Established in 1973
The Baker Chamber was organized in 1973 as the Greater Baker Association of Commerce. Its first slate of officers were selected and A.H. Hadi served as president. The Chamber had 31 active members in its first year and currently has 100- plus businesses and local investors. The Chamber is located at 3439 Groom Road. The building was constructed in 1880 and renovated in 1993. It once served as the first Baker schoolhouse.
Our Mission
The Chamber of Commerce will work to build strong relationships with the area businesses, land owners and area schools in an effort to improve the cultural and economic interests of the community. The Chamber will be the voice of the business community and will support workforce development within the city to create more employment opportunities.
A Great American Hometown
Welcome to Baker Louisiana, a quiet suburban city with small town values just four miles from Baton Rouge. Residents enjoy the best of both worlds – the advantages of local government and hometown atmosphere and the amenities of nearby metropolitan city. Residents epitomize community pride and that translates into an active citizenry. According to the 2000 Census, the Baker Population of 13,793 has a median age of 31.7 years and more than 30,000 live in its environs.
About Our City
Transportation options within a 15 mile radius of Baker include road, air, river, and rail. These available transportation services support a varied local business community.
The Baker is home to youth sports, 20 active civic groups, 30 churches, the Heritage Museum, and the regionally recognized Baker Little Theatre.
The city is continually involved in beautification efforts. President Bush rewarded citizen involvement when Memory Park earned a Take – Pride – In – America award in 1988. The park has gone through more changes since then and is more beautiful than ever.
The walking path and park next door to City Hall encourages exercise and friendly conversation.
Our History
Although it wasn’t incorporated as municipality until 1944, the has been settled since the 16th- century. The city was named after a prominent landowner of the early 19th-century, Josephus Smith Baker. A train stop on the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas route was established in 1884 and with the railroad came a sawmill and cotton gin. In 1888, Baker open its first U.S. post office with John Bogan Merrill as the first postmaster.
At the turn-of-the-century the was predominantly rural with agriculture as the mainstay of local incomes. A new era began when Standard Oil Company opened in 1909, and many more jobs were created with the growth of refineries and chemical plants along the Mississippi River.
From 1923 until 1960 Baker was home Leland College, a black university founded by the American Home Mission Society of New York and the Baptist Convention.
On December 27, 1944 Baker was incorporated a village with Wedge I. Keyes as the first mayor. Baker became a town in 1952 and a city in 1962. The Baker volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1956.
Best of Both Worlds
While Baker is close to industrial activity, it is also a quiet city with small town values. The community supports the Heritage Museum, as well as organized youth sports and civic groups. Also, the city is involved in beautification efforts aimed at making Baker and enjoyable place to live and work. President George Bush rewarded citizen involvement when Memory Park won a Take –Pride-In-America Award for 1988.
Baker enjoys the best of both worlds, near Baton Rouge and all that it offers, yet with the advantage of local atmosphere where community pride and participation offer a great way of life.
- City of Baker – cityofbakerla.com
- City of Baker Facebook – facebook.com/TheBakerLA/