
| Aug avg record high F = 97.5
| Sep avg record high F = 95.3
| Oct avg record high F = 90.7
| Nov avg record high F = 83.9
| Dec avg record high F = 80.0
| year avg record high F = 98.4
| Jan high F = 62.3
| Feb high F = 66.6
| Mar high F = 73.0
| Apr high F = 79.1
| May high F = 85.8
| Jun high F = 90.5
| Jul high F = 91.9
| Aug high F = 92.2
| Sep high F = 88.7
| Oct high F = 80.9
| Nov high F = 71.0
| Dec high F = 64.3
| year high F = 78.9
| Jan mean F = 52.0
| Feb mean F = 55.9
| Mar mean F = 62.0
| Apr mean F = 68.0
| May mean F = 75.5
| Jun mean F = 81.0
| Jul mean F = 82.9
| Aug mean F = 82.8
| Sep mean F = 78.8
| Oct mean F = 69.5
| Nov mean F = 59.4
| Dec mean F = 53.8
| year mean F = 68.5
| Jan low F = 41.6
| Feb low F = 45.3
| Mar low F = 51.0
| Apr low F = 56.9
| May low F = 65.1
| Jun low F = 71.5
| Jul low F = 73.8
| Aug low F = 73.3
| Sep low F = 68.9
| Oct low F = 58.1
| Nov low F = 47.8
| Dec low F = 43.3
| year low F = 58.0
| Jan avg record low F = 24.3
| Feb avg record low F = 29.2
| Mar avg record low F = 32.7
| Apr avg record low F = 40.4
| May avg record low F = 51.3
| Jun avg record low F = 63.6
| Jul avg record low F = 69.0
| Aug avg record low F = 67.4
| Sep avg record low F = 56.4
| Oct avg record low F = 40.9
| Nov avg record low F = 30.9
| Dec avg record low F = 27.3
| year avg record low F = 22.6
| Jan record low F = 9
| Feb record low F = 2
| Mar record low F = 20
| Apr record low F = 31
| May record low F = 40
| Jun record low F = 53
| Jul record low F = 58
| Aug record low F = 58
| Sep record low F = 43
| Oct record low F = 30
| Nov record low F = 21
| Dec record low F = 8
| year record low F = 2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 6.36
| Feb precipitation inch = 4.42
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.46
| Apr precipitation inch = 5.08
| May precipitation inch = 5.23
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.45
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.09
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.37
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.42
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.84
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.90
| Dec precipitation inch = 5.32
| year precipitation inch = 61.94
| Jan snow inch = 0.0
| Feb snow inch = 0.0
| Mar snow inch = 0.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.0
| Dec snow inch = 0.2
| year snow inch = 0.2
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 9.9
| Feb precipitation days = 8.9
| Mar precipitation days = 8.9
| Apr precipitation days = 8.0
| May precipitation days = 8.2
| Jun precipitation days = 11.6
| Jul precipitation days = 13.2
| Aug precipitation days = 11.8
| Sep precipitation days = 8.6
| Oct precipitation days = 7.3
| Nov precipitation days = 8.0
| Dec precipitation days = 9.7
| year precipitation days = 114.1
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.0
| Feb snow days = 0.0
| Mar snow days = 0.0
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.0
| Dec snow days = 0.1
| year snow days = 0.1
| Jan humidity = 74.1
| Feb humidity = 70.9
| Mar humidity = 70.0
| Apr humidity = 70.6
| May humidity = 72.3
| Jun humidity = 74.4
| Jul humidity = 77.2
| Aug humidity = 77.7
| Sep humidity = 76.9
| Oct humidity = 72.8
| Nov humidity = 74.6
| Dec humidity = 74.7
| year humidity = 73.8
| source 1 = [[NOAA]] (relative humidity 1961–1990)<ref name= NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=lix
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013970&format=pdf
| title = Station: Baton Rouge Ryan AP, LA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NOAAhumidity>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP1/00160549.TXT
| title = WMO Climate Normals for Baton Rouge/WSO AP, LA 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = August 27, 2021}}</ref>
| source = 
| collapsed = Y
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1810= 469
|1840= 2269
|1850= 3905
|1860= 5428
|1870= 6498
|1880= 7197
|1890= 10478
|1900= 11269
|1910= 14897
|1920= 21782
|1930= 30729
|1940= 34719
|1950= 125629
|1960= 152419
|1970= 165921
|1980= 220394
|1990= 219531
|2000= 227818
|2010= 229493
|2020= 227470
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 23, 2013|df=mdy|author-link=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}

Prior to colonization, [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]] were once the primary residents of present-day Baton Rouge. With the coming of [[European colonization of the Americas|European colonization]], and the migration of American settlers after the [[Louisiana Purchase]], European and African-descended peoples became the predominant groups in the area by birth rates and immigration to a 1860 population of 5,428. Since reaching its first historic high of 220,394 residents at the [[1980 United States census|1980 U.S. census]], the city's population has expanded and contracted twice: from 219,531 in 1990, to 227,818 in 2000—the second historic high—and 229,493, the city-proper's third historic high in 2010,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=Baton Rouge city, Louisiana 2019 Population Estimates |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/batonrougecitylouisiana/PST040219 |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> to 227,470 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Baton Rouge, Louisiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/batonrougecitylouisiana/POP010220 |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The black population increased in Baton Rouge after the Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lib.lsu.edu/sites/all/files/sc/exhibits/e-exhibits/redstick/cas8txt.html|title=Interpretive text}}</ref>

Including the consolidated city–parish of Baton Rouge in 2019 ([[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|East Baton Rouge Parish]]), the [[American Community Survey]] estimated 443,763 people lived in the area.<ref name=":8" /> In 2020, the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] determined 456,781 people lived in the consolidated city–parish.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/eastbatonrougeparishlouisiana/POP010220 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The metropolitan population of Baton Rouge increased to 3.6% as a result of [[suburbanization]] in 2019, to an estimated 854,884.<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-05-23|title=Baton Rouge population declines since 2010, though metro area up 3.6%|url=https://www.businessreport.com/newsletters/baton-rouge-population-declines-since-2010-though-metro-area-up-3-6|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Baton Rouge Business Report|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, the metropolitan statistical area's population increased to 870,569 residents,<ref name=":7" /> reflecting southern Louisiana's population growth in contrast with northern Louisiana's stagnation and decline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adelson |first=Jeff |title=Census 2020: South Louisiana parishes grew, while northern and rural parishes decline |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/census-2020-south-louisiana-parishes-grew-while-northern-and-rural-parishes-decline/article_4e00a05a-fb96-11eb-947e-9f738c7b98c2.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=NOLA.com |date=August 12, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, the city of Baton Rouge had a population density of 2,982.5 people per square mile.<ref name=":5" />

=== Racial and ethnic composition ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Baton Rouge city, Louisiana  – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br /><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Baton Rouge city, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=160XX00US2205000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Baton Rouge city, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2205000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Baton Rouge city, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2205000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|101,867
|86,679
|style='background: #ffffe6; |77,829
|44.71%
|37.77%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |34.22%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|113,478
|124,542
|style='background: #ffffe6; |121,799
|49.81%
|54.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53.55%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|376
|397
|style='background: #ffffe6; |382
|0.17%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|5,940
|7,469
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,294
|2.61%
|3.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.21%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|68
|39
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67
|0.03%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|253
|332
|style='background: #ffffe6; |784
|0.11%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,918
|2,382
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,797
|0.84%
|1.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.55%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|3,918
|7,653
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,518
|1.72%
|3.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.94%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''227,818'''
|'''229,493'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''227,470'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

With the population growth of European and African-descended peoples in present-day Baton Rouge, the American Indian population declined to one of the smallest minority groups in the area. With the increase among [[people of color]] during the 20th century, Baton Rouge has also declined as a predominantly non-Hispanic white city, hastened by suburbanization, aging out, and [[white flight]]. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites were 70.5% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana—Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |access-date=April 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref> In 2020, they were 34.2% of the total population.

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Baton Rouge, LA.png|thumb|A racial distribution map of Baton Rouge, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]

In the 2020 United States census, [[African Americans|Black or African Americans]] made up 53.55% of the city-proper's population. In 2021 census estimates, Black or African Americans made up the largest share of youths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States |url=https://statisticalatlas.com/place/Louisiana/Baton-Rouge/Race-and-Ethnicity#figure/ethno-racial-composition-by-age-cohort |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Statistical Atlas}}</ref> The remaining racial and ethnic makeup for the city in 2020 was 34.22% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 0.17% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 3.21% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.03% [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] or other [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 2.55% [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]], and 5.94% [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic and Latino American]] of any race.<ref name=2020CensusP2/> The growing Hispanic and Latino population reflected increasing trends of nationwide diversification.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Passel |first1=Jeffrey S. |last2=Lopez |first2=Mark Hugo |last3=Cohn |first3=D'Vera |title=U.S. Hispanic population continued its geographic spread in the 2010s |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/u-s-hispanic-population-continued-its-geographic-spread-in-the-2010s/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> Among the population of the city and metropolitan area, a substantial number identify as [[Cajuns|Cajun]] or [[Louisiana Creole people|Louisiana Creole]].

