BEAUREGARD PARISH
Parish Offices
201 West First Street
DeRidder 337-463-7019
Chamber of Commerce
111 N. Washington Street
DeRidder 337-463-5533
http://www.beauchamber.org
Served by U.S. Highways 171 and 190 along with Louisiana Highways 12, 26, and 27, rural Beauregard Parish provides the finest in country living in the fertile upland section known as the Highlands. Agribusiness has long been the mainstay of the local economy, including forestry, sawmills, paper mills, nurseries, feed and seed operations, tractor and equipment dealers, cattle and dairy farms, and produce. Friendly, locally owned businesses add to the quality of life while access to expanded urban amenities and resources in the City of Alexandria add opportunities for cultural enrichment, upscale shopping, and first-rate entertainment.
Services
In spite of its rural character, the parish has been home to a community hospital that opened in 1950. Today, Beauregard Memorial Hospital serves the healthcare needs to a regional rural population including residents of Vernon Parish. Community-owned and not-for-profit, BMH is dedicated to providing quality, cost effective care in its 64-bed acute-care facility in DeRidder, where patients have the advantage of the latest technology in a warm, personalized atmosphere. The slogan of BMH summarizes that philosophy as “World-Class Technology, Family Friendly Care.” Recognized as a Top Performer by the Voluntary Hospitals of America Hospital Engagement Network, Beauregard Memorial offers a long list of general and specialized services that include emergency and intensive care, advanced imaging, cardiac rehab, heart catheterization and special procedures, chemotherapy, dietary and nutrition, same-day surgery, wound care and pediatrics. BMH supports health and wellness in proactive ways, providing a fitness center and education programs for patients and the community. Should the need arise for highly advanced care, Alexandria is home to regional healthcare institutions including the 241-bed Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and the 325-bed Rapides Regional Medical Center. The latter provides a Level II Trauma Center, a Certified Stroke Center, and the only accredited Cycle III Chest Pain Center in Central Louisiana.
Educational opportunities begin with a strong network of public and private schools from preschool through high school. The main campus for Northwestern State is located in Natchitoches, approximately 90 minutes from Beauregard Parish. Even closer to home, NSU provides an auxiliary campus in the Leesville/Fort Polk area of Highway 467 that collaborates with major employers to provide relevant training for immediate, real-world careers. The center covers 160 acres and offers 30,000 square feet of classroom and administrative space, serving residents of Vernon, Beauregard and Sabine parishes as well as Fort Polk’s military community. Along with degrees that transfer to four-year programs, students at NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk students can earn bachelor degrees in nursing, criminal justice, psychology and general studies. The Alexandria campus of Central Louisiana Technical Community College is another resource for first-rate career training or an affordable path to a four-year degree. One of the finest choices for moving up the academic ladder is nearby at Louisiana State University-Alexandria, ranked in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges in National Liberal Arts Colleges. Covering 2,000 acres, the university serves more than 2,400 undergraduates on its picturesque rural campus with hands-on learning experiences and the advantage of personalized guidance from highly qualified professors.
Lifestyle
The living is easy in rural Beauregard Parish, a place where small, close-knit communities harmonize with open landscapes brimming over with country pleasures. Local farmers produce an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as canned goods, all of which are displayed in colorful roadside stands or at the popular Farmer’s Market in DeRidder. The area’s proud agricultural legacy is never more enthusiastically celebrated than at the famous Watermelon Festival, filling three days with great food, family fun, live entertainment, unique displays, a car and truck snow, carnival rides, and a seed-spitting contest. The calendar is always filled with festivals and celebrations that include unique events like DeRidder Lions Club Annual Pro Rodeo, Wings & Wheels Fly In-Drive In, Ragley Heritage & Timber Festival, and Treasure Fest—a bargain-hunters dream. La Cuisine De Beauregard invites locals and visitors alike to experience authentic Louisiana heritage, while Christmas in the Park creates a wonderland where thousands of twinkling lights illumine snow village and Santa’s workshop.
Beauregard Parish is an area where the land and people have always been closely connected, and even modern industry and business joins non-profit organizations and civic leaders in supporting the community. Those who want to know more about the history of this area will want to visit the Beauregard Parish Museum housed in the historic train depot, where displays focus on the railroad’s role in the development of DeRidder. Situated in the heart of DeRidder’s charming historic district, the old depot also houses the Lois Loftin Doll Museum. Even the parish library provides enrichment services including traveling Smithsonian exhibits. Residents looks forward to the annual Arts Parade Spring Concert Series sponsored by the City of DeRidder and Impromptu Players, although great music is never far from home in an area where live entertainment is a part of daily life. The RealArt DeRidder Art Gallery features a new show every month, displaying the work of local and regional artists and offering shoppers an outlet for original art. Wooten Theatre is home to the Impromptu Players, a group that produces a popular series of live-stage performances throughout the year. Other major amenities within the parish include historic downtown shopping in DeRidder, great restaurants, beautiful Bryant Park, and Beauregard Country Club. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy tubing down the lazy Quiska Chitto River or boating and fishing at the 1,750-acre Bundicks Lake. Crowned by welcoming neighborhoods and a wide selection of homes and residential settings, picturesque Beauregard Parish offers the finest of country living.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
DeRidder
City Offices
337-462-8900
https://www.cityofderidder.org
Chamber of Commerce
337-463-5533
http://beauchamber.org
The small but well-developed City of DeRidder serves as the parish seat of government for Beauregard but also a hub of commerce, healthcare, education, and cultural enrichment. In fact, DeRidder has been recognized by the Louisiana Municipal Association as the most progressive city of its size in the state, home to fine public and private schools, a community hospital, local shopping, a wonderful library, and a rich architectural legacy. Newcomers will be immediately impressed by the quality of historic preservation, including the magnificent building known as the Old Beauregard Parish Jail, an example of collegiate Gothic styling that was popular with universities and churches. The Kansas City Southern Depot is another local treasure, housing more than 3,000 dolls at the Lois Loftin Doll Museum. DeRidder features a charming historic downtown district filled with wonderful museums, shops, and restaurants that also serves as a community gathering place for celebrations and special events. Advantages like a local theatre, a talented performance group, and an active arts community give DeRidder an appeal that few small towns offer. The city is situated along the edge of the parish border, with a small part of its boundary actually extending into adjacent Vernon Parish.
Merryville
Town Offices
337- 825-8740
Chamber of Commerce
337-463-5533
http://beauchamber.org
The small rural Town of Merryville is the only other incorporated municipality in Beauregard Parish, providing a warm and friendly community atmosphere for local residents and those in nearby rural areas. The town springs to life each year as it welcomes visitors to the Merryville Heritage Festival held at the Merryville Museum. This colorful two-day celebration honors the area’s history with skits, demonstrations, and attractions from the 1800s and early 1900s including a parade, Old West re-enactments, live music, gospel concerts, and family activities. Church, school, and civic organizations play an active role in community life, strengthening friendships and giving newcomers an opportunity to become immediate involved and engaged. Those who are looking for the ideal blend of town and country will find a rural haven with a close-knit atmosphere in Merryville.
