Shreveport LA Moving Companies

Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport, Louisiana lies in the northeastern part of the state, as close to Texas and Arkansas as to the rest of its own state. The city has a culture quite distinct from that of the rest of Louisiana, with Texan cowboy influences very pronounced. Shreveport’s population is over 200,000, making it the third-largest city in Louisiana, and likes to call itself “The Next Great City of the South.” You can find out for yourself about the city’s greatness when moving to Shreveport.

Economy:
Shreveport’s began its existence as a trade center and then became a major provider for the oil industry of Louisiana. However, river trade ended in the early 20th century, and the oil industry collapsed in the 1980s. Shreveport’s economy has, in recent years, been more oriented toward the service industry. Tourism and casino gaming are leading employers, and the many hospitals located in the city employ many others. Natural gas speculation and the film industry have grown in economic importance since 2006. Louisiana now has the nation’s third-largest film industry, with many Hollywood productions filming in Shreveport. Moving companies are also picking up as more people are relocating to Shreveport. 

History:
Prior to the 1830s, the Red River was not navigable, due to a 180-mile-long natural debris field. A project by the US Army Corps of Engineers, led by Captain Henry Miller Shreve, cleared the blockage, and the Shreve Town Company founded a settlement there in 1836. Incorporated as the village of Shreve Town in 1839, the settlement grew through steamboat shipping and agricultural trade. During the Civil War, Shreveport became the Confederate Army’s main headquarters for the Trans-Mississippi Department and remained in Southern hands throughout the war. Decreasing river trade at the beginning of the 20th century led to the closing of the Red River, due to increased debris. The Red River was not navigable after that until a clean-up project in the 1990s.

Tourism:
Shreveport’s attractions include museums, cultural organizations, festivals, historical landmarks and casinos. The R.S. Barnwell Memorial Art & Garden Center features music, art and gardens, while the Sci-Port is Louisiana’s main science museum. Historical districts are found throughout the city, the largest being the original town site in the central business district. The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Opera, Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet and Robinson Film Center provide much of the cultural entertainment for the city. Festivals run throughout the year in Shreveport and include Holiday in Dixie (commemorating the Louisiana Purchase), Mudbug Madness (celebrating Cajun culture) and the Red River Revel art festival. The area’s casinos are located on riverboats anchored in the Red River. The Shreveport Regional Airport provides air transit from Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Las Vegas and Memphis, while local transportation is available through the SporTran bus company.

Colleges/Universities:

• Northeastern State University College of Nursing
• Southern University, Shreveport
• Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary
• Ayers Career College
• Louisiana State University at Shreveport
• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport
• Remington College

Interesting Facts:

• Some of the movies filmed in Shreveport since the rise of the Louisiana film industry are “The Mist,” “Year One,” “W,” “The Guardian,” “Cleaner” and “The Longshots.”
• Founded in 1892, the American Rose Society in Shreveport is the oldest horticultural society in the United States that is devoted to a single plant.
• Playing Shreveport’s red light district in the 1910s, Huddie William Ledbetter (also known as “Leadbelly”) began his rise to blues singing and guitar stardom. Over the next decades, he grew famous all over the world.

Helpful Links:

• Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau
• City of Shreveport