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 | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1807 |
Named for | The local river rapids |
Seat | Alexandria |
Largest city | Alexandria |
Area | |
• Total | 1,361 sq mi (3,526 km2) |
• Land | 1,320 sq mi (3,420 km2) |
• Water | 41 sq mi (106 km2) 3.0% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 130,023 |
• Density | 98.5/sq mi (38.0/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area code | 318 |
Congressional district | 5th |
Website | www |
Rapides Parish (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.[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 bought this territory in the Louisiana Purchase.[3]