Rapides Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to Rapides Parish, Louisiana ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Parish Courthouse
Rapides Parish Courthouse 700 Murray Street; PO Box 952; Alexandria, LA 71301 Phone: 318.473.8153 Parish Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1864.

Parent Parish
1805--Rapides Parish was created 10 April 1805 as an original parish. Parish seat: Alexandria

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Louisiana Parish boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Louisiana Parish Boundary Maps" (1805-1990) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1864 The courthouse burned on May 13, destroying many records.

Neighboring Parishes or Counties



 * Allen
 * Avoyelles
 * Evangeline
 * Grant
 * LaSalle
 * Natchitoches
 * Vernon

African American

 * Louisiana African American Griots Project ~  USGenWeb Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy

Cemeteries

 * LA Tombstone Transcription Project ~  partial records and photos  ~  USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Interment.net ~ LA cemetery records by county
 * African American Cemeteries ~  listing by county
 * FindaGrave.com ~  cemetery records with search by cemetery, by surname
 * Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Pineville BillionGraves

Census

 * Louisiana Census Images  ~  USGenWeb Census Images Project

Church

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana ~  by city  ~  Church Angel

Local Histories
Louisiana Museums

Maps

 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * USGW Digital Map Collection ~  USGenWeb Project

Military

 * Louisiana Military History Online

War of 1812

 * Raymond, Charles E, Rapides Parish Pensioners in the War of 1812, (New Orleans: Polyanthos c1977)..

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1898-1950 - at FamilySearch — images
 * - 1st Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry (Confederate), Company D
 * - 2nd Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry (Confederate), Company G

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List ~  listing by name/parish  ~  USNPL
 * Louisiana Newspaper ~ listing  ~  Newslink

Probate
Louisiana Probate Records ~  information on.

Online Probate Records
 * 1756 – 1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry.com Ancestry.com — index and images $

Vital Records
Louisiana Records and Statistics Information ~ where and how to order information.

Marriage

 * 1837–1957 -  at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1861-1885 - Rapides Parish Marriage Index 1861-1885. Included in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Societies and Libraries
Louisiana Czech Heritage Association 14 Locker Road Deville 71328-9318

Central Louisiana Genealogical Society PO Box 12206 Alexandria, LA 71315-2206 Website

See also a List of Louisiana Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies


 * Louisiana Historical Society
 * Louisiana Historical Association

Family History Centers

 * Alexandria Louisiana Family History Center

Websites

 * Rapides Parish, LA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * LAGenWeb -  Louisiana State Records
 * USGenWeb ~  Records, Maps, Archives and Other Projects
 * Rapides Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Rapides Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)