Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Rapides Parish, LA

Welcome to Rapides Parish.

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Rapides Parish has a population of 129.5 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 1,361.5 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 21%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $6.9 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Rapides Parish voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Rapides Parish comprises Alexandria, LA metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Alexandria.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Allen Parish, Avoyelles Parish, Evangeline Parish, Grant Parish, La Salle Parish, Natchitoches Parish, and Vernon Parish.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
38.55%58.81%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
34.96%63.79%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
34.99%63.65%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
34.55%64.1%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
32.23%64.77%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
33.08%65.14%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%21%
Government
Enterprises
17%14%
Private Industries83%22%
Agriculture2%143%
Mining<1%39%
Utilities5%35%
Construction5%18%
Manufacturing9%29%
– Durable5%41%
– Nondurable3%13%
Trade16%33%
– Wholesale5%45%
– Retail12%28%
Transportation3%30%
Information1%11%
Finance & Insurance4%4%
Real Estate10%12%
Professional &
Business Services
8%15%
Educational Services1%17%
Healthcare &
Social Services
14%13%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
<1%42%
Accommodation &
Food Services
3%23%
Other Services23%17%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers2556
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
2249
📺 Electronics & Appliance1243
🛒 Grocery Stores4368
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores722
⚕️ Health & Personal Care5872
⛽ Gasoline Stations9177
👕 Clothing Stores3760
👠 Shoe Stores1136
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry1136
🏸 Sporting Goods1137
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores4471
💐 Florists621
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops516
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 38
🍺 Bars & Taverns1442
🍽️ Full-service restaurants6562
🍔 Limited-service restaurants11170
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers2749
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation2354
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%122%$333,300 N/A
Top 20%52%$197,000 $199,600
Next highest 20%24%$91,500 $117,500
Middle 20%14%$53,700 $67,400
Second lowest 20%7%$27,700 $39,600
Bottom 20%2%Below $10,000$14,800
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries66%$75,800
Self-Employment8%$32,300
Investment Income115%$56,600
Social Security38%$18,000
Supplemental Security6%$13,400
Public AssistanceLess than 1%Below $10,000
Retirement25%$21,000
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%6%8%8%
$25K
– $49K
1%6%7%8%
$50K
– $99K
<1%10%10%8%
$100K
– $199K
1%7%9%4%
$200K
& more
<1%2%3%1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$55,000 $35,800
African-American$40,500 $23,300
Hispanic$26,700
Asian$19,300
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$44,900 $18,200
Highschool & GED$60,400 $20,700
Some College to
Associate’s
$44,700 $36,100
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$94,100 $48,100
Graduate Degree$84,500 $55,500
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$82,400 $53,000
STEM2$81,700 $55,600
Gray-Collar3$61,400 $20,300
Pink-Collar4$37,100 Below $10,000
Sales5$46,900 Below $10,000
Blue-Collar6$41,700 $24,200
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves$
Drought++$
Earthquake+$
Hail+
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane+++$
Ice Storm++$
Landslide+
Lightning++$
Riverine Flooding+++$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+$
Winter Weather+
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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ZIP Codes in Rapides Parish