| West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Louisiana |
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 Louisiana's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1807 |
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| Seat | Port Allen |
| Largest city | Port Allen |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
204 sq mi (527 km²) 191 sq mi (495 km²) 12 sq mi (32 km²), 6.10% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
21,601 113/sq mi (44/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Named for: bâton rouge, French for red stick | |
West Baton Rouge Parish (French: Paroisse de Baton Rouge Ouest) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Port Allen and as of 2000, the population was 21,601. The parish has a highly-rated school system and is one of the few in Louisiana that has privatized school bus services[citation needed]. West Baton Rouge saw a very small percentage of growth after Hurricane Katrina with the latest estimate (July 2006) put about 864 extra residents into the parish[citation needed].
West Baton Rouge Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical Area.
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History
Prehistory
The Medora Site, a Plaquemine culture mound site located adjacent to Bayou Bourbeaux on the flood plain of Manchac Point, a hair-pin bend of the Mississippi River in the southeast corner of the parish, was instrumental in defining the Plaquemine culture and period.[1] The site was excavated in the winter of 1939-40 by James A. Ford and George I. Quimby, for the Louisiana State Archaeological Survey, a joint project of Louisiana State University and the Work Projects Administration. [2]
Historic era
West Baton Rouge Parish was formed in 1807; it was named Baton Rouge Parish until 1812.
Law and government
West Baton Rouge Parish is governed by a parish council. The current Parish President is Riley "Pee Wee" Berthelot.
West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Office is led by Sheriff Mike Caze. The Chief Administrator is Major Leonard Tobiase.
The Sheriff Office is located in the parish court house at 850 Eighth Street in Port Allen Lousiana across the street from the West Baton Rouge Parish Govermental Building and Library.
Geography
The parish has a total area of 204 square miles (527 km²), of which, 191 square miles (495 km²) of it is land and 12 square miles (32 km²) of it (6.10%) is water.
Major highways
Minor Highwways
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Adjacent parishes
- West Feliciana Parish (north)
- East Baton Rouge Parish (east)
- East Feliciana Parish (northeast)
- Iberville Parish (southwest)
- Pointe Coupee Parish (northwest)
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Pointe Coupee Parish | West Feliciana Parish | East Feliciana Parish |
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East Baton Rouge Parish | ||||||
 West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana  |
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| Iberville Parish |
Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 21,601 people, 7,663 households, and 5,739 families residing in the parish. The population density was 113 people per square mile (44/km²). There were 8,370 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 62.78% White, 35.49% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 10,285 |
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| 1910 | 12,636 | 22.9% | |
| 1920 | 11,092 | −12.2% | |
| 1930 | 9,716 | −12.4% | |
| 1940 | 11,263 | 15.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,738 | 4.2% | |
| 1960 | 14,796 | 26.1% | |
| 1970 | 16,864 | 14.0% | |
| 1980 | 19,086 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,419 | 1.7% | |
| 2000 | 21,601 | 11.2% | |
| Est. 2006 | 22,463 | [4] | 4.0% |
| West Baton Rouge Parish Census Data[5] | |||
There were 7,663 households out of which 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.50% were married couples living together, 18.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the parish the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $37,117, and the median income for a family was $43,204. Males had a median income of $35,618 versus $22,960 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,773. About 13.20% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Education
West Baton Rouge Parish School Board operates area public schools.
See also
References
- ^ "LOUISIANA COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN-September 28, 2001". http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:asBq7TRLJQIJ:www.crt.state.la.us/hp/2001%2520Strategic%2520Plan.doc+medora+site+plaquemine+culture&cd=20&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us.
- ^ Quimby, George Irving (1951). ANTHROPOLOGICAL SERIES, FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, VOLUME XXIV, NUMBER 2. Chicago Field Museum Press.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "West Baton Rouge Parish Quickfacts". http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22121.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "Louisiana Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
External links
- West Baton Rouge Parish Portal
- West Baton Rouge Parish Government - Official site.
- Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
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