Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city of 44,060 people in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, founded in 1818.
Why visit Alexandria
Townapedia lists 44 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 44 places to eat, 22 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Paramount Theatre, The Grand, Bolton High School and Kent Plantation House.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 38°F.
Weather in Alexandria
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Alexandria
Alexandria is a city in the central part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Lying on the south bank of the Red River of the South in almost the exact geographic center of the state, it is the ninth-largest city in the state,
From the Wikipedia article Alexandria, Louisiana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Paramount Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Former movie theater in Alexandria, Louisiana, United States
Hearn Stage at The Kress Theatre
Cinema and theater · 1.9 mi
Performance space in Alexandria, Louisiana, United States, in the historic Rapides Foundation Building
Museums and landmarks44
Bolton High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
High school in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Kent Plantation House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America
3601 Bayou Rapides Road, Alexandria
Louisiana History Museum
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
History museum in Alexandria, Louisiana
503 Washington Street, Alexandria
Alexandria Garden District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Academic building at Louisiana College, Pineville, Louisiana, USA
Alexandria National Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic cemetery in Pineville, Louisana
Arna Wendell Bontemps House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic house in Louisiana, United States
Bailey's Dam
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Dam in Alexandria / Pineville, Louisiana
Bennett Plantation House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Historic house in Louisiana, United States
Bentley Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Hotel in Alexandria, United States
Bland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic house in Louisiana, United States
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Central Louisiana State Hospital Dairy Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Barn in Louisiana, United States of America
32 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds22
10 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes44
PJ's Coffee of New Orleans
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.1 mi
4108 Coliseum Boulevard, Alexandria
05:30-20:30
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.4 mi
755 Macarthur Drive, Alexandria
Mo-Fr 04:30-20:00; Sa-Su 05:00-20:00
Tamp & Grind Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.9 mi
828 4th Street, Alexandria
Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa-Su 09:00-19:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.8 mi
1422 Macarthur Drive, Alexandria
06:00-21:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
2265 South Macarthur Drive, Alexandria
06:00-20:00
Koal's Bar-B-Que & Steakhouse
Restaurant · American, Barbecue · 1.4 mi
32 more on the map.
History
Located along the Red River, the city of Alexandria was originally home to a community which supported activities of the adjacent French trader outpost of Post du Rapides. The area developed as an assemblage of traders, Caddo people, and merchants in the agricultural lands bordering the mostly unsettled areas to the north and providing a link from the south to the El Camino Real and then larger settlement of Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.
Alexander Fulton, a businessman from Washington County, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, received a land grant from Spain in 1762, and the first organized settlement was made at some point in the 1780s. In 1805, Fulton and business partner Thomas Harris Maddox laid out the town plan and named the town in Fulton's honor. The earliest deed that survives for an Alexandria resident is from June 24, 1801, when a William Cochren, who identifies himself as "Slave master of the Southern Americas", sold a tract of land across the Red River to a William Murrey.
In 1801, Fulton was appointed coroner in Rapides Parish by territorial Governor William C.C. Claiborne. Alexandria was incorporated as a town in 1818 and received a city charter in 1832.
From the History section of Alexandria, Louisiana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay22
Churches and places of worship141
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
First Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Mt. Olivet Episcopal Church and Cemetery
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.7 mi
600 Lakeview Street, Pineville
Islamic Society of Central Louisiana
Place of worship · Sunni · 1.3 mi
398 Windermere Boulevard, Alexandria
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Alexandria
Place of worship · 1.4 mi
1245 Elliott Street, Alexandria
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.7 mi
2120 Elliott Street, Alexandria
Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.2 mi
2211 East Texas Avenue, Alexandria
Saint James Memorial Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.8 mi
714 Winn Street, Alexandria
Shopping17
Gas and EV charging17
Schools, colleges and libraries72
J.I. Barron Sr. Elementary School
School · 5.9 mi
43655 Trinity Church Road, Pineville
Healthcare17
Map of Alexandria
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 38°F | 6.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 63°F | 42°F | 5.1 in | 0.1 in |
| Mar | 70°F | 49°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 55°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 83°F | 64°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 71°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 88°F | 68°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 79°F | 57°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 68°F | 46°F | 5.5 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 60°F | 40°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Alexandria Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Rapides Parish has had 37 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-10: Tropical Storm Francine (Hurricane)
- 2023-08-30: Highway 113 Fire (Fire)
- 2021-09-13: Tropical Storm Nicholas (Coastal Storm)
- 2021-08-29: Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-08-27: Tropical Storm Ida (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Alexandria International Airport (AEX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Pineville 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
- Woodworth 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Ball 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Prospect 11 mi north, about 17 min by car
- Rock Hill 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Boyce 14 mi northwest, about 22 min by car
- Pollock 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Lecompte 15 mi south, about 24 min by car
- Center Point 16 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Forest Hill 17 mi south, about 28 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Downtown Alexandria, Robinaire, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greetings from Alexandria, Louisiana - Large Letter Postcard (5727913015), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- First United Methodist Church Jackson Alexandria LA, Kaliannah Shirah, CC BY-SA 4.0
- McGill House Alexandria LA, Kaliannah Shirah, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rugg School Alexandria LA, Kaliannah Shirah, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gem Chass Synagogue Alexandria LA, Kaliannah Shirah, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church (Alexandria, Louisiana), Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Emmanuel Baptist Church (Alexandria, Louisiana), Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bolton High School, Alexandria, LA - Entrance, Mlswg502 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DAIRY BARN, Karen Gauthier 0809, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Melady House in Alexandria, Louisiana, Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BaileysDam1984, A National Park Service Photographer, Public domain
- Hemenway Furniture Co Building, Kaliannah Shirah, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Francis Xavier Cathedral - Alexandria, Louisiana 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cinema Treasures-Paramount Theatre-186408, Granola, CC BY 3.0
- Arna Wendell Bontemps House, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- U.S. Post Office and Court House (1933) Alexandria (Rapides Parish, Louisiana), Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Alexandria National Cemetery IMG 1110, Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- James Wade Bolton House, Alexandria, LA IMG 4284, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alexandria Hall, Louisiana College IMG 1100, Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Commercial Building - Alexandria, Louisiana 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Olivet Church Side, Giminoshi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alexandria museum, The original uploader was Slab rider45 at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
- Bentley Hotel, Btilm, CC BY 3.0
- HOUSE by LC Campus 2, Karen Gauthier 0809, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masonic Building (Alexandria, Louisiana), Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort Randolph Citadel, March 2012, Herodotus2go, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bland House (Alexandria, Louisiana), Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AMGA Krewes Parade, Robinaire, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ALEX Drive Feb 27 2014 032, Karen Gauthier 0809, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ALEX Drive Feb 27 2014 031, Karen Gauthier 0809, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ALEX Drive Feb 27 2014 033, Karen Gauthier 0809, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kent Plantation House, Tjean314, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ortego helicopter photo 1922, Leo Ortego, Public domain
- La.sky - panoramio, md. childress, CC BY 3.0
- Louisiana sky - panoramio, md. childress, CC BY 3.0
- Crossroads - panoramio (11), md. childress, CC BY 3.0
- LA.USA - panoramio (2), md. childress, CC BY 3.0
- LA.USA - panoramio (5), md. childress, CC BY 3.0
- 2025-09-12 14 48 46 Aerial view of southeastern and south-central Rapides Parish, Louisiana and surrounding areas from an aircraft heading towards George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.