The 1870 census was the first periodic population enumeration to identify all African Americans who lived in Louisiana and in other former slave-holding states by their full names. The census also provides information about age, sex, color, occupation and place of birth. This book omits people other than mulatto or black, except for those few whites who had African Americans in their families. Names of white heads of household could help researchers identify ancestors. The author studies the region in central Louisiana called Rapides Parish, which has grown steadily into a major trading, commercial and agricultural center. This work gives insight into the geography, the population districts, and the major city and government seat, Alexandria.