=== Sexual orientation and identity ===
During the middle of the 20th century, ''[[The Advocate (Louisiana)|The Advocate]]'' and other region-wide newspapers discriminated against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.<ref name=":13" /> In 1969, the Krewe of Apollo—an LGBT social club originating from nearby New Orleans—developed a sister branch for Baton Rouge. Its annual drag balls were targets of further discrimination.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=LGBTQ+ Rights Movement in Louisiana |url=https://64parishes.org/entry/lgbtq-rights-movement-in-louisiana |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=64 Parishes |language=en}}</ref> Since then, other organizations have been established, such as the Capital City Alliance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.ccabatonrouge.org/about/history/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Capital City Alliance |language=en-US}}</ref> The area has grown a sizeable LGBT community, holding festivals such as Baton Rouge Pride.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Aris |title=Baton Rouge Pride was a needed reminder about the joy to be found in the LGBTQ community |url=https://www.lsureveille.com/entertainment/baton-rouge-pride-was-a-needed-reminder-about-the-joy-to-be-found-in-the/article_216512cc-f994-11ec-bd32-db1e26869cff.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Reveille |date=July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Religion and spirituality ===
[[File:Towers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.JPG|thumb|The steeple of [[St. Joseph Cathedral (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)|St. Joseph Cathedral]], cathedral see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge]]
[[Native American religions]] and [[African diaspora religions|Afrodiasporic religions]] were commonplace alongside [[Christianity]] in Baton Rouge's early history. Due to French, Spanish, and British colonization and missionary efforts, in addition to American settlement, Baton Rouge became a predominantly Christian city and metropolitan area. In a 2020 study by the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]], Christianity is the most-practiced religion for the Baton Rouge area, being influenced by [[Catholicism]] and [[Protestantism]].

In 2020, ARDA reported there were 61 congregations and 174,410 Catholics within the metropolitan area. The Catholic population is primarily served by the [[Latin Church]]'s [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge]]—a [[suffragan diocese]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans]]. The [[Southern Baptist Convention]] was the second largest individual Christian denomination with 208 congregations and 91,293 members. The [[United Methodist Church|United Methodists]] had 28,924 members. The [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention]] had 15,532 adherents in 25 churches. [[Nondenominational Christianity|Non-denominational Protestants]] were spread out in 270 churches numbering 102,500.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 {{!}} U.S. Religion Census {{!}} Religious Statistics & Demographics |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=U.S. Religion Census |publisher=Association of Religion Data Archives}}</ref>

In a 2019 study by [[Sperling's BestPlaces]], other notable Christian bodies in the area include [[Anglicanism|Anglicans or Episcopalians]], [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]], [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]], [[Latter Day Saint movement|Latter-Day Saints]], and [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]].<ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=Baton Rouge, Louisiana Religion |url=https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/louisiana/baton_rouge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321182729/https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/louisiana/baton_rouge |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=2019-03-21 |website=Sperling's BestPlaces}}</ref> Christians including [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], the [[Metropolitan Community Church]], [[Unitarianism|Christian Unitarians]], and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] among others collectively made up 14% of the Sperling's study other Christian demographic. Notable Anglican or Episcopalian jurisdictions operating throughout the Greater Baton Rouge area include the [[Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana]] aligned with the [[Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States]];<ref>{{cite web |title=Church Directory (By City) |url=https://www.edola.org/church-directory-by-city/ |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana |language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[Diocese of Mid-America|Reformed Episcopal Diocese of Mid-America]] and the [[Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast]] aligned with the [[Anglican Church in North America]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Find a Congregation|url=https://anglicanchurch.net/find-a-congregation/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=The Anglican Church in North America|language=en-US}}</ref> 

Baton Rouge's Pentecostal communities are mainly affiliated with the [[Assemblies of God USA]] and the [[Church of God in Christ]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Find a Church |url=https://ag.org/Resources/Directories/Find-a-Church |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Assemblies of God}}</ref> Presbyterians are mainly members of the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Church (U.S.A.) |first=Presbyterian |date=2020-07-31 |title=Resources |url=https://www.pcusa.org/search/congregations/?criteria=baton+rouge,+louisiana&distance=15&by_location=Search&congregation=&presbytery= |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)}}</ref> In 2020, the Church of God in Christ was the area's largest Pentecostal denomination by membership.<ref name=":12" />

In 2019, the second-largest religion in Baton Rouge and its metropolitan area was [[Islam]].<ref name=":4" /> In 2020, there were over six mosques in the Baton Rouge area, primarily affiliated with [[Sunni Islam]]. The [[Nation of Islam]] also has a presence in the area.<ref>{{cite web|last=Phelps|first=Earl|title=Nation of Islam calls for new boycotts in Baton Rouge|url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/nation-of-islam-calls-for-new-boycotts-in-baton-rouge/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=WBRZ}}</ref> The Muslim population has grown out of Middle Eastern immigration and [[African-American Muslims|African American Muslim]] missionary work.<ref>{{cite web|date=2016-06-13|title=INCREASING ISLAM: A Glimpse At Muslim Immigration And Its Massive Expansion Into Louisiana|url=https://thehayride.com/2016/06/increasing-islam-a-glimpse-at-muslim-immigration-and-its-massive-expansion-into-louisiana/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=The Hayride|language=en-US}}</ref> The first Islamic private school in Baton Rouge was established in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crews break ground on new building for Islamic school in Baton Rouge |url=https://www.wafb.com/2019/12/13/crews-break-ground-new-building-islamic-school-baton-rouge/ |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=WAFB |date=December 14, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019, [[Judaism|Orthodox Jews]] made up 0.2% of Baton Rouge's religious population. 0.6% of the population identified with eastern faiths. including [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]].<ref name=":4" /> [[New religious movement]]s including [[Modern Paganism|contemporary paganism]] have small communities in the area,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Parker|first=Trent|title=Local pagans seek religious rights|url=https://www.lsureveille.com/daily/local-pagans-seek-religious-rights/article_82a50d90-5698-11e5-b42b-1f22a09870ef.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=The Reveille|date=September 8, 2015 }}</ref> and a minority practice [[Haitian Vodou]], [[Louisiana Voodoo]], and [[Hoodoo (spirituality)|Hoodoo]]. In Sperling's 2019 study, 31.9% of the population identified as either [[spiritual but not religious]], [[Agnosticism|agnostic]], or [[Atheism|atheist]]

==Economy==
[[File:Shawhq2.JPG|thumb|The former [[Chicago Bridge & Iron Company|CB&I]] local office on Essen Lane, a commercial office corridor]]

Baton Rouge enjoys a strong economy that has helped the city be ranked as one of the "Top 10 Places for Young Adults" in 2010 by portfolio.com and one of the top 20 cities in North America for economic strength by the [[Brookings Institution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portfolio.com/business-news/us-uncovered/2010/03/15/austin-washington-raleigh-and-boston-top-2010-rank-of-best-cities-for-young-americans#ixzz0sHa3fBW9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401165850/http://www.portfolio.com/business-news/us-uncovered/2010/03/15/austin-washington-raleigh-and-boston-top-2010-rank-of-best-cities-for-young-americans#ixzz0sHa3fBW9|archive-date=April 1, 2012 |title=Austin Washington Raleigh And Boston Top 2010 Rank Of Best Cities For Young Americans |publisher=Portfolio.com |date=September 11, 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Programs/Metro/metro_monitor/2010_03_metro_monitor/2010_03_metro_monitor.pdf|title=MetroMonitor: Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in America's 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607152642/http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Programs/Metro/metro_monitor/2010_03_metro_monitor/2010_03_metro_monitor.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> In 2009, the city was ranked by [[CNN]] as the 9th-best place in the country to start a new business.<ref name="money.cnn.com">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/smallbusiness/best_places_launch/2009/snapshot/28.html |work=CNN|title=Learn |access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305011503/https://money.cnn.com/smallbusiness/best_places_launch/2009/snapshot/28.html |archive-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lamar Advertising Company]] has its headquarters in Baton Rouge.<ref>"[http://www.lamar.com/Contact contact us]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503172250/http://www.lamar.com/Contact |date=May 3, 2013 }}." [[Lamar Advertising Company]]. Retrieved on February 25, 2011. "5321 Corporate Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70808."</ref> Other notable companies headquartered in the city include [[BBQGuys]], [[Marucci Sports]], [[Piccadilly Restaurants]], and [[Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers – Corporate Office|url=https://investors.brac.org/external/wcpages/wcdirectory/results/listing.aspx?listingid=3619|access-date=2020-07-31|website=investors.brac.org}}</ref> Notable corporations which have established offices or distribution centers in the Baton Rouge area have included [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] in 2021, and [[Microsoft]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-16 |title=Amazon Announces New Robotics Fulfillment Center in Baton Rouge |url=https://press.aboutamazon.com/2021/6/amazon-announces-new-robotics-fulfillment-center-in-baton-rouge |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Press Center |publisher=Amazon |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Amazon warehouse will hopefully bring jobs to Baton Rouge |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/new-amazon-warehouse-will-hopefully-bring-jobs-to-baton-rouge/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=WBRZ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Office Locations List |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/officelocator/all-offices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125161930/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/officelocator/all-offices |archive-date=2022-11-25 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Microsoft |language=en-us}}</ref> [[Chicago Bridge & Iron Company]] had an office in Baton Rouge before being sold in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boone |first=Timothy |title=CB&I to continue employing thousands in Baton Rouge after Capital Services sale |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/cb-i-to-continue-employing-thousands-in-baton-rouge-after-capital-services-sale/article_f85b4fc8-0055-11e7-a8be-bf9a273c71d1.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=The Advocate |date=March 3, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, [[Aldi]] established a presence in Baton Rouge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gremillion |first=Bria |date=2023-11-30 |title=VIDEO: Aldi officially opens BR location |url=https://www.wafb.com/2023/12/14/video-aldi-officially-opens-br-location/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=WAFB |language=en}}</ref>

