East Baton Rouge Parish (French: Paroisse de Bâton-Rouge Est; Spanish: Parroquia del Este de Bastón Rojo) is the most populous parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its population was 456,781 at the 2020 census.[1] The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital.[2] East Baton Rouge Parish is located within the Greater Baton Rouge area.

East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Parish of East Baton Rouge
Paroisse de Bâton-Rouge Est (French)
Parroquia del Este de Bastón Rojo (Spanish)
Nickname: 
EBR
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country United States
State Louisiana
Region Florida Parishes
Metro Baton Rouge
Founded year1812
Parish seat (and largest city)Baton Rouge
Area
 • Total470 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Land455 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  3.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total456,781
 • RankLA: 1st
 • Density970/sq mi (380/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Districts2nd, 6th
WebsiteParish of East Baton Rouge

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 470 sq mi (1,200 km2), of which 15 sq mi (39 km2) (3.2%) are covered by water.[3]

Bodies of water

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Major highways

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Adjacent parishes

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Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18101,468
18205,220255.6%
18306,69828.3%
18408,13321.4%
185011,97747.3%
186016,04634.0%
187017,81611.0%
188019,96612.1%
189025,92229.8%
190031,15320.2%
191034,58011.0%
192044,51328.7%
193068,20853.2%
194088,41529.6%
1950158,23679.0%
1960230,05845.4%
1970285,16724.0%
1980366,19128.4%
1990380,1053.8%
2000412,8528.6%
2010440,1716.6%
2020456,7813.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9]
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 2020
White alone (NH) 227,445 206,664 191,355 55.09% 46.95% 41.89%
Black or African American alone (NH) 164,853 198,560 205,552 39.93% 45.12% 45.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 793 923 773 0.19% 0.21% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 8,534 12,290 14,388 2.07% 2.79% 3.15%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 109 86 106 0.03% 0.02% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 427 616 1,564 0.10% 0.14% 0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 3,328 4,728 12,492 0.81% 1.07% 2.73%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,363 16,274 30,551 1.78% 3.70% 6.69%
Total 412,852 440,171 456,781 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 456,781 people, 161,536 households, and 95,243 families residing in the parish. The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 443,763 people lived in East Baton Rouge,[13] up from 440,171 at the 2010 United States census. Of the population, 5.7% were foreign-born, and 8.3% spoke a language other than English at home. There were 164,346 households and 45,760 businesses operating in the parish.

At the 2019 census estimates, the racial and ethnic makeup of East Baton Rouge Parish was 46.8% non-Hispanic white, 46.1% Black and African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian alone, 1.8% some other race, and 1.9% two or more races; Hispanic and Latin Americans of any race made up 4.2% of the total population.[14] In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the parish was 45.9% Black and African American, 49.5% White American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.0% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. About 3.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latin American of any race.

Of the 164,346 households at the 2019 American Community Survey, there were 6.6% of people aged 5 and under; 77.2% were aged 18 and older, and 13.7% were 65 and older. The median age of East Baton Rouge was 34, up from 32 at the 2010 U.S. census.[13] In 2010, for every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.

In the parish, the median household income was $54,948 and there were 194,326 housing units. East Baton Rouge Parish had a home-ownership rate of 59.8%, and the median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $194,000. The median gross rent for residents was $933. Males had a median income of $55,862 versus $38,817 for females.

An estimated 61.2% of the parish was employed, and of the 45,760 businesses, 19,537 were minority-owned. Veteran-owned businesses numbered approximately 4,637.

Education

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Primary and secondary education

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Most sections of the parish are zoned to schools in East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Baker residents attend the City of Baker School System. Zachary residents and residents of unincorporated areas around Zachary attend the Zachary Community School Board. Central residents, and those of a section of Brownfields, as well as some other unincorporated areas, attend the Central Community School System schools.[15][16]

The State of Louisiana also operates the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired and Louisiana School for the Deaf.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge operates Catholic parochial schools.

Other education

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East Baton Rouge Parish Library is the public library system. The parish is in the service area of Baton Rouge Community College.[17]

Government

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The city of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge have been run by a consolidated government since 1947, which combined the city of Baton Rouge government with the rural areas of the parish. The city and parish are served by the metropolitan council and the mayor-president.

