Final answer:
Standard Oil chose Baton Rouge for its refinery complex because of the Mississippi River's transportation advantages and the ability to create an industrial cluster, leading to the area known as Cancer Alley due to health concerns from pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Standard Oil chose Baton Rouge as the site of a new refinery complex for several strategic reasons. The area's proximity to the Mississippi River presented significant transportation advantages as it allowed for the easy import and export of goods. Moreover, Baton Rouge's location facilitated the growth of related industries, creating an economic hub that thrived on the clustering of petroleum-based businesses. This clustering mirrored the horizontal integration strategy that John D. Rockefeller used to expand Standard Oil's control over the oil industry, reducing competition and increasing efficiency.
Despite the economic benefits, the concentration of petrochemical industries in one area, which would later be dubbed Cancer Alley, has raised health concerns. The production of vast quantities of oil and chemical products has led to the release of pollutants like benzene, which are linked to increased cancer risks amongst nearby populations. These environmental health effects represent significant costs that are often not reflected in the price of goods derived from these industries, disproportionately impacting the residents who live near refineries like the one in Baton Rouge.