Baton Rouge is the farthest inland port on the Mississippi River that can accommodate ocean-going [[Tanker (ship)|tankers]] and [[Cargo ship|cargo carriers]]. The ships transfer their cargo (grain, oil, cars, containers) at Baton Rouge onto rails and pipelines (to travel east–west) or barges (to travel north). Deep-draft vessels cannot pass the [[Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)|Old Huey Long Bridge]] because the clearance is insufficient. In addition, the river depth decreases significantly just to the north, near [[Port Hudson, Louisiana|Port Hudson]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.portgbr.com/content.php?display=about| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614144752/http://www.portgbr.com/content.php?display=about| archive-date=June 14, 2006| title= Port of Greater Baton Rouge| access-date=April 26, 2008}}</ref>[[File:ExxonMobil Baton Rouge.jpg|thumb|314x314px|The [[ExxonMobil]] oil refinery seen from the capitol tower]]

Baton Rouge's largest industry is petrochemical production and manufacturing. [[ExxonMobil]]'s [[Baton Rouge Refinery]] complex is the fifth-largest [[oil refinery]] in the country;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Refining crude oil - refinery rankings |url=https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/refining-crude-oil-refinery-rankings.php |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=U.S. Energy Information Administration}}</ref> it is the world's tenth largest. Baton Rouge also has rail, highway, pipeline, and deep-water access.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/public_pa/WorldwideEnglish/WhoWeAre/WhereWeOperate/Americas/OC_who_operate_USCAN_BatonRouge.asp| title= Exxon Mobil Refinery| access-date=April 26, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071222110653/http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/public_pa/WorldwideEnglish/WhoWeAre/WhereWeOperate/Americas/OC_who_operate_USCAN_BatonRouge.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 22, 2007}}</ref> [[Dow Chemical Company]] has a large plant in [[Iberville Parish, Louisiana|Iberville Parish]] near [[Plaquemine, Louisiana|Plaquemine]], {{convert|17|mi}} south of Baton Rouge.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.dow.com/dowpromise/community/batonrou.htm| title= DowChemicals| access-date= April 26, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080507061016/http://www.dow.com/dowpromise/community/batonrou.htm| archive-date= May 7, 2008| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}</ref> [[The Shaw Group|Shaw Construction]], Turner, and Harmony all started with performing construction work at these plants.

In addition to being the state capital and parish seat, the city is the home of [[Louisiana State University]], which employs over 5,000 academic staff.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.lsu.edu/about/index.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321182728/https://www.lsu.edu/about/index.php |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=2019-03-21 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref> One of the largest single employers in Baton Rouge is the state government, which consolidated all branches of state government downtown at the Capitol Park complex.<ref>{{cite web |title=Capitol Park |url=http://brgov.com/dept/ddd/capitolpark.htm |access-date=April 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508134058/http://brgov.com/dept/ddd/capitolpark.htm |archive-date=May 8, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The city has a substantial medical research and clinical presence. Research hospitals have included [[Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center|Our Lady of the Lake]], Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital (affiliated with [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]]), [[Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center]], and [[Earl K. Long Medical Center (LSUMC)|Earl K. Long]] (closed 2013).<ref>{{cite web |last=Shuler |first=Marsha |title=Earl K Long Hospital to close in April |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_23f5a906-ccc1-5d07-a334-b3504c9fe9e9.html |access-date=2019-03-10 |website=The Advocate|date=January 25, 2013 }}</ref> Together with an emerging medical corridor at Essen Lane, Summa Avenue and Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge is developing a medical district expected to be similar to the [[Texas Medical Center]]. LSU and [[Tulane University]] have both announced plans to construct satellite medical campuses in Baton Rouge to partner with Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center and [[Baton Rouge General Medical Center – Mid-City Campus|Baton Rouge General Medical Center]], respectively.<ref name="money.cnn.com" />

[[Southeastern Louisiana University]] and [[Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University]] both have nursing schools in the medical district off Essen Lane. Louisiana State University's [[Pennington Biomedical Research Center]], which conducts clinical and biological research, also contributes to research-related employment in the area around the Baton Rouge medical district.

The [[film industry in Louisiana]] has increased dramatically since the beginning of the 21st century, aided by generous [[tax incentive]]s adopted by the state in 2002. In September 2013, the Baton Rouge Film Commission reported that the industry had brought more than $90 million into the local economy in 2013.<ref>[http://www.wbrz.com/news/movie-makers-put-baton-rouge-in-spotlight/ "Movie makers put Baton Rouge in spotlight"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904062325/http://www.wbrz.com/news/movie-makers-put-baton-rouge-in-spotlight/ |date=September 4, 2015}}, [[Associated Press]] at [[WBRZ-TV]], September 15, 2013.</ref> Baton Rouge's largest production facility is the Celtic Media Centre, opened in 2006 by a local group in collaboration with [[Raleigh Studios]] of Los Angeles. Raleigh dropped its involvement in 2014.<ref>Bill Lodge, [http://theadvocate.com/home/8421277-125/celtic-group-becomes-sole-operator "Celtic Group becomes sole operator of BR movie studio"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904062325/http://theadvocate.com/home/8421277-125/celtic-group-becomes-sole-operator |date=September 4, 2015}}, ''[[The Advocate (Louisiana)|The Advocate]]'', February 20, 2014.</ref>

==Culture and arts==
[[File:Baton Rouge River Center, Louisiana.jpg|thumb|Raising Cane's Baton Rouge River Center in Downtown|alt=]]Baton Rouge is a culturally distinct area of Louisiana, where Cajun and Creole Catholic culture from [[Greater New Orleans]] and [[Acadiana]] is syncretized with the African American Baptist culture of the [[Florida Parishes]] and South [[Mississippi]]. The city of Baton Rouge is a "college town" with [[Baton Rouge Community College]], [[Louisiana State University]], [[Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University]], and [[Southern University]] located throughout the city limits; the students of Louisiana State University alone make up 20% of the city population.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=LSU Admission Requirements in 2022 |url=https://www.turito.com/blog/college-guide/lsu-admission-requirements-in-2022 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Turito Blog |language=en |quote=The campus is spread over more than 1000 acres, and it is located in the southern part of Baton Rouge near the Mississippi River. It has a student population of more than 35000, which accounts for up to 20% of the population of Baton Rouge City.}}</ref> In a sizable international population of over 11,300 as of 2008, the largest groups were people of Hispanic and Latino, or [[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]] descent. This contributes to Baton Rouge's unique culture and diversity.

===Arts and theater===
[[File:Shawcenterbr.JPG|thumb|right|[[Shaw Center for the Arts]] in Downtown]]
[[File:Krewe of Southdowns, BR LA Flambeaux Group.jpg|thumb|Southdowns Mardi Gras parade, 2014]]
Baton Rouge has an expanding visual arts scene, which is centered downtown. Professional performing arts organizations include Theatre Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, Opera Louisiane and Playmakers—a professional Children's Theatre. This increasing collection of venues includes the [[Shaw Center for the Arts]].<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.shawcenter.org/
|title= Shaw Center for the Arts
|access-date=April 12, 2008
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080405192319/http://www.shawcenter.org/ |archive-date= April 5, 2008 |url-status= live }}</ref> Opened in 2005, the 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]],<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.lasm.org/
|title= Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
|access-date=April 12, 2008
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509132044/http://lasm.org/| archive-date= May 9, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> which contains the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, traveling art exhibits, space displays, and an ancient Egyptian section. Several smaller art galleries, including the [[Baton Rouge Gallery]], offering a range of local art, are scattered throughout the city.

The city has several designated arts and cultural districts,<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism |url = http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturaldistricts/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090226233154/http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturaldistricts |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |access-date=May 4, 2012 }}</ref> the most prominent of which are the Mid-City Cultural District and the Perkins Road Arts District. These districts provide tax incentives, mostly in the form of exempting state tax on purchases, to promote cultural activity in these areas. Located in a Qualified Census Tract the North Baton Rouge community of [[Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Scotlandville]] was designated a Cultural District in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NINE NEW CULTURAL DISTRICTS ANNOUNCED {{!}} Louisiana DCRT News |url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/webactive/NewsStory.asp?NewsID=388 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=www.crt.state.la.us}}</ref>

A performing arts scene is emerging. LSU's [[Swine Palace]] is the foremost theatre company in the city, largely made up of students of LSU's MFA acting program, as well as professional actors and stage managers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swinepalace.org/ |title=The Premier Professional Theatre of Louisiana |publisher=Swine Palace |date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029040600/http://www.swinepalace.org/ |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> A group of physical theatre and circus artists from LSU traveled to [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, in summer 2012 to perform ''Dante'' in what has become the world's largest [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Fringe Festival]]. The show ran in Baton Rouge before going to Fringe, and featured movement, acrobatics, and [[aerial silk]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 9, 2012 |title=LSU Department of Theatre to Present "Dante" March 27 – April 6 in Movement Studio |url=http://www.lsu.edu/ur/ocur/lsunews/MediaCenter/News/2012/03/item44688.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604231028/http://www.lsu.edu/ur/ocur/lsunews/MediaCenter/News/2012/03/item44688.html |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref>

Theatre Baton Rouge offers a diverse selection of live theatre performances. Opera Louisiane is Baton Rouge's only professional opera company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.operalouisiane.com/about |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Opera Louisiane |language=en}}</ref> The Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre is Baton Rouge's professional ballet company. ''The Nutcracker– A Tale from the Bayou'' sets the familiar holiday classic in 19th-century Louisiana and has become a Baton Rouge holiday tradition. ''A Tale from the Bayou'' features professional dancers, a live orchestra, and more than 300 area children.

