Alexandria sits in the heart of Central Louisiana, between the Cajun and Creole cultures of South Louisiana and the rural lifestyle of North Louisiana. In fact, because north-south travelers so often pass through it, Alexandria has been dubbed the “crossroads of Louisiana.” Among multigeneration residents, locals can tell if someone is new to the area based on how they pronounce the city’s nickname, Alex. “We say it ‘Ellic,’” says lifelong resident Danny Lair, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Cenla Partners. Though the city population has declined since 2010, Alexandria’s 45,000 residents are still proud of the city's highly rated schools and many community events.
Acadian Village rest's on the northern side of Alexandria.
Shirley Park is one Alexandira's most affordable neighborhoods.
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Museums and events, like the Alex River Fete
Downtown Alexandria takes pride in its many museums and cultural events. The Alexandria Museum of Art features rotating exhibitions, mainly from the museum’s sizable collection, while the Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center, three blocks away, hosts concerts and dance performances.
Meanwhile, events like Alex River Fete and Alex Winter Fete draw visitors to the city center. Alex River Fete takes over a spring weekend, while the Winter Fete features holiday activities each December. “The city events are diverse,” Lair says. “Alexandria and Pineville are pretty much sister cities, so you get a lot of people that come over for the River Fete and Winter Fete.” The city also hosts Mardi Gras festivities, including the Krewes Parade, which draws roughly 150,000 attendees.
Four Leaf Village residents can engage with culture at the Alexandria Art Museum.
Wilshire Park residents can catch a performance at the Coughlin-Saunders Performance Center.
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Highly rated Rapides Parish Schools
The Rapides Parish Schools system serves Alexandria. The district receives an A-minus grade from Niche, which ranks it third for best teachers in Louisiana. Students can also apply to attend any of the five magnet schools in the system. Alexandria has several private school options as well, including A-plus-rated Alexandria Country Day School. Louisiana State University of Alexandria, just south of the city, enrolls over 5,000 students.
Bolton High School is a great school for Garden District locals.
Peabody Magnet High School is one of the largest in the Airview Terrace area.
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Red River city in Cenla
Alexandria — along with Pineville, its smaller sister city across the Red River — is the epicenter of Central Louisiana, or Cenla, where manufacturing and agriculture are the main industries. Interstate 49 runs straight through downtown and heads roughly 90 miles south to Lafayette. Shreveport is 125 miles northwest, the state capital of Baton Rouge is 115 miles, and New Orleans is about 180. Alexandria International Airport offers commercial flights to Atlanta and Dallas.
Suburban neighborhoods throughout Alexandria
The median home price in Alexandria is $207,000, about half the national median of $406,100 and comparable to Pineville, its smaller neighbor across the Red River. Downtown doesn’t have much housing, but neighborhoods closer to the city core, like Sonia Quarters, often feature cottages and bungalows, while Craftsman-style homes in the Garden District contribute to its historic designation. Suburban neighborhoods mostly offer brick ranch homes, while Acadian-style houses make up the top end of the market in the Lakes District.
Tennyson Oaks homes often sit on larger lots with lots of room for growth.
Some Sonia Quarters homes have screened in front porches.
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Alexandria's epicenter of recreation around City Park
Recreation in Alexandria centers on City Park, which offers a playground and a large picnic pavilion. The nine-hole Bringhurst Golf Course sits adjacent to City Park, while the Alexandria Zoological Park, on the other side of the golf course, is home to over 160 species. The City Park Trail follows Hynson Bayou along the north side of the park complex. The Red River levee also has parks and trails, plus a sports facility at the Johnny Downs Sports Complex.
Residents of West Pointe can enjoy some fun in the sun at the Alexandria Tennis Complex.
Compton Park is a nice place to spend the afternoon in Wilshire Park.
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Alexandria Mall and other shopping centers off MacArthur Drive
Downtown Alexandria has several restaurants and shops along the Red River, including local favorites like the Diamond Grill. However, much of the city’s commercial activity happens farther away from the city center. The Alexandria Mall is thriving with over 50 stores. Meanwhile, shopping centers flank MacArthur Drive, offering big-box stores and supermarkets.
Sonia Quarters is only a short drive from the Alexandria Mall.
Koal's BBQ features southern flavored smoked meats.
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Crime levels and flood risk
According to FBI data, violent crime and property crime rates in Alexandria are higher than national and state figures. The violent crime rate is stable, while property crime rates have slowly fallen over the past five years. “Every city has their level of crime problems, but we don’t have too much here,” Lair says. “It’s a nice area.”
Alexandria experiences hot summers and mild winters. Hurricanes and tropical storms can bring heavy rain and gusty winds. Parts of the city are in FEMA-designated flood zones, and property owners may be required to purchase flood insurance.
In 2019, Candace obtained her Broker’s license, where for the next 3 years she worked as an Associate Broker in a local real estate office. She managed the daily operations of brokerage and approximately 20 agents. In 2022, her dream became a reality and Cypress Realty of Louisiana was opened! Candace and her family are local residents, but service the entire Cenla area. We look forward to working with you at Cypress Realty of Louisiana to make your dream come true!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
