Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Rapides Parish | |
|---|---|
 Upper portion of the Rapides Parish Courthouse in Alexandria | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana | |
 Louisiana's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 31°12′N 92°32′W / 31.2°N 92.54°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Louisiana |
| Founded | 1807 |
| Named for | The local river rapids |
| Seat | Alexandria |
| Largest city | Alexandria |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,362 sq mi (3,527 km2) |
| • Land | 1,323 sq mi (3,425 km2) |
| • Water | 39 sq mi (102 km2) 2.89% |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 131,613 |
| • Density | 97/sq mi (37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website | www |
Rapides Parish (French: Paroisse des Rapides) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Alexandria is the parish seat. It encompasses the Alexandria, Louisiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Rapides is the French spelling of "rapids".
History
In 1763, the land that is now Rapides Parish became the new home of the Apalachee, who were settled there with the permission of Governor Kerlerec. The Native Americans had come after fleeing the British and their Creek Indian allies from what is now from Leon County, Florida. Many of their descendants remain in Natchitoches Parish.
The first French settler was Vincent Porei, who was granted a small tract of land in July 1764 by the Civil and Military Commander of Natchitoches. Nicolas Etienne Marafret Layssard arrived in December 1766, with the permission of Aubrey and Foucault, to establish a "tar works" in the pineries of Rapides, for naval stores. He was later appointed the first Civil Commander of Rapides Parish. During the 1760s, the area was still a dependency of Natchitoches Parish [AGI, PPC, Legajo 187a, 384-384v].
Alexander Fulton had a Spanish land grant within Rapides Parish in the 1790s, where he laid out the future Alexandria in 1805.[1] Rapides Parish was formed in 1807 by the government of the Territory of Orleans.
When the Union occupied Alexandria, elections were held on April 1, 1863, in Rapides Parish to select delegates for a pending state constitutional convention. According to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, the election was held at Alexandria "by the request of citizens of the parish of Rapides. No officer or soldier interfered with or had any part whatever in this matter. It was left exclusively to the loyal citizens" in Rapides Parish.[2] The election dates varied within the Federally occupied areas. New Orleans held its contests for delegates on March 28. Marksville and Grand Ecore soon followed. According to the historian John D. Winters, "none of these elections in any way impeded the progress nor materially affected the outcome of the [Union's] Red River campaign.[3]
Though Alexandria is heavily Democratic Rapides Parish as a whole frequently votes Republican in competitive elections. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney carried the parish with 37,193 votes (64.1 percent), compared to Democrat U.S. President Barack Obama's 20,045 (34.6 percent) tabulation.[4] The 2008 returns in Rapides Parish were similar to those of 2012. U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona won the parish with 36,611 votes (63.6 percent) to Obama's 20,127 (35 percent).[5]
With 58.8 percent and 63.8 percent, respectively, George W. Bush carried Rapides Parish in both 2000 and 2004 over the Democrats, Vice President Al Gore[6] and John F. Kerry.[7] The last Democrat to win at the presidential level in Rapides Parish was Bill Clinton, who in 1996 received 23,004 votes (46.1 percent) to Robert J. Dole's 21,548 (43.2 percent). Ross Perot, founder of his Reform Party, received 4,70 ballots (9.4 percent).[8]
Geography
The parish has a total area of 1,362 square miles (3,527 km²), of which 1,323 square miles (3,425 km²) is land and 39 square miles (102 km²) (2.89%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 49
U.S. Highway 71
U.S. Highway 165
U.S. Highway 167
Louisiana Highway 1
Louisiana Highway 28
Adjacent parishes
- Grant Parish (north)
- La Salle Parish (northeast)
- Avoyelles Parish (east)
- Evangeline Parish (southeast)
- Allen Parish (southwest)
- Vernon Parish (west)
- Natchitoches Parish (northwest)
Places adjacent to Rapides Parish, Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
National protected area
- Kisatchie National Forest (part)
Military Installations
- Camp Beauregard (LA Army National Guard)
- Esler Airfield (LA Army National Guard)
- England Air Force Base (defunct)
- Camp Claiborne (defunct)
- Camp Livingston (defunct)
National Guard
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 39,578 | — | |
| 1910 | 44,545 | 12.5% | |
| 1920 | 59,444 | 33.4% | |
| 1930 | 65,455 | 10.1% | |
| 1940 | 73,370 | 12.1% | |
| 1950 | 90,648 | 23.5% | |
| 1960 | 111,351 | 22.8% | |
| 1970 | 118,078 | 6.0% | |
| 1980 | 135,282 | 14.6% | |
| 1990 | 131,556 | −2.8% | |
| 2000 | 126,337 | −4.0% | |
| 2010 | 131,613 | 4.2% | |
| Rapides Parish Census Data[9] | |||
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 126,337 people, 47,120 households, and 33,125 families residing in the parish. The population density was 93 people per square mile (37/km²). There were 52,038 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 66.51% White, 30.43% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 47,120 households out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the parish the population was spread out with 27.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $29,856, and the median income for a family was $36,671. Males had a median income of $29,775 versus $20,483 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $16,088. About 16.40% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
Water features
Communities
Cities
Towns
Villages
Unincorporated areas
Government and infrastructure
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections operated the J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center, which is located on property adjacent to Camp Beauregard and in Pineville in Rapides Parish.[11][12] It closed in July 2012.[13]
Education
Rapides Parish School Board operates public schools.
Gallery
-
A view of the Alexandria museum in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA -
Rapides Parish Library at Alexandria -
Red River at Alexandria
See also
References
- ^ "Fulton, Alexander". lahistory.org (Louisiana Historical Association). Retrieved October 9, 2010.
- ^ John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1963, ISBN 0-8071-0834-0, p. 333
- ^ Winters, p. 333
- ^ "Rapides Parish election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ "Rapides Parish election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ "Rapides Parish election returns, November 7, 2000". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ "Rapides Parish election returns, November 2, 2004". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ "Rapides Parish election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "Louisiana Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "Rapides Parish Quickfacts". Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ^ "Time in Prison." Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 28/40. September 23, 2010.
- ^ "J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center." Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
- ^ "J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center." (Archive) Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Retrieved on October 23, 2012.
External links
Geology
- Snead, J., P. V. Heinrich, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002, Ville Platte 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Municipalities and communities of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||