Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Rapides Parish (French: Paroisse des Rapides) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,613.[1] The parish seat is Alexandria, which developed along the Red River of the South.[2] Rapides is the French spelling of "rapids" and is pronounced ra-PEEDS (I.P.A. [ɹæ.pid͜z]). The parish was created in 1807 after the United States acquired this territory in the Louisiana Purchase.[3]

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
RegionCentral Louisiana
Founded1807
Named forThe local river rapids
Parish seat (and largest city)Alexandria
Area
 • Total3,530 km2 (1,362 sq mi)
 • Land3,410 km2 (1,318 sq mi)
 • Water110 km2 (44 sq mi)
 • percentage8 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total131,613
 • Estimate 
(2019)
129,648
 • Density37/km2 (97/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code318
Congressional district5th
WebsiteRapides Parish Police Jury
Lower view of the Rapides Parish Courthouse
The main branch of the Rapides Parish Library is located in downtown Alexandria.

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

History
Purple Heart Memorial Bridge over the Red River in Alexandria and Pineville

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. The 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].

Alexander Fulton had a Spanish land grant within Rapides Parish in the 1790s, where he laid out the future city of Alexandria in 1805.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.

21st-century politics

Since the late 20th century, conservative whites have mostly shifted from the Democratic Party, long in control in Louisiana and other Deep South states, to the Republican Party. The population of Alexandria is heavily Democratic, but voters in the white-majority Rapides Parish frequently favor Republican candidates in competitive presidential 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.[7] 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 President Obama's 20,127 (35 percent).[8]

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[9] and John F. Kerry.[10] 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 4,670 ballots (9.4 percent).[11]

Geography

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.[12] It is the second-largest parish in Louisiana by land area.

Water features

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

National protected area

Military installations

National Guard

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18206,065—
18307,57524.9%
184014,13286.6%
185016,56117.2%
186025,36053.1%
187018,015−29.0%
188023,56330.8%
189027,64217.3%
190039,57843.2%
191044,54512.5%
192059,44433.4%
193065,45510.1%
194073,37012.1%
195090,64823.5%
1960111,35122.8%
1970118,0786.0%
1980135,28214.6%
1990131,556−2.8%
2000126,337−4.0%
2010131,6134.2%
2019 (est.)129,648[13]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2019[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, 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).

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 126,337 people, 47,120 households, and 33,125 families living 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.

Government and infrastructure

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections formerly operated the J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center on property adjacent to Camp Beauregard in Pineville in Rapides Parish.[19][20] The facility closed in July 2012.[21]

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.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 65.1% 38,347 33.1% 19,475 1.8% 1,043
2016 64.8% 36,816 32.2% 18,322 3.0% 1,706
2012 64.1% 37,193 34.6% 20,045 1.4% 781
2008 63.7% 36,611 35.0% 20,127 1.4% 783
2004 63.8% 34,492 35.0% 18,904 1.2% 673
2000 58.8% 28,831 38.6% 18,898 2.6% 1,295
1996 43.2% 21,548 46.1% 23,004 10.8% 5,379
1992 43.9% 22,783 40.2% 20,873 15.9% 8,226
1988 61.3% 29,977 36.7% 17,928 2.0% 986
1984 65.8% 32,879 32.3% 16,121 1.9% 963
1980 55.2% 25,576 42.0% 19,436 2.8% 1,290
1976 45.3% 17,766 53.1% 20,851 1.7% 647
1972 69.7% 22,306 26.3% 8,422 4.0% 1,283
1968 29.0% 10,199 25.0% 8,793 46.1% 16,239
1964 64.5% 18,122 35.5% 9,992
1960 34.3% 8,155 40.6% 9,651 25.1% 5,976
1956 53.8% 9,105 35.3% 5,961 10.9% 1,845
1952 41.8% 9,749 58.2% 13,576
1948 13.1% 1,707 36.2% 4,730 50.7% 6,623
1944 15.8% 1,712 84.2% 9,132
1940 8.7% 869 91.3% 9,100
1936 13.6% 1,257 86.5% 8,017
1932 8.2% 680 91.8% 7,578
1928 35.8% 2,494 64.2% 4,470
1924 31.1% 1,022 65.6% 2,159 3.3% 109
1920 13.9% 445 86.1% 2,765 0.0% 1
1916 5.7% 134 93.3% 2,184 1.0% 24
1912 2.8% 46 79.8% 1,334 17.5% 292

Education

Rapides Parish School Board operates public schools.

Communities

Cities
Map of Rapides Parish, with municipal labels

Towns

Villages

Census-designated Place

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

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Rapides Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  4. "Fulton, Alexander". lahistory.org (Louisiana Historical Association). Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  5. John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1963, ISBN 0-8071-0834-0, p. 333
  6. Winters, p. 333
  7. "Rapides Parish election returns, November 6, 2012". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  8. "Rapides Parish election returns, November 4, 2008". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  9. "Rapides Parish election returns, November 7, 2000". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  10. "Rapides Parish election returns, November 2, 2004". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  11. "Rapides Parish election returns, November 5, 1996". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  12. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  13. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. "Time in Prison Archived October 23, 2012, at WebCite." Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 28/40. September 23, 2010.
  20. "J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center Archived September 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  21. "J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center." (Archive) Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Retrieved on October 23, 2012.
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 9, 2018.

Geology

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