Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) - a city in the south of the United States, the capital of Louisiana (Louisiana). In 2013 the population of Baton Rouge 229,000 people. It is the second largest city in the state after New Orleans. In the metropolitan area with the suburbs inhabited by over 800 thousand people. Of these, 440,000 live in East Baton Rouge County.

 

Over the past decade, the region has experienced explosive growth in the number of inhabitants. Back in 2000, the population of the suburbs along with estimated 600 thousand people. Flood, followed after Hurricane Katrina led to the flight of residents from New Orleans, many of whom settled north.

 

Baton Rouge is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, 120 km upstream from New Orleans. The city was founded in an important strategic position on the river where there are the first rapids. This natural barrier with the dam protects the area from floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

 

Name of Baton Rouge was given more than 300 years ago, March 17, 1699 Pierre Le Moyne led an expedition along the Mississippi River. French researchers have discovered a pole with patches of animal blood, which marks the boundary between the tribes of Indians. The French called this place Baton-Rouge or "red stick (pole)." In 1719, the French built a fort and strengthened in the area. In subsequent years, Baton Rouge was ruled by England, Spain, West Florida, Louisiana, Confederate States of America, it has not yet been attached to the United States. The capital of the State of Baton Rouge began in 1849.

 

Baton Rouge is a major industrial center of the American South. The total number of employees in the region - a little more than 350 thousand people, 60% of whom live in East Baton Rouge.

 

Petrochemical industry Louisiana produces one-quarter of all neftihimii produced in the United States, including chemicals, plastics and fertilizers. The annual volume of products produced by all the petrochemical industries of Louisiana (which is about 100 plants) is estimated at $ 20 billion. In the area of ​​Baton Rouge operates about 65 of them. Among these companies ExxonMobil, Shell, BASF, Dow Chemical, and others. The complex ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge is the second largest refinery in the country.

 

Deep river port capable of receiving ocean tankers and cargo ships of large tonnage. He has recently been expanded and upgraded. In the future, the load of Baton Rouge is sent by barge to the north and by rail to the west or east. Baton Rouge Airport is located about five miles north of the city center.