Baton Rouge suburb whose schools are major draw
Roughly 15 miles away from Baton Rouge, the suburban city of Central is known for its highly rated school district. In fact, it's a big reason why it became a city a quarter-century ago. In 2005, the community voted to break away from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and incorporate, giving it the power to run its own schools. Today, Central contracts out most of its services — though it recently approved the construction of a larger city hall.
The city is mainly residential, so many of its 30,000 residents commute to the state capital or the petrochemical refineries along the Mississippi River. "A lot of people are going to be heading towards Baton Rouge for work or the other side of the river," says Chase Pino, a Realtor for Brittney Pino & Associates, who's originally from the area. "We have a lot of industrial plants and facilities like that."
Highly rated Central Community School System, plus private options
Central is served by the Central Community School System, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche. Niche also ranks it as the fifth-best school district in Louisiana. Two Kindergarten- to second-grade elementary schools, a third- to fifth-grade intermediate school, a middle school and a high school make up the district. The city's private schools are also popular. "You've got a good public school system, but you also have Central Private School and St. Alphonsus Catholic School within the city limits," says Pino. Central Private is K-12, while St. Alphonsus is K-8.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University is the state's largest college, with an enrollment of nearly 40,000. The capital is also home to Southern University and A&M College, an HBCU with roughly 8,000 students.
Homes in newer subdivisions, plus new-builds
The median home price in Central is $280,000, comparable to the median in Baton Rouge but higher than nearby suburbs. Most of Central is made up of single-family homes, with newer homes located in subdivisions. Those outside subdivisions tend to be older and on larger plots of land. Homes dating from the 1970s and '80s are typically brick ranch-style homes. New construction homes in planned developments are generally larger and pricier, in the $300,000 to $550,000 range.
Youth athletics at Central Sports Park
The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge maintains several parks throughout Central, including Central Sports Park. The complex includes seven baseball or softball fields, four multiuse fields and a fishing lake. The park hosts local youth sports and tournaments. The Blackwater Conservation Area offers trails and fishing in a nearly 60-acre park. Smaller pocket parks include the Jackson Community Park, which has a playground and a splash pad. Central has about a dozen churches of different faiths.
Community events include Cooking in Central
While Central was incorporated relatively recently, the city government and chamber of commerce have worked to foster a feeling of community. "Central's gotten more into community events with the newer mayor," Pino says. "He's had a lot to do with the recent growth." Celebrations include an annual Mardi Gras dance by the chamber and the city's Mardi Gras krewe, Krewe de Centrale. The Cooking in Central festival was founded in 2006, right after the creation of the city. The event has been held every spring since, with food vendors, music and carnival rides.
Central Square for shopping and dining
Shopping centers with supermarkets and small businesses are located mainly along Hooper Road and Sullivan Road, including the Central City Shopping Center at the intersection of the two thoroughfares. The Central Square mixed-use development has mostly chains and some local restaurants around Sullivan Road; a Walmart Supercenter is also here.
About 15 miles to downtown Baton Rouge
Downtown Baton Rouge is about 15 miles from Central via Interstate 110, about 7 miles away. The closest hospitals are in Baton Rouge, including Ochsner Medical Center. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is an 8-mile drive and offers flights to hubs like Houston, Dallas and Atlanta. New Orleans is 90 miles east, and Lafayette is 70 miles west via I-10.
Crime rates in East Baton Rouge Parish
The city of Central operates a small police force but also contracts with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. While crime statistics specific to Central are unavailable, FBI data shows lower violent crime rates in East Baton Rouge Parish than national and state figures. Property crime rates in the parish were comparable to the national and state rates.
Central experiences hot, humid summers and cool winters. The city can be affected by hurricanes or tropical storms, though its risk of flooding is lower than other areas closer to the river or the Gulf.
