Introduction to Port Allen, Louisiana
Port Allen, Louisiana, in West Baton Rouge county, is 9 miles W of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and 79 miles NW of New Orleans, Louisiana. The city is considered part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area.
Port Allen History
Port Allen was originally settled in 1809 and was known as the town of St. Michel. In 1878, the city acquired its present name. It was named in the honor of General Henry Watkins Allen. The first post office of the area was established in the 1870s. Port Allen was originally incorporated as a village on March 22, 1916. Port Allen became a town on March 14, 1923. T.L. Cronan was its first mayor. In 1916, it was reincorporated as the City of Port Allen.
Port Allen and nearby Attractions
- Blue Bayou Waterpark
- Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
- Rural Life Museum & Windrush Garden
- West Baton Rouge Museum
- Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Things To Do In Port Allen
Port Allen is home to West Baton Rouge Museum, which is home to a preserved slave cabin from the 1850s. The City of Port Allen Railroad Depot depicts the life of railroad workers in the early 1900s. The scenic view of the Mississippi River and Baton Rouge can be enjoyed from the Mississippi Riverfront Development. Festivals like the Port Allen Bonfires on the Mississippi River, the West Baton Rouge Parish Fair, the Lagniappe Dulcimer Fete Festival and SugarFest are hosted by the city every year.
Port Allen Transportation
Baton Rouge Metropolitan is the nearest major airport.
Port Allen Higher Education
Nearby colleges include Southern University and A & M College, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Technical College-Baton Rouge Campus and Our Lady of the Lake College.