Located at the center of Louisiana, Rapides is one of the largest parishes in Louisiana.

The area was inhabited by native Americans many years before the French arrived in the early 1700's. The area was named after a limestone ridge across the Red River which bisects the parish. This ridge is now beneath the Red River just below the US 71 bridge.

Sitting on the banks of the Red River, the parish sits on fertile land which has produced cotton for many years. Located in the center of the state, it is a railroad hub. It was the home to England Air Force Base (now closed) and the Claiborne Bombing range, a part of the Kisatchie National Forest.

For more information about Rapides Parish, see http://www.louisianatravel.com/rapides-parish