Baton Rouge is also home to Forward Arts, a youth writing organization. Forward Arts won the international youth poetry slam, Brave New Voices in 2017, and was the first team from the Southern United States to ever win the competition. Forward Arts is the only youth spoken-word organization in the state of Louisiana. It was founded by Dr. Anna West in 2005, and first housed in the Big Buddy Program.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.brrivercenter.com/site.php
 |title       = Baton Rouge River Center
 |access-date  = April 12, 2008
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080416215237/http://brrivercenter.com/site.php
 |archive-date = April 16, 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.brlt.org/
|title=Baton Rouge Little Theater
|access-date=April 12, 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409233633/http://www.brlt.org/
|archive-date=April 9, 2008
|url-status=dead
|df=mdy-all
}}</ref>

Baton Rouge is also home to Of Moving Colors Productions, the premier contemporary dance company in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.ofmovingcolors.org/omc-directors |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Of Moving Colors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Of Moving Colors announces its 2022-23 season |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_caa51e44-0c4b-11ed-963e-971e8cea952a.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=The Advocate |date=July 30, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> For more than 30 years it has brought in internationally established choreographers to create stunning performances. In addition, they conduct extensive community outreach to children and young adults.

Performing venues include the [[Baton Rouge River Center]], Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, which seats about 1,900; the Manship Theatre, which is located in the Shaw Center for the Arts and seats 350; and the Reilly Theater, which is home to [[Swine Palace]], a nonprofit professional theater company associated with the Louisiana State University Department of Theatre.

The [[Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra]] has operated since 1947 and currently performs at the River Center Music Hall downtown.<ref name="brso.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.brso.org/ |title=Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra |publisher=Brso.org |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505091423/http://www.brso.org/ |archive-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Today, it presents more than 60 concerts annually, directed by [[Timothy Muffitt]] and David Torns.<ref name="brso.org" /> The BRSO's educational component, the Louisiana Youth Orchestra, made its debut in 1984. It includes almost 180 musicians under the age of 20.

===Miss USA pageants===
[[File:Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry Miss USA 2014.png|thumb|Miss Louisiana USA Brittany Guidry, Miss USA 2014, Preliminary Evening Gown Competition]]

Baton Rouge was chosen to host the [[Miss USA 2014]] Pageant. It took over [[downtown Baton Rouge]] as [[Nia Sanchez]], Miss Nevada USA, took home the crown, with Miss Louisiana USA Brittany Guidry coming in fourth. Veteran pageant host Giuliana Rancic and [[MSNBC]] news anchor Thomas Roberts introduced the 51 contestants; there were 20 semifinalists. ''Cosmo'' weighed in on the contest, complimenting Guidry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/style/miss-usa-2014-baton-rouge-2D79777027|title=Miss Nevada wins Miss USA crown in Baton Rouge|first=Brooke|last=Lefferts|date=June 9, 2014 |access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827085326/https://www.today.com/style/miss-usa-2014-baton-rouge-2D79777027|archive-date=August 27, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Celebrity judges included actress [[Rumer Willis]], NBA star [[Karl Malone]], singer [[Lance Bass]], and actor [[Ian Ziering]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/259|title=Miss USA : News<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314064712/http://missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/259#.U5tcpY1dVXc|archive-date=March 14, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Baton Rouge hosted [[Miss USA 2015]] again on July 12, 2015, which was won by actress and Miss Oklahoma USA [[Olivia Jordan]]. Baton Rouge was also the site of the 2005 Miss Teen USA Pageant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/235|title=Miss USA : News<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402103032/http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/news/view/235#.U5tdVI1dVXc|archive-date=April 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tourism and recreation===
{{See also|Points of Interest of Baton Rouge}}
[[File:USS Kidd at sunset, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.jpg|thumb|[[USS Kidd (DD-661)|USS ''Kidd'']], located downtown on the river, is part of the Louisiana Naval Museum.]]
[[File:African American Museum, Baton Rouge.jpg|left|thumb|193x193px|The [[Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum|Now And Then African-American Museum]]]]
Baton Rouge's many architectural points of interest range from antebellum to modern. The neo-gothic [[Old Louisiana State Capitol]] was built in the 1850s as the first statehouse in Baton Rouge. It was later replaced by the 450-ft-tall, art deco New [[Louisiana State Capitol]], the tallest building in the South when it was completed. Several plantation homes in the area, such as [[Magnolia Mound Plantation House]], [[Myrtles Plantation]], and [[Nottoway Plantation]], showcase antebellum-era architecture.

Louisiana State University has more than 250 buildings in [[Italian Renaissance]] style, one of the nation's largest college stadiums, and many live oaks. The downtown has several examples of modern and contemporary buildings, including the [[Louisiana State Museum - Baton Rouge|Capitol Park Museum]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.225batonrouge.com/places/louisiana-state-museum/| title= Louisiana State Museum| access-date= April 14, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080413092340/http://www.225batonrouge.com/places/louisiana-state-museum/| archive-date= April 13, 2008| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}</ref>

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 Archive and Research Library]], and the [[Pennington Biomedical Research Center]], were designed by local architect John Desmond.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/17120296.html |title=News {{pipe}} Architect Desmond dies—Baton Rouge, LA |publisher=2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110522042404/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/17120296.html| archive-date= May 22, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The [[Pentagon Barracks]] Museum and Visitors Center is within the barracks complex and the [[Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Company Depot]] houses the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasm.org|title=LOUISIANA ART AND SCIENCE MUSEUM|publisher=www.lasm.org|access-date=May 29, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080605002714/http://lasm.org/| archive-date= June 5, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Museums around town offer a variety of genres. The Capitol Park Museum and the Old Louisiana State Capitol Museum display information on state history and have many interactive exhibits. The Shaw Center for the Arts and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum showcase varied arts. LASM also includes science exhibits and a [[planetarium]]. Other museums include the [[LSU Museum of Natural Science]] and the [[USS Kidd (DD-661)|USS'' Kidd'']]. The [[Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum]] chronicles the progression and growth of African-Americans.

The Greater Baton Rouge State Fair is an annual one-week attraction held every mid-fall.  The fair began in 1965 and has been under the management of the Baton Rouge Jaycee organization since 1985.<ref>https://www.gbrsf.com/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> In 2021, the fair set an attendance record with over 100,000 attendees.<ref>https://www.wafb.com/2022/02/23/2021-greater-br-state-fair-was-best-attended-fair-history/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

Other attractions include the [[Mall of Louisiana]] and Perkins Rowe, amusement parks of Dixie Landin'/Blue Bayou, and dining at the Louisiana-cuisine restaurants.

==Sports==
[[File:A. W. Mumford Stadium-Arnett W. Ace Mumford Fieldhouse end zone seating.jpg|thumb|230x230px|[[A. W. Mumford Stadium]] of [[Southern University]]]]
College sports play a major role in the culture of Baton Rouge. The [[LSU Tigers]] and the [[Southern Jaguars|Southern University Jaguars]] are [[Division I (NCAA)|NCAA Division I]] athletic programs with the [[LSU Tigers football]] and [[Southern Jaguars football]] teams being the local college [[American football]] teams. College baseball, basketball, and gymnastics are also popular.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.lsusports.net/
|title = Louisiana State University Sports
|access-date = April 13, 2008
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080111034456/http://www.lsusports.net/
|archive-date = January 11, 2008
|url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://gojagsports.cstv.com/ |title= Southern Jaguars |access-date= April 13, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080415183050/http://gojagsports.cstv.com/ |archive-date= April 15, 2008 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Much of the city's sport's attention is focused on the [[List of sports teams in Louisiana|professional teams in Greater New Orleans]]. Baton Rouge has had multiple minor-league baseball teams (the [[Baton Rouge Red Sticks]]), soccer teams ([[Baton Rouge Bombers]]), indoor football teams, a basketball team, and a hockey team ([[Baton Rouge Kingfish]]).

Following a successful round of exhibition games, the [[Federal Prospects Hockey League]] announced that Baton Rouge would be awarded a franchise, beginning play in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/baton-rouge-raising-canes-river-center-sports-entertainment/|title=Baton Rouge getting professional hockey team|date=April 11, 2023}}</ref> The [[Baton Rouge Zydeco]] play their home games at the [[Raising Cane's River Center|River Center]].

The city is home to many alternative or less known leagues. For [[Australian football|Australian rules football]], the city has the [[Baton Rouge Tigers]] which began play in 2004 and competes in the [[United States Australian Football League|USAFL]]. The [[Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club]] began playing in 1977 and has won numerous conference championships. Currently, the team competes in the [[Deep South Rugby Football Union]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.batonrougerugby.net/ |title=Baton Rouge Rugby.net |publisher=Baton Rouge Rugby.net |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723023043/http://www.batonrougerugby.net/ |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Baton Rouge is also home to [[Red Stick Roller Derby]], a [[WFTDA]] Division 3 [[roller derby]] league.

The Baton Rouge Rougarou, a college summer league baseball team in the [[Texas Collegiate League]] play home games at [[Pete Goldsby Field]] in the north of the city.

