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113-639: The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is based in Shreveport , the seat of Caddo Parish and the largest city in north Louisiana . The SSO performs most of its concerts in the newly renovated RiverView Theater (formerly Shreveport Civic Theater). Founded in 1948, the symphony remains the longest continually performing professional orchestra in Louisiana . The SSO belongs to the Louisiana Association of Symphony Orchestras (LASO) which

226-876: A General Motors plant that permanently closed in August 2012. The plant produced the Chevrolet Colorado , GMC Canyon , Hummer H3 series, and the Isuzu i-Series . In January 2013, the plant was leased from Caddo Parish by Elio Motors . However, Elio Motors never went into production at the Shreveport plant. In addition to GM, other notable large companies that have had or still have Shreveport manufacturing/assembly or production facilities or operations include: General Electric (electric transformer production), Western Electric (payphone manufacturing, approximately 7,500 employees at its peak, changed ownership through

339-404: A yellow fever epidemic, with over 400 additional victims eventually succumbing. The total death toll from August through November was approximately 1,200. Five Roman Catholic priests in the city and two religious sisters died while caring for yellow fever victims in the city. Greenwood Cemetery was established in 1893. A number of local African American musicians became nationally famous. By

452-526: A 21 percent increase in forcible rapes and more than 130 percent increases in both business armed robberies and business burglaries. In 2018 the local government and police authorities reported a crime drop in most categories; it was part of an overall reduction in crime since the late 20th century. As Shreveport continued its economic resurgence, the Adrian Perkins administration saw the coming of Advanced Aero Services, Tomakk Glass Partners, and

565-584: A bombing range. The efforts to procure the government's commitment to build the facility in the Greater Shreveport metropolitan area were spearheaded by a committee co-chaired by local civic leaders Andrew Querbes and John D. Ewing , beginning in 1927. It took a great deal of correspondence between the interested parties and the original proposal was rejected. However, in February 1928, a young crop duster, an Air Corps captain named Harold Ross Harris,

678-544: A chamber orchestra—highlighting SSO musicians), In-School "Informances" (concerts with commentary) in elementary schools throughout the region, dozens of free Random Acts of Music, a free Picnic Pops concert in the spring with the Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony and the annual free People’s Concert, featuring local singers, narrators and gospel choirs. The year 2007–'08 was notable for being the SSO's 60th season, and

791-498: A large manufacturing employer in Shreveport. By 2017, manufacturing and other goods-producing (e.g. petrochemical refining) jobs accounted for just 5% of Shreveport occupations, compared to 8% for the nationwide percentage of the workforce involved in manufacturing. Shreveport has since largely transitioned to a service economy. In particular, there has been rapid growth in the gaming industry. The city hosts various riverboat gambling casinos , and, before Hurricane Katrina in 2005,

904-611: A loss that later made it difficult for many to gain Confederate pensions from state governments. The Red River, opened by Shreve in the 1830s, remained navigable throughout the Civil War. But seasonal water levels got so low at one point that Union Admiral David Dixon Porter was trapped with his gunboats north of Alexandria . His engineers quickly constructed a temporary dam to raise the water level and free his fleet. In 1873, Shreveport lost 759 citizens in an 80-day period to

1017-545: A low elevation overlooking the Red River. Western and northern portions of Shreveport have an elevation over 253 feet (77 m) above sea level. Pine forests, cotton fields , wetlands , and waterways mark the outskirts of the city. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 123.396 square miles (319.59 km ), of which, 107.798 square miles (279.20 km )

1130-418: A mean income of $ 82,854; married-couple families $ 84,282 with a mean of $ 112,363; and non-family households $ 26,628 with a mean of $ 41,090. According to census estimates, 25% of its population earned from $ 50,000 to $ 100,000 annually; 13% $ 100,000 to $ 200,000; and 5% over $ 200,000. Approximately 24.9% of Shreveport lived at or below the poverty line, down from 2014 to 2018's census estimates of 25.4%. In 2019,

1243-464: A merger. In the 1980s, the oil and gas industry suffered a large economic downturn. This severely affected the regional economy, and many companies cut back jobs or went out of business, including a large retail shopping mall (South Park Mall) which closed in the late 1990s. Shreveport's economy entered a major economic recession, and many residents left the area. At one time, Shreveport was home to numerous manufacturers, including Shreveport Operations ,

