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58-725: James Sterling Ridge, Sr. (October 29, 1936 – April 18, 2012) was an American politician. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana , Ridge graduated from Glendale High School in Glendale, Arizona , Phoenix College , and Arizona State College . He was a newspaper reporter for the Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Gazette. He served in the Arizona House of Representatives from the 17th district from 1982 to 1988 and

116-642: A developmental team that competes in the GCL2, the Gulf Coast Premier League's second division. Nearby is Bringhurst Golf Course, popularly known as "the nation's oldest par-three course." A full-scale renovation was completed in mid-2010. In addition to Bringhurst, named for the late industrialist R.W. Bringhurst, Alexandria is home to four other golf courses: Oak Wing, The Links on the Bayou, at LSUA, and Alexandria Golf and Country Club. Alexandria

174-611: A direct result of the Deepwater horizon oil spill. This was determined by examining rates of wetland loss in the region from the year prior to the oil spill and contrasting that with the rates of wetland loss after the oil spill. The study noted significant land loss in regions not impacted by wave activity, further demonstrating that the land degradation was caused by oil rather than other sources of weathering from waves and cyclones. Other notable oil spills affecting bayous include 4,000 U.S. gallons (about 15,141.65 L) of oil spilling in

232-507: A free outdoor concert series in nearby Fulton Park. Alexandria was home to the Alexandria Aces , a summer college league baseball team. The Aces were champions in various leagues in 1997, 1998, 2006, and 2007. They played their home games at Bringhurst Field . Due to lack of repairs on the stadium, combined with the aging of it caused interest in the team to drop, with much of the wooden stands being barricaded. The remaining games of

290-433: A household in the city was $ 26,097, and the median income for a family was $ 31,978. Males had a median income of $ 29,456 versus $ 20,154 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,242. About 23.2% of families and 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. Like many other southern cities, the largest single church denomination in

348-520: A lake near Bayou Sorrel in Louisiana and 20,000 U.S. gallons (about 75,708.24 L) of oil spilling into Saint Bernard Parish waters and the adjacent Bayou Bienvenue in Louisiana. Both incidents occurred in 2022. Oil spills harm bayous as oil is toxic to most animals. In vapor form, oil leads to lung, liver, and nervous system dysfunction if inhaled. Ingested oil poses threats to the digestive tract. Oil matts feathers and fur, resulting in disruptions in

406-885: A large area cleared and zoned for swimming with complete bath house facilities nearby. There is a water skiing area that is cleared and snagged for safety of the skiers. The picnic and camping areas are modern and complete. There is also space available for campers. Bayou A bayou is often an anabranch or minor braid of a braided channel that is slower than the mainstem , often becoming boggy and stagnant. Though fauna varies by region, many bayous are home to crawfish , certain species of shrimp , other shellfish , catfish , frogs, toads , salamanders , newts , American alligators , American crocodiles , herons , lizards, turtles, tortoises , spoonbills , snakes, and leeches , as well as many other species. The word entered American English via Louisiana French in Louisiana and

464-511: A large fireworks display. The festival ran for 20 years until cancellation due to finances. The city ended its annual support of $ 40,000 because of budget constraints. In 2002, representatives of local government, businesses, organizations, and community formed the nonprofit organization River Cities Cultural Alliance, Inc. to promote tourism and the arts through a celebration of Central Louisiana's diverse cultural heritage. The nonprofit served to organize and put on RiverFest: Heritage and Arts on

522-457: A particular type of music, including Cajun and zydeco, blues and jazz, and Country music . In addition there are arts and crafts booths for local artists to sell their wares. In the Children's Village, children can participate in arts and crafts, listen to storytellers, play games with clowns, or watch a play. The festival has plenty of carnival rides available as well. Cenlabration ends with

580-441: A wetland system impacts its carbon exchange with the environment. Inhibiting a wetland's ability to sequester carbon further damages the status of the wetland as a carbon sink . This poses larger-scale issues as it alters the exchange of carbon dioxide with the atmosphere and environment. The use of pesticides in agriculture poses further threats to bayou ecosystems. A study conducted on three bayous (Cow Oak, Howden, Roundaway) in

638-417: Is humid subtropical with some continental influence in the winter. Summers are consistently hot and humid, whereas winters are mild, with occasional cold snaps. On average, the first freeze occurs in early to mid November and the last freeze occurs in early to mid March. The area receives plentiful rainfall year-round, with thunderstorms possible throughout the year. Some storms can be severe, especially during

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696-527: Is a probable carcinogen , and it has been linked to adverse health effects in both humans and wildlife. Several oil spills have impacted bayou regions, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010. This oil spill occurred off the Louisiana coast and resulted in the deaths of 11 people and the release of over 4.9 million barrels of oil into the ocean. The bayou wetlands of Bataria Bay, Louisiana experienced increased shoreline erosion as

