title: Istrouma, Louisiana
text: # Istrouma, Louisiana
  
  Istrouma is an unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community is located less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) northwest of Baton Rouge and 7 miles (11 kilometres) 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.
  