ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

A long time ago, before there were cities and towns, the land where Baton Rouge is now used to be home to Native American tribes. They would fish in the nearby rivers and hunt in the forests.

When French explorers first arrived in the area in the late 1600s, they named the area “le Baton Rouge” which means “the red stick” in French. This is because they saw a red pole marking the boundary between two Native American tribes.

Eventually, the French established a settlement in the area in 1719. They built Fort Rosalie to protect their trade with the nearby tribes.

The Spanish then took control of the area in the late 1700s and built a new fort, Fort San Carlos. The city was officially named Baton Rouge in 1819 when it became the capital of Louisiana.

Throughout the 1800s, Baton Rouge grew as a hub for transportation and commerce. It was home to steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River and later, the railroad.

In the 20th century, Baton Rouge became a center for industry, particularly petrochemical. This brought a lot of jobs to the area and made it a significant economic powerhouse.

Today, Baton Rouge is a thriving city with a diverse population and a rich history. People come from all over the world to study at Louisiana State University and to enjoy the many cultural events and delicious food that the city has to offer.