Avoyelles Parish is named for the Avoyel Native American people.
Surrounding Parish Courthouses:
N – Rapides Parish, La Salle Parish and Catahoula Parish
E – Concordia Parish and Pointe Coupee Parish
W – Evangeline Parish and Rapides Parish
Created: March 31, 1807 
Parish Seat:
Marksville 1807 – present
Parish Courthouse – Marksville
Location: 301 North Main Street / Mark Street
Built: 1926 – 1927
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Herman J Duncan
Contractor: Caldwell Brothers
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Marksville. The west front has a large porch with six large columns rising to a wide stone header at the top of the second story. There are three doorways framed with stone. The roof line is flat. In the interior are marble wainscoting. The courtrooms are located on the second story. The building houses the District Court of the 12th Judicial District. The building was renovated from 1976 to 1978.
History: The parish was created in 1807 and Marksville was selected as the parish seat. The first courthouse was a two room structure built in 1807. The second courthouse was a two story frame structure erected in 1837. The third courthouse was built in 1856. An addition was constructed by Masters Couvillion and C D Stewart in 1894. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1926 to 1927 at a cost of $212,950.
Parish Courthouse – Marksville
Picture 1837 Parish Courthouse
Picture 1894 Parish Courthouse
Photos taken 2011 and 2019