Spend any time driving around Baton Rouge and quickly you will notice signs announcing different neighborhoods, subdivisions, and districts of the city. If you are new to the area, one of the first questions folks will ask you is which neighborhood you live in. The City of Baton Rouge is a patchwork of neighborhoods, and style, safety, and feel of neighborhoods varies greatly. Sometimes crossing the street will feel like leaving one world and entering another.
While this in no way is a complete list of neighborhoods—if you want to get into it, there are micro neighborhoods and mini districts tucked all over the place—this list covers many of the bigger and more popular Baton Rouge neighborhoods. To help you understand each neighborhood a little better, in addition to a description, you’ll find an at-a-glance keyword cluster to serve as bit of a vibe check. Ready to head into the places that make up the Red Stick? Let’s geaux!
Garden District
The Garden District in Baton Rouge is a charming neighborhood known for its picturesque streets lined with majestic oak trees and well-preserved antebellum homes. Located near Louisiana State University, this area captures a feeling of historic Southern charm.
Garden District architecture is a mix of Greek Revival, Victorian, and colonial styles—many homes have been lovingly restored making this one of the most attractive and desirable parts of Baton Rouge. The district is also adjacent to several notable sites like the LSU Lakes, Baton Rouge Magnet High School, City Park and the Knock Knock Children’s Museum. With its quiet, tree-canopied avenues, the Garden District offers a serene escape from the bustle of downtown Baton Rouge while still being close to the city’s cultural and educational heart. Some neighborhoods adjacent to the Garden District might be more challenged.
Garden District at a glance: big, historic homes; walkable; older; beautiful trees; desirable.
Mid-City
Mid-City in Baton Rouge is an arty, eclectic, and cool neighborhood known for its central location and positive come-up in recent years. Situated between Interstate 110, College, N. Foster, Choctaw, and I-10, Mid-City encompasses several sub-neighborhoods like Ogden Park and Bernard Terrace.
The whole of Mid-City is undergoing a renaissance with urban renewal and improvements, making it increasingly popular among younger residents and artists. Mid-City boasts a rich tapestry of local businesses, from the flagship public school Baton Rouge Magnet High School to a burgeoning arts scene highlighted by events like White Light Night and Mid-City Gras Mardi Gras Parade. The neighborhood is also home to a significant portion of Baton Rouge’s hipster/arts community and is characterized by a mix of historic homes, new developments, and a variety of dining and entertainment options. Government Street—which runs straight through Mid-City, is home to top notch bars, restaurants, local businesses, and ultra-popular pop-up markets.
Mid-City at a glance: on the upswing; fun; young; hip; entertainment and activity; happening.
Southdowns
Southdowns is a sweet residential pocket, known for its tree-lined streets and a blend of old and new homes. Established in 1923, it’s bounded roughly by Perkins Road, Whitehaven Street, Cloverdale Avenue, and Glasgow Avenue. The area is popular among families, especially due to the presence of St. Aloysius Catholic School. Southdown’s offers a mix of larger lots and smaller, quaint cottages and bungalows, with many homes showcasing Southern architectural styles. The neighborhood is conveniently close to LSU Lakes, providing ample opportunities for walking, jogging, and biking. It’s also home to several popular local restaurants and shopping centers like Acadian-Perkins Plaza and Acadian Village. The Krewe of Southdown’s Mardi Gras parade adds a festive touch to the community, highlighting its family-friendly atmosphere.
Southdowns at a glance: cottages, bungalows, home of one of BR’s best Mardi Gras parades; quiet, family oriented. Home to one of Baton Rouge’s newest libraries!
Capital Heights
Small but distinct Capital Heights! Known for its charm and community spirit, Capital Heights, is quaint and attractive. Established in 1918, this subdivision boasts around 780 homes with a friendly atmosphere, characterized by welcoming neighbors, picket fences, and cottage-style homes. The area is particularly appreciated for its walkability and proximity to local amenities, including a variety of dining on Government Street. The Heights is a dog friendly area, slow moving traffic encouraged with high neighbor engagement. The neighborhood’s strong civic association, formed in the early 90s, has contributed to an increase in property values, making it a desirable place to live, work, and play. Drive (slowly) down Claycut Road or Capital Heights Ave and you’ll instantly witness what Capital Heights has to offer.
Capital Heights at a glance: strolling on Claycut and Capital Heights Ave; dog walking; renovated homes; charm; “Bee Kind” (IYKYK); attractive.
Spanish Town
Oh, Spanish Town—we’re pulling for ya. Established in 1805 by Spanish settlers from the Canary Islands, it is the oldest neighborhood in Baton Rouge. Spanish Town has a unique architectural style with structures dating back to 1823. The area has evolved significantly over time, surviving the Civil War and thriving as a university community in the early 20th century.
Today, Spanish Town is famous for its annual Mardi Gras celebration (Baton Rouge’s largest and most notable—or notorious—parade) where the pink flamingo serves as an unconventional mascot symbolizing the neighborhood’s embrace of eccentricity with the motto “poor taste is better than no taste at all.” The Spanish Town Mardi Gras tradition includes placing wooden pink flamingos in the LSU Lakes to signal the start of the festivities. From there, the pink flamingos can be spotted across all of Baton Rouge and even in some business storefronts (Spanish Town Mardi Gras diehards might even keep their flamingos up year-round.)
Outside of the parade, the neighborhood of Spanish Town is a bit cloistered and insular. They’re quirky and they know it AND that’s the way they like it. Landmark Spanish Town Market, which served as a community hub, is now closed (much to the chagrin of many.) Crime has been creeping up in Spanish Town. It seems like Spanish Town is nearing a crossroads that will determine the neighborhood’s future. We’ll say it again—Spanish Town, we’re rooting for you!
