Baker, Louisiana

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Baker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana as part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area. The population was 13,793 at the 2000 census. Less affluent than neighboring Zachary, Louisiana (perhaps because of its proximity to the Exxon refinery), Baker's population is nevertheless expected to grow dramatically as a result of an influx of former New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. However, the U.S. Census Bureau released a population count for East Baton Rouge Parish, done in July 2006 but released in Mach 2007 which includes Zachary, Louisiana and Baker and found that only 19,264 displaced citizens remain in East Baton Rouge Parish which dismisses all claims about Baker growing "dramatically" with only a small portion of displaced citizens remaining and many still consider themselves "Temporary" as they wait for federal recovery cash to return to their homes in the New Orleans metropolitan area or other Gulf South regions.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Sister cities
4 Education
5 FEMA City
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Baker is located at 30°35′8″N, 91°9′26″W (30.585637, -91.157096)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.4 km² (7.9 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 13,793 people, 4,971 households, and 3,782 families residing in the city. The population density was 675.0/km² (1,747.3/mi²). There were 5,389 housing units at an average density of 263.7/km² (682.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.97% White, 52.36% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.

There were 4,971 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,151, and the median income for a family was $38,621. Males had a median income of $31,791 versus $22,177 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,920. About 13.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Baker did see an influx of New Orleans residents during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina but as of January 2007 only about 1,000 to 2,000 displaced families remain in Baker and most reside in temporary housing in the form of Federal Emergency Management Agency provided trailers, as stated above most displaced residents plan on returning to New Orleans or at least leaving Baton Rouge so the long term impact of Hurricane Katrina on Baton Rouge and surrounding areas is expected to be minimal.

[edit] Sister cities

Baker has one sister city:

Joal-Fadiouth, Senegal

[edit] Education

Residents of Baker are zoned to the City of Baker School System [1].

[edit] FEMA City

Due to the mass mirigation of evacuees from the New Orleans area, trailers are currently being setup on Groom Rd, in Baker. There were many trailers on Blount Rd. next to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport but those trailer sites are closing as of March 2007 and many residents of those trailer communities have stated they plan on returning to New Orleans, to date, efforts are being made to return those families to different trailer sites in the New Orleans area. What will be done to those trailer communities in the future is unknown.