As the French capital city of Louisiana, Baton Rouge boasts a vibrant community with unique culture, fantastic adventure, and entertaining music.Its true colors are rarely seen as the bustling New Orleans is close by. If you want to move to a place where you can learn a thing or two about the culture of a city, customs, or ancient architecture, Baton Rouge is the place to call home.
Baton Rouge, LA is home to several colleges and universities, which adds a social vibrance to the local communities. It is located just an hour east of Lafayette and an hour northwest of New Orleans. The city’s history is fascinating as it has French, Portuguese, and Spanish roots. The city is majorly influenced by French and even the name itself is French. (Baton Rouge means Red Stick in French).
If you are considering making the move to Baton Rouge, consider lightening your load by partnering with a local moving company. Northshore Moving Company is more than happy to make sure that your transition to Baton Rouge is seamless, allowing you to start settling into your new home sooner.
Once you’re all settled in, it’s time to know what Baton Rouge really looks like. In this moving guide, you’ll be able to know what makes Baton Rouge a truly incredible place to live.
A little bit about Baton Rouge, LA
Instead of counties, Baton Rouge is divided into Parishes. There are 9 parishes in this city including East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, St. Helena, and more. The name Red Stick was given to Baton Rouge by French explorers who came across a red pole as they arrived through the Mississippi River in 1699.
Baton Rouge has a population of approximately 228,000 residents, making it the second-largest city in Louisiana. The city has fantastic amenities which are affordably priced and operated by the Parish authorities. The cost of living is 4 percent lower than America’s national average, with utilities cost even less at 18 percent below average. If you’re down for a plush urban city with reasonable cost of living, Baton Rouge is exactly the spot for you.
Baton Rouge Communities
Perhaps the most distinct feature of Baton Rouge is how each neighborhood is divided into several local communities. You can easily fit in any of these spots as the locals are friendly. Here is a breakdown of the most notable community towns located in Baton Rouge.
Downtown Baton Rouge
If you fancy a funky urban vibe, head over to downtown Baton Rouge. It gives you access to lots of affordable housing, condos, and single-family homes. Downtown also gives you access to fantastic landmarks such as the State Capitol building and the Mississippi Riverfront.
Spanish Town
Spanish town is probably the oldest neighborhood in Baton Rouge. Just like Spanish-influenced communities, Spanish Town has a festive appeal that attracts a lot of people during popular events like the Mardi Gras party. This area is an ideal place to stay if you need space from busier areas of Baton Rouge. It is a quaint area but still boasts plenty of amenities, so you won’t miss out on enjoying a few museums, restaurants, cafes, among others.
Garden District
The most charming neighborhood in Baton Rouge is the Garden District. It is home to historic architecture that dates back to 1910. If you want to get a feel of what the old world looked like, then this is definitely the place to go. However, Garden District still has the funky vibe of New Orleans and fits large families with school-aged kids. There are plenty of fun things to do in the Garden District with annual events such as Easter egg hunts and Patrick’s Day.
Why People Move To Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge’s population has been steadily increasing with the most percentage being movers from out of state. The main reason people come to Baton Rouge is the expanding job market. The oil refinery sector is setting up more plants in the city which creates more jobs for the locals. Plus, Baton’s proximity to the Gulf Coast makes it an interesting hub for oil, gas, and petroleum companies to set up base. As a result, there are lots of job opportunities in this sector and others like chemical, healthcare, manufacturing, and research.
Baton Rouge also has an interesting and vibrant culture which brings its residents a perfect mix of experiences. It is the perfect place to go out and meet new people and learn their cultures. People also come to Baton Rouge due to its premium array of primary and secondary schools. The quality of education here is unmatched as it has world-class colleges and universities offering plenty of courses. Some of the best universities in Baton Rouge include Our Lady of Lake College, Louisiana State University (LSU), and Southern University.
Louisiana’s capital is on mover’s top list of places to go because of low costs of living. Baton’s cost of living is lower than the national average at a 96 index as compared to 100. It matches living standards of cities such as Richmond, VA and Boise, ID.
people like moving to Baton Rouge because the housing market is lower than the national average with a median home value of $183,000. There are also affordable rental apartments in various areas across the city including Garden City, Dayton, and Delmont place. Typically, apartments cost around $1000. The property tax of Baton Rouge is also lower than the average at 0.536% compared to the national average of 1.211%.
