The first settlers came to this area in the early 1700's and there has been continuous settlement since that time. Great plantations flourished in the rich soils adjacent to the river, three of which were located in the Baker area. Parts of the Baker, Groom and the Young properties comprised an area that is now Baker. The small community got its name from Josephus Baker, owner of the Baker Plantation, across which the Yazoo - Mississippi Valley railroad line tying Baton Rouge to Vicksburg ran. The line was completed in 1884, and trains made regular stops on Mr. Baker's property to drop and pick up mail, cargo and passengers. A post office was established at the ''Baker Stop'' on May 3, 1888, and the area became known for mail purposes as Baker, Louisiana. It was not incorporated until 1944 as a village. It achieved the status of ''town'' in 1952, and officially became a city in 1962.

Today, Baker has a population of 13,483, but still retains its small town atmosphere, as it enjoys the best of both worlds - being within the metropolitan area of Baton Rouge, yet having the advantage of local government, with a friendly, home town feeling where community pride and participation are a way of life.