Spanish Town at a glance: Funky (the good kind); Mardi Gras Parade; pink flamingos; historic; “Which way, Spanish Town?”
Beauregard Town
Beauregard Town is the Baton Rouge example of revitalization and a unique European-inspired layout. Founded in 1806 by Elias Toutant Beauregard, it was envisioned as a grand city with plazas, formal gardens, and public buildings, though not all of these plans came to fruition. Today, it’s characterized by its tree-lined streets, late 19th-century and turn-of-the-century architecture, and a mix of residential and commercial spaces.
The neighborhood is bounded by North Boulevard, South Boulevard, East Boulevard, and the Mississippi River, with Government Street running through its center, intersected by four diagonal streets forming an “X.” Beauregard Town includes significant landmarks like the Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge Plaza a gathering site for music and art festivals as well as City Hall Buildings and Manship Theatre.
Many of the houses in Beauregard town are newly renovated—lots of small gems were saved from disrepair and destruction. The central location of Beauregard (downtown is their neighbor after all) helps a feeling of promise and potential in this neighborhood.
Beauregard Town at a glance: “Ooh, look how nice they did up that shotgun house!”; walkable; revitalized; “My attorney’s office is in Beauregard Town”; downtown but not Downtown; coming up.
Old South
Old South Baton Rouge, often referred to simply as “Old South,” is located between Louisiana State University and Downtown Baton Rouge. Encompassing about three square miles, this area is rich in cultural and historical significance but has faced challenges with poverty and decline over the decades. Historically, Old South was a bustling, predominately Black community with notable landmarks like the Lincoln Theatre, which was once a center for Black American culture. However, with the construction of Interstate 10 in the 1960s, the neighborhood was disrupted; crime and blight grew. Despite these challenges, revitalization efforts are ongoing, spearheaded by initiatives like the Old South Baton Rouge Strategic Neighborhood Revitalization and Economic Development Plan, which aims to improve housing, leverage arts and culture for economic growth, and enhance community life.
Old South at a glance: Revitalization underway; potential; economic development zone; Terrace Ave.
Old Goodwood
Old Goodwood is a vibrant and historic neighborhood nestled between Jefferson Highway and Airline Highway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It’s known for its blend of old and new, featuring lush green spaces, homes with generous backyards, and new subdivisions like Adelia at Old Goodwood, developed on the site of the Goodwood Plantation (established in the early 1930s.) The area is rich with local amenities, including the incredible East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library (a must-visit,) Independence Park, and proximity to Towne Center at Cedar Lodge for shopping and dining. With its convenient location, Old Goodwood attracts a mix of families, young professionals, and empty nesters, all drawn to its beauty, community feel, and access to both cultural and modern city conveniences.
Old Goodwood at a glance: beautiful; Main Library at Goodwood; Jefferson Hwy; big homes on big lots; peaceful.
Broadmoor/Sherwood Forrest
Broadmoor, is a well-established neighborhood known for its mature, tree-lined streets and a mix of single-family homes and apartment complexes. Broadmoor is often mentioned in the same breath with “Sherwood Forrest,” referring to Sherwood Forrest Blvd—the long boulevard that runs for miles through this area. (Sightings of Robin Hood? Unconfirmed.)
We mean this respectfully: one can tell that Broadmoor was established in the 1950s, a classic suburban style that reflected the era. Today, that means that Broadmoor is away from the city-center portion of Baton Rouge, but is near shopping and parks that were established to serve the suburban family market. Many families are “rediscovering” Broadmoor because of these features and relative affordability. Broadmoor also boasts several parks, including Parkview Park, smaller Cedarcrest Park, and nearby Old Hammond Hwy Park. The neighborhood’s real estate market is moderate, with median property prices and rental costs reflecting a desirable middle-income community.
Keep in mind: Baton Rouge traffic is no joke, so your destinations should be in mind if you are considering moving to Broadmoor (this really applies to all of BR, but especially if you have to drive westward for work/school/church.)
Broadmoor at a glance: classic suburban sensibilities; older; well-established; east BR; near Airline Hwy; Sherwood Forrest Blvd.
Shenandoah
Do you know a “90s kid” who grew up in Baton Rouge? There’s a good chance they grew up in Shenandoah. In many ways a successor to Broadmoor (see above,) Shenandoah offers a variety of housing, from medium to large single-family homes, many of which were built between 1970 and 1999.
Originally, Shenandoah was a big-deal golf course before it was developed into housing. People who live in Shenandoah like reporting their stories of gardening or tripping on grass walkways only to find an ancient golf ball making its way to the earth’s surface. Baton Rouge’s newest carnival season parade is Shenandoah’s Lundi Gras parade. Their mascot? A golf ball!
Current residents enjoy a suburban feel with the convenience of nearby amenities like parks, shopping centers, and restaurants that celebrate local flavors. Shenandoah is also noted for its safety, cleanliness, and walkability, with many residents engaging in community activities and enjoying the neighborhood’s peaceful atmosphere.
Shenandoah at a glance: suburban; well-established; families; Lundi Gras; neighborly; golf!
Conclusion
Did you learn anything new about these neighborhoods in Baton Rouge? Is there a neighborhood not on this list you’d like to know more about? Let us know! Have fun exploring all the neighborhoods of BR—but as you drive around, visit some of our city’s gorgeous parks, and whatever you do, don’t let the traffic get you down.
