Alexandria: North or South La? (Shreveport, Natchitoches: live in, association, pine)

[Rmaf623]

Do you see Alexandria as more a part of North Louisiana or South Louisiana?
I've heard some consider Alexandria to be North Louisiana, but I see it as having characteristics of both. Alexandria is majority Protestant but also has a large Catholic population. There are also many Cajuns, many of which came from Avoyelles Parish. Geographically, Alexandria is similar to South Louisiana with its flat, sometimes swampy landscape and bayous. Pineville, on the other hand, has a North Louisiana landscape with hills and pine trees.

[hdwell]

I've never really been able to tell which region it belongs. I guess that is why you have central La or cenla as some call it. Sure enough, there are Cajuns there unlike most of NLa but all those Pentecostal type faiths and being headquarters for the La Baptist Association kind of make it like NLa. I guess we can really say it is the cross roads of La.

[beau99]

I agree. I live in Shreveport, but have never considered Alexandria to be South Louisiana for many reasons. I also agree that all those Pentecostals DEFINITELY separate it from South Louisiana! I've been to Alexandria many times, and I've found the people there to be rather peculiar...even rude. Nothing like South Louisiana...or really even Shreveport, for that matter.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by beau99

I agree. I live in Shreveport, but have never considered Alexandria to be South Louisiana for many reasons. I also agree that all those Pentecostals DEFINITELY separate it from South Louisiana! I've been to Alexandria many times, and I've found the people there to be rather peculiar...even rude. Nothing like South Louisiana...or really even Shreveport, for that matter.

More North than South (even though they say they're in "Cenla.") To me, "South Louisiana" (if you're going south on I-49) starts after the Meeker exit and you start to see swampland on either side of the Interstate.

[Rmaf623]

To me, Alexandria is more North than South Louisiana, but I wouldn't include it in North Louisiana. There is a considerably larger percentage of Catholics in the Alexandria area than points further north (except for Natchitoches which also has a significant Catholic population). I guess that Central Louisiana or Cenla is the best label.

Two surprising groups that you have in the Alexandria area are the Belgians and the Czechs. The Belgians settled to the west of town along Bayou Rapides. Many still live in and farm this area, but many now live in Alexandria. The Czechs settled east of Pineville around the settlements of Kolin and Libuse. They hold a yearly Czech festival in this area.

[Rmaf623]

Originally Posted by beau99

I agree. I live in Shreveport, but have never considered Alexandria to be South Louisiana for many reasons. I also agree that all those Pentecostals DEFINITELY separate it from South Louisiana! I've been to Alexandria many times, and I've found the people there to be rather peculiar...even rude. Nothing like South Louisiana...or really even Shreveport, for that matter.

I agree that there are some rude people in Alexandria, but in my opinion people are friendly here as a whole.

[kinpatsu]

A north Louisianian told me that Alexandria is the Mason-Dixon line of Louisiana. There's a mix of both cultures-- you can find both Cajun and Anglo last names there.

[Innotech]

I would consider Alexandria to be N Louisiana after visiting there.
I think S Louisiana ends around Lecompte.

Also, interesting you should mention Czech's. I always wondered why my coworker had such an odd ethnicity as Czech. now I know. He is from Port Barre by the way.

[SacalaitWhisperer]

"Aleck" is located in Mississippi or Texas. It is merely a mistake that the claim it is LA.

It is near the Mamou - Dixon line.

[LSU Tiger Z71]

Originally Posted by SacalaitWhisperer

"Aleck" is located in Mississippi or Texas. It is merely a mistake that the claim it is LA.

It is near the Mamou - Dixon line.

Can you explain this in detail?