Alexandria, LA Colleges and Universities: Colleges in Historic Louisiana

While New Orleans might be the first place people think of, the city of Alexandria, Louisiana has a rich history and diverse culture all its own. It's second only to New Orleans in the number of places listed on the National Historic Register, including civil war battle sites and the historic Hotel Bentley.

Fort Polk, former home to notable military figures General Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Henry Kissinger, has become the USA's premier military training facility. It's currently slated for $250 million in construction to transform it into an Urban Warfare Center. Along with Fort Polk, some of the top employers around Alexandria include:

• Procter & Gamble
• International Paper
• Dresser Industries
• Boise Cascade
• StarTek USA
• Union Tank Car Company

New employers continue to migrate to the area, attracted by the affordable housing and low cost of living--23% lower than the national average. In fact, an extra 13,000 people commute into Alexandria each day for its abundant job opportunities, with healthcare as the predominant industry. For most of those who live in Alexandria itself, however, the daily commute is only about 15 minutes.

Alexandria's industry doesn't detract from its beauty or that of central Louisiana, home to the Kisatchie National Forest. You can also find one of the oldest surviving plantations here, called Kent House. Finally, you wouldn't want to miss Alexandria's own Mardi Gras, with an attendance of over 100,000 to view the 22 floats and 14 Mardi Gras Krewes.

Sources:

• Sperling's Best Places, Alexandria, LA
• Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
• City Data, Alexandria, Louisiana
• City of Alexandria