Boyce, LA

Sitting along the Red River about 16 miles northwest of Alexandria, Boyce is a quiet, close-knit town of fewer than 900 residents in northern Rapides Parish. Life here moves at a relaxed pace, surrounded by bayous and riverbanks. While the town itself is small, its location along Highway 8 makes it an easy 20-minute drive into the Alexandria area for work, healthcare, and shopping. Local students attend nearby schools like Northwood High, and residents enjoy a calm, rural setting with easy access to city conveniences.

Originally known as Cotile Landing, the community started as a 19th-century steamboat stop along the river before expanding into a railroad hub. It was later renamed after Judge Henry Boyce, a local landowner who laid out the town in the 1880s and gave many of the streets the Irish names they still bear today. That background as a historic riverfront trade stop gives Boyce a distinct identity, making it an appealing choice for anyone looking for quiet central Louisiana living near the water.