U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010[9]
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 United States census, there were 456,781 people, 161,536 households, and 95,243 families residing in the parish. The 2019American Community Survey estimated 443,763 people lived in East Baton Rouge,[19] up from 440,171 at the2010 United States census. Of the population, 5.7% were foreign-born, and 8.3% spoke a language other thanEnglish at home. There were 164,346 households and 45,760 businesses operating in the parish.
Of the 164,346 households at the 2019 American Community Survey, there were 6.6% of people aged 5 and under; 77.2% were aged 18 and older, and 13.7% were 65 and older. The median age of East Baton Rouge was 34, up from 32 at the 2010 U.S. census.[19] In 2010, for every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
In the parish, the median household income was $54,948 and there were 194,326 housing units. East Baton Rouge Parish had a home-ownership rate of 59.8%, and the median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $194,000. The median gross rent for residents was $933. Males had a median income of $55,862 versus $38,817 for females.
An estimated 61.2% of the parish was employed, and of the 45,760 businesses, 19,537 were minority-owned. Veteran-owned businesses numbered approximately 4,637.
The city of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge have been run by a consolidated government since 1947, which combined the city of Baton Rouge government with the rural areas of the parish. The city and parish are served by the metropolitan council and the mayor-president.
Baton Rouge Governmental Building and former Courthouse (St. Louis Street)
The parish courthouse in Baton Rouge is one of 26 public buildings constructed by contractorGeorge A. Caldwell in the 1930s.[24]
In 2010, the 19th Judicial District Court moved into the new courthouse on North Blvd.[25]
Since 1980, East Baton Rouge Parish has been abellwether in presidential elections, voting for the winner of the presidency in all but three elections (it voted forGeorge H. W. Bush in 1992,Hillary Clinton in 2016 andKamala Harris in 2024) but not necessarily the winner of Louisiana. In the 2008 presidential election, the parish voted for DemocratBarack Obama, who won 51% of the vote and 99,652 votes. RepublicanJohn McCain won 48% of the votes and 95,390 votes. In the 2008 Senate election, DemocratMary Landrieu, who kept her seat as a U.S. Senator, won 57% of the vote and 110,694 votes in East Baton Rouge Parish. RepublicanJohn Neely Kennedy won 41% of the vote and 80,222 votes. In the 2004 presidential election, East Baton Rouge Parish cast the majority of its votes for RepublicanGeorge W. Bush, who won 54% of the votes and 99,943 votes. DemocratJohn F. Kerry won 45% of the votes and 82,298 votes.[27]
In 2016, John Kennedy lost East Baton Rouge Parish in his otherwise highly successful U.S. Senate race against DemocraticLouisiana Public Service CommissionerFoster Campbell, who prevailed 52-48%. By a nearly identical margin, DemocratSharon Weston Broome defeated RepublicanBodi White to claim the Baton Rougemayor-president position to succeed DemocratKip Holden.[28] In 2024, RepublicanSid Edwards defeated Weston-Broome to retake the mayoralty of Baton Rouge.
United States presidential election results for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana[29]
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office employs approximately 850 deputies, making it one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the state ofLouisiana. Notable past sheriffs include politicianPhilemon Thomas; baseball playerTerry Felton became a captain in the department after retiring from sports.
Other law enforcement agencies in the parish include:
The 769th Engineer Battalion (Combat) a unit of the225th Engineer Brigade is located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Two companies of this battalion deployed to Iraq in 2007–2008. Another company-sized unit, the 927TH Sapper Company, deployed to Afghanistan in 2008–2009. As of 2011, yet another company, the 926TH Mobility Augmentation Company located in Baker has been alerted for overseas deployment. The 769th Engineers have two other companies, the 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company located inGonzales, Louisiana, and the 928th Sapper Company located inNapoleonville, Louisiana.