While Louisiana is the father of blues, Baton Rouge’s role cannot be overlooked. The town has contributed to blues and a sub genre called swamp blues was invented in the city. People love coming to Baton Rouge to experience this type of music as it sounds better in its hometown. A few nightclubs offer swamp blues and events like Baton Rouge Blues Festival attract iconic blues musicians.
If you’re a football fanatic, Baton Rouge quenches the buzz with its LSu tigers football team. People love moving to Baton Rouge as it does have a warm football scene lighting up on Saturdays. Also, the weather is fantastic and there are more sunny days than the national average.
Things To Do In Baton Rouge Louisiana
Baton Rouge may not have all the hype and buzz of New Orleans, but it sure does have a rich history with lots of fun activities to do while you’re there. From zoo visits to museums, and perhaps a casino, the city is filled with must-see spots. So when moving to Baton Rouge, don’t expect a boring stay.
You can start your adventures at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. The place has over 4,000 artifacts and sensational works of art. Expect to see interesting things like the gallery of Ancient Egypt, a “Science Station” for kids, paint works of Jean Victor Bertin, and many more. If the Louisiana Museum doesn’t take you way back, consider the LSU Rural Life Museum which gives you an accurate picture of how it was like in the 18th century. It is a collection of old houses that have been preserved with everything intact, including the slave’s quarters and the church.
If you want a little oomph, you still have a few places to go in Baton Rouge. One such place is the Hollywood Casino. Head down to the boat and see if you have the luck to walk away with some cash. Also, if you’re not planning on spending much, don’t worry, there are few cheap slots with complimentary drinks. There is also the newly opened L’auberge Casino down south.
As mentioned earlier, football is huge for Baton Rouge residents. If you love this sport, you can head over to the LSU Tiger Stadium which hosts the Louisiana State University Tigers football team. The stadium is popular for college football and has plenty of amazing football games to watch from. Expect a capacity of 100,000 people when fully packed. Baton Rouge Community College also has an excellent football team, although their stadium is small.
Downtown Baton Rouge is a great community and a fun place to visit during your stay. It is flooded with restaurants and an interesting nightlife along the stretches of Mississippi River. Every weekend has some sort of concert in one of the venues and you might want to have a re-up during the week. Most outdoor concerts at Baton Rouge are completely free, a plus if you’re on a budget.
The Old State Capitol Building is one of Louisiana’s top historic buildings to date. It was built in the 1800s and served as the State Legislature through to early 1930s. It is a rather unique building and often mistaken as a castle rather than a government building. The Old State Capitol is located high on a bluff providing an incredible view of the Mississippi River and its surroundings. The building is on the list of U.S National Register of Historic Places and has been added political history memorabilia such as educational documents, artifacts, photographs, and more.
Baton Rouge offers array of fresh produce and the Red Stick Farmers Market is the best place to go. Here, you will find fresh fruits and vegetables outsourced from the local farms in Louisiana. You can also expect freshly baked breads and other homemade products like jams, pickles, and peanut butter. However, you won’t find the market open all week, it is only open on Thursday and Saturday.
If you want to go out with family, the Baton Rouge Zoo is a great place to start. It has been in operation since 1970 and boast plenty of animal life. It has over 2,000 animals from reptiles, primates, birds, and everything in between. In the list of wildlife, the Zoo has a program for endangered species, hosting endangered animals like the Guam rail and Arabian Oryx. It a zoo meant for younger kids as its filled with educational exhibits such as the Parrot Paradise and the Otter Pond.
Moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge area is an awesome place to live. You’ll never get short of things to do and its economy is well-balanced. Moving around is easy with the free public transport system, although owning a car gives you more flexibility. There is also the baton Rouge metropolitan airport for air travel. If you anticipate moving to Baton Rouge soon, consider working with the premier moving company in Baton Rouge. They will eliminate all of the stress from the moving process and help you and your family get settled in your new home much faster.
The community is also friendly, so settling in won’t be a problem. However, the town might not be as hyped up as neighboring cities like New Orleans, but they sure have that oomph to make your stay worthwhile. If you have any questions about moving to Baton Rouge or what the area is like, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Comment below and we will be more than happy to answer any of your questions about moving to Baton Rouge.
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