Hundred Oaks

From Dairy Farm to Historic Baton Rouge Neighborhood

Just off Perkins Road, shaded by sweeping live oaks, sits one of Baton Rouge’s most recognizable historic neighborhoods: Hundred Oaks. Today it is known for its charming homes, tree-lined streets, and strong civic identity. But the story of Hundred Oaks stretches back more than a century, from its beginnings as a plantation and dairy farm to its transformation during the city’s real-estate boom of the 1920s.

Plantation Roots and the Famous Oak

The land that became Hundred Oaks was once part of Hundred Oaks Plantation, established in the early 19th century by a Kentucky family【TCLF】. Like many plantations of its time, it relied first on sugar cane and later on cotton production【TCLF】.

One of the most enduring features of this landscape is a sprawling Southern live oak along what is now Reymond Avenue, estimated to be nearly 280 years old【TCLF】. The tree predates the plantation and stands as a living witness to the land’s long history.

"The stewards of the Southern Live Oak and the property on which it sits, have protected it from the forces of development and encouraged its survival in the face of significant cultural shifts and assured its continued existence," states an article published in 2007 on the The Cultural Landscape Foundation website.

By the late 1800s, the property transitioned into the Hundred Oaks dairy farm, reflecting changes in Baton Rouge’s economy【TCLF】. But it would not remain agricultural land for long.

A Subdivision Dream

On March 5, 1920, The Advocate reported that S. L. Reymond, then owner of the Hundred Oaks dairy farm, had drawn up plans to turn the property (and adjoining land to the east and west) into a “high-class residential suburb.” The proposal included:

• dividing the land into lots,

• installing electric lights, artesian water, and sewerage from the city,

• and donating four acres of the tract’s prettiest land for use as a parish park【Advocate, March 5, 1920】.

  
  

Reymond’s vision was ambitious. In the 1920 article, the neighborhood was described as one of the “prettiest in the parish,” just a few miles outside the city limits along Perkins Road【Advocate, March 5, 1920】. The sales pitch was designed to be enticing: lots were priced at $475 each, with a down payment of $25 and monthly installments of $10—with no interest charged【Advocate, March 5, 1920】.

Baton Rouge’s Real-Estate Boom

Hundred Oaks’ development fit neatly into Baton Rouge’s booming real-estate climate of the early 1920s. Industry and population growth were fueling suburban expansion. On June 24, 1921, another Advocate article quoted real-estate agent B. E. Perkins of Cazedussus & Perkins, who noted, “We are getting many inquiries from substantial concerns… These inquiries are coming from various parts of the United States, and from various industries. Baton Rouge [is] attracting much attention over the country”【Advocate, June 24, 1921】.

Optimism ran high. Robert A. Hart, another prominent developer, declared that real estate was “on the boom and going forward nicely at present” and insisted there was “never any need for fear, whatever”【Advocate, June 24, 1921】.

Hundred Oaks was marketed directly into this atmosphere of confidence, and its lots quickly drew interest from middle- and upper-class buyers eager to move just beyond the bustle of downtown.

Building a Neighborhood

Over the next decade, the subdivision took shape. Roads were laid, homes were built, and the oaks that gave the neighborhood its name became a central feature of its identity. The donated parkland and spacious lots gave Hundred Oaks a character distinct from Baton Rouge’s older, denser neighborhoods【TCLF】.

The shift from plantation and farmland to tree-lined suburb mirrored the city’s own transformation during the 20th century. Hundred Oaks became a symbol of Baton Rouge’s growth, one of many new neighborhoods that extended the city outward from its historic downtown core.

Legacy and Community Today

A century later, Hundred Oaks is still one of Baton Rouge’s most desirable neighborhoods. Its historic homes, shady streets, and proximity to Perkins Road make it attractive to families and professionals alike【The W Group Real Estate】. The Hundred Oaks Civic Association works to preserve the area’s character, advocate for residents, and host seasonal gatherings that strengthen community ties【Hundred Oaks Civic Association】.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade

One of the neighborhood’s most vibrant annual traditions is the Wearing of the Green Parade, Baton Rouge’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration that marches straight down Perkins Road through the heart of Hundred Oaks. First launched in 1986 by local weatherman Pat Shingleton, the event began as a modest neighborhood walk from City Park to Zee Zee Gardens Pub. Over the years it has grown into one of the city’s most beloved parades, attracting tens of thousands of spectators, complete with marching bands, pipers, decorated floats, and the popular Shamrock Run.

READ MORE about the hisotyr of the parade

For residents, the parade is more than a party, it is a continuation of Hundred Oaks’ role as a gathering place. The oaks lining the streets create a green canopy for revelers, and front yards become stages for family and friends. It is a tradition that connects the neighborhood’s historic identity with Baton Rouge’s cultural life today.

A Neighborhood with Deep Roots

From its plantation beginnings to its rebirth as an “up-to-date suburb” during Baton Rouge’s real-estate boom, Hundred Oaks reflects the story of a city expanding, modernizing, and redefining itself in the early 20th century. Its shaded streets remain not only a residential haven but also a living piece of Baton Rouge history, one rooted in both growth and preservation.