Location
Government
Population
Median Household Income
Top Employers
Total Employment
Unemployment Rate
Education
Higher Education Facilities
Housing
Median Value of Single Family House
Transportation
Air
Highways
Port
Rail
Sports & Leisure
Sources

Welcome to Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Capital City!  Not so very long ago, Baton Rouge was just another sleepy river town, but in recent decades several hundred thousand residents have grown with the city and are pleased to call Baton Rouge home.  A colorful community rich in heritage, character and charm, Baton Rouge has emerged to rank as America's 70th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).  As the farthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi River, it serves as a major center of commercial and industrial activity.  The well-known hospitality and vigor of Baton Rouge are the result of a unique population of spirited residents united with the center of the state's government, university and business enterprises.

LOCATION

On the east bank of the Mississippi River in south central Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish.

GOVERNMENT

The Mayor-President and a 12-member Metropolitan Council jointly administer the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge. The cities of Baker and Zachary are incorporated with their own governing boards. The City-Parish Planning Commission guides growth and development for the Parish, and coordinates implementation of the comprehensive plan, the Horizon Plan.

POPULATION
2006 Estimated Population

Baton Rouge City estimated at 229,503 people.  East Baton Rouge Parish is estimated at 429,073 people.

Baton Rouge	76.231 square miles	48,787.84 acres
East Baton Rouge Parish	472.1 square miles	350,009 acres

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

East Baton Rouge Parish - 2006 U.S. Census - $44,286.

TOP EMPLOYERS

The following employers are the largest in the Baton Rouge area, each employing more than 1,000 people:  BASF Wyandotte Corporation, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Dow Chemical Company, Entergy/Gulf States Utilities, Exxon Chemical Americas, Exxon Chemical Company, Georgia Gulf Corporation, Harmony Corporation, International Maintenance Corporation, J. E. Merit Construction, Inc., Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, Bank One, South Central Bell Telephone, Turner Industries, Baton Rouge City Parish Government, Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Louisiana State Government, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Louisiana State University, Southern University and the United States Post Office.

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT

East Baton Rouge Parish 2006 - 221,524

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

December 2007 Unemployment Rate East Baton Rouge Parish 4.5%.

EDUCATION

East Baton Rouge Parish has 150 schools, including public, parochial and private. The schools serve 71,560 students from kindergarten through high school. Baton Rouge has four business colleges, two trade schools, and two state schools for sight and hearing-impaired students. Two schools of nursing and several corporate and university research and applied science facilities are located in Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge has two major universities, a community college, business colleges, trade schools, nursing schools and state schools for sight and hearing impaired students. 

HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES

Enrollment 2007
Louisiana State University	28,019
Southern University	7,600
Baton Rouge Community College	7,200
Our Lady of the Lake College	2,000

HOUSING (1990 Census of Population and Housing, to be updated)

Total Housing Units
Baton Rouge	100,399	2006 Census
East Baton Rouge Parish	181,076
Median Value of Single Family House
Baton Rouge	$132,300	2006 Census
East Baton Rouge Parish	$140,400

TRANSPORTATION

Mean Travel Time to Work - 2006 Census

Baton Rouge - 22 minutes

East Baton Rouge Parish - 24.8 minutes

AIR

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is located about five miles north of the city center. Five airlines serve Baton Rouge and transport more than 1 million passengers each year.

HIGHWAYS

Interstate 10	Interstate 12	Interstate 110	U.S. 61	U.S. 190
About 1,809 miles of roadway currently exist in East Baton Rouge Parish.

PORT

The Port of Baton Rouge has recently been expanded and upgraded with extensive storage facilities. It ranks ninth in the nation in waterborne commerce. The Port is the farthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

RAIL

Four major rail lines provide railroad freight service.

SPORTS AND LEISURE

The tourist industry has been growing and now annually attracts about 1.9 million visitors, who regularly seek out images of the antebellum South, historic battlefields, the vast and distinctive natural landscapes, Mardi Gras parades and local music and arts festivals. For other events and attractions, contact 1-800-LAROUGE or visit the Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The city supports active arts and theater scene that includes the Baton Rouge Symphony and Baton Rouge Little Theater.

Sports events have long been a popular and essential aspect of Baton Rouge life. Especially exciting are those fall weekends when the LSU Tigers or Southern Jaguars host a football game.

SOURCES

	2006 U.S. Census Louisiana
	Baton Rouge Convention and Visitors Bureau
	State Department of Employment and Training
	Baton Rouge Area Chamber
	Louisiana State University Southern University
	The Horizon Plan
	Louisiana Tech University