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1356-559: A more permanent agreement was reached in July, 2010. Shortly thereafter, the orchestra announced the official concert schedule for the 2010–'11 season. As the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra embarked on the new season starting January 30, 2010, this group of talented, classically trained musicians, along with their devoted management team, would have to encourage the participation of a broader subscriber base, including

1469-590: A permit for a march to the Little Union Baptist Church in Shreveport, where mourners gathered to honor and commemorate four black girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing on September 15 in Birmingham, Alabama . D'Artois and other officers entered the church on horseback and took out the pastor, Dr. Harry Blake, beating him severely. Also in 1963, headlines across the country reported that African American musician Sam Cooke

1582-678: A pre‑K through 12th grade private school. The church has produced a biblical musical, Songs of the Season , during the Christmas holidays for over 20 years. The Eastern Orthodox Church has maintained a presence in Shreveport since the early 1900s. The oldest Orthodox church in the city is St. George Greek Orthodox Church of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America , followed by St. Nicholas Orthodox Church ( Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ), and

1695-740: A separate study by the Association of Religion Data Archives for 2020, the Southern Baptists had 111,745 members spread throughout 151 churches in the area; and the United Methodists had 19,114 members in 46 churches. Historically African American Christian denominations including the National Baptist Convention , National Baptist Convention of America , and National Missionary Baptist Convention had 32,132 members altogether. Shreveport–Bossier City

1808-413: A year under Dodd. Other historic large Baptist churches include Antioch Baptist , Galilee Missionary Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Broadmoor Baptist, Summer Grove Baptist, and Mount Canaan Missionary Baptist Church. Summer Grove Baptist Church was previously pastored by Wayne L. DuBose, a Baptist denominational officer. Mount Canaan was previously pastored by civil rights era icon Dr. Harry Blake, and Galilee

1921-498: Is St. Mark's Cathedral , an Episcopal Church congregation dating its establishment to the first religious service held in Shreveport in 1839. It became the see of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana in 1990. In Shreveport's interdenominational and Pentecostal population, Shreveport Community Church (an evangelical church affiliated with Assemblies of God USA ) owns and operates Evangel Christian Academy ,

2034-541: Is also part of the I-20 Cyber Corridor linking the tech-centered Dallas–Fort Worth , Shreveport–Bossier , Greater Monroe , and Greater Atlanta metropolitan areas together. The city of Shreveport is 188 miles (303 km) from Dallas , 98 miles (158 km) from Tyler , and 41 miles (66 km) from Marshall , Texas; 215 miles (346 km) from Little Rock and 73 miles (117 km) from Texarkana , Arkansas; and 250 miles (400 km) from

2147-480: Is home to a branch of the National Weather Service which provides forecasts and warnings for the greater Ark-La-Tex region. Shreveport's population was initially 1,728 at the 1850 U.S. census , and has experienced growth to a historic high of 206,989 at the 1980 census . According to the 2020 United States census , there were 187,593 people, 73,114 households, and 42,775 families residing in

2260-542: Is home to several radio stations, particularly KWKH and KEEL . The three commercial television outlets for the metropolis are KSLA ( CBS ), founded in 1954; KTBS-TV ( ABC ), founded in 1955; and KTAL-TV , which arrived in Shreveport in September 1961 as the NBC station. KTBS was an NBC station, with occasional ABC programs, from 1955–1961, when it switched affiliation to ABC. KTAL, formerly known as KCMC of Texarkana ,

2373-652: Is in Caddo Parish , of which it is the parish seat. It extends along the west bank of the Red River into neighboring Bossier Parish . The 2020 census tabulation for the city's population was 201,573, while the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area had a population of 393,406. Shreveport was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company, a corporation established to develop a town at

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2486-449: Is land and 15.548 square miles (40.27 km ) is water. Shreveport—since the mid-1990s—has been a major gambling center with a modest downtown skyline. The "Streetscape" project, inspired by the coming of riverboat gaming, gave Shreveport's downtown traditional brick sidewalks, statues, sculptures, and mosaics. The O.K. Allen Bridge (Texas Street bridge) was lit with neon lights. Since then, Downtown Shreveport has seen minor changes until