Soccer for the city currently consists of [[Louisiana Parish AC]] of [[USL League Two]]. The team plays at various home fields including LSU recreation fields on campus and [[BREC Memorial Stadium]] near the Rougarou's home field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/schedule/team_instance/7213546?subseason=800197|title=Game Schedule - 2022 Regular Season - LA Parish|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Nottoway Plantation House.jpg|thumb|[[Nottoway Plantation]] located near [[White Castle, Louisiana|White Castle]], {{convert|26|mi}} south of Baton Rouge]]
Baton Rouge has an extensive park collection presided over by the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC). The largest park is City Park near the Louisiana State University flagship campus. Another notable park is [[Highland Road Community Park]], spanning over {{Convert|144|acre|ha}}. The [[Baton Rouge Zoo]] is also run through BREC and includes over 1,800 species.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.brec.org/ |title = The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge |access-date = April 14, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080409170810/http://www.brec.org/ |archive-date = April 9, 2008 |url-status = live }}</ref>

===National protected areas===
The city is home to 7 national protected areas, and at least 15 places on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|National Register of Historic Places]]: [[Atchafalaya National Heritage Area]]; [[Baton Rouge National Cemetery]]; [[Independence Park Botanic Gardens]]; [[Laurens Henry Cohn, Sr. Memorial Plant Arboretum]]; [[LSU Hilltop Arboretum]]; [[Magnolia Cemetery (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)|Magnolia Cemetery]]; and [[Port Hudson National Cemetery]].

Among its protected areas, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area extends the length of the [[Atchafalaya Basin]] from the area of [[Ferriday, Louisiana|Ferriday]] in the north to the river's mouth beyond [[Morgan City, Louisiana|Morgan City]]; the designation provides a framework for the promotion and interpretation of the area's cultural and historic character, and the preservation of the natural and built environment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=America's French Foreign Country |url=https://www.atchafalaya.org/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Atchafalaya National Heritage Area}}</ref> The Cohn Arboretum previously served as the site for the Cohn family's home; its land was donated in 1965 and the arboretum opened in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laurens Henry Cohn, Sr. Memorial Plant Arboretum |url=https://www.brec.org/index.cfm/park/CohnArboretum |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Parks & Recreation in East Baton Rouge Parish}}</ref> LSU's arboretum was originally developed in 1929 and donated to the university in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LSU Hilltop Arboretum |url=https://www.lsu.edu/hilltop/about/index.php |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:East Baton Rouge Parish District Map.png|thumb|A map of East Baton Rouge Parish districts]]

The city of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge have been run by a consolidated government since 1947. It combined the Baton Rouge municipal government with the rural areas of the parish, allowing people outside the limits of the city of Baton Rouge to use city services. Though the city and parish have a consolidated government, this differs slightly from a traditional [[consolidated city-county]]{{NoteTag|Because the Louisiana uses [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parishes]], the equivalent of a county in other states, in the state this form of government is called a "consolidated city-parish".}} government.

The cities of [[Zachary, Louisiana|Zachary]], [[Baker, Louisiana|Baker]], [[Central, Louisiana|Central]], and [[St. George, Louisiana|St. George]] operate their own city governments within East Baton Rouge Parish. Under this system, Baton Rouge has the uncommon office of "mayor-president", which consolidates the executive offices of "mayor of Baton Rouge" and "president of East Baton Rouge Parish". Though Zachary, Baker, and Central each have their own mayors, citizens living in these municipalities are still a part of the [[constituency]] who can vote and run in elections for mayor-president and metropolitan council.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url = http://brgov.com/govt/ |title=Baton Rouge Government |publisher=City of Baton Rouge |access-date=June 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130728100632/http://brgov.com/govt/ |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref>

The mayor-president's duties include setting the agenda for the government and managing the government's day-to-day functions. They are also responsible for supervising departments, as well as appointing the department heads. The mayor does not set the city's public policy because that is the Metropolitan Council's role, but the mayor-president does have some influence on the policy through appointments and relationships with council members.

The current mayor-president of Baton Rouge is [[Sharon Weston Broome]], a former [[Louisiana State Legislature|Louisiana State legislator]]. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Broome succeeded [[Kip Holden]], also a Democrat, on January 2, 2017, after defeating [[Bodi White]] in a close runoff on December 10, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=GALLO|first=ANDREA|title=Sharon Weston Broome sworn in as Baton Rouge's mayor-president|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_b9d9212c-cd19-11e6-8d98-878bf03790b5.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=The Advocate|date=January 2, 2017 }}</ref> She served in the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] from 1992 to 2004, and in the [[Louisiana State Senate]] from 2004 to 2016. She was elected by the senate to serve as the [[President of the Louisiana State Senate#President pro tempore|Senate President Pro Tempore]] from 2008 to 2016.<ref name="br-mayor" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Council|url=http://brgov.com/dept/council/|access-date=June 12, 2013|publisher=City of Baton Rouge}}</ref>

===Metropolitan council===
[[File:Baton Rouge City Council partisan map 2019.svg|thumb|A map of Baton Rouge City Council partisanship|alt=]]

When the city and parish combined government, the city and parish councils consolidated to form the East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council is the [[legislative branch]] of the Baton Rouge government. Its 12 district council members are elected from [[single-member districts]]. They elect from among themselves the [[Mayor pro tempore|mayor-president'' pro tempore'']]. The mayor-president pro tempore presides over the council's meetings and assumes the role of the mayor-president if the mayor-president is unable to serve. The council members serve four-year terms and can hold office for three terms.

In the late 1960s, Joe Delpit—a local African American businessman owning and operating the Chicken Shack<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Maker of Baton Rouge's Best Chicken Also Fought for Civil Rights |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/restaurants/chicken-shack-baton-rouge-civil-rights |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Food & Wine |language=en}}</ref>—was elected as the first black council member in Baton Rouge. As in other cities of Louisiana and the South, African Americans had been largely [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchised]] for decades into the 20th century.<ref name="johnson">[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/29/archives/louisiana-negroes-seek-power-in-one-parish-they-run-for-22-of-27.html Thomas A. Johnson, "Louisiana Negroes Seek Power"], ''New York Times,'' 29 September 1971; accessed 20 March 2019</ref> The Chicken Shack, with multiple locations, in 2015 was reported as the oldest continually operating business in Baton Rouge.<ref name="landry">[https://www.businessreport.com/business/delpit-familys-chicken-shack-still-going-strong-eight-decades Annie Ourso Landry, "The Delpit family's Chicken Shack is still going strong after eight decades"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622084731/https://www.businessreport.com/business/delpit-familys-chicken-shack-still-going-strong-eight-decades |date=June 22, 2018}}, ''Business Report'', 22 July 2015</ref>

The Metropolitan Council's main responsibilities are setting the [[government policy|policy]] for the government, voting on [[legislation]], and approving the [[government budget|city's budget]]. The council makes policies for the following: the city and parish general funds, all districts created by the council, the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the Public Transportation Commission, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sewerage Control Commission and the Greater Baton Rouge Parking Authority.<ref name=":0" />

== Education ==
{{main|Education in Baton Rouge, Louisiana}}
[[File:Louisiana State University (aerial view).jpg|thumb|220x220px|An aerial view of [[Louisiana State University]]]]
Baton Rouge is home to many universities. [[Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College]], generally known as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public university that is the [[flagship#Education|flagship]] campus of the [[Louisiana State University System]]. LSU is Louisiana's largest university, with over 30,000 students and 1,300 full-time faculty members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LSU Once Again Sets Records in Academic Quality of Freshman Class |url=https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2022/09/28enrollment.php |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref> [[Southern University and A&M College]], generally known as Southern University or SU, is the [[flagship#Education|flagship]] institution of the [[Southern University System]], the nation's only historically black land-grant university system. SU is the largest [[HBCU]] and second-oldest public university in Louisiana.

[[Virginia College]] opened in October 2010 and offers students training in areas such as cosmetology, business, health, and medical billing. [[Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University]] is an independent Catholic institution also in the Baton Rouge medical district that has programs in nursing, health sciences, humanities, behavioral sciences, and arts and sciences. It has an associated hospital, [[Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center]].<ref>{{cite news |agency = The Associated Press |url = http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/lsu_reaches_agreement_with_bat.html |title = LSU reaches agreement with Baton Rouge hospital; will close Earl K. Long |website = NOLA.com |date=January 25, 2010 |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20110522092233/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/lsu_reaches_agreement_with_bat.html |archive-date= May 22, 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> [[Tulane University]] planned to open a satellite medical school at Baton Rouge General's Mid City Campus in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Strecker |first=Mike |date=3 March 2010 |title=Tulane University, Baton Rouge General Affiliate for Medical School Training Campus |url=http://tulane.edu/news/releases/pr_03032010.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008201432/http://tulane.edu/news/releases/pr_03032010.cfm |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |website=Tulane University}}</ref>

[[Southeastern Louisiana University]] School of Nursing is located in the medical district on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Southeastern offers traditional baccalaureate and master's degree programs, as well as LPN and RN to BSN articulation. [[Baton Rouge Community College]] is an open-admission, two-year post-secondary public [[community college]], established on June 28, 1995. The college settled into a permanent location in 1998. The college's enrollment is more than 8,000 students.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.brac.org/site27.php#public|title = Baton Rouge Area Education |access-date= June 5, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080828014248/http://www.brac.org/site27.php#public |archive-date= August 28, 2008 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> The [[Pennington Biomedical Research Center]] houses 48 laboratories and 19 core research facilities.<ref>[http://www.pbrc.edu/about/ Pennington Biomedical Research Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708012536/http://www.pbrc.edu/about/ |date=July 8, 2013 }}. Pbrc.edu. Retrieved on July 29, 2013.</ref>