754-481: Is a man-made impoundment located in the uplands approximately 15 miles (24 km) west-northwest of Alexandria, Louisiana. The lake is approximately 1,775 acres (7 km ) in size and was completed in October 1965. The Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission stocked this impoundment with the proper species and number of game fish in 1965–66 shortly after its completion date. The recreational facilities include

812-463: Is also known to have been in use, as in "Pine Buyou", used in a description by Congress in 1833 of Arkansas Territory . As of 2016 "bye-you" US : / ˈ b aɪ . uː / is the most common pronunciation, while a few use "bye-oh" US : / ˈ b aɪ . oʊ / , although that pronunciation is declining. The term Bayou Country is most closely associated with Cajun and Creole cultural groups derived from French settlers and stretching along

870-516: Is land and 0.6 square mile (1.5 km ) (2.15%) is water. Alexandria is on a level plain in the center of the Louisiana Longleaf Pine forests , in which pine is interspersed with various hardwoods . A number of small bayous , such as Bayou Rapides, Bayou Robert, and Hynson Bayou, meander throughout the city. In the immediate vicinity of the city, cotton , sugar , alfalfa , and garden vegetables are cultivated. The climate

928-432: Is located downtown on the bottom floor of the former library. 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. The T.R.E.E. House Children's Museum and Arna Bontemps African American Museum are located within

986-544: Is north of the Cajun cultural area, the city recognizes Mardi Gras as an official holiday. The annual Mardi Gras Krewes Parade – occurring on the Sunday before Mardi Gras – on Texas Avenue is a major cultural festivity in the area. It is featured as a family-oriented event, and parade goers can enjoy over 20 New Orleans style floats, high school and college marching bands, as well as appearances by local celebrities. In addition to

1044-439: Is still located on part of the first land grant. It is open for tours daily except Sundays at 9, 10, and 11 a.m. and 1, 2, and 3 p.m. The tour is led by costumed docents and includes the house furnished in period pieces, some belonging to the original family, and all nine outbuildings, including an 1840-50s sugar mill, blacksmith shop, barn, two slave cabins, open-hearth kitchen, and milk house. The performing arts are centered in

1102-654: Is the headquarters for the Diocese of Alexandria . Alexandria has a small, though active Jewish community which dates back to the mid-19th century. Jews have held positions in local government, civic organizations, education, and medicine. At one time, many large businesses in the downtown were Jewish-owned. The Jewish community in Alexandria maintains two synagogues , which are approximately two blocks apart: Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim (Reform) and B'nai Israel Traditional Synagogue (Conservative). Though Alexandria

1160-670: Is the oldest television station in central Louisiana. The Alexandria Zoological Park is a 33-acre (13 ha) zoo first opened to the public in 1926. Owned by the City of Alexandria and operated by the Division of Public Works, it is home to about 500 animals and includes an award-winning Louisiana Habitat exhibit. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and takes part in about 20 Species Survival Plans (SSP) as part of its conservation efforts. Cotile Lake

1218-659: Is thought to originate from the Choctaw word bayuk , which means "small stream". After first appearing in the 17th century, the term is found in 18th century accounts and maps, often as bayouc or bayouque , where it was eventually shortened to its current form. The first settlements of the Bayou Têche and other bayous were founded by the Louisiana Creoles , and the bayous are commonly associated with Creole and Cajun culture. An alternative spelling, "buyou",

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1276-413: The 2020 United States census , there were 45,275 people, 17,920 households, and 10,933 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2010, there were 47,723 people, 17,816 households, and 11,722 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,754.6/sq mi (677.5/km ). There were 19,806 housing units at an average density of 749.9 per square mile (289.5/km ). The racial makeup of

1334-782: The Gulf Coast from Houston, Texas, to Mobile, Alabama, and picking back up in South Florida around the Everglades , with its center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The term may also be associated with the homelands of certain Choctaw tribal groups. Houston has the nickname "Bayou City". Anthropogenic influences have damaged bayou ecosystems over the years. Bayous are susceptible to pollution such as runoff from nearby urban communities (which can result in eutrophication ) and oil spills given their low-lying position in

1392-437: The 2013 season were canceled in mid-July because of low attendance, which averaged fewer than two hundred per game. 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

1450-697: The Alex Winter Fête was voted Festival of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association. Begun in the late 1980s, Cenlabration was one of the largest festivals in Central Louisiana (Cenla). The name comes from Central Louisiana ("LA") Celebration, and reflects local culture and heritage, as well as serving as a means of celebrating Labor Day as the end of summer. As many as three stages support