 
Baton Rouge Governmental Building and former Courthouse (St. Louis Street)

The parish courthouse in Baton Rouge is one of 26 public buildings constructed by contractor George A. Caldwell in the 1930s.[18]

In 2010, the 19th Judicial District Court moved into the new courthouse on North Blvd.[19]

The Jetson Center for Youth, a former juvenile prison operated by the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice, is located near Baker in an unincorporated area.[20]

Politics

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Since 1980, East Baton Rouge Parish has been a bellwether in presidential elections, voting for the winner of the presidency in all but two elections (it voted for George H. W. Bush in 1992 and Hillary Clinton in 2016), but not necessarily the winner of Louisiana. In the 2008 presidential election, the parish voted for Democrat Barack Obama, who won 51% of the vote and 99,652 votes. Republican John McCain won 48% of the votes and 95,390 votes. In the 2008 Senate election, Democrat Mary Landrieu, who kept her seat as a U.S. Senator, won 57% of the vote and 110,694 votes in East Baton Rouge Parish. Republican John Neely Kennedy won 41% of the vote and 80,222 votes. In the 2004 presidential election, East Baton Rouge Parish cast the majority of its votes for Republican George W. Bush, who won 54% of the votes and 99,943 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 45% of the votes and 82,298 votes.[21]

In 2016, John Kennedy lost East Baton Rouge Parish in his otherwise highly successful U.S. Senate race against Democratic Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, who prevailed 52-48%. By a nearly identical margin, Democrat Sharon Weston Broome defeated Republican Bodi White to claim the Baton Rouge mayor-president position to succeed Democrat Kip Holden.[22]

United States presidential election results for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 88,420 42.47% 115,577 55.52% 4,185 2.01%
2016 84,660 43.09% 102,828 52.33% 9,003 4.58%
2012 92,292 46.57% 102,656 51.80% 3,223 1.63%
2008 95,390 48.34% 99,652 50.50% 2,307 1.17%
2004 99,943 54.42% 82,298 44.81% 1,401 0.76%
2000 89,128 52.74% 76,516 45.28% 3,345 1.98%
1996 77,811 45.60% 83,493 48.93% 9,343 5.48%
1992 81,072 48.64% 68,622 41.17% 16,997 10.20%
1988 86,791 58.81% 59,270 40.16% 1,523 1.03%
1984 95,704 62.44% 56,673 36.98% 891 0.58%
1980 71,063 53.36% 57,442 43.13% 4,663 3.50%
1976 51,655 49.76% 49,956 48.12% 2,196 2.12%
1972 52,648 65.37% 23,617 29.32% 4,277 5.31%
1968 21,661 27.53% 21,770 27.67% 35,250 44.80%
1964 36,964 58.57% 26,152 41.43% 0 0.00%
1960 17,749 31.45% 26,326 46.65% 12,360 21.90%
1956 24,018 56.74% 17,072 40.33% 1,241 2.93%
1952 19,693 46.01% 23,105 53.99% 0 0.00%
1948 4,585 21.35% 8,569 39.91% 8,319 38.74%
1944 3,025 17.01% 14,757 82.99% 0 0.00%
1940 1,762 11.70% 13,303 88.30% 0 0.00%
1936 1,069 9.74% 9,911 90.26% 0 0.00%
1932 1,045 14.04% 6,363 85.51% 33 0.44%
1928 2,995 39.56% 4,575 60.44% 0 0.00%
1924 611 18.00% 2,764 81.44% 19 0.56%
1920 442 15.91% 2,336 84.09% 0 0.00%
1916 130 7.89% 1,482 89.98% 35 2.13%
1912 45 3.60% 1,067 85.43% 137 10.97%

Law enforcement

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The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office employs approximately 850 deputies, making it one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the state of Louisiana. Notable past sheriffs include politician Philemon Thomas; baseball player Terry Felton became a captain in the department after retiring from sports.

Other law enforcement agencies in the parish include:

National Guard

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The 769th Engineer Battalion (Combat) a unit of the 225th Engineer Brigade is located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Two companies of this battalion deployed to Iraq in 2007–2008. Another company-sized unit, the 927TH Sapper Company, deployed to Afghanistan in 2008–2009. As of 2011, yet another company, the 926TH Mobility Augmentation Company located in Baker has been alerted for overseas deployment. The 769th Engineers have two other companies, the 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company located in Gonzales, Louisiana, and the 928th Sapper Company located in Napoleonville, Louisiana.

Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services

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Major Hospitals include

Emergency Medical Services in EBR Parish are provided by East Baton Rouge EMS and Acadian Ambulance.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "QuickFacts: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "April 26, 2024 - Opinions - Louisiana Supreme Court".
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  10. ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ a b "Geography Profile: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "2019 Demographic and Housing Estimates". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: East Baton Rouge Parish, LA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021. - Text list
  16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Brownfields CDP, LA." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on July 19, 2022. 2010 map
  17. ^ "Our Colleges". Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "Caldwell, George A." Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  19. ^ WAFB New courthouse to open soon
  20. ^ "Jetson Center for Youth Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine." Office of Juvenile Justice. Retrieved on June 30, 2010. "15200 Old Scenic Highway (at US Hwy 61) Baker, LA 70714 (physical address) "
  21. ^ "2004 Presidential General Election Results - Louisiana (East Baton Rouge Parish)". David Leip. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  22. ^ "Election Results". December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
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30°32′N 91°05′W / 30.54°N 91.09°W / 30.54; -91.09