Greater Alexandria | |
---|---|
Alexandria, Louisiana metropolitan area | |
Country | United States |
State | Louisiana |
Parishes |
Grant Rapides |
Population (
2020) | |
• Total | 152,192 |
• Estimate (2022) | 149,189 |
• Rank | US: 289th |
Website | http://cityofalexandriala.com/ |
The Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in central Louisiana that covers two parishes – Rapides and Grant. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 145,035 (though a July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 154,101). [1]
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.