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[File:Baton Rouge High.jpg|thumb|[[Baton Rouge Magnet High School|Baton Rouge High School]]]]
[[East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools]] operates primary and secondary schools serving the city. The city of Baton Rouge is also home to 27 [[charter schools]] with a total enrollment of an estimated 11,000 students as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lussier|first=Charles|title=Five of six new Baton Rouge charter schools set to open in August delay a year, four more apply|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/coronavirus/article_f93d8ee8-a821-11ea-b9c7-37b989386cc4.html|access-date=2021-07-30|website=The Advocate|date=June 6, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> One of the latest includes the Mentorship Academy in [[downtown Baton Rouge]], which leverages its location downtown to establish internship opportunities with local businesses as well as provide a high-tech classroom environment to focus on a digital animation curriculum.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url = http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100705/ARTICLES/100709940 |date=July 5, 2010 |access-date=July 19, 2016 |url-status=live |title=Old bank to come back as charter school site |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160718001932/http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100705/ARTICLES/100709940 |archive-date=July 18, 2016 }}</ref>

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is the second-largest public school system in the state and contains nine U.S. Blue Ribbon schools and a nationally renowned Magnet program. The school system serves more than 42,850 students and with the help of 6,250 teachers and faculty, the district has shown growth and increase in its District Performance Score. The East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools serve East Baton Rouge Parish and has 90 schools with 56 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 18 high schools.<ref>[http://www.ebrschools.org/explore.cfm/exploreebr/ East Baton Rouge Parish School Board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629025840/http://www.ebrschools.org/explore.cfm/exploreebr/ |date=June 29, 2013 }}. Ebrschools.org (July 23, 2012). Retrieved on July 29, 2013.</ref>

===Libraries===
[[File:Baton Rouge, Louisiana - panoramio (67).jpg|thumb|State Library of Louisiana]]

The [[State Library of Louisiana]] is in Baton Rouge. The Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Library Commission in 1920. This later became the State Library of Louisiana. The State Library provides Louisiana residents with millions of items with its collections, electronic resources, and the statewide network for lending.<ref name=":3">"[http://www.state.lib.la.us/about-the-state-library/hours-and-location Hours and Location] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425053322/http://www.state.lib.la.us/about-the-state-library/hours-and-location |date=April 25, 2010 }}." [[State Library of Louisiana]]. Retrieved on August 20, 2010.</ref>

The [[East Baton Rouge Parish Library System]] has 14 local libraries with one main library and 13 community libraries. The main library at Goodwood houses genealogy and local history archives. The library system is an entity of the city-parish government. The system has been in operation since 1939. It is governed by the EBR Parish government and directed by the Library Board of Control. The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council appoints the seven-member board and then the board appoints a director. According to its website, all branches are open seven days a week to assist the public with reference and information and  computer access.<ref>[http://www.ebrpl.com/aboutlibrary.html#lhsfs About the Library] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613233005/http://www.ebrpl.com/aboutlibrary.html#lhsfs |date=June 13, 2013}}. EBRPL.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2013.</ref>

The [[Louisiana State Archives]]' Main Research Library is located in Baton Rouge, as well. It houses general history books, census indices, immigration schedules, church records, and family histories. The library also has a computerized database of more than two million names that has various information about these people including census, marriage, and social security filing information.<ref>[http://statearchives.us/louisiana.htm Louisiana State Archives and Libraries] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207202856/http://statearchives.us/louisiana.htm |date=December 7, 2013 }}. Statearchives.us. Retrieved on July 29, 2013.</ref>

Louisiana State University and the [[Paul M. Hebert Law Center|Louisiana State University Law Center]] have libraries on their respective Baton Rouge campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LSU Libraries |url=https://www.lib.lsu.edu/ |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Louisiana State University}}</ref> Southern University and A&M College and the [[Southern University Law Center]] also have libraries on their respective Baton Rouge campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WELCOME TO JOHN B. CADE LIBRARY {{!}} Southern University and A&M College |url=http://www.subr.edu/page/2441 |access-date=2020-07-31 |website=Southern University}}</ref>

==Media==
{{see also|List of newspapers in Louisiana|List of radio stations in Louisiana|List of television stations in Louisiana}}
[[File:Baton Rouge Adocate from I-10.jpg|thumb|''The Advocate'' office]]

The major daily newspaper for the Greater Baton Rouge metropolitan area is ''[[Baton Rouge Advocate|The Advocate]]'', publishing since 1925. Until 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: ''Baton Rouge Parents Magazine'', ''Pink & Blue Magazine'', ''[[The Daily Reveille]]'', ''[[The Southern Review]]'', ''225 magazine'', ''DIG'', ''Greater Baton Rouge Business Report'', ''inRegister magazine'', ''10/12 magazine'', ''Country Roads'' magazine, ''225Alive'', ''Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge'', ''Southern University Digest'', and ''The South Baton Rouge Journal''.

Other newspapers in East Baton Rouge Parish include the ''Central City News'' and ''The Zachary Post''. The Greater Baton Rouge area is well served by television and radio. The market is the 95th-largest [[Media market|designated market area]] in the U.S. Major television network affiliates serving the area include:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* 2 [[WBRZ-TV]] ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]])
* 9 [[WAFB]] ([[CBS]])
* 20 [[KZUP-CD]] ([[Independent station (North America)|Independent]])
* 21 [[WBRL-CD]] ([[The CW Television Network|The CW]])
* 27 [[WLPB]] ([[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]/[[Louisiana Public Broadcasting|LPB]])
* 30 [[WLFT-CD]] (Independent)
* 33 [[WVLA]] ([[NBC]])
* 36 [[KBTR-CD]] ([[This TV]])
* 39 [[WBXH-CD]] ([[My Network TV]])
* 44 [[WGMB]] ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]])
{{div col end}}

Baton Rouge also offer local [[government-access television]]-only channels on [[Cox Communications|Cox Cable]] channel 21.

==Infrastructure==
===Health and medicine===
[[File:JeffHwyOschernerFrontJan2008.jpg|thumb|Ochsner Medical Center]]

Baton Rouge is served by several hospitals and clinics:

* [[Baton Rouge General Medical Center – Mid-City Campus]]
* [[Baton Rouge General Medical Center – Bluebonnet Campus]]
* [[HealthSouth]] Rehabilitation Hospital
* [[Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center]]
* [[Ochsner Medical Center]]
*[[Our Lady of the Lake Hospital|Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital]]
*Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove

===Communication===
Most of the Baton Rouge area's high-speed internet, [[broadband]], and [[fiber optic]] communications are provided by Eatel, [[AT&T Inc.]], [[Charter Communications]], or [[Cox Communications]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.businessreport.com/news/2010/apr/05/dueling-strands-fiber-optics-tchn1/ |title=:: Baton Rouge Business Report :: Dueling strands of fiber optics |publisher=Businessreport.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120152616/http://businessreport.com/news/2010/apr/05/dueling-strands-fiber-optics-tchn1/ |archive-date=November 20, 2010 }}</ref> In 2006, Cox Communications linked its Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans markets with fiber-optic infrastructure. Other providers soon followed suit, and fiber optics have thus far proven reliable in all hurricanes since they were installed, even when mobile and broadband services are disrupted during storms. In 2001, the Supermike computer at Louisiana State University was ranked as the number-one computer cluster in the world,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phys.lsu.edu/faculty/tohline/capital/beowulf.html |title=LSU CAPITAL's Supercomputer |publisher=Phys.lsu.edu |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509191029/http://www.phys.lsu.edu/faculty/tohline/capital/beowulf.html |archive-date=May 9, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> and remains one of the top 500 computing sites in the world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Seymour Cray |url=http://www.top500.org/system/details/6084 |title=SuperMike {{pipe}} TOP500 Supercomputing Sites |publisher=Top500.org |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904222343/http://www.top500.org/system/details/6084 |archive-date=September 4, 2008 }}</ref>

==Military installations==
Baton Rouge is home station to the [[Louisiana Army National Guard]] 769th Engineer Battalion,<ref>{{Cite web|title=769th ENGINEER BATTALION – Lineage and Honors Information – U.S. Army Center of Military History|url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0769enbn.htm|access-date=2020-07-31|website=history.army.mil}}</ref> which had units deployed to [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. The [[Armory (military)|armory]] near LSU has three company-sized units: 769th HSC (headquarters support company); 769th FSC (forward support company); and the 927th [[Sapper]] Company. Other units of the battalion are located at [[Napoleonville]] (928th Sapper Company); [[Baker, Louisiana]] (926th MAC mobility augmentation company); and [[Gonzales, Louisiana]] (922nd Horizontal Construction Company).

The 769th Engineer Battalion is part of the [[225th Engineer Brigade]], headquartered in [[Pineville, Louisiana]], at [[Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville]]. Four engineer battalions and an independent bridging company are in the 225th Engineer Brigade, making it the largest engineer group in the [[US Army Corps of Engineers]].

Baton Rouge is also home to [[3rd Battalion 23rd Marines|3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment]] (3/23),<ref>{{cite web|title=3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines (3/23) on MarineParents.com|url=https://marineparents.com/units/print.asp?id=418|access-date=2020-07-31|website=MarineParents.com}}</ref> a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Midwestern United States consisting of about 800 marines and sailors. The battalion was first formed in 1943 for service in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, taking part in a number of significant battles including those at Saipan and Iwo Jima before being deactivated at the end of the war. In the early 1960s, the unit was reactivated as a reserve battalion. The battalion is headquartered in [[St. Louis|Saint Louis, Missouri]], with outlying units throughout the [[Midwestern United States]]. 3/23 falls under the command of the 23rd Marine Regiment and the [[4th Marine Division (United States)|4th Marine Division]].