2599-627: Is named for J. S. Noel Jr. The church was begun as a mission in 1906. In 2023, First United Methodist voted to leave the United Methodist Church. The large Holy Trinity Catholic Church , located downtown, was founded in 1858; it served Irish and German immigrants as well as native-born residents. Five priests died of yellow fever in the 1873 epidemic. The current sanctuary in Romanesque revival style architecture dates to 1896. Particularly striking in size and architecture

2712-570: Is priceless, and will never be adequately reproduced by video or audio recordings. A well-supported Shreveport Symphony Orchestra would greatly enhance the cultural diversity of the Shreveport-Bossier City area. It would also provide a source of inspiration for local children and youths to explore the world of symphonic music, and its associated branches, such as movie soundtracks, musicals, and even accompaniment to today's pop and rock artists. The much-anticipated first concert of

2825-595: Is the economic and cultural center of Northwest Louisiana and the wider Ark-La-Tex tri-state region . It is also the largest economic metropolitan area in North Louisiana. The area's economic activity is centered in the city of Shreveport , the parish seat of Caddo Parish . Much of the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area's economy is based on oil and natural gas , manufacturing , casinos , restaurants , and commerce . The city of Shreveport

2938-531: Is today a traditional Jewish synagogue. Shreveport, historically, has had a large and civic-minded Jewish community and has elected three Jewish mayors. The Islamic community in Shreveport-Bossier constituted approximately 14% of Louisiana's total Muslim population in 2018. The majority of Shreveporter Muslims are Sunni , followed by the Nation of Islam and non-denominational Islam . Shreveport

3051-485: Is within the Piney Woods ecoregion . Its vegetation is classified as temperate forest and grassland. Much of the urbanized area was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie, remnants of which can still be seen throughout the metropolitan region. At the 2010 United States census , there were 557,201 people, 189,000 households, and 139,000 families residing within the metropolitan statistical area; in 2020,

3164-412: The 2020 United States census , the metropolitan region had a population of 393,406; its American Community Survey population was 397,590 per census estimates. With a 2010 census population of 439,000, it declined to become Louisiana's fourth largest metropolis at 394,706 residents at the 2019 census estimates. Shreveport–Bossier City is the largest economic and cultural center of North Louisiana and

3277-596: The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra as well. Kermit Poling , SSO Concertmaster for over 20 years, served as the Interim Music Director/Resident Conductor during the 3 year transition period. During the 2005–2006 season the orchestra presented eight Master Series concerts featuring various locally and nationally known soloists, a series of five Spotlight concerts (three with a chamber ensemble and two with

3390-553: The Heliopolis , to remove the log jam. The company and the village of Shreve Town were named in Shreve's honor. Shreve Town was originally contained within the boundaries of a piece of land sold to the company in 1835 by the indigenous Caddo Indians . In 1838 Caddo Parish was created from the large Natchitoches Parish , and Shreve Town became its parish seat. On March 20, 1839, the town was incorporated as Shreveport. Originally,

3503-486: The I-20 Cyber Corridor linking Shreveport to Dallas and Atlanta . Companies with significant operations or headquarters in Shreveport are Amazon , Regions Financial Corporation , JPMorgan Chase , Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall , AT&T Mobility , United Parcel Service , Walmart , SWEPCO , General Electric , UOP LLC , Calumet Specialty Products Partners , and APS Payroll . Shreveport

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3616-855: The Louisiana Maneuvers . The field exercise's mission was accomplished largely due to General George S. Patton , who commanded the mock "Blue" army's 2nd Armored Division. Shreveport was home to the Louisiana Hayride radio program, broadcast weekly from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium . During its heyday from 1948 to 1960, this program stimulated the careers of some of the greatest figures in American music. The Hayride featured musicians including Hank Williams and Elvis Presley , who made his broadcasting debut at this venue. In

3729-642: The Southern Baptist Convention , National Baptist Convention (USA) , National Baptist Convention of America , and Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship are the largest Baptist denominations in the city. The Progressive National Baptist Convention is the largest Progressive Baptist group in the area. Methodists are mainly affiliates of the African Methodist Episcopal Church or Christian Methodist Episcopal Church , though some also claimed affiliation to

