Louisiana

Rapides

130,023
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Rapides

Rapides, Louisiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 2,200. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 130,023.

Its recorded population peaked at 135,282 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 4 percent.

On the ground today, 15 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Alexandria Louisiana 1863, Battle of Alexandria (Red River), Battle of Henderson's Hill Louisiana, and 85 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020130,023
2010131,613
2000126,337
1990131,556
1980135,282
1970118,078
1960111,351
195090,648
194073,370
193065,455
192059,444
191044,545
190039,578
189027,642
188023,563
187018,015
186025,360
185016,561
184014,132
18307,575
18206,065
18102,200
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Rapides

Military engagements that took place in Rapides, Louisiana.

Alexandria Louisiana 1863
1863
Battle of Alexandria (Red River)
1864
Battle of Henderson's Hill Louisiana
1864
Naval Action at Alexandria Rapids (Red River)
1864
Red River Campaign — Alexandria Rapids
1864
Action at Alexandria (Dam/Retreat)
1864
Henderson Hill — Pre-Assault Skirmish
1864
Red River Expedition – Falls at Alexandria (Dam)
1864
Alexandria Dam Construction — Skirmishing
1864
Action at Pineville / Rapides Parish
1864
Battle of Monett's Ferry
1864
Battle of Alexandria Rapids — Bailey's Dam
1864
Red River Expedition — Raft at Falls of the Red River
1864
Red River Campaign — Alexandria Passage
1864
Alexandria Rapids Withdrawal (Bailey's Dam)
1864

Historic places in Rapides

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rapides, Louisiana.

Tioga Commissary
Tioga
Alexandria National Cemetery
Pineville
Alexandria Public Library, Old
Alexandria
Hope
Gardner
Central Louisiana State Hospital Dairy Barn
Pineville
McNutt Rural Historic District
McNutt
China Grove
Gardner
Geneva
Alexandria
Loyd Hall Plantation
Cheneyville
Bolton High School
Alexandria
Rapides Cemetery
Pineville
Old LSU Site
Pineville
Longview
Gardner
Britt Place
Glenmora
Rapides Bank and Trust Company Building
Alexandria
Bailey's Dam Site
Alexandria
Masonic Building
Alexandria
Bentley Hotel
Alexandria
US Post Office and Courthouse-Alexandria
Alexandria
Commercial Building
Alexandria
Jones, Wade H., Sr., House
Meeker
Bennett Plantation House
Alexandria
St. John Baptist Church
Lecompte
Bolton, James Wade, House
Alexandria
Browse all Louisianahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Louisiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Louisiana counties.

De SotoEast Baton RougeEast CarrollEast FelicianaEvangelineFranklinGrantIberiaIbervilleJacksonJeffersonJefferson DavisLa SalleLafayetteLafourcheLaSalleLincolnLivingstonMadisonMorehouse
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Rapides County, Louisiana

This page charts the census history of Rapides County, Louisiana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Rapides County, Louisiana report
Or see a real report first

Explore Louisiana records

Louisianahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Louisiana›

Frequently asked about Rapides

When does Rapides first appear in the US census?
Rapides, Louisiana first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 2,200.
What is the population of Rapides?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rapides had a recorded population of 130,023.
When did Rapides's population peak?
Rapides's recorded population peaked at 135,282 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Rapides?
15 documented military engagements took place in Rapides, including Alexandria Louisiana 1863, Battle of Alexandria (Red River), Battle of Henderson's Hill Louisiana.
How many historic places are in Rapides?
85 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rapides, Louisiana.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report