re: Older Baton Rouge residents. What lead to the decline of NBR?

As other parts of Baton Rouge developed, people with some money moved away. They did not want to live near refineries. It wasn't a white flight. It a green flight. It was mostly whites because historically whites had more money for a variety of reasons, including more opportunities.

There was a great shift in the economy. Back in the day most of the economy was centered around North Baton Rouge. That was no longer the case.

Add in desegregation and section 8 housing for whites and blacks and you are well on your way to what we have today.

North Baton Rouge will never recover even with the few bones the government and city planners throw their way.