3842-573: The Texas Street bridge , was lit with neon lights . Residents predictably had a variety of reactions to these changes. Shreveport was named an All-American City in 1953, 1979, and 1999. In the 1990s, Shreveport became known for its rap music scene, and acquired its famous aka name, Ratchet City . The term was first used by the group Lava House in its 1999 single "Ratchet". During the September 11, 2001 attacks , President George W. Bush

3955-549: The United States Army Corps of Engineers restored navigability by completion of a series of federally funded lock-and-dam structures and a navigation channel. As early as 1924, the citizens of Shreveport became interested in hosting a military flying field. In 1926, Shreveport citizens learned that the 3rd Attack Wing stationed at Fort Crockett , Texas, would be enlarged by 500 percent and would require at least 20,000 acres (81 km ) to support aerial gunnery and

4068-485: The United States census determined it had a population of 393,406. The American Community Survey 's 2020 census estimates postulated a rebound of 397,590. According to census estimates from 2015 to 2020, approximately 156,594 households were in the metropolitan area with an average of 2.5 people per household; 46% of the household were married, and spread among 184,148 housing units of which 85% were occupied. Of

4181-478: The civil rights movement to correct injustices under Jim Crow and disenfranchisement of blacks. While activism gradually increased, 1963 was a particularly violent year in Shreveport because of white resistance. The Shreveport home of Dr. C. O. Simpkins was bombed in retaliation for his work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In September 1963 George W. D'Artois , Public Service Commissioner, refused

4294-515: The 1910s, Huddie William Ledbetter —also known as "Lead Belly", a blues singer and guitarist—was performing for Shreveport audiences in St. Paul's Bottoms, the notable red-light district of Shreveport that operated legally from 1903 to 1917. Ledbetter began to develop his own style of music after exposure to a variety of musical influences on Fannin Street, a row of saloons, brothels , and dance halls in

4407-460: The 1980s on Shreveport's economy. However, into the new millennium, the orchestra's solvency was in a precarious state, as the core musicians risked being placed in a "per service" status, instead of receiving an annual guaranteed wage. An international search for the orchestra’s fourth Music Director began in the summer of 2003 and culminated with five finalists conducting the SSO during the 2004–2005 season. In August 2005, Maestro Michael Butterman

4520-494: The 2010 season was a rousing success, judging from the attendance at the RiverView Theater yesterday evening. This bodes well for the future of this arts organization, as long as the momentum is carried on to attract new audience members to upcoming SSO programs. The final concert of the abbreviated season took place on May 15, 2010. Instead of the traditional annual Picnic Pops concert, which was usually held outdoors on

4633-514: The 2010s; the whole of Shreveport has been improving roads since the mid-2010s, with continued road projects in 2018. In 2018, buildings in Shreveport's downtown and nearby districts were revitalized due to re-investment in the area. In 2020, plans were unveiled for the I-49 Connector and further redevelopment of the city. Shreveport encompasses many areas, neighborhoods, and districts. The busiest thoroughfares and areas of Shreveport are

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4746-477: The Bottoms. Bluesmen Jesse Thomas , Dave Alexander , and Kenny Wayne Shepherd , and the early jazz and ragtime composers Bill Wray and Willian Christopher O'Hare were all from Shreveport. Lead Belly achieved international fame. By 1914, neglect and lack of use, due to diversion of freight traffic to railroad lines, resulted in the Red River becoming unnavigable. In projects accomplished over decades, in 1994,

4859-695: The Holy Nativity of the Lord Church of the Orthodox Church in America . The Jewish community of Shreveport dates to the organization of Congregation Har El in 1859, made up primarily of German Jewish immigrants in its early years. It developed as B'nai Zion Temple , today the city's Reform congregation, which built the city's largest synagogue. Agudath Achim, founded in 1905 as an Orthodox congregation of immigrants from Eastern Europe,

4972-954: The Music Director of both the South Arkansas Symphony and the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet. SSO musicians belong to the Shreveport Federation of Musicians, known as Local 116 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. In October, 2008, during the musicians' strike , the SSO orchestra members formed Orchestra Players United of Shreveport-Bossier (OPUS). With the OPUS Orchestra, they were able to continue performing for

