East Baton Rouge parish, Louisiana (LA), United States, North America
Latitude
30°27'N
Longitude
91°08'W
Baton Rouge
(BAT-uhn ROOZH) [Fr.=red stick], city (1990 pop.
219,531), La. and East Baton Rouge parish, SE La., on the E
bank of the Mississippi R., 70 mi/113 km WNW
of New Orleans; 30°27'N 91°08'W. The 2d-largest metropolitan area
in La. Barge and RR transfer center; busy deepwater port of entry;
important transportation, distribution, and commercial center for a
large oil, natural-gas, and farm area; major oil-refining hub. The
petrochemical and fuel corporation Exxon has large facilities and is
one of Baton Rouge's major employers. Mfg. (concrete prods.,
pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, chemicals, plastics, resins);
seafood, crawfish. Baton Rouge was founded in 1719 when the French
built a fort on that strategic spot along the river. The settlement was
ceded to Great Britain in 1762, captured by the Spanish in 1779, and
acquired by the U.S. in 1815 (following a brief period when it was a
part of Span. Fla). It became state capital in 1849. In the Civil War
it was captured by David Farragut after the fall of New Orleans (May
1862); a Confederate attempt to recover it failed (Aug. 1862). It has
notable antebellum houses. The old capitol (1882), built in the Gothic
style of the original that was burned in the Civil War, still stands; a
new 34-story capitol (tallest in U.S.) was completed in 1932. Also of
interest are the gov.'s mansion, the old arsenal mus., and the Huey
Long grave and memorial. The city has an arts and sciences center (with
a planetarium), several museums (La. Naval War Mus., L.S.U. Rural Life
Mus.), a zoo, and a symphony orchestra. The Mall of La. opened in 1997
( 7,628,000 sq ft/708,225 sq m), and the city is also
the cite of Cortana Mall (one of the largest shopping centers in the
U.S.). It is establishing itself as a city of fine restaurants. U.S.S.
Kidd, World War II destroyer, docked near downtown.
Seat of La. State Univ. and Agr. and Mechanical Col. and of Southern
Univ. and Agr. and Mechanical Col. at Scotlandville. Port Hudson State
Commemorative Area to NW. Port of Baton Rouge is S of downtown. Baton
Rouge Harbor N of city on Mississippi R. Atchafalaya Basin to SW. Inc.
1817.
Capital city or county seat is shown by the symbol
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La. and East Baton Rouge parish, SE La., on the E
bank of the Mississippi R., 70 mi/113 km WNW
of New Orleans; 30°27'N 91°08'W. The 2d-largest metropolitan area
in La. Barge and RR transfer center; busy deepwater port of entry;
important transportation, distribution, and commercial center for a
large oil, natural-gas, and farm area; major oil-refining hub. The
petrochemical and fuel corporation Exxon has large facilities and is
one of Baton Rouge's major employers. Mfg. (concrete prods.,
pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, chemicals, plastics, resins);
seafood, crawfish. Baton Rouge was founded in 1719 when the French
built a fort on that strategic spot along the river. The settlement was
ceded to Great Britain in 1762, captured by the Spanish in 1779, and
acquired by the U.S. in 1815 (following a brief period when it was a
part of Span. Fla). It became state capital in 1849. In the Civil War
it was captured by David Farragut after the fall of New Orleans (May
1862); a Confederate attempt to recover it failed (Aug. 1862). It has
notable antebellum houses. The old capitol (1882), built in the Gothic
style of the original that was burned in the Civil War, still stands; a
new 34-story capitol (tallest in U.S.) was completed in 1932. Also of
interest are the gov.'s mansion, the old arsenal mus., and the Huey
Long grave and memorial. The city has an arts and sciences center (with
a planetarium), several museums (La. Naval War Mus., L.S.U. Rural Life
Mus.), a zoo, and a symphony orchestra. The Mall of La. opened in 1997
( 7,628,000 sq ft/708,225 sq m), and the city is also
the cite of Cortana Mall (one of the largest shopping centers in the
U.S.). It is establishing itself as a city of fine restaurants. U.S.S.