==Transportation==
{{More citations needed | section|date=February 2024}}

===Highways and roads===
====Interstates====
Baton Rouge has three interstate highways: [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|I-10]], [[Interstate 12|I-12]] ([[Republic of West Florida]] Parkway), and [[Interstate 110 (Louisiana)|I-110]] ([[Interstate 110 (Louisiana)|Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway]]).[[File:Baton Rouge Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|[[Horace Wilkinson Bridge]]]]
[[File:Baton Rouge from I-10 Nov 13 C Street.JPG|thumb|Interstate 10]]
Interstate 10 enters the city from the [[Horace Wilkinson Bridge]] over the Mississippi River, curving at an interchange with Interstate 110 southeast, crossing the LSU lakes and Garden District before reaching an interchange with I-12 (referred to as the 10/12 split). It curves further southeast toward [[New Orleans]] as it crosses Essen Lane near the Medical District. It passes Bluebonnet Blvd and the Mall of Louisiana at exit 162, and leaves Baton Rouge after interchanges with Siegen Lane and Highland Road.

Interstate 12 (The [[Republic of West Florida]] Parkway) begins in the city at the I-10/I-12 split east of College Drive, and proceeds eastward, crossing Essen Lane, Airline Hwy, Sherwood Forest Blvd, Millerville Road, and O'neal Lane before leaving the city when crossing the [[Amite River]].

Interstate 110 (The [[List of streets named after Martin Luther King Jr.#Louisiana|Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway]]) stretches 8 miles in a north–south direction from the east end of the Horace Wilkinson Bridge to Scenic Highway in Scotlandville, Louisiana. It passes through downtown, North Baton Rouge, and [[Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport|Baton Rouge Metro Airport]] before ending at Scenic Highway.

====U.S. highways and major roads====
Baton Rouge has two U.S. highways, along with their business counterparts: [[Airline Highway]] ([[US 61]]) and [[Florida Boulevard]].

U.S. 190 enters the city from the [[Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)|Huey P. Long Bridge]], beginning a concurrency with U.S. 61 after an interchange with Scenic Highway, near Scotlandville. Its name is Airline Highway from this interchange to the interchange with Florida Blvd. At this interchange, U.S. 190 turns east to follow Florida Blvd through Northeast Baton Rouge, exiting the city at the Amite River.
[[File:Huey P. Long Bridge at night (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) recolorized.jpg|thumb|[[Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)|Huey P. Long Bridge]]]]
U.S. 61 enters Baton Rouge as Scenic Highway until it reaches Airline Highway (U.S. 190). It becomes concurrent with U.S. 190 until Florida Blvd, where it continues south, still called Airline Highway. It passes through Goodwood and Broadmoor before an interchange with I-12. It continues southeast past Bluebonnet Blvd/Coursey Blvd, Jefferson Hwy, and Sherwood Forest Blvd/Siegen Lane before exiting the city at Bayou Manchac.

U.S. 61/190 Business runs west along Florida Boulevard (known as Florida Street from Downtown east to Mid City) from Airline Highway to River Road in downtown. The cosigned routes run from Florida St. north along River Road, passing the [[Louisiana State Capitol]] and Capitol Park Complex before intersecting with Choctaw Drive. North of this intersection River Road becomes Chippewa Street and curves to the East. U.S. 61/190 Business leaves Chippewa Street at its intersection with Scenic Highway. The route follows Scenic Highway to Airline Highway, where it ends. North of Airline on Scenic and East of Scenic Highway on Airline is US 61. U.S. 190 is East and West of Scenic on Airline Highway.

These are important surface streets with designated state highway numbers: Greenwell Springs Road ([[LA 37]]), Plank Road/22nd Street ([[LA 67]]), Burbank Drive/Highland Road ([[LA 42]]), Nicholson Drive ([[LA 30]]), Jefferson Highway/Government Street ([[LA 73]]), Scotlandville/Baker/Zachary Highway ([[LA 19]]), Essen Lane ([[LA 3064]]), Bluebonnet Blvd/Coursey Blvd ([[LA 1248]]), Siegen Lane/Sherwood Forest Blvd ([[LA 3246]]), and Perkins Road/Acadian Thruway ([[LA 427]]).

====Traffic issues and highway upgrades====
According to the 2008 INRIX National Traffic Scorecard, which ranks the top 100 congested metropolitan areas in the U.S., Baton Rouge was the 33rd-most congested metro area in the country. 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 Angeles]]-[[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]-[[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]] metropolitan area, indicating a remarkably high level of congestion for the comparatively low population. 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).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://scorecard.inrix.com/scorecard/Top100Metros.asp |title = INRIX National Traffic Scorecard |website = Scorecard.inrix.com |access-date = April 27, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713040047/http://scorecard.inrix.com/scorecard/Top100Metros.asp |archive-date = July 13, 2011 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Interstate 12 used to have a major bottleneck at O'Neal Lane. The interstate was three lanes wide in each direction to the O'Neal Lane exit, where the interstate abruptly became two lanes in each direction and crossed the narrow Amite River Bridge. This stretch of road, called "a deathtrap"<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/8124837.html |title=I-12 accidents piling up |website = 2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184214/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/8124837.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }}</ref> by one lawmaker, had 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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/46588277.html |title=More funds sought for I-12 widening project |website=2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090608014023/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/46588277.html |archive-date=June 8, 2009 }}</ref>

In 2009, Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] and the Baton Rouge legislative delegation allocated state and federal funding to widen I-12 from O'Neal Lane to Range Avenue (Exit 10) in Denham Springs. The construction was completed in 2012 and has significantly improved the flow of traffic.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44106607.html |title=I-12 work to begin |website = 2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504055117/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44106607.html |archive-date=May 4, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, The [[American Reinvestment and Recovery Act]] provided committed federal funds to widen I-12 from the Range Avenue Exit to [[Walker, Louisiana]]. Noticing the significant improvement in commute times, Jindal further funded widening to Satsuma, Louisiana.

Interstate 10 West at Bluebonnet Road also ranked within the top 1000 bottlenecks for 2008, and I-10 East at Essen Lane and Nicholson Drive ranked not far out of the top 1000. A new exit to the [[Mall of Louisiana]] was created in 2006, and the interstate was widened between Bluebonnet Blvd and Siegen Lane. But the stretch of I-10 from the I-10/I-12 split to Bluebonnet Blvd was not part of these improvements and remained heavily congested during peak hours. In response, a widening project totaling at least $87 million began in late 2008. Interstate 10 was widened to three lanes over a five-year period between the I-10/I-12 split and Highland Road.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/37052144.html |title=Project on I-10 to begin |website=2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184144/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/37052144.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, the [[American Reinvestment and Recovery Act]] provided supplemental funding for this project to extend to the Highland Road exit in [[East Baton Rouge Parish]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.geauxwider.com/ |title=Geaux Wider |publisher=Geaux Wider |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110315155522/http://www.geauxwider.com/ |archive-date= March 15, 2011 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Surface streets in Baton Rouge are prone to severe congestion. But roads are beginning to handle the number of vehicles using them 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, geared toward improving areas of congestion on the city's surface streets. With its first project completed in 2008, it has seen numerous others reach completion as of 2015, with several more under construction and still others yet to break ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://greenlight.csrsonline.com/ |title=The Green Light Plan |website=Greenlight.csrsonline.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211842/http://greenlight.csrsonline.com/ |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A circumferential loop [[freeway]] was 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 Parish, Louisiana|Livingston]] (running alongside property owned and marketed as an industrial development by Al Coburn, a member of President Mike Grimmer's staff), 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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44842827.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184149/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44842827.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 |title=Poll shows public support for loop |website = 2theadvocate.com |date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2011 }}</ref>

===Commuting===
The average one-way commute time in Baton Rouge is 26.5 minutes,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.governing.com/gov-data/transportation-infrastructure/commute-time-averages-drive-public-transportation-bus-rail-by-metro-area.html|title=Average Commute Times for Metro Areas|website=www.governing.com|date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> slightly less than the U.S. average of 27.1 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/07/nine-days-road-average-commute-time-reached-new-record-last-year/|title=Analysis {{!}} Nine days on the road. Average commute time reached a new record last year.|last=Ingraham|first=Christopher|date=7 Oct 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007125802/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/07/nine-days-road-average-commute-time-reached-new-record-last-year/|archive-date=2019-10-07|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> Interstates 10, 110 and 12, which feed into the city, are highly traveled and connected by highways and four-lane roads that connect the downtown business area to surrounding parishes.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

According to the 2016 [[American Community Survey]], 81.9% of working Baton Rouge residents commuted by driving alone, 8.5% carpooled, 3% used public transportation, and 2.4% walked. About 1.2% used all other forms of transportation, including taxi, bicycle, and motorcycle. About 3.1% worked at home.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Census Reporter|access-date=May 17, 2018|title=Means of Transportation to Work by Age|url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US2205000&primary_geo_id=16000US2205000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054747/https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US2205000&primary_geo_id=16000US2205000|archive-date=May 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, 10.4 percent of Baton Rouge households lacked a car, and increased slightly to 11.4 percent in 2016; higher than average for a city of its size. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Baton Rouge averaged 1.55 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|date=December 9, 2014 |url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511162014/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|archive-date=May 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Buses and other mass transit===
[[Capital Area Transit System|Capital Area Transit System (CATS)]] provides urban transportation throughout Baton Rouge, including service to [[Southern University]], [[Baton Rouge Community College]], and [[Louisiana State University]]. Many CATS buses are equipped with bike racks for commuters to easily combine biking with bus transit. Greyhound Bus Lines, offering passenger and cargo service throughout the United States, has a downtown terminal on Florida Boulevard.

