Baton Rouge, founded in 1699, is the capital and the second largest city in Louisiana, located on the Mississippi River in East Baton Rouge Parish. The Greater Baton Rouge metro area has an estimated 2008 city population of 775,000. Because of its central location, all of Louisiana's major cities, historical sites, attractions, places of interest, and festivals are within a 2-3 hour drive of Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge neighborhoods include Beauregard Town, Bird Station (Old & New), Capitol Heights, Cedarcrest, Dixie, Eden Park, Easytown, the historic Garden District, Glen Oaks, Greendale, Lake Beau Pre, Lake Side, Mid-City, Monticello, Northdale, Old Hermitage, Parkview Oaks, Park Forest, Pollard Estates, Riverbend, Scotlandville, Shenandoah, Sherwood Forest, South Baton Rouge, Southdowns, Southern Heights, Spanish Town, Tara, Tigerland, University Acres, University Gardens, University Hills, University Lakes, Wedgewood, Westminster, Woodgate, Woodlawn Estates, Woodstone, Village St. George, and Zion City.
Some city attractions for the family include Blue Bayou Water Park, USS KIDD Veterans Memorial Museum, Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge Zoo, Dixie Landin' Amusement Theme Park, Circle Bowl, Indian Mounds, Port Hudson State Commemorative Area, and an LSU football game (residents love their LSU Tigers).
Baton Rouge is served by 12 public school districts. It is home to Louisiana State University (LSU), Southern University and A&M College (Southern), and Baton Rouge Community College.
