Timeline of Baton Rouge, Louisiana facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

Prior to 19th century

History of Louisiana
By year Pre-statehood U.S. Civil War Post-Civil War Topics: Cities - Politics
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• 1721 – Fort established by French.
• 1779 – September: Battle of Baton Rouge (1779).

19th century

• 1810 – September: Baton Rouge becomes capital of the Republic of West Florida, but the republic is annexed by the U.S. as part of the Territory of Orleans (which becomes the U.S. state of Louisiana in 1812).
• 1817 – Town incorporated.
• 1819 – Baton-Rouge Gazette newspaper begins publication.
• 1833 – State Library of Louisiana headquartered in Baton Rouge.
• 1835 – Louisiana State Penitentiary in operation.
• 1842 – Democratic Advocate newspaper begins publication.
• 1849 – Baton Rouge becomes capital of Louisiana.
• 1850 – First Capitol building constructed.
• 1852 – Louisiana Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and Blind and Magnolia Cemetery established.
• 1860 – Andrew Lytle photography studio in business.
• 1861 – January 23: Louisiana secession convention held.
• 1862
  • May 12: City occupied by U.S. federal troops.
  • August 5: Battle of Baton Rouge (1862).
• 1867 – Baton Rouge National Cemetery established.
• 1868 – St. Joseph's Academy founded.
• 1869 – Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana relocated to Baton Rouge.
• 1870 – Seminary renamed "Louisiana State University".
• 1877 – Synagogue dedicated.
• 1882 – State capital returns to Baton Rouge, following the Reconstruction Era.
• 1897 – Audubon Sugar School of Louisiana State University founded.

20th century

• 1905 – Daily State newspaper in publication.
• 1909 – Baton Rouge Refinery commissioned.
• 1916
  • Southern College relocates to Baton Rouge.
  • Historical Society of East and West Baton Rouge established.
• 1923 – Baton Rouge General Hospital active.
• 1924 – Community Coffee in business.
• 1926
  • New Louisiana State University campus dedicated.
  • Baton Rouge High School and Arcade Theatre built.
  • Louisiana Municipal Association headquartered in Baton Rouge.
• 1928
  • City Park Golf Course opens.
  • Louisiana State University's College of Commerce established.
• 1929 – State Theater built.
• 1932 – Louisiana State Capitol inaugurated.
• 1935 – Huey P. Long assassinated.
• 1939 – East Baton Rouge Parish Library established.
• 1940
  • Baton Rouge League of Women Voters founded.
  • Population: 34,719.
• 1944 – Piccadilly Restaurant in business.
• 1947
  • City and Parish of East Baton Rouge consolidated.
  • Baton Rouge Civic Symphony Orchestra active.
  • H. J. Wilson Co. in business.
• 1950 – Population: 125,629.
• 1953 – June 20-28: African-American Civil Rights bus boycott held.
• 1955 – WBRZ-TV begins broadcasting.
• 1960
  • Southern University civil rights march.
  • Broadmoor High School founded.
  • Population: 152,419.
• 1961 – Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge established.
• 1962 – City Parish Beautification Commission established.
• 1963 – Foundation for Historical Louisiana headquartered in Baton Rouge.
• 1964 – Baton Rouge Chapter of the Links established.
• 1970
  • Baton Rouge Zoo established near city.
  • Population: 165,963.
• 1974 – One American Place (hi-rise) built.
• 1976 – Cortana Mall Cinema in business.
• 1978 – Comité des Archives de la Louisiane founded.
• 1979 – Louisiana Association of Museums headquartered in city.
• 1980 - Population: 219,419.
• 1981 – LSU Hilltop Arboretum established.
• 1982 – City and Parish of East Baton Rouge governments merged.
• 1986 – Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge established near city.
• 1987 - Richard Baker becomes U.S. representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district.
• 1990 – Population: 219,531.
• 1997
  • Mall of Louisiana in business.
  • Datta Temple & Hall of Trinity consecrated.
• 1998 – City website online.

21st century

• 2001 - Bobby Simpson becomes mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish.
• 2005
  • August 29: Hurricane Katrina.
  • First African-American, Kip Holden, becomes mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish.
  • Shaw Center for the Arts opens.
• 2007 – Cinemark 16 Perkins Rowe (cinema) in business.
• 2010 – Population: 229,493 city; 440,171 parish.
• 2011 - Cedric Richmond becomes U.S. representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district.
• 2012
  • April: Exxon Baton Rouge Refinery pipeline oil spill.
  • June 14: Exxon Baton Rouge Refinery benzene leak.
• 2016
  • July 5: Alton Sterling was fatally shot by a police officer, which led to protests in Baton Rouge.
  • July 9: Protest against police violence.
  • July 17: 2016 shooting of Baton Rouge police officers
  • August: 2016 Louisiana floods submerge thousands of homes throughout the parish