Baton Rouge Demographics : Baton Rouge Area Chamber

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Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) encompasses Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes and is currently the largest metro area in Louisiana, with a 2005 pre-Hurricane Katrina population estimate of 729,000 persons and a 2006 population estimate of 779,000. The Metro area population grew by approximately 74,000 persons or 9.7% from 2000 to 2006. It is a relatively young population with a median age of 33.7 years (national median age is 36.3 years). Nearly 83% of residents age 25 and over are high school graduates. Approximately 5% hold associate degrees, 20% hold bachelor's degrees and 8% have advanced degrees. Another 23% have some college credit.

Population Demographics
	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2006-2011 (% Change)
Total Population	705,973	777,869	804,223	13.20%	3.40%
Population Density (Pop/Sq Mi)	167.5	184.6	190.8	13.20%	3.40%
Total Households	256,637	288,765	303,755	17.90%	5.20%

Population by Gender
Male	345,722 49.00%	381,777 49.10%	395,617 49.20%	13.50%	3.60%
Female	360,251 51.00%	396,092 50.90%	408,606 50.80%	12.80%	3.20%

THE BATON ROUGE AREA POPULATION GROWTH SPIKED AFTER KATRINA AND IS PROJECTED TO ACCELERATE AT A STEADY PACE.

Population growth chart indicating a post-Katrina population spike in the Baton Rouge area of to nearly 1 million people, followed by a drop down to approximately 775,000 people by July of 2006 that leads into a steady increase projected to 800-850 thousand people by July of 2008.

Population by Race/Ethnicity
	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2006-2011 (% Change)
White	444,961 63.00%	491,665 63.20%	510,649 63.50%	7.50%	3.90%
Black	240,973 34.10%	263,106 33.80%	269,002 33.50%	19.60%	2.20%
American Indian or Alaska Native	1,611 0.20%	1,642 0.20%	1,614 0.20%	50.10%	-1.70%
Asian	9,441 1.30%	11,508 1.50%	12,705 1.60%	64.10%	10.40%
Some Other Race	3,259 0.50%	3,643 0.50%	4,777 0.60%	95.30%	31.10%
Two or More Races	5,728 0.80%	6,301 0.80%	5,465 0.70%		-13.30%

Hispanic Ethnicity	11,582 1.60%	17,555 2.30%	21,764 2.70%	32.70%	24.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino	694,391 98.40%	760,314 97.70%	782,459 97.30%	12.90%	2.90%

Baton Rouge MSA

Households by Income
	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2006-2011 (% Change)
Average Household Income	$49,207	$54,685	$59,262	48.90%	8.40%
Median Household Income	$37,538	$42,376	$46,524	44.30%	9.80%
Per Capita Income	$17,888	$20,953	$23,061	53.30%	10.10%

Household Units
	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2006-2011 (% Change)
Total Housing Units	282,511	326,464	352,610	14.50%	8.00%
Owner Occupied	177,952 63.00%	139,039 59.10%	198,310 56.20%	22.60%	2.70%
Renter Occupied	78,685 27.90%	95,726 29.30%	105,445 29.90%	8.60%	10.20%
Vacant	25,874 9.20%	37,705 11.60%	48,861 13.90%	-11.30%	29.60%

Employment & Business
	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2006-2011 (% Change)
Age 16+ Population	537,941	604,947	629,654	16.00%	4.10%
In Labor Force	335,007 62.30%	377,728 62.40%	393,372 62.50%	15.80%	4.10%
Employed	313,875 93.70%	353,953 93.70%	368,390 93.70%	18.80%	4.10%
Unemployed	20,751 6.20%	23,300 6.20%	24,473 6.20%	-15.40%	5.00%
In Armed Forces	381 0.10%	475 0.10%	509 0.10%	-23.60%	7.20%
Not In Labor Force	202,934 37.70%	226,744 37.50%	235,773 37.40%	16.40%	4.00%

Number of Employees (Daytime Population)	318,664
Number of Establishments	30,152
Employees in Blue-Collar Occupations	124,582 39.70%
Employees in White-Collar Occupations	189,293 60.30%

Educational Attainment
	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2006-2011 (% Change)
Age 25+ Population	428,070	494,624	528,974	16.50%	6.90%
Grade K-8	22,816 5.30%	18,202 3.70%	12,891 2.40%	-41.00%%	-29.20%
Grade 9-12	60,755 14.20%	44,270 9.00%	33,693 6.40%	6.30%	-23.90%
High School Graduate	138,277 32.30%	176,371 35.70%	199,143 37.70%	17.30%	12.90%
Some College, No Degree	92,157 21.50%	111,167 22.50%	117,722 22.30%	33.30%	5.90%
Associate Degree	11,929 2.80%	22,764 4.60%	31,478 6.00%	15.90%	38.30%
Bachelor's Degree	63,353 14.80%	82,856 16.80%	93,937 17.80%	31.80%	13.40%
Graduate Degree	34,080 8.00%	38,994 7.90%	40,110 7.60%	30.00%	2.90%
No Schooling Completed	4,703 1.10%

East Baton Rouge Parish (2005 pre-Katrina pop. 412,245) is the central parish of the MSA. EBR parish holds 57% of the MSA population and is the location of 73% of the MSA’s jobs. Baton Rouge is the major city within East Baton Rouge parish. It is also home to Zachary, one of the fastest growing cities in the region.

Baton Rouge (pop. 223,197) the capital of Louisiana, was the second largest city (New Orleans being the largest) until Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast/New Orleans region. It is now the largest city in the state and the regional center of business, healthcare and entertainment. Approximately 3.5 million people live within 100 miles of Baton Rouge and over 1 million reside within 50 miles.

Baton Rouge MSA

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