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. 

Description
The County was named for the local river rapids. The County has Alexandria as its seat and the County was created 1807. The County is located in the central area of the state.

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.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Neighboring Parishes or Counties

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

African American

 * Louisiana African American Griots Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county

Bible Records

 * Index to Rapides Parish Bible Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Biographies

 * Rapides Parish Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Rapides Parish Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index to Rapides Parish Family Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Louisiana Pioneers of Rapides Parish (USGenWeb Archives)

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Rapides Parish cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Louisiana cemetery records by Parish.
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county

Census

 * Rapides Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Census Images Project)

Church

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana, by city (Church Angel)
 * Rapides Parish Church Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Court

 * Index to Rapides Parish Court Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Land

 * Rapides Parish Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * Louisiana Museums
 * Rapides Parish History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps

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

Military

 * Rapides Parish Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 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 I

 * 1917-1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel, Rapides Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List, listing by name/parish (USNPL)
 * Louisiana Newspaper listing (Newslink)


 * Rapides Parish Newspaper Clippings (USGenWeb Archives)

Obituaries

 * Index to Rapides Parish Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Rapides Parish Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Probate
Louisiana Probate Records

Online Probate Records
 * 1756-1984 - Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * Rapides Parish Estate Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Schools

 * Rapides Parish School Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Taxation

 * 1885 - Rapides Parish Delinquent Tax Notices (USGenWeb Archives)

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.
 * Rapides Parish Marriages (Linkpendium)
 * Index to Rapides Parish Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Louisiana Death Records of Rapides Parish

Societies and Libraries

 * Louisiana Czech Heritage Association 14 Locker Road Deville, LA 71328-9318
 * Central Louisiana Genealogical Society PO Box 12206 Alexandria, LA 71315-2206 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Society Website
 * Louisiana Historical Association Website

Family History Centers

 * Alexandria Louisiana Family History Center

Websites

 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Rapides Parish (LAGenWeb)
 * Rapides Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Rapides Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Rapides Parish, Louisiana, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Rapides Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Rapides Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)