Central, Louisiana

About Central

Set in the eastern part of Louisiana, Central is a thriving city with an estimated population of 30,161.

Officially, Central is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 62.26 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 484 residents per square mile.

📰 Central News Today

• LSU Economist predicts favorable conditions, job growth for Central Louisiana KALB | News Channel 5 · Oct 8
• October 9, 2026: Central Louisiana Daily Briefing Rapides Parish Journal · Oct 9
• Christmas Cheer Food Drive returns to Central Louisiana schools KCBD · Oct 6
• Christmas Cheer Food Drive returns to Central Louisiana schools FOX Carolina News · Oct 6
• LCU students serve Central Louisiana through SendLA The Town Talk · Oct 8

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

📰 Local News

Read the latest Louisiana headlines on our news site, Bless News Daily.

What Makes Central Unique

• A top-25 city in Louisiana by population (#11 of 304 incorporated places).
• One of 7 places in the US named Central — but the Louisiana one has a character all its own.
• Positioned in eastern Louisiana, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.

Why People Love It Here

• The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 30,161.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.

📍 Neighborhoods in Central

Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Central

• CC's Coffee House — coffee shop (café)
• Central Buffet — chinese
• Sammy's Grill — bar and grill
• Smooth Tropical Cafe
• Sweet Rice Thai Cuisine
• The Cottage Cafe and Tea Room (café)

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · click a restaurant to read or write reviews.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Central

• Greenwell Springs Park reviews ★
• Howard Park reviews ★
• Jackson Park reviews ★
• Yatasi Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Central

• Central Intermediate School
• Central Middle School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🌤️ Current Weather

Full forecast →

Source: National Weather Service

🗺️ Map of Central

🏘️ Nearby Communities