1508-785: The Alexandria Cultural Arts District in the downtown. 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 Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center is the home of the Rapides Symphony Orchestra, which has performed in Alexandria since 1968. The center hosts the Performing Arts Series of

1566-470: The Alexandria Museum of Art entered into a collaborative endeavor agreement with Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA). The Alexandria Museum of Art 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. The Louisiana History Museum

1624-675: The Alexandria area is Southern Baptist . Large congregations include the Emmanuel Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. Alexandria is the headquarters of the Louisiana Baptist Convention . Alexandria also has a significant number of Methodists , Presbyterians , Episcopalians , and Pentecostals . 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

1682-607: The Arts Council of Central Louisiana, the Red River Chorale (an auditioned community chorus), and presentations of numerous local theater groups. The land for the center was donated by The Alexandria Town Talk newspaper, owned by the Gannett Company of McLean , Virginia . Businesswoman Jacqueline Seagall Caplan (1935–2016) was the president of the Arts Council of Central Louisiana and the chairman of

1740-680: The Bricks and the ArtWalk (now Art Fête) along with various booth venues, food, and live music, as well as the Kids Fête and Classic Car Fête. An annual three day festival held in downtown Alexandria around early December. Launched in 2015, the festival first year drew about double the anticipated crowd of 15,000. The festival, like the Alex River Fête, feature booth venues, food, and live music but also features an ice rink. In January 2017,

1798-576: The Children's parade, up to 40,000 to 50,000, and the College Cheerleaders & Classic Cars, about 5,000 to 15,000 people. An annual three-day festival is held in downtown Alexandria around late April and early May. The festival, established in 2013, was created around a former successful stand-alone event, the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races. It features the race and other former stand-alone events such as Dinner on

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1856-707: The Coughlin-Saunders Center and the Hearn Stage. The Riverfront Amphitheater hosts each April a "Jazz on the River" music festival, sponsored by the Arna Bontemps African American Museum. The Rapides Symphony holds an annual fall Pops concert in the amphitheater. In recent years, the amphitheater has welcomed musical guests in conjunction with the springtime Dragonboat Races sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art. The spring and fall seasons also feature Downtown Rocks,

1914-600: 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

1972-602: The Red. More than ten thousand festival-goers attending the event. RiverFest was held in downtown Alexandria and on the Alexandria and Pineville levees. 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. RiverFest

2030-660: The Southern American Football League, and the Southern Conference of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). The team was owned by a Lafayette business group before moving in 2003 to Beaumont , Texas . Soccer has also become a growing interest in the area. The Crossroads Soccer Association has had multiple youth teams achieve success in various travel soccer leagues. One of the earliest teams to do so

2088-544: 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

2146-423: The animal's ability to insulate themselves in colder temperatures. Matted bird feathers lose properties that aid in flying and swimming. Such disruptions in individual adaptive ability may lead to trophic cascades in a bayou community.   Human development activities, such as the increase of impervious surfaces , results in quicker, high intensity flood pulses, delivering larger quantities of these nutrients to

2204-753: The banks of the Red River. The building was built c. 1898 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The museum opened to the public in March 1998. In 1998, the Alexandria Museum of Art expanded and constructed its grand foyer and offices as an annex to the Rapides Bank Building. In 1999, the Alexandria Museum of Art was honored as an Outstanding Arts Organization in the Louisiana Governor's Arts Awards. In 2007,

2262-559: The city was 38.32% White , 57.25% Black , 1.25% Native American , 1.85% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander , 1.03% from other races , and 1.09% from two or more races. 6.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 17,816 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 23.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who

2320-467: The coast. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita moved inland and affected Alexandria and surrounding areas, causing widespread power outages and damaging the roofs of some structures. 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. As of

2378-619: The ecosystem at a much more rapid rate. Impervious surfaces include roads, housing developments, and parking lots that replace natural vegetation, typically associated with human development and urbanization. When impervious surfaces are installed, the layer of soil that stores water is damaged/removed, resulting in a lack of permeable surfaces to absorb rainfall and floodwater. Bayous have experienced trends of land cover loss and conversion to impervious surfaces, of which has been associated with influxes of metals such as aluminum, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. Heavy metals in sediments and ultimately

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2436-533: The group's executive committee when the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center opened in 2004. She predicted that Coughlin-Saunders would in time "provide a place people can point to and say it's theirs. ... [Until now], we've never had a performing arts center where every type of performing art can come." The Hearn Stage is a black box theater for smaller productions. The Arts Council provides day-to-day management of both

2494-445: The lower Mississippi River Basin found that the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus to sample mesocosms affected the decomposition of maize crop and willow oak detritus. While both species showed an increase in decomposition rate after N and P nutrient enhancement, the maize crop broke down faster than the native willow oak. The maize crop also had a significantly faster microbial respiration rate. The changes in microbial respiration of

