Alexandria - Louisiana Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

ALEXANDRIA

Unnamed during the colonial period, Alexandria's beginnings as the major city in Central Louisiana are traced to ca. 1797, when the "seat of justice" for Rapides Post was transferred from the north to the south bank of Red River. By 1799, the greater percentage of the population was located here. Growth was rapid, spurred by the introduction of the cotton gin in 1800, by Alexander Fulton. Within two years, Fulton had begun clearing land, opening roads and, in 1805, Frederick Walther, Fulton's surveyor, laid out the "Town of Alexandria". The plat contained eighty square blocks between present-day Jackson Street, Tenth Street, Overton Street and the river, surrounding a public square. Tradition holds that the town's name honored a young Fulton daughter. Following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, Alexandria became the seat of justice when an act creating Rapides Country became law on April 10, 1805. Trade, business and agriculture gained greatly with the advent of steamboat service.

In 1818, the State Legislature granted Alexandria a charter. Because of the rapids immediately to the north, the town was the head of navigation for Red River from July to January. This created growth as a shipping point, with such institutions as newspapers (1810), semi-public schools (1818), banks (1824), being founded.

During the decades preceding the Civil War, Alexandria became the most important trade and social center for the plantation system in Central Louisiana. As a result of agricultural activity, the first railroad west of the Mississippi was constructed in 1837, by Ralph Smith-Smith with the depot located at Courthouse Square.

Alexandria was the focus of military activity in Louisiana during the last two years of the Civil War. The town was designated Headquarters for the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department by order of Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith on March 7, 1863. Two months later, Alexandria was briefly occupied by a raiding Union force under the command of General Nathaniel P. Banks supported by naval forces under Admiral David D. Porter.

A second invasion of the Red River valley in April, 1864, by the Union under the same officers was repelled by Confederate forces under the command f General Richard Taylor. In their retreat, Union troops burned Alexandria, destroying all courthouse and municipal records; the date was Friday, May 13, 1864.

ERECTED BY CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, 1986

Marker Name: Alexandria Marker Type: Monument What does marker relate to?: City/Parish/State Year Erected or Date Dedicated: 01/01/1986 Parish: Rapides Link to more information:: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please describe your visit to the marker location.

A photo is not required to log this cache but is encouraged, if possible.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   05/23/2009 sfwife visited it

View all visits/logs