Highland Farms

Highland Farms is considered part of the north Baton Rouge area known as Scotlandville, yet the neighborhood is only a few miles from the city's downtown. Scotlandville holds special significance in the region. Starting as a small, rural place, it eventually became the earliest majority African-American community in Louisiana. Highland Farms shares in that legacy, and it’s also been home for almost 100 years to Southern University, the largest historically Black college in the state. “Highland Farms borders Southern University’s Agricultural Center and is located on one of the highest points in the city,” says local Realtor Liacia (Lacy) Baaheth. “Residents also have easy access to Interstate 10, and Scenic Highway runs all the way to the downtown area, as well as all the way to the town of Zachary and beyond.”

Homes in the area tend to be well-established, with New Orleans-style single and double shotgun houses being some of the most historic in the city. Lawns are very well taken care of, often making use of natural plants and trees for landscaping. Strolling through the neighborhood, you’ll find plenty of cottages and ranch-style residences, as well as bungalows and midcentury homes. There is some new construction taking place, which brings in a few contemporary designs, although the area remains very traditional. The market here moves a bit slower, as few houses go on the market each year. Prices range from $75,000 for a three bedroom needing TLC, up to $200,000 for a newer three-bedroom three-bathroom house.

Students in Highland Farms have several private and public schools to choose from. Crestworth Elementary is a STEM facility educating children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Located close to Southern University, the school also has a gifted program, academic clubs, gardening, robotics, and more. Literacy is a top priority at Crestworth which works hard to build and maintain close ties with the community. Park Forest Middle Creative Sciences and Arts Magnet is a STEAM school with summer camps for English, math, robotics, and engineering. This magnet institution teaches coding, animation, aviation, and digital media in addition to athletics and art. Older students could attend Port Allen High School, which lies just across the river from Baton Rouge.

If you’re looking for green space in the neighborhood, look no further than Mills Avenue Park. The four-acre space provides Wi-Fi for all its guests, so you can stay in touch while tuning into nature. There are also multiple ball fields, as well as indoor and outdoor basketball courts. Children can enjoy the playground equipment while parents rest under the covered pavilion. If you’d like to stroll, the outdoor walking track provides a paved pathway for you.

It would be impossible to talk about Highland Farms without mentioning Southern University. The college was founded over 140 years ago and opened with only 12 students enrolled. A lot has changed since then, and today the institution has more than 30 academic programs, along with a dedicated law school. The Human Jukebox, the college’s marching band, has found international acclaim for the 170-piece instrumental collective’s showmanship and musicianship. The school is home to the baseball stadium Lee-Hines Field and 13 other intercollegiate athletic teams.

When it’s time for a snack or supper, The Blue Store, aka Triplets Food Mart, has been in business for over 20 years. The store is known for its Blue Store Chicken, an unstoppable combination of herbs, spices, and just the right amount of breading. It wasn’t always that way, though. When the store changed hands in 2000, it had to evolve to keep up with customers’ changing tastes. With only two fryers, the business experimented until hitting on a winning recipe they still use today. Stop by for a plate of chicken wings, potato logs, and an ice-cold drink. Highland Farms has evolved from a rural settlement into a suburban enclave filled with history, education, and recreation, only minutes from the heart of Baton Rouge.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Nathan Allen