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Central Louisiana
Region
Cenla
Alexandria
Alexandria
The Central Louisiana region is shaded in green.
The Central Louisiana region is shaded in green.
Country United States
State Louisiana
Largest city Alexandria

Central Louisiana (in French: Centre du Louisiane), also known as the Crossroads, is an important region in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It's called the Crossroads because it's located right in the middle of the state.

This area is full of different landscapes and cultures. You can find wide prairies, pine forests in the Louisiana Central Hill Country, small swamplands, and forests with trees that lose their leaves. Clear streams with sandy bottoms and large rivers that carry goods on boats are also part of this region.

The biggest towns in Central Louisiana, based on the 2010 Census, were:

Major City Areas

Central Louisiana has different ways of grouping its cities and towns for population studies. These groups are called statistical areas.

  • The Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area includes the parishes of Rapides and Grant.
  • The Fort Polk South-DeRidder Combined Statistical Area is a larger group that includes:
    • The Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area (Vernon Parish)
    • The DeRidder Micropolitan Statistical Area (Beauregard Parish)
  • The Natchez, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area includes Concordia Parish in Louisiana and Adams County in Mississippi.
  • The Natchitoches Micropolitan Statistical Area covers Natchitoches Parish.

Understanding the Region

The main economic area in Central Louisiana is called Kisatchie-Delta. This region is like the Sixth State Planning District for Louisiana. It's bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Sabine River to the west. The Red River flows through it, joining other rivers.

This area is mostly rural, meaning it has many small towns and open spaces. However, it also has a central urban area with two main cities, Alexandria and Pineville, right in the middle of Louisiana. The climate here is good for farming, allowing crops like cotton and sugarcane to grow well.

How the Region Formed

The "Crossroads" idea started in the 1800s when people moved west across the country. This region is part of the Louisiana Colonial Trails Scenic Byways. These trails include the historic El-Camino Real East-West Corridor.

Many groups work together to celebrate the "crossroads of cultures" in Central Louisiana. These groups include:

  • The Alexandria-Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • The Avoyelles Commission on Tourism
  • The Vernon Parish Tourism
  • The Kisatchie-Delta Regional Planning & Development District
  • The Kent House
  • The Louisiana Political Museum in Winnfield

The region generally includes these parishes: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn. Sometimes, Allen or Natchitoches Parish are also included, and less often, Beauregard Parish.

Economic Growth and History

The history of this region is shaped by its location as a crossroads and its early transportation routes. The economy grew from its natural resources, like pine forests and river deltas (from the Mississippi, Red, and Sabine Rivers). This led to strong farming and timber industries.

Over time, Central Louisiana became a hub for public activities and services. This includes:

  • AEX (Alexandria International Airport)
  • Ports at Central Louisiana Regional Port (Alexandria), Vidalia, and Simmesport
  • Military history and government activities, such as former Fort Polk, the historic England Air Force Base (now closed), Camp Claiborne, and former Camp Beauregard.

These activities helped create many jobs in education and healthcare. The former England Air Force Base was turned into the England Air Park. This park helps bring new businesses and industries to the area. It also works with the Central Louisiana Regional Port.

The region also has several colleges and universities:

  • Louisiana State University at Alexandria
  • Central Louisiana Technical and Community College
  • A campus of Northwestern State University at England Airpark
  • Louisiana Christian University in Pineville

Parishes of Central Louisiana

Central Louisiana is made up of 10 parishes. A parish in Louisiana is like a county in other states. Here are the parishes and their populations (from July 2022):

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