History of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Baton Rouge, a city, capital of the state of Louisiana, and seat of justice of the parish of East Baton Rouge, is situated on the left or E. bank of the Mississippi, 129 miles above New Orleans. It stands on the first bluff or high bank which occurs in ascending the river. This bank is elevated about 25 or 30 feet above the highest overflowings. Baton Rouge has the reputation of being one of the healthiest towns in the southern portion of the Mississippi valley. The esplanade in front of the town presents a delightful view of the majestic Mississippi and the rich tracts of cultivation which line its banks. Below Baton Rouge the broad and deep river sweeps through a plain which is occupied by luxuriant plantations of sugar-cane, and adorned by splendid villas and gardens and groves of tropical fruit trees. To protect these from inundation, a levee or embankment of earth has been raised to the height of 6 or 8 feet. The seat of government was established here in 1847. Since that period...

New Orleans, May 4. - A tornado swept over Baton Rouge and vicinity on Tuesday, causing great destruction of property. Trees were uprooted, and bricks and planks were whirled in the air. The north and south walls of the Penitentiary, the roof of the shoe factory, and the cells in the south wing of the building were blown away. The whole second story and roof of the store-house of the United States Arsenal, with 300 feet of the laboratory, (a frame building,) and the roof of one of the powder magazines were rent in fragments. The roof was torn from the Catholic Church, and the cemetery fence was demolished. A large number of frame houses were unroofed, and sustained other damages. The sugarhouse and a number of cabins on the plantation of JOSEPH BERNARD were blown down, and one negro was killed and several were wounded. The sugar-house, gin-house and cabins on the plantation of JAMES McCOLLEN were all destroyed, and many colored persons were severely injured. The sugar-house and all...

Baton Rouge,a city, the capital of Louisiana and of East Baton Rouge parish, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, about 130 miles above New Orleans. It is built on a bluff which is about 25 feet above the river when the water is at its highest stage, and commands a fine view of the river and surrounding plantations. This city was the capital of the state from 1847 till 1864, when the seat of government was removed to New Orleans, where it remained until re established at Baton Rouge, March 1, 1882, by a provision of the constitution of 1879. A daily and 3 weekly news papers are published here. Baton Rouge contains a state prison, an arsenal, and an institution for the education of the deaf, dumb, and blind (which was founded by the state in 1852), and is the seat of the State University, which was formerly at Alexandria; but the edifice of which was destroyed there by fire in 1869. Pop. in 1870,6498; in 1880, 7197; in 1890, 10,478.

Baton Rouge, La., July 9. – One set of barns at Angola state farm, consisting of two buildings, was destroyed by fire at 9 p. m. Monday. The cause of the fire is now known. The property was insured for about half its value. The loss will probably reach $4,000. There was no loss of live stock, the fifty head of mules usually quartered there being probably out in the pasture, as the crops are well advanced.

Baton Rouge, a city, the capital of Louisiana and of East Baton Rouge parish, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, about 130 miles above New Orleans. It is on the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley R., and is built on a bluff which is about 25 feet above the river when the water is at its highest stage, and commands a fine view of the river and surrounding plantations. This city was the capital of the state from 1849 till 1864, when the seat of government was removed to New Or leans, where it remained until re-established at Baton Rouge, March 1, 1880, by a provision of the constitution of 1879. Baton Rouge contains the state capitol, a state prison, an institution for the education of the deaf, dumb, and blind (which was founded by the state in 1852), and a state agricultural experiment station, and is the seat of the State University, which was formerly at Alexandria. The city's industries comprise manufactories of lumber, cotton-seed products, sugar, and ice. The...