www.brgov.com Baton Rouge ( /ˌbætən ˈruːʒ/; French: Bâton-Rouge  ( listen); Choctaw: Itta Homma; "red stick") is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state. Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South. The Port of Baton Rouge is the ninth largest in the United States in terms of tonnage shipped, and is the farthest upstream Mississippi River port capable of handling Panamax ships. The Baton Rouge area, also known as the "Capital Area", is located in the southeast portion of the state along the Mississippi River. It owes its historical importance to its site upon Istrouma Bluff, the first bluff upriver from the Mississippi River Delta, which protects the city’s residents from flooding, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. In addition to this natural barrier, the city has built a levee system stretching from the bluff southward to protect the riverfront and low-lying agricultural areas. The city of Baton Rouge has a population of 229,553 as of the 2010 census. The metropolitan area, known as Greater Baton Rouge, has a population of 802,484 people as of 2010.