ZIP Code 71303

Alexandria is the ninth-largest city in the state of Louisiana. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area (population 153,922) which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes. In 2010, the population was 47,723, an increase of 3 percent from the 2000 census. In 1942, Alexandria was the site of the Lee Street Riot, an incident of racial violence between mostly unarmed African Americans and armed military police. The city is located at 31°1734N 92°2733W and has an elevation of 75 feet (22.9 m) According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.0 square miles (69.9 km²), of which 26.4 squaremile (68.4 km²) is land and 0.6 square mile (1.5km²) (2.15%) is water. The climate is humid subtropical with some continental influence in the winter. Summers are consistently hot and humid, whereas winters are mild, with occasional cold snaps. The area receives plentiful rainfall year-round, with thunderstorms possible throughout the year. According to 'Cities Ranked and Rated' (Bert Sperling and Peter Sander), Alexandria reports an average of 69 days per year with thunder reported. Snowfall is rare, with measurable snow having occurred 27 times since 1895. The heaviest snowfall event took place February 1213, 1960, when 9.1" of snow fell.

History

Alexandria was originally home to a community which supported activities of the adjacent French trader outpost of Post du Rapides. Alexander Fulton, a businessman from Washington County, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, received a land grant from Spain in 1762. In 1805, Fulton and business partner Thomas Harris Maddox laid out the town plan and named the town in Fulton's honor. Alexandria was incorporated as a town in 1818 and received a city charter in 1832. In 1942, Alexandria was the site of the Lee Street Riot, an incident of racial violence between mostly unarmed African Americans and armed military police. Witnesses state that as many as 20 people may have been killed, however the official report indicates that 3 African American soldiers were critically injured, and does not mention any deaths. The city is located along the Red River, and was once home to 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. The first organized settlement was made at some point in the 1780s. 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. That same year, Fulton was appointed coroner in Rapides Parish by territorial Governor William C.C. Claiborne.

Geography and climate

Alexandria is located at 31°1734N 92°2733W and has an elevation of 75 feet (22.9 m) The climate is humid subtropical with some continental influence in the winter. Summers are consistently hot and humid, whereas winters are mild, with occasional cold snaps. The area receives plentiful rainfall year-round, with thunderstorms possible throughout the year. According to 'Cities Ranked and Rated' (Bert Sperling and Peter Sander), Alexandria reports an average of 69 days per year with thunder reported, which is nearly double the national average. Snowfall is rare, with measurable snow having occurred 27 times since 1895. The heaviest snowfall event took place February 1213, 1960, when 9.1" of snow fell. The most recent hurricane, Gustav in 2008, caused widespread flooding, knocked over trees and power lines leading to power outages, and damaged structures. Some low-lying Alexandria neighborhoods had substantial flooding from Gustav, leaving several feet of water in houses. In the immediate vicinity of the city, cotton, sugar, alfalfa, and garden vegetables are cultivated. The city has a total area of 27.0 square miles (69.9 km²), of which 26.4 square miles [68.4 km²] is land and 0.6 square mile (1.5 km²) (2.15%) is water. It is on a level plain in the center of the Louisiana Longleaf Pine forests, in which pine is interspersed with various hardwoods. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita moved inland and affected Alexandria and surrounding areas.

Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 47,723 people, 17,816 households, and 11,722 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 38.32% White, 57.25% Black, 1.25%. Native American. and 1.85% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander. The city's population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2%. from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1%. from 65 years of age or older. The median income for a household in theCity was $26,097, and $31,978. for a family. The per capita income for the city is $16,242. About 27.4%. of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.7%. of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13. For every 100 females, there are 83.5 males. There were 19,806 housing units at an average density of 749.9 per square mile (289.5/km²) 6.98% of the town's population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The city has a population of 45,275.

Religion

Alexandria has a small, though active Jewish community which dates back to the mid-19th century. Large congregations include the Emmanuel Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. A significant Catholic population is also present, a result of the large Catholic Acadian French population which resides in and around Alexandria, many from neighboring Avoyelles Parish. Alexandria also has a significant number of Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Pentecostals. Alexandria is the headquarters for the Diocese of Alexandria. The largest single church denomination in the Alexandria area is Southern Baptist. The city has two synagogues, which are approximately two blocks apart: Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim (Reform) and B'nai Israel Traditional Synagogue (Conservative). The city is home to the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the headquarters of which is in Alexandria. It is also the home of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which is a member of the Southern Conference of the United States College of Arts and Sciences. It also has the Louisiana State University of the Arts and Science, which was founded in 1876. The University of Southern Louisiana is located in the town of Alexandria and has a campus of the College of Science and Arts and Technology, which opened in 1883. The town has a population of around 2,000,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the southern United States. It was the site of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, which began in the 1960s.

