Istrouma, Louisiana

Istrouma is an unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community is located less than 2 mi northwest of Baton Rouge and 7 mi south of Baker.

Etymology
It is speculated that the name of the community is derived from the Choctaw words 'ita humma' which means 'red pole' in the Choctaw language.

Red Pole
On March 17, 1699 Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville described the red maypole that he found in the area:

"On the 17th of March we reached a small stream at the right of the river at five and a half leagues from our camp, where they gave us to understand there was a great quantity of fish, and where I had nets stretched and caught only two catfish. This river separates the hunting grounds of Bayougoulas and the Houmas. Upon its banks are huts covered with palmetto leaves and a reddened Maypole without branches, with several heads of fish and bears attached in sacrifice."