About the Parish

West Baton Rouge has long had a love affair with the Mississippi River. It was the Mississippi transportation route and the fertile land adjacent to the river that drew the first settlers here almost 300 years ago. The river remains the dividing line between East and West Baton Rouge parishes. Today, West Baton Rouge's sweet location as a key transportation route in the heart of Plantation Country draws visitors from throughout the world.Largely an agricultural parish until the 1960s, the parish is now home to one of the largest deep-water ports in the world, along with major chemical and manufacturing corporations.Also, the parish serves as a major transportation route with Interstate 10, the Mississippi River bridges, La. Hwy. 1, and U.S. Hwy. 190 all running through the heart of the parish.West Baton Rouge includes four communities: Port Allen, the seat of parish government; Brusly, Addis and Erwinville.Parish History, Culture & RecreationEarly land records date the parish to 1763 a...