The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

Prior to 19th century

History of Louisiana
By year Pre-statehood U.S. Civil War Post-Civil War Topics: African-Americans - Cities - Politics
United States portal
v t e

• 1721 – Fort established by French.^[1]
• 1763 – Period of British West Florida begins.
• 1779 – September: Battle of Baton Rouge at Fort New Richmond, during the Gulf Coast campaign of the American Revolutionary War.
• 1783 – Period of Spanish West Florida officially begins; Baton Rouge fort has been renamed Fort San Carlos.

19th century

• 1805 – Spanish Town, first residential area, is established.
• 1806 – Beauregard Town, second neighborhood, is established.
• 1810 – Baton Rouge becomes part of the Republic of West Florida in September,^[2] but by December the republic is annexed by the U.S. into the Territory of Orleans, which in 1812 becomes the state of Louisiana.
• 1812-1815 – War of 1812, including the Creek War and the Battle of New Orleans
• 1817 – Town incorporated.^[3]
• 1819 – Baton-Rouge Gazette newspaper begins publication.^[4]
• 1833 – State Library of Louisiana headquartered in Baton Rouge.^[5]
• 1835 – Louisiana State Penitentiary in operation.^[6]
• 1842 – Democratic Advocate newspaper begins publication.^[4]
• 1849 – Baton Rouge becomes capital of Louisiana.^[3]
• 1850 – First Capitol building constructed.^[7]
• 1852 – Louisiana Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and Blind^[8] and Magnolia Cemetery established.
• 1860 – Andrew Lytle photography studio in business.^[9][10]
• 1861 – January 23: Louisiana secession convention held.^[7]
• 1862
  • May 12: City occupied by U.S. federal troops.^[7]
  • August 5: Battle of Baton Rouge (1862).^[11]
• 1867 – Baton Rouge National Cemetery established.
• 1868 – St. Joseph's Academy founded.^[12]
• 1869 – Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana relocated to Baton Rouge.^[13]
• 1870 – Seminary renamed "Louisiana State University".^[13]
• 1877 – Synagogue dedicated.^[14]
• 1882 – State capital returns to Baton Rouge,^[1] following the Reconstruction Era.
• 1897 – Audubon Sugar School of Louisiana State University founded.^[12]

20th century

• 1905 – Daily State newspaper in publication.^[4]
• 1909 – Baton Rouge Refinery commissioned.
• 1914 – Southern University relocates to Scotlandville, along Scott's Bluff facing the Mississippi River in North Baton Rouge.
• 1916 – Historical Society of East and West Baton Rouge established.^[15]
• 1923 – Baton Rouge General Hospital active.^[16]
• 1924 – Community Coffee in business.
• 1926
  • New Louisiana State University campus dedicated.^[13]
  • Baton Rouge High School and Arcade Theatre^[17] built.
  • Louisiana Municipal Association headquartered in Baton Rouge.^{[citation needed]}
• 1928
  • City Park Golf Course opens.
  • Louisiana State University's College of Commerce established.
• 1929 – State Theater built.^[17]
• 1932 – Current Louisiana State Capitol inaugurated.^[8]
• 1934 - WJBO radio begins broadcasting.^[18]
• 1935 – Huey P. Long assassinated.^[8]
• 1939 – East Baton Rouge Parish Library established.
• 1940
  • Baton Rouge League of Women Voters founded.^[19]
  • Population: 34,719.^[1]
• 1944 – Piccadilly Restaurant in business.
• 1947
  • City and Parish of East Baton Rouge consolidated.
  • Baton Rouge Civic Symphony Orchestra active.^[11]
  • H. J. Wilson Co. in business.
• 1950 – Population: 125,629.^[20]
• 1953
  • June 20–28: Baton Rouge bus boycott held during Civil Rights Movement.^[7][11]
  • WAFB-TV (television) begins broadcasting.^[21]
• 1955 – WBRZ-TV begins broadcasting.^[21]
• 1960
  • Baton Rouge sit-ins, marches, and demonstrations by Southern University students during the Civil Rights Movement.^[22]
  • Broadmoor High School founded.
  • Population: 152,419.^[20]
• 1961 – Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge established.^[23]
• 1962
  • January 19: "Protestors force Southern University...to temporarily shut down."^[24]
  • City Parish Beautification Commission established.^[25]
• 1963 – Foundation for Historical Louisiana headquartered in Baton Rouge.^[26]
• 1964 – Baton Rouge Chapter of the Links established.^[22]
• 1970
  • Baton Rouge Zoo established near city.^[27]
  • Population: 165,963.^[20]
• 1974 – One American Place (hi-rise) built.
• 1976 – Cortana Mall Cinema in business.^[28]
• 1978 – Comité des Archives de la Louisiane founded.^[29]
• 1979 – Louisiana Association of Museums headquartered in city.^[29]
• 1980 - Population: 219,419.^[20]
• 1981 – LSU Hilltop Arboretum established.^[30]
• 1982 – City and Parish of East Baton Rouge governments merged.
• 1986 – Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge established near city.
• 1987 - Richard Baker becomes U.S. representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district.^{[31][relevant?]}
• 1990 – Population: 219,531.^[20]
• 1997
  • Mall of Louisiana in business.
  • Datta Temple & Hall of Trinity consecrated.^[32][33]
• 1998 – City website online.^[34][35]

21st century

• 2001: Bobby Simpson becomes mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish.^[relevant?]
• 2005
  • August 29: Hurricane Katrina.
  • First African-American, Kip Holden, becomes mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish.
  • Shaw Center for the Arts opens.
• 2007: Cinemark 16 Perkins Rowe (cinema) in business.^[28]
• 2010: Population: 229,493 city;^[36] 440,171 parish.
• 2011: Cedric Richmond becomes U.S. representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district.^{[37][relevant?]}
• 2012
  • April: Exxon Baton Rouge Refinery pipeline oil spill.
  • June 14: Exxon Baton Rouge Refinery benzene leak.
• 2016
  • July 5: Alton Sterling was fatally shot by a police officer, which led to protests in Baton Rouge.
  • July 9: Protest against police violence.^[38]
  • July 17: 2016 shooting of Baton Rouge police officers
  • August: 2016 Louisiana floods submerge thousands of homes throughout the parish