Rapides Parish (/ˈræpiːdz/) (French: Paroisse des Rapides) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 130,023.^[1] The parish seat is Alexandria, which developed along the Red River of the South.^[2] Rapides is the French word for "rapids". The parish was created in 1807 after the United States acquired this territory in the Louisiana Purchase.^[3]

Quick Facts Country, State ...

Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Parish
Parish of Rapides
Upper portion of the Rapides Parish Courthouse in Alexandria
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Region	Central Louisiana
Founded	1807
Named for	The local river rapids
Parish seat (and largest city)	Alexandria
Area
• Total	3,530 km2 (1,362 sq mi)
• Land	3,410 km2 (1,318 sq mi)
• Water	110 km2 (44 sq mi)
• percentage	8 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	130,023
• Density	37/km2 (95/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	318
Congressional district	5th
Website	Rapides Parish Police Jury

Close

Rapides Parish is included in the Alexandria metropolitan area, Louisiana.

This section does not cite any sources. (August 2023)

In 1763, the land that is now Rapides Parish became the new home of the Apalachee tribe, who were settled there with the permission of Governor Kerlerec. Some Native Americans had come after fleeing the British and their Creek Indian allies from what is now 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].^[clarify]

Parts of Catahoula Parish, Grant Parish, Vernon Parish, and Winn Parish were initially part of Rapides Parish territory, but they eventually separated and obtained land from neighboring parishes.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,362 square miles (3,530 km²), of which 1,318 square miles (3,410 km²) is land and 44 square miles (110 km²) (3.2%) is water.^[9] It is the largest parish in Louisiana by land area.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 130,023 people, 48,975 households, and 32,667 families residing in the parish. In 2010, there were 131,613 people living in the parish. 63.3% were White, 25.0% Black or African American, 1.83% Asian, 2.15% Native American, 1.56% of some other race and 1.88% of two or more races. 6.85% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

In 2000,^[16] there were 126,337 people, 47,120 households, and 33,125 families living in the parish. The population density was 93 inhabitants per square mile (36/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.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections formerly operated the J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center on property adjacent to Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville in Pineville in Rapides Parish.^[17][18] The facility closed in July 2012.^[19]

Rapides Parish is solidly Republican in presidential elections. In 2016, Hillary Clinton suffered the worst defeat for a Democratic candidate in the county since Walter Mondale in 1984, Although her husband, Bill, won the parish in 1996 during his reelection bid, this stands as the last time Rapides Parish voted for a Democratic candidate.

Rapides Parish School Board operates public schools.^[21]

By 1993 the district had established a secondary school for students with behavior issues, called Redirection Academy. That year, the U.S. federal court system stopped the district from establishing a magnet school for academically advanced students.^[22]

• A view of the Alexandria museum in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA
• Rapides Parish Library at Alexandria
• Red River at Alexandria

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Rapides Parish, Louisiana
• Jay Chevalier
• Bill Cleveland
• Palustris Experimental Forest