5085-464: The Roof," and "The King and I: A Symphonic Portrait." By the end of May 2010, a decision was to be made by the symphony board about the 2010–'11 season. This decision was postponed, to allow the remaining issues to be discussed at a meeting between the orchestra musicians and the board, scheduled for Mon., July 12, 2010. Later that week, an agreement was reached between the board and musicians, allowing for

5198-532: The SSO had annually presented more than two hundred concerts, the majority of which were free educational events. The strike of the Shreveport Symphony musicians began in October 2008. Negotiations had begun in mid-2007, and since that time the orchestra musicians were playing without a contract, in expectation of a new bargaining agreement by the beginning of the 2008–'09 season. All performances of

5311-450: The SSO selected Peter Leonard as its second Music Director and Conductor in 1984, who remained with the Shreveport Symphony until 1996. Dennis Simons was selected as the SSO’s third Music Director and served from 1996 until 2003. Under the stewardship of Leonard, and then Simons, the orchestra continued to grow as a cohesive unit, in relative stability, despite the effect of the oil bust during

5424-588: The Trans-Mississippi was the last Confederate command to surrender, on May 26, 1865. "The period May 13–21, 1865, was filled with great uncertainly after soldiers learned of the surrenders of Lee and Johnston, the Good Friday assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the rapid departure of their own generals." In the confusion there was a breakdown of military discipline and rioting by soldiers. They destroyed buildings containing service records,

5537-424: The United States in 2016. The Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area has a total area a little over 2,699 square miles. The area is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Delaware , and smaller than Connecticut and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico . The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the metropolitan region as covering Caddo , Bossier , and DeSoto parishes. Previously, Webster Parish

5650-931: The Youree Drive area (named for Peter Youree ), the Shreveport Downtown Riverfront, and Highland neighborhood. All of the busiest areas are located in Eastern Shreveport, nearby or along the Red River. Below is a list of areas in the Shreveport area of Caddo Parish: Shreveport has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). Rainfall is abundant, with the normal annual precipitation averaging over 51 inches (1,300 mm), with monthly averages ranging from less than 3 inches (76 mm) in August to more than 5 inches (130 mm) in June. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail , damaging winds and tornadoes occur in

5763-586: The advantages of the proposed site to the War Department . Following the return of this delegation, a special army board visited Shreveport and reported the location met all requirements of the Air Corps. The site was selected December 5, 1928, as the location of the airfield. The land in Bossier Parish on which the airfield was built was unincorporated land near Bossier City that was annexed by

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5876-554: The area during the spring and summer months. The winter months are normally mild, with an average of 35 days of freezing or below-freezing temperatures per year, with ice and sleet storms possible. Summer months are hot and humid, with maximum temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) on an average of 91 days per year, with high to very high relative average humidity. The extreme temperatures range from −5 °F (−21 °C) on February 12, 1899 , to 110 °F (43 °C) on August 18, 1909, and August 25 and 26, 2023. Shreveport

5989-405: The area. From 2013-2014, Greater Shreveport had a gross metropolitan product of nearly $ 23.6 billion and negative growth rate of 5.4 percent. Its gross metropolitan product had been declining since 2011 to a low of $ 19 billion in 2016. In 2018, its gross metropolitan product rebounded to $ 23.7 billion. Following statewide economic recovery trends, the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area

6102-419: The choice of watching online versions of live performances over the internet—as well as technically advanced DVD recordings—the viability of live symphonic music will depend on providing a unique experience. As an avid concert-goer will know, there are intangible benefits to "being there" in person, rather than listening to a recorded broadcast. The event of witnessing the musicians making beautiful sounds together

6215-400: The city of Shreveport once the site had been selected among 80 candidates. The real estate was purchased from over 800 property owners via a $ 1,500,000 municipal bond issue approved by Shreveport voters in 1929 in fulfillment of the pledge that the citizens of Shreveport made to the U.S. government. The last of these bonds matured on December 31, 1959. After acquisition, Shreveport then donated

6328-440: The city, there were 89,523 housing units, with a 85% occupancy rate; among them, 54% were owner-occupied. Among its units, 73% were single-unit detached homes and 31% of its population moved into those homes from 2015 to 2016. The median value of its owner-occupied housing units were $ 151,700, and 30% of its units were estimated to be under $ 100,000; 38% of its units were estimated to cost from $ 100,000 to $ 200,000. From 2014 to 2018,

