The Crossroads - Where It All Comes Together

Central Louisiana has become known as "The Crossroads", a place where all of Louisiana comes together - from culture to food to music.

The eight parish area embraces the influence of the French, Spanish, Czechs, Germans, Native Americans, Africans and Anglos which settled here.

Rich in history, the Alexandria area is second to New Orleans for the number of places listed on the National Historic Register. Before and during World War II, The Hotel Bentley (c.1908) in Alexandria, because of its proximity to Fort Polk (then Camp Polk), Camp Beauregard, and Camp Claiborne, served as host for military strategists such as Major General George Patton, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Bradley, Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lieutenant Henry Kissenger. 

Like many parts of the South, Central Louisiana grew up with strong ties to agriculture. Today, cotton, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, corn and soybeans are among the crops being farmed.

Quiet towns, open spaces and affordable housing attract people of all ages to Central Louisiana. CLECO, Procter and Gamble, Plastipak, Calvary Industries, International Paper and StarTek are just a few of the corporations that have established large facilities in the area  because of our family friendly atmosphere.

Surrounded by the Kisatchie National Forest, bikers, hikers, hunters and nature observers find themselves in heaven. Cane River Lake, in Natchitoches Parish, offers largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, redear and catfish. Iatt Lake in Grant Parish, a 7,100-acre lake surrounded by home sites and camps, offers crappie, redear, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Kincaid Lake and Cotile Lake in Rapides Parish also offer plenty of boating and fishing opportunities.

Northwestern State University is a member of the Southland Conference and offers a variety of collegiate sporting action including football, basketball, baseball, softball and track and field. Louisiana College in Pineville also offers sporting action through its football, basketball and baseball programs. Of course, many Central Louisianans travel to Baton Rouge for LSU football and to New Orleans for Saints games.

Perhaps one of the area's biggest attractions is its central location. Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas and all of Louisiana are easily accessible to the area. The addition of Interstate 49 and four-laning of highways 165 and 167 have helped to ease the flow of traffic through Central Louisiana. Work on four-laning Highway 28 continues and once completed the route through Louisiana will become part of the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway connecting Interstate 55 in Brookhaven, Mississippi to Interstate 45 in Huntsville, Texas.

Alexandria International Airport serves as the aviation hub for the area. Located at the former England Air Force Base, the airport is served by Continental Airlines, ASA Delta Airlines and Northwest AirLink with connections through Houston, Memphis and Atlanta. 

Central Louisiana Mileage Chart