2552-715: The main Sunday parade, the College Cheerleaders & Classic Cars Parade, which was established in 2008, takes place downtown on the Friday before Mardi Gras, the Children's Parade takes place downtown on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, and the Krewe of Provine Parade is held on Fat Tuesday , processing along Coliseum Boulevard. All the events are organized by the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association (AMGA). The Krewe Parade can attract from 120,000 to 150,000;

2610-531: The official report indicates that 3 soldiers were critically injured, and does not mention any deaths. Alexandria is located at 31°17′34″N 92°27′33″W  /  31.29278°N 92.45917°W  / 31.29278; -92.45917 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 km ), of which 26.4 square miles (68.4 km )

2668-510: The principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area (population 153,922) which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes. Its neighboring city is Pineville . In 2010, the population was 47,723, an increase of 3 percent from the 2000 census. 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

2726-498: The spring months. 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 12–13, 1960, when 9.1" of snow fell. Tropical storms and hurricanes affect Alexandria from time to time, but rarely cause severe damage, unlike areas closer to

2784-767: The stadium is still intact. In 1974, a Little League team from Alexandria won the Louisiana state championship. Alexandria had a minor league ice hockey team, the Alexandria Warthogs . They played their home games at the Rapides Parish Coliseum . A professional indoor football team, the Louisiana Rangers , played their home games at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. They played in the Central District of

2842-642: The watershed. Many bayous have been cleared away by human activity as well (with those in Louisiana having shrunk by 1,900 square miles; 4,900 square kilometers since the 1930s). Farming activities introduce nutrients into bayou ecosystems. Row crop agricultural land use is common (75–86% of the bayou watershed) in Bayou watersheds given the unique physical characteristics like flat topography and alluvial soils. Agricultural activity results in byproducts of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, which can drastically alter delicate balances in freshwater and marine ecosystems. A study conducted on 3 agricultural bayous in

2900-579: The western Mississippi River watershed found that pesticides released into bayou sediments cause significant impairment of the amphipod Hyalella azteca both spatially and temporally. Despite being banned 40 years ago in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency, traces of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ( DDT ), once used in agriculture as an insecticide, were found in sediment and amphipod tissue. DDT

2958-452: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13. In the city, the 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% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males. The median income for

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3016-585: Was a Republican . Ridge also served on the Glendale City Council and was mayor. He died in Glendale. Alexandria, Louisiana Alexandria is the ninth-largest city in the state of Louisiana and is the parish seat and largest city of Rapides Parish , Louisiana , United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is

3074-594: Was also home to the Cenla Derby Dames, a roller derby team that operates under the Women's Flat Track Derby Association . The Dames played their home games at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Established March 17, 1883, The Alexandria Town Talk is a daily newspaper for Alexandria-Pineville and the thirteen parishes which comprise central Louisiana. The newspaper was owned by the family of the late Jane Wilson Smith and Joe D. Smith, Jr. , until March 1996, when it

3132-536: 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. In 1942, Alexandria was the site of the Lee Street Riot, an incident of racial violence that occurred between mostly civilians and military police. Witnesses state that as many as 20 people may have been killed, however

3190-407: Was canceled in 2007. An annual barbecue festival launched in 2006, the festival was held on the levee near downtown Alexandria and was well known for its big-name entertainment. The event was cancelled in 2012 due to its high cost and the city deciding against continued support of $ 100,000 annually. The Alexandria Museum of Art was founded in 1977 and occupies an historic Rapides Bank Building on

3248-539: 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. That same year, Fulton

3306-773: Was sold to Central Newspapers. In August 2000, the Gannett Company acquired the Central Newspapers properties, including The Town Talk . The name of the paper on its inaugural issue was the Alexandria Daily Town Talk . Although it has since been shorted to the current The Town Talk , it is still frequently referred to by long-time residents as the Daily Town Talk . Alexandria is served by local television stations KALB-TV ( NBC / CBS / The CW ), WNTZ ( Fox ), KLAX-TV ( ABC ), KLPA ( PBS / LPB ), and KBCA ( Heroes & Icons ). KALB

3364-602: Was the then- U-14 Crossroads Pride soccer team, winning the 2012 Louisiana Soccer Association State Cup. Also run by Crossroads is Alexandria's first amateur soccer team, Central Louisiana FC (formerly called Pool Boys FC and Alexandria Pool Boys FC). They are a founding member of the Gulf Coast Premier League , playing their games at Johnny Downs Sports Complex and Louisiana Christian University 's Wildcat Stadium in neighboring Pineville. Central Louisiana FC runs both men's and women's amateur teams, as well as

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