SHREVEPORT is the third largest city in the state of Louisiana. BOSSIER CITY is separated from Shreveport by the Red River, a 1,360-mile long river, which starts in Texas, eventually joining with the Mississippi River. The combined metropolitan area population is approximately 350,000 as the two cities are often referred together as "Shreveport-Bossier". The city was founded in 1836
and can be considered the commercial center of the "Ark-La-Tex" area, where the
states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet.
The most recent excitement surrounding the area is the discovery of the Haynesville Shale natural-gas deposit which is expected to create many new natural-gas jobs as well as profits due to mineral-leasing rights.
The CLIMATE can be considered a humid, subtropical climate with approximately 51 inches of rain per year. Even though the summer months are warm and humid, the winter months are very mild.
Shreveport is a major MEDICAL CENTER of the region and state with medical institutions including Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Other major hospital networks incldued Willis-Knighton and Christus Schumpert health systems. The area is also home to several colleges including Louisiana State University-Shreveport, Centenary College, Southern University and Northwestern State University College of Nursing. The Barksdale Air Force Base is also located in Bossier City which headquarters the 8th Air Force, 2d Bomb Wing, and 917th Wing
The Louisiana Boardwalk opened in May 2005, and is a 550,000 square foot shopping and entertainment complex featuring outlet shopping, several restaurants, a 14-screen movie theater, a bowling complex, and a Bass Pro Shops. The Shreveport Convention Center is located in downtown Shreveport, complete with an 800 space parking garage and 12-story Hilton Hotel adjacent to the property. Other recreations and attractions include the Sci-Port Discover Center and Imax Center, voted one of the 10 best by Parents Magazine, Clyde Fant Park, Riverwalk Park, Festival Plaza, Cross Lake, The Gardens of the American Rose Center, and Chimp Haven.
Tax incentives have made Louisiana the third largest film industry in the country, only behind California and New York, thus the nickname of "Hollywood South". Recent movies shot in the Shreveport area include "W", "The Year One", "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins", "The Mist", Mr. Brooks", and "The Guardian". Shreveport is also home to several theaters, museums, and performing arts groups including the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Opera, Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, The Strand Theatre, R.W. Norton Art Gallery, Robinson Film Center, River City Repertory Theatre, and the Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center.
The area is also dubbed "Sportsman's Paradise", known for its fishing and hunting. This is also considered Tiger Country as most locals root hard for their beloved LSU Tigers. In terms of major sports, you will find die-hard fans of the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints professional football teams; New Orleans Hornets professional basketball team;Texas Rangers professional baseball team, and Dallas Stars professional hockey team. Other sporting activities include an af2-arena football team, the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, a Central Hockey League Team and the Shreveport-Bossier Captains, a minor-league baseball team. The city also hosts The Advocare 100 Independence Bowl, a major college football Bowl Game.
Shreveport is served by two AIRPORTS, the largest being the Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV) which is served by Allegiant (Las Vegas, Orlando); American Airlines; Continental Airlines; Delta Air; and Northwest Airlines. The second airport is the Shreveport Downtown Airport (DTN), a general aviation/reliever airport.
-source Wikipedia
For further information, please click on the following links:
Shreveport-Bossier City Tourism
Shreveport-Bossier City Fun Guide
City of Shreveport Website
Shreveport Times Newspaper
