Alexandria, LA Metro Area
The Alexandria, LA metro area is made up of 2 parishes in Louisiana: Rapides and Grant. About 147,952 people lived there on July 1, 2025 (Census estimate), 2.8% fewer than in April 2020.
- Population, July 2025
- 147,952 2.8% fewer than in April 2020
- Type
- Metropolitan statistical area
- Parishes
- 2: 1 central, 1 outlying
- Land area
- 1,968 sq mi (5,097 km²)
- Time zone
- Central TimeUTC-06:00 in January; UTC-05:00 in July
- State
- Louisiana
- CBSA code
- 10780
Parishes in the Alexandria, LA metro area, largest first
| Parish | Role | Population, July 2025 | Share of the area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapides Parish | Central | 125,877 | 85.1% |
| Grant Parish | Outlying | 22,075 | 14.9% |
A central parish holds the area’s core, an urban area of at least 50,000 people. An outlying parish is in the area because of commuting: at least a quarter of its workers have jobs in the central parish, or at least a quarter of the people working there live in them. A parish belongs to one metro or micro area at most, and it counts whole, countryside included.
Principal city
- Alexandria44,060 people
OMB names the area after its largest principal cities. A principal city is the area’s largest city, plus any other city that is very large or a big job center, and smaller ones with at least as many jobs as working residents (2020 Census and commuting figures). People counts are American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates.
Bordering metro and micro areas, nearest first
Areas with a parish on this area’s edge. Distances are straight lines between the areas’ largest cities.
- Natchitoches, LA Micro Area48 mi northwest
Before using this answer on a form
A metro or micro area is a statistical area that OMB draws for federal statistics. It is not a city, a local government or a mailing address, and it is not a measure of urban and rural: whole counties count, rural parts included. Programs that use metro areas, such as housing income limits or wage rates, can use their own version of these lists; check the program’s own list for an address.
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