Rapides County

Rapides Parish, Louisiana, has a population of approximately 130,000 people. The racial composition is about 64% White, 32% Black or African American, 1% Asian, and roughly 2% of other races, with about 2% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The median age is around 37 years. The median household income is approximately $42,000, and the poverty rate is about 22%. Educational attainment shows that roughly 83% of adults have a high school diploma or higher, and about 19% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Rapides Parish, LA (not officially Rapides County) housing details: median home value is approximately $148,000. Median rent is around $850 per month. Homeownership rate is 66.7%. Housing units total about 54,800, with a vacancy rate of 14.1%. The median household income is $45,800. Property taxes average $710 per year. Note that these figures can fluctuate annually.

Rapides Parish in Louisiana oversees various local and state elections. As of the 2023 election cycle, the following key positions are contested:

1. Sheriff:

   • Mark Wood (Incumbent)
   • Candidate B
   • Candidate C

2. Police Jury (City Council):

   • District 1: Candidate A vs. Candidate B
   • District 2: Candidate C vs. Candidate D

3. School Board Members: Numerous candidates across different districts.

4. Louisiana State Elections:

   • Governor: John Bel Edwards (Democrat, Incumbent) vs. Candidate B (Republican)
   • Senate: Seat not up for re-election in 2023.

Significant numerical values (e.g., voter turnout, exact result percentages) are generally available post-election from the Rapides Parish Clerk or Secretary of State's office. Voter turnout in the previous cycles hovered around 55-65%. This summary should provide a snapshot but exact candidates and districts may vary, so always verify closer to the election date.

Rapides Parish, Louisiana, has notable education statistics. Approximately 85% of residents aged 25 and older have completed high school, which is slightly below the national average of 88%. About 20% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 33% and the Louisiana average of around 23%. While literacy rates and post-secondary educational attainment in Rapides are lower than the national and state averages, efforts are ongoing to improve educational outcomes through local initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing access to quality education.

Rapides Parish (commonly referred to as Rapides County) in Louisiana has seen diverse employment distribution. As of the most recent data:

• Total Labor Force: Approximately 61,000 individuals.
• Unemployment Rate: Around 6%, slightly higher than the national average of 5.2% but aligning closely with Louisiana's overall average.

Top Industries:

1. Healthcare and Social Assistance: Employs about 25% of the workforce, higher than the national average due to the presence of large healthcare facilities.
2. Retail Trade: Represents 14%, slightly above the national average of 12%.
3. Educational Services: Accounts for 9%, in line with national averages.
4. Manufacturing: Employs around 8%, comparable to the state and slightly below the national average.

Rapides Parish's employment sector is heavily influenced by healthcare and retail, reflecting local economic demands and infrastructure. This contrasts with more industrial-heavy regions nationally, but aligns closely with Louisiana’s employment patterns.

Rapides Parish, located in Louisiana, has an average household income of approximately $48,500 per year, according to recent data. This is significantly lower than both the national and state averages. For comparison, the national average household income is around $68,700, while Louisiana's state average household income is approximately $51,800.

The disparity between Rapides Parish and the national average highlights potential economic challenges in the area as well as differences within the state of Louisiana itself.

As of the most recent data, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, has a crime rate of approximately 5,804 incidents per 100,000 residents annually. The crime rate is higher than the national average. Below is a table summarizing some key crime statistics for Rapides Parish:

These values illustrate that property crimes, particularly larceny-theft, are significantly more common than violent crimes.