Show naming baton rouge the name baton rouge means red stick AU all authorities agree that the name was first used by iberville and his companions when they made their voyage up the mississippi sis sippi river early in 1699 but authorities ties differ as to the reason for this name according to one account the name was derived from a gigantic cypress tree on the east bank of the mississippi within the limits of the present city the wood of the cypress tree has a reddish tint according to another rep report ort the name was derived from a red pole set up on the bank of a small stream by indians either tor for I 1 fic facial ial purposes or to mark the boun idary gary between the hunting grounds ground i of the houmas and the Bayou goulas the exact date of the settlement of baton rouge is not known the earliest mention of the settlement is from the journal of father charlevoix who states that he went to baton rouge to say mass on new years day 1722 |