master plan - City of Central

HISTORY OF CENTRAL
The area in and around Central has a
rich history beginning with European settlers moving in and
homesteading public lands dating as far back as the late 1700’s
and early 1800’s. As with most early European settlements
throughout the United States, Native Americans already had
roots in the region. Amite and Choctaw Indians made their
dwellings along the sandy banks of the Amite River that today
River, but had become established enough to contain a post
offi ce, grist and saw mill, a brickyard and blacksmith. Ferry
crossing such as the one functioning during the existence of
Burlington, have played a major role in the history of Central.
These crossings were an economically valuable resource that
encouraged people to move through the area. Today, this
same tradition is continued with the Magnolia Bridge crossing.
makes up the eastern boundary of the City and Parish. The
area’s farmland is strewn with Indian arrowheads that were
made from rocks found along the river’s banks, together
with Indian mounds that are still in existence today. This
heritage should be acknowledged as an important part of the
community’s cultural asset base.
In 1853, a plan was in the works for the resort community
of Greenwell Springs, a name originated from Robert W.
Greenwell who was the previous owner of a 250 acre tract of
land containing several springs. The development of a 125 lot
subdivision and seven streets was soon created near the site
of the springs. A large hotel with accompanying buildings was
Historical roads of commerce traveled along two routes. One
along winding trails that slashed through thick woods of pines,
oaks, magnolias and holly, speckled with fl owering dogwoods
and redbuds. The other route required fl atboats and barges
along the meandering Amite River when the stream was
swollen by rains. In time, these muddy trails gave way to roads
that crisscrossed the area. Today, evidence of these routes can
still be seen in the form of Greenwell Springs Road and Denham
Road. Around 1810, near the current intersection of Hooper
and Greenwell Springs Roads, sprang the earliest recorded
community in the area - a small town called Burlington. The
community was primarily known for the ferry crossing the Amite
constructed to house visitors fl eeing yellow fever epidemics
and heat in the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Those
that came to the area looked for work, entertainment, and to
partake in the therapeutic qualities of the 10 springs that were
said to cure almost any ailment. At the outbreak of the Civil
War more residents from Baton Rouge came to the Greenwell
Springs area, taking refuge from Union forces. During this time
southern troops commandeered the hotel and used it as their
headquarters. After the Battle of Baton Rouge in 1862, victorious
northern troops took over the hotel and at the war’s end, the
site was dismantled. During the Reconstruction period many
people sold their land and new settlers moved into the area.
In 1910 a bottling company and new hotel were erected on the
citizens of Central decided to band together and vote to get
the City of Central incorporated in 2005.
The incorporation of Central was approved following the vote
by Governor Kathleen Blanco. In 2006, another great step
forward was made for Central as voters of the city, East Baton
Rouge Parish, and the State of Louisiana agreed to allow
Central to create the Central Independent School District.
The citizens of Central have had an exciting past and can look
forward to a promising future. Today, with good leadership and
careful planning future growth will insure an even higher quality
of life and continued prosperity.
existing Greenwell Spring’s site. The venture was not successful
and the company went out of business. Not long after, the
hotel was converted into the Greenwell Springs Tuberculosis
Hospital. It burned down in 1922 and a new facility was rebuilt.
The hospital treated tuberculosis patients until the 1950’s. Today
Greenwell Springs Hospital is used by the State of Louisiana as a
psychiatric facility.
The proximity to the Capital City of Baton Rouge allowed
Central to develop into a thriving community in the 1980’s with
small business growth, high-quality schools, and subdivision
development. As the area of Central become more and more
of an extension of Baton Rouge’s lengthening suburbia, the
CITY OF
Central
a community that cares