The area on the banks of the Red River that is now Alexandria, Louisiana was at one time the location of a settlement that supported the activities of their neighboring Spanish outpost, Post du Rapides. The settlement had always had a reputation of being vibrant, even debauched and consisted largely of traders and merchants. It was located in an agricultural area south of the largely unpopulated areas to the north and provided a source of linking the El Camino Real (the King’s Highway) to the city of Natchitoches.

In the 1720s the French built a fort here.

In 1762, through the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Spain accepted control of Louisiana from France. It would not be until May 20, 1770 that Spain officially took full control of it.

On July 4, 1776, the United States declares itself an independent nation. The war with Great Britian was over unfair taxes levied against the colonists.

In 1778, France, in an alliance with the U.S, declared war against Great Britian. The U.S. was victorious in its revolution.

In 1785, Spain gave a land grant to Pennsylvania businessman Alexander Fulton.

In 1800, through the Treaty of San Ildefonso, the Spanish surrendered control of Louisiana to France.

During the 1800s, battles between the local Native Americans and Anglos occurred in the region. In time, most of the Native Americans were forced from their homelands.

At some point around 1800 rapids blocking the flow of the Red River were removed, making the river navigable in the Alexander area. Starting about 1800, products for the residents were shipped through the Port of Alexandria, while shipments of crops, usually cotton, were exported. A ferry connected Alexandria with Pineville, located across the river. The town was doing a booming shipping business.

In 1803, through the Louisiana Purchase, Louisiana became a property of the United States.

In 1805, Fulton and his business partner laid out the town and it was named after Alexander Fulton. This was to be the first organized settlement in the area. It was incorporated as a town in 1818 and prospered; it received its city charter in 1832.

In 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the Union. The War of 1812 was fought between 1812 and 1815 between the United States and England.

The US Civil War began in the spring of 1861. On May 4, 1863, Union Forces, under the command of General Banks took control of Alexandria with little or no resistance. Buildings were torn down and the construction materials were used to block the Red River to assure that it could not facilitate shipping traffic. In 1864, the Union Army burned Alexandria then left it.

After the Civil War ended, the obstructions were removed from the river and Alexandria was growing again.

In September of 1868, Alexandria was granted a new city charter with a government consisting of a Mayor, Treasurer, and Justice of the Peace.

By 1905, the timber business was more lucrative than the cotton business and Alexandria grew from that also. From 1905 to 1910 were very productive times for Alexandria. Mansions were built and large ornate government buildings were constructed. Along Bolton Avenue were buildings like City Hall, the Bentley Hotel, the Alexandria Library and the Jewish Temple. Bolton Avenue also had huge homes like the Cook, Albert and Lisso among many others.

In 1942 the U.S. Army Air Force established Alexandria Army Air Base for the purpose of training B-17 crews. Following the war, it was placed on inactive status until 1953 when the U.S. Air Force re-opened it and renamed it Alexander Air Force Base. On June 23, 1955 it was renamed England Air Force Base in honor of war hero, Lt. Colonel John England. The base remained in use until 1992.