What Baton Rouge is known for

Denham Springs, the namesake of the Denham Springs Destination, is located just east of the Lousiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, which is also a notable city in the destination. Denham Springs in turn was named after William Denham, who married Mercy Hogue, the daughter of Alexander Hogue, who owned the original land claims with John Noblet. After marrying Mercy in 1828, William purchased the 640 acres of land from his father-in-law. In 1898, the area was previously known as Amite Springs, after the Amite River, before it was renamed to Denham Springs.[7] In current times, the city is located in Livingston Parish, with a current population of 9,588 people.[5] Baton Rouge is the largest city in the destination in terms of population, with 214,374 people.[4]

Baton Rouge is known for its various attractions in the area, including the Louisiana State Capitol building, which stands 450 feet tall with a total of 34 floors. The building was built in the 1930s to serve as the new capitol building leaving the previous one to sit empty until it was converted into a museum. The building is now known as the Old State Capitol, where visitors can explore different exhibits, including The Governors’ Portrait Gallery and The Legacy of Huey Long. The Old State Capitol was first built in 1847 in a Gothic-Revival style but was burned in 1882 by the Union Army and later repaired and served as the state capitol building for Lousiana until the 1930s. Other notable attractions include the USS Kidd Veterans Memorial, Louisiana State University, Magnolia Mound Plantation, Baton Rouge Zoo, and Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center.[6] Denham Springs has popular places to visit among tourists, such as the Antique Village and the local Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The Bass Pro Shop is a relatively large building, with the first floor roughly the size of three and a half football fields. In the store, there is a seafood restaurant and a boat showroom.[8] Visitors are recommended to visit the Denham Springs Destination between February 26th and May 27th due to the “ideal weather”.[2]

Those who visit the region will find French, Spanish, and African ancestry and influences in the area. It’s said that Baton Rouge’s “past is well-preserved in [the] architecture, music, food, and lifestyles” of the region. “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” meaning “let the good times roll,” is a popular phrase among Louisiana natives, which is a representation of the culture. Opportunities for people to join the culture of the state are through the Mardi Gras celebration that happens annually throughout the state, especially in Baton Rouge. The festival features various parades and balls.[3]

Interesting facts about Louisiana’s capital city include the fact that the capital building is the tallest capital in the United States. Other facts include that the LSU’s mascot is a live tiger named Mike and that “Baton Rouge” translates to “Red Baton” in French.[10] LSU’s stadium is often referred to as “Death Valley” due to it being considered one of “the most intimidating places to play in.” The Myrtles Plantation, located in St. Francisville, Louisiana, northwest of Denham Springs, is a popular tourist attraction that is said to be haunted. People often go there to stay the night since it was converted into an inn.[9]

Geography

The Denham Springs Destination is located in the state of Louisiana, with part of the north end of the destination sharing a border with Mississippi. Cities in the region include Hammond, Gonzales, St. Francisville, New Roads, Baton Rouge, and Denham Springs, the namesake of the destination. Baton Rouge is the capital of the state and is located along the east side of the Mississippi River. Another water feature in the destination includes Lake Maurepas, which is relatively close to Lake Pontchartrain; however, the latter lake is not located in the region.

Louisiana is often known for the various bayous located within the state. Multiple bayous are located in the Denham Springs Destination. It is said that “Lousiana’s bayous are home to some of the most unique ecosystems and societies on the planet.” These bayous were formed over thousands of years through the inlets and outlets of the Mississippi River. There are almost 3 million acres of land that are encompassed by bayous in the state; this creates an ecosystem that allows the growth of wiregrass, Cyprus trees, moss, bottomland hardwoods, and water celery. Bayous in the region are home to the American alligator as well as blue herons, shrimp, and over 100 fish species.[11]

The weather in Denham Springs is especially hot during the summers, which are often described as oppressive. Temperatures can vary throughout the year from 43 degrees Fahrenheit to 92 degrees. Winter does not last long in the region but has an average low temperature of 43 degrees; this low usually happens during the coldest month of the year for the area, January. The warmest months for Denham Springs are from May to September, with the average high temperature being 86 degrees. May to September is also a relatively wet time of year for the destination, considering that there is a “39% chance of a given day being a wet day.”[1] The climate and location of Lousiana make it more vulnerable to the occurrence of hurricanes. Hurricane Katrina was a category five hurricane that hit the city of New Orleans and other surrounding cities. The Denham Springs Destination didn’t see as much devastation as New Orleans. However, significant damage still happened to cities within the region from the storm.[12]

History

Denham Springs, the namesake of the Denham Springs Destination, was first inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Sioux, Cherokee, and Iroquois.[14] The land wasn’t officially owned until John Noblet and Alexander Hogue claimed the land. It wasn’t until 1828 that William Denham married the daughter of Alexander Hogue, Mercy. Three months after the marriage, William purchased 640 acres of the land. Amite Springs was the former name of the area but was changed in the 1850s to Denham Springs.[7] Baton Rouge, another city in the destination, also has a notable history considering that habitation in the area dates back to 12,000-6,500 BC. It wasn’t until 1698 that the city, also the capital of the state, gained its name. “Baton Rouge” also means “the red stick” in French. It was Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville who led an expedition up the Mississippi River; during their travels, they saw a red pole that marked the boundary between tribal hunting grounds and has been known as Baton Rouge since. The area has been used by multiple countries since, including the French, British, Confederate States Army, and the United States.[13]

In current times, Baton Rouge has a current population of 214,374 people, however, there is currently an annual decline in the population by 0.90% on average. Baton Rouge is demographically diverse with French ancestry, as well as having Asain, Cajun, Italian, and other European populations in the area. Black or African American is the largest demographic in the area, making up 54.66% of the population. The population in the capital city had a significant increase after Hurricane Katrine since 200,000 displaced people were moved to the city.[4] On the other hand, Denham Springs is not nearly as diverse, with most of the population being white (84.48%). Black and African American people only make up 13.86% of this city. One similarity between Baton Rouge and Denham Springs is that they both have a decreasing rate of population. Denham Springs currently has a population of 9,588 people, with a declining rate of 0.57%.[5]

The economy of Baton Rouge is considered to harbor growth since it is said to be the “9th best place in the country to start a new business.” Businesses that are headquartered in the destination include Lamar Advertising Company, BBQGuys, Piccadilly Restaurants, and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. Another driving factor of the economy specific to Baton Rouge is the multiple ocean-going tankers and cargo carriers that port in the city. Baton Rouge is the “furthest inland port on the Mississippi River” that accommodates large vessels. The largest contributor to the economy is petrochemical production and manufacturing; ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge Refinery is the 10th largest refinery in the world and the 4th largest in the United States.[13]