===Shipping===
The [[Port of Greater Baton Rouge|Port of Baton Rouge]] is the ninth-largest in the United States by tonnage shipped, and is the farthest upstream Mississippi River port capable of handling [[Panamax]] ships.<ref name="FHWA-HOP-07-033" /><ref name="portgbr1" />

===Airport===
[[File:Baton Rouge Airport March 2021.jpg|thumb|Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport drop off lane]]
The [[Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport]], located in the North Baton Rouge community of [[Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Scotlandville]], is situated just 10 minutes north of downtown and nearby [[Baker, Louisiana|Baker]]. The airport serves as a vital transportation hub, connecting the area with the four major airline hubs that serve the southern United States. Commercial carriers include [[American Eagle Airlines|American Eagle]], [[United Airlines]], and [[Delta Air Lines]]. Nonstop service is available to [[Atlanta]], [[Dallas-Ft. Worth|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Houston]], and [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]].

===Rail===
Three major railroads, [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]], [[Union Pacific]], and [[Canadian National]] provide railroad freight service to Baton Rouge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/maps/carload_map.pdf |title=BNSF Railway System Map |publisher=BNSF Corp |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193015/http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/maps/carload_map.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Baton Rouge station|Yazoo and Mississippi Valley station]] had passenger service until the mid-1960s. The Kansas City Southern depot hosted the ''[[Southern Belle (KCS train)|Southern Belle]],'' the final train to serve the city, until 1969.<ref>Carter, Thad Hills (2009). Kansas City Southern Railway. Images of Rail. (Reprint of an article by Philip Moseley originally published in the May 1986 issue of Arkansas Railroader). Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Portsmouth, NH; San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Publishing. p. 60. {{ISBN|978-0-7385-6001-4}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.louisianapoliticalmuseum.com/bell.php| title=The Southern Belle| work=Louisiana Political Museum| access-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> Since 2006, Baton Rouge and New Orleans leaders as well as the state government have been pushing to secure funding for a new high-speed rail passenger line between [[downtown Baton Rouge]] and downtown New Orleans, with several stops in between.<ref>{{cite news |agency=The Associated Press |url = http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/louisiana_to_seek_new_orleansb.html |title = Louisiana to seek New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail line from federal stimulus pot that Jindal called wasteful |website = NOLA.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090702060637/http%3A//www%2Enola%2Ecom/news/index%2Essf/2009/02/louisiana_to_seek_new_orleansb%2Ehtml |archive-date= July 2, 2009 |url-status= live}}</ref> A new [[New Orleans–Baton Rouge passenger rail]] service was included as part of the "Amtrak Connects US" expansion vision.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak hopes to add new line from Baton Rouge to New Orleans |url=https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/amtrak-to-add-new-line-from-baton-rouge-to-new-orleans/ |access-date=11 June 2022 |work=KLFY.com |date=5 April 2021}}</ref>

== Sister cities ==
* {{flagicon|Egypt}} [[Cairo, Cairo Governorate]], Egypt (since 1951)<ref>{{cite web |title=Educator From Egypt Will Pay Visit to City |url = http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-13AC171ED690176E%402434053-13AABDE71EDEAA6F%4022-13AABDE71EDEAA6F%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=Kamel |work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (sec. B, p. 11) |date=February 10, 1952}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Rouen, Seine-Maritime]], France (since 1963)<ref>{{cite web |title=French Club Will Observe Bastile Day |url = http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-13B15DBE78A96EF9%402438579-13B0BB4F1EB521B3%4043-13B0BB4F1EB521B3%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=%22Will+Observe%22 |work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (sec. D, p. 10) |date=July 2, 1964}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Taichung]], Taiwan (since 1976)<ref>{{cite web |last=Bartels |first=Paul |date=February 26, 1976 |title=With Taichung, Taiwan: Sister City Relationship Endorsed by City Council |url = http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-13B10F0D62B5C0C5%402442835-13B10354FB7B4DE9%4014-13B10354FB7B4DE9%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=%22With+Taichung%22 |work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (sec. B, 1)}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Ciudad Obregón, Sonora]], Mexico (since 1977)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister City Fun: Dinner Honors Visitors Here on Mexican Exchange|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-13B164F3D580AF70%402443324-13B0FDC7EFF5C2E8%4019-13B0FDC7EFF5C2E8%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=%22Sister+City+Fun%22 |work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (sec. B, p. 2) |date=June 29, 1977}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Haiti}} [[Port-au-Prince, Ouest]], Haiti (since 1978)<ref>{{cite web |author=Smiley Anders |date=July 26, 1978 |title=Visiting Haitian Mayor Seeking Builders for Housing Projects |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-13B10DC3AB7B3700%402443716-13B0A6E766C38B70%4011-13B0A6E766C38B70%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=%22Visiting+Haitian%22 |work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (sec. A, p. 12)}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Liège, Liège Province]], Belgium (since 1985)<ref>{{cite web |author=Angie Francalancia |date=September 23, 1985 |title=CODOFIL welcomes Prince Philippe|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-13B8959E62DF9F5F%402446332-13B88D015FFC345D%4016-13B88D015FFC345D%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=%22CODOFIL+welcomes+Prince+Philippe%22 |work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (sec. B, p. 1)}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Aix-en-Provence]], [[Bouches-du-Rhône]], France (since 1987)<ref>{{cite web |title=Treasures from Provence on exhibit through September in Baton Rouge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/210840948/ |work=Alexandria (La.) Town Talk (sec. D, p. 6) |date=May 13, 1999 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225255/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/210840948/ |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Córdoba, Veracruz]], Mexico (since 2002)<ref>{{cite web |author=Adrian Angelette |date=January 29, 2002 |title=Twin Cities: BR signs "twinning" pact with Cordoba |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-1521C848F790226F%402452304-1521C7134E250D17%4022-1521C7134E250D17%40?p=AMNEWS&hlterms=%22Twin+Cities%22 |work=Baton Rouge Advocate (sec. B, p. 1)}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Heze]], [[Shandong]], China (since 2008)<ref>{{cite web |author=Gary Perilloux |date=April 4, 2010 |title=Baton Rouge seeks investment from Far East |url=http://www.zhstudio.net/resources_1_1.asp?id=421 |work=Baton Rouge Advocate |access-date=2018-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225349/http://www.zhstudio.net/resources_1_1.asp?id=421 |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Malatya, Malatya Province]], Turkey (since 2009)<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkish officials sit down with Mayor Kip Holden|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/12015244/turkish-officials-sit-down-with-mayor-kip-holden |website=wafb.com|year=2010|access-date=2018-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225350/http://www.wafb.com/story/12015244/turkish-officials-sit-down-with-mayor-kip-holden|archive-date=May 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Guiyang, Guizhou]], China (since 2010)<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayor thinks Chinese plant is possible for Baton Rouge|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/12306660/mayor-thinks-chinese-plant-is-possible-for-baton-rouge|website=wafb.com|year=2010|access-date=2018-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801221230/http://www.wafb.com/story/12306660/mayor-thinks-chinese-plant-is-possible-for-baton-rouge|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|United States|France|North America|History|Louisiana|Cities}}
* [[Baton Rouge Police Department]]
* [[BREADA]] (Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance)
* [[Cancer Alley]]
* [[East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office]]
* [[Louisiana Technology Park]]
* [[List of people from Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
* [[List of U.S. cities with large Black populations]]
* [[List of U.S. communities with African-American majority populations]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== General sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* Frey, Fred Jr. ''Above Baton Rouge: A Pilot's View Then and Now''. Baton Rouge, LA: [[Louisiana State University Press]], 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-8071-3438-2}}.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links |voy = Baton Rouge, Louisiana }}
* [https://www.brla.gov/ City of Baton Rouge official website]
* [https://www.visitbatonrouge.com/ Visit Baton Rouge Convention & Visitor's Bureau]
* [http://cdm16340.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ The Baton Rouge Digital Archive from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library]
* [http://batonrougebusinessjournal.com/2012/11/21/selected-economic-data-baton-rouge-area-2012/ Selected Economic Data, Baton Rouge Area, 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201163926/http://batonrougebusinessjournal.com/2012/11/21/selected-economic-data-baton-rouge-area-2012/ |date=February 1, 2015 }}

===Geology and geological hazards===
* Heinrich, P. V., and W. J. Autin, 2000, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628132302/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Baton%20Rouge%20100K.pdf ''Baton Rouge 30 × 60 minute geologic quadrangle'']. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
* McCulloh, R. P., 2001, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628122643/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/8faults.pdf ''Active Faults in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana'']. Public Information Series, no. 8, Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
* McCulloh, R. P., 2008a, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628124142/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/BRFaultGuide.pdf ''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, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628121133/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/BRFGuidebook.pdf ''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.

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Baton Rouge
 | North     = [[St. Francisville, Louisiana]] / [[Natchez, Mississippi]]
 | Northeast = [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]]
 | East      = [[Hammond, Louisiana]] / [[Slidell, Louisiana]]
 | Southeast = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]
 | South     = [[Morgan City, Louisiana]]
 | Southwest = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
 | West      = [[Lafayette, Louisiana]]
 | Northwest = [[Alexandria, Louisiana]] / [[Shreveport, Louisiana]]
}}
{{Baton Rouge, Louisiana}}
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[[Category:Baton Rouge, Louisiana| ]]
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[[Category:Cities in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana]]
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[[Category:Inland port cities and towns of the United States]]
[[Category:Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Parish seats in Louisiana|B]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1699]]
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