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Baton Rouge, Louisiana (U.S.)

East Baton Rouge Parish

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, modified by Al Kirsch

Description of the flag
1968 flag

See also:

Description of the flag

This is the most recent flag to be added to the rich history of flags that have flown over "The Capital City on the Mississippi" as the old city flag told all who watched her lime green background, for growth, vitality and fertility of the land. But times change and so do flags. The new Baton Rouge City Flag is a field of crimson representing the great Indian Nations that once inhabited the area.

The flag also keeps symbols of the foreign flags that have flown in her balmy skies.
The Fleur d'Lis of France
The Castle of Spain and
The striped Union Jack of Great Britain.

The City was founded in 1721 and incorporated in 1817, information no longer included on the new flag. Also omitted from the new flag is the Indian headdress and the cypress tree.

Eric Martin, 18 June 1997

Baton Rouge comes from French Bâton Rouge (with a "^" over the "a"), meaning red stick. When exploring the Mississippi, the French navigator Iberville spotted bald cypresses which had been barked and coated with blood. The local natives used these "sticks" to sacrifice wild animals and mark borders between tribes. [At least this is the story as it is reported by Guide du Routard.]
Ivan Sache, 10 July 2002

1968 flag

"Baton Rouge City Council approved the design of the "old" BR flag on 12/11/68. The background of the flag is green, symbolizing the growth, vitality and fertility of the land. The center emblem is a shield of white on which the colors red, blue and yellow are used. On the upper part of the shield is a crown in remembrance of the rule of Spain, France and England. The castille and lion of Spain are depicted as are fleurs de lis and a representation of the Red Stick for which Baton Rouge was named. A banner below the shield states: Founded 1721; Capital City of the Mississippi; Incorporated 1917

Source: Morning Advocate 12/12/68 p 14-E; image -- 6/21/69" - from: ref-raff.wikispaces.com/Baton+Rouge+-+City+Flag

Valentin Poposki, 12 June 2011