Annual cultural events and festivals

Alexandria is north of the Cajun cultural area, the city recognizes Mardi Gras as an official holiday. Alex River Fête is an annual three-day festival held in downtown Alexandria around late April and early May. Cenlabration was one of the largest festivals in Central Louisiana (Cenla) and reflects local culture and heritage, as well as serving as a means of celebrating Labor Day as the end of summer. The city ended its annual support of $40,000 because of budget constraints. RiverFest: Heritage and Arts on the Red was canceled in 2007 due to its high cost and the city cancelled in 2012 due to the cost of the event and the high number of attendees. The Alex Winter Fêt was voted Festival of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association in January 2017. It features booth venues, food, and live music but also features an ice rink. It was launched in 2015, the festival first year drew about double the anticipated crowd of 15,000. The festival features the work of visual artists from across the South, food booths exemplifying southern cuisine, a variety of children's activities, three outdoor stages with a wide range of music, dance, and theatrical performances, and a literary component with readings and panel discussions by Louisiana authors and scholars. The name comes from Central Louisiana ("LA") Celebration, a celebration of local culture, heritage, and culture. It is held on the Alexandria and Pineville levees and features a large fireworks display.

Museums

The Alexandria Museum of Art was founded in 1977 and occupies an historic Rapides Bank Building on the banks of the Red River. The Louisiana History Museum is located downtown on the bottom floor of the former library. The T.R.E. House Children's Museum and Arna Bontemps African American Museum are located within the Cultural Arts District. The Kent Plantation House in Alexandria, completed by 1800, was located on a Spanish land grant. It is the oldest standing structure in Central Louisiana, one of only two buildings in the city to survive the burning of 1864 by Union troops fleeing after having been defeated at the Battle of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. The house has been moved from its original location but is still located on part of the first land grant and is open for tours daily except Sundays at 9, 10, and 11 a.m. and 1, 2, and 3 p.m., with docents led by costumed docents. The museum now also serves as a downtown campus for LSUA classes, and is host to multidisciplinary community events, including concerts and recitals, lectures, yoga classes, Second Saturday Markets, and Museum Afterhours. A small facility, it showcases the history of all Louisiana, with emphasis on the central portion of the state, Rapides Parish, and Alexandria. Major exhibit areas concern Native Americans, Louisiana geography, politics, health care, farming, and the impact of war and war on the state. In 2007, the museum entered into a collaborative endeavor agreement with Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA).

Performing arts

The performing arts are centered in the Alexandria Cultural Arts District in the downtown area. Located within a few blocks of each other are three performance venues: Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center, the Hearn Stage, and the Riverfront Amphitheater. The center is the home of the Rapides Symphony Orchestra, which has performed in Alexandria since 1968. The spring and fall seasons also feature Downtown Rocks, a free outdoor concert series in nearby Fulton Park. In recent years, the amphitheater has welcomed musical guests in conjunction with the springtime Dragonboat Races sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art. The Arts Council of Central Louisiana provides day-to-day management of both the Cough Lin-S Saunders Center and the HearN Stage. It is the parent organization of the Red River Chorale (an auditioned community chorus), and presentations of numerous local theater groups. The arts council is also the sponsor of the Louisiana Jazz Festival, which takes place each April in the town's downtown. It also hosts the annual "Jazz on the River" music festival, sponsored bythe Arna Bontemps African American Museum. The Rapides symphony orchestra holds an annual fall Pops concert in the pavilion. The Hearn stage is a black box theater for smaller productions. It was opened in 2004 by Jacqueline Seagall Caplan (1935-2016) and is owned by the Gannett Company of McLean, Virginia. The land for the center was donated by The Alexandria Town Talk newspaper.

Sports

Alexandria was home to the Alexandria Aces, a summer college league baseball team. A professional indoor football team, the Louisiana Rangers, played their home games at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. In 1974, a Little League team from Alexandria won the Louisiana state championship. Nearby is Bringhurst Golf Course, popularly known as "the nation's oldest par-three course" A full-scale renovation was completed in mid-2010. Alexandria is home to four other golf courses: Oak Wing, The Links on the Bayou, at LSUA, and Alexandria Golf and Country Club. The U-14 Crossroads Pride soccer team won the 2012 Louisiana Soccer Association State Cup. The Pool Boys FC soccer team, a member of the Gulf Coast Premier League, plays at Johnny Downs Sports Complex. The Cenla Derby Dames, a roller derby team that operates under the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, play their home matches at Rapides County Coliseum. The stadium's office and clubhouse were destroyed by a fire in 2014 and were subsequently torn down. In 2017, it was decided that the stadium would become a green space, open to the public and welcome news to those concerned about the building's future. The scoreboard and outfield walls have been removed, but most of the stadium is still intact. The team was owned by a Lafayette business group before moving in 2003 to Beaumont, Texas. They played in the Central District of the Southern American Football League, and the Southern Conference of the National Indoor Football League.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana = 97. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 48. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 90. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Alexandria = 6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 45,275 individuals with a median age of 36.1 age the population dropped by -1.30% in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,589.10 residents per square mile of area (613.56/km²). There are average 2.41 people per household in the 18,275 households with an average household income of $31,995 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.70% of the available work force and has dropped -4.75% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 23.80%. The number of physicians in Alexandria per 100,000 population = 264.5.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Alexandria = 59.5 inches and the annual snowfall = 0 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 102. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 215. 95 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 38 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 19, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana which are owned by the occupant = 52.19%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 41 years with median home cost = $106,720 and home appreciation of -0.63%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $2.69 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,558 per student. There are 14.7 students for each teacher in the school, 448 students for each Librarian and 210 students for each Counselor. 3.26% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 11.96% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 7.84% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).