The Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in centralLouisiana that covers two parishes – Rapides and Grant. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 152,192 (though a July 1, 2023 estimate placed the population at 148,171).[1]
History
The Alexandria metropolitan area was first defined in 1973. Then known as the Alexandria Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (Alexandria SMSA), it consisted of two parishes - Rapides and Grant - and had a population of 131,749.[2][3] By the census of 1980, the population had grown to 151,985, a 15% increase over the previous census.
In 1983, the official name was shortened to the Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area (Alexandria MSA), which is still in use to date.[4] That same year, Grant Parish was removed from the MSA, leaving only Rapides Parish. A total of 135,282 people lived in Rapides Parish in 1980.[3] That number had declined to 131,556 by 1990[3] and 126,337 in 2000.
Grant Parish was again added to the Alexandria MSA in 2003.[5]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 153,922 people, 56,193 households, and 40,083 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 68.95% White, 24.04% African American, 1.56% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.35% of the population.
The median income for a household in the MSA was $29,739, and the median income for a family was $35,775. Males had a median income of $30,505 versus $20,477 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $15,249.
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