Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport, Louisiana
Name	Shreveport
Settlement type	City
Nickname	"Port City"
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision type2	Parishes
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision name1	Louisiana
Subdivision name2	Bossier, Caddo
Established title	Founded
Established date	1836
Government type	Mayor-Council
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Tom Arceneaux
Unit pref	Imperial
Area total km2	316.88
Area total sq mi	122.35
Area land km2	277.48
Area land sq mi	107.14
Area water km2	39.40
Area water sq mi	15.21
Elevation m	46
Elevation ft	151
Population total	187,593
Population as of	2020
Population density km2	auto
Population density sq mi	auto
Timezone	CST
Utc offset	-6
Timezone DST	CDT
Utc offset DST	-5
Postal code type	ZIP Codes
Postal code	71101-71109, 71115-71120, 71129-71130, 71133-71135, 71137-71139, 71148-71149, 71151-71152, 71154, 71156, 71161, 71163, 71166
Area code	318
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	22-70000
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	2405417
Website	shreveportla.gov

Contents

History
Geography
Demographics
Economy
Culture
Government

Shreveport, Louisiana. It is the third-most populous city in the state and the commercial and cultural hub of the Ark-La-Tex region where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet. Founded in 1836, the city was named for Captain Henry Miller Shreve, a steamboat captain who cleared the Great Raft logjam on the Red River. Its strategic location on the river fostered its early growth as a regional center for cotton, steamboat commerce, and later, the oil industry.

History

The area was originally home to the Caddo people before European settlement. The modern city's origins trace to 1836 when the Shreve Town Company was formed following the clearing of the Great Raft by Henry Miller Shreve, enabling navigation on the Red River. During the American Civil War, it served as the capital of Louisiana from 1863 to 1865 after the fall of Baton Rouge and New Orleans to Union Army forces, hosting the state government under Governor Thomas Overton Moore. The late 19th century saw growth fueled by the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway and the discovery of the Caddo-Pine Island Oil Field in 1906, which transformed the region into a major petroleum center. Important 20th-century developments included the establishment of Barksdale Air Force Base in neighboring Bossier City and the rise of the Louisiana Hayride radio show, which launched the careers of musicians like Elvis Presley and Hank Williams.

Geography

Located in northwest Louisiana, it sits on the west bank of the Red River, opposite Bossier City. The city's topography is characterized by rolling hills and is part of the broader West Gulf Coastal Plain. Major bodies of water include Cross Lake, the primary municipal water source, and the Red River Waterway, a modern navigable channel. The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters, and is situated within the Piney Woods ecoregion. The city's total area encompasses both land and significant water features, with its boundaries extending into both Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish.

Demographics

According to the 2020 United States Census, the population was 187,593, making it the most populous city in northern Louisiana. The racial and ethnic composition is diverse, with a majority African American population and significant White American, Hispanic, and Asian American communities. The city is part of the larger Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area, which has a population exceeding 400,000. Key institutions influencing the demographic landscape include Louisiana State University Shreveport, Centenary College of Louisiana, and the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center. Population trends have seen shifts due to economic changes in the energy industry and outmigration to surrounding suburbs.

Economy

Historically dominated by the oil and gas industry, the economy has diversified into sectors such as healthcare, education, and military operations. Major employers include the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport academic medical center, Barksdale Air Force Base, and General Motors' Shreveport Assembly and Stamping plant, which operated for decades before closing. Other significant economic drivers are Willis-Knighton Health System, Amazon fulfillment centers, and the Cyber Innovation Center, a hub for technology and cybersecurity research. The city's position as a regional retail and service hub for the Ark-La-Tex is anchored by venues like the Mall St. Vincent and the Louisiana Boardwalk outlets.

Culture

It boasts a vibrant cultural scene with deep roots in music, particularly blues, country music, and gospel music. The historic Louisiana Hayride radio broadcast from the Municipal Auditorium was instrumental in popularizing rock and roll and country artists. Annual festivals include the Red River Revel Arts Festival, the Holiday in Dixie celebration, and the Mudbug Madness festival honoring crawfish. Cultural institutions are prominent, such as the R.W. Norton Art Gallery, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and the Shreveport Opera. The city's culinary identity is shaped by Cajun and Creole cuisine, with local specialties like Caddo lake shrimp and Natchitoches meat pies.

Government