Timeline of Baton Rouge, Louisiana facts for kids

Baton Rouge is a historic city in Louisiana, USA. It has a long and interesting past, from its early days as a fort to becoming the state capital. This timeline will take you through some of the most important moments in Baton Rouge's history.

Early History: Before the 1800s

• 1721 – The French built a fort here. This was one of the first settlements in the area.
• 1763 – The British took control of the area. This period was known as British West Florida.
• 1779 – In September, a big fight called the Battle of Baton Rouge happened at Fort New Richmond. This was during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1783 – Spain officially took over the area. The fort was renamed Fort San Carlos.

The 1800s: Growth and Change

• 1805 – Spanish Town, the first neighborhood for homes, was started.
• 1806 – Beauregard Town, another neighborhood, was created.
• 1810 – Baton Rouge became part of the Republic of West Florida for a short time in September. But by December, the U.S. took it over. It became part of the Territory of Orleans, which later became the state of Louisiana in 1812.
• 1817 – Baton Rouge officially became a town.
• 1833 – The main office for the State Library of Louisiana was set up in Baton Rouge.
• 1849 – Baton Rouge became the capital of Louisiana. This was a very important step for the city.
• 1850 – The first Capitol building was built. This is where the state government met.
• 1861 – On January 23, Louisiana decided to leave the United States. This was a big moment before the Civil War.
• 1862
  • May 12: Soldiers from the U.S. government took control of the city.
  • August 5: Another important battle, the Battle of Baton Rouge (1862), took place.
• 1869 – The Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana moved to Baton Rouge.
• 1870 – The Seminary was renamed "Louisiana State University" (LSU), which is now a very famous university.
• 1882 – Baton Rouge became the state capital again after a period called the Reconstruction Era.

The 1900s: Modern Times Begin

• 1909 – The Baton Rouge Refinery, a large oil refinery, started operating.
• 1914 – Southern University, another important university, moved to Scotlandville in North Baton Rouge.
• 1923 – Baton Rouge General Hospital opened to care for people.
• 1924 – Community Coffee, a well-known coffee company, started its business.
• 1926
  • A new campus for Louisiana State University was officially opened.
  • Baton Rouge High School was built.
• 1932 – The current Louisiana State Capitol building was opened. It is a very tall and famous building.
• 1934 – WJBO radio station began broadcasting.
• 1940 – The population of Baton Rouge was 34,719 people.
• 1947
  • The city and East Baton Rouge Parish joined together for some services.
  • The Baton Rouge Civic Symphony Orchestra started performing.
• 1950 – The population grew to 125,629 people.
• 1953
  • From June 20 to 28, the Baton Rouge bus boycott happened. This was an important event during the Civil Rights Movement, where people protested for equal rights.
  • WAFB-TV (television) began broadcasting.
• 1960
  • Students from Southern University held sit-ins and marches in Baton Rouge. These were also part of the Civil Rights Movement.
  • The population reached 152,419 people.
• 1970
  • The Baton Rouge Zoo was opened near the city.
  • The population was 165,963 people.
• 1980 – The population grew to 219,419 people.
• 1982 – The governments of the city and East Baton Rouge Parish officially joined together.
• 1990 – The population was 219,531 people.
• 1997 – The Mall of Louisiana, a large shopping center, opened.
• 1998 – The city's official website went online.

The 2000s: New Millennium Events

• 2005
  • August 29: Hurricane Katrina, a very powerful storm, affected the region.
  • Kip Holden became the first African-American mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish.
  • The Shaw Center for the Arts opened, offering a place for art and performances.
• 2010 – The city's population was 229,493. The population of the whole parish was 440,171.
• 2012
  • April: There was an oil spill from the Exxon Baton Rouge Refinery pipeline.
  • June 14: There was a benzene leak from the Exxon Baton Rouge Refinery.
• 2016
  • July 5: An incident involving a police officer led to protests in Baton Rouge.
  • July 9: A protest against police actions took place.
  • July 17: An attack occurred that involved police officers.
  • August: The 2016 Louisiana floods caused thousands of homes across the parish to be covered in water.