6441-413: The city; the 2020 American Community Survey determined an estimated 189,890 people resided in the city, purporting a slight population rebound. The 2020 census estimates showed Shreveport had 75,680 households with an average of 2.4 people per household. Of the households, 39% were married-couple households, though 44% of its male population and 40% of its female population have never married. Throughout

6554-426: The coming of riverboat gambling to Shreveport attracted numerous new patrons to the downtown and spurred a revitalization of the adjacent riverfront areas. Many downtown streets were given a facelift through the "Streetscape" project. Traditional brick sidewalks and crosswalks were built, and statues, sculptures, and mosaics were added to create a better pedestrian environment. The O.K. Allen Bridge, commonly known as

6667-415: The continuing growth and prosperity of this orchestra. The SSO conductor, Michael Butterman, stated that the new agreement indicated a unified vision and a sense of common purpose shared by all members of the SSO organization. Kermit Poling retired from his post as concertmaster of the SSO, after his 27th season with the SSO. Poling has kept his post as Associate Conductor for the SSO, in addition to being

6780-413: The devastation of Hurricane Katrina . "I am so impressed by the energy and commitment I have seen to make the SSO the best it can possibly be, and am convinced that there will be many opportunities for the organization to serve the community better than ever," Robinson said in a news release. She was interviewed just before the first concert of the new season, and explained her plans to strengthen and expand

6893-579: The duration of the strike, supported by CODA (Concert Organizers for Diversity in the Arts of Northwest Louisiana), a non-profit organization. Every major SSO concert has been broadcast on Red River Radio , the regional public radio network operating at Louisiana State University in Shreveport . Kermit Poling hosts the program, Regional Symphony Broadcasts which reaches nearly 50,000 listeners each week. He also serves as General Manager and Classical Announcer/Producer of Red River Radio. In 2014, Matt Albert

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7006-607: The housing units, 63% were owner-occupied and 71% were single-unit detached homes at a median value of $ 156,900. Residents in the metropolitan statistical area had a median household income of $ 46,610 and 20.9% of its population lived at or below the poverty line. According to the 2020 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of Shreveport–Bossier City was 35.6% White , 57.9% African American , 0.1% Native American , 1.88% Asian , 1.4% Pacific Islander , 0.1% from other races , 0.1% from two or more races, and 1.4% Hispanic or Latino of any heritage 3.4%.This demographic makes White citizens

7119-515: The juncture of the newly navigable Red River and the Texas Trail , an overland route into the newly independent Republic of Texas . It grew throughout the 20th century and, after the discovery of oil in Louisiana, became a national center for the oil industry. Standard Oil of Louisiana and United Gas Corporation were headquartered in the city until the 1960s and 1980s, respectively. After

7232-487: The land to the federal government per their agreement, while the federal government assumed all the costs of building construction and equipment installation. Shreveport had originally proposed a site adjacent to Cross Lake , but the United States Department of War deemed this location inappropriate due to the lack of suitable terrain for the facility's future expansion. Subsequent to the establishment of

7345-464: The loss of jobs in the oil industry, the closure of General Motors ' Shreveport Operations , and other economic problems, it struggled with a declining population, poverty, drugs, and violent crime. However, the city continues in its efforts to revitalize its infrastructure, revive the economy through diversification, and lower crime. Despite these efforts, the city witnessed the largest number of homicides in its recorded history in 2021, eclipsing

7458-552: The mainline United Methodist Church . The Roman Catholic community is primarily served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport . Of note among its predominantly Baptist population, the First Baptist Church of Shreveport was once pastored by Monroe E. Dodd, founder of the former Dodd College for Girls . Former Governor Jimmie Davis , also a Shreveport city commissioner, taught history for

7571-490: The median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $ 144,800. The median monthly cost with a mortgage was $ 1,178 and the median monthly cost without a mortgage was $ 364; the city of Shreveport had a median gross rent of $ 810. The median income from 2014 to 2018 was $ 36,338, and the mean income was $ 55,582. The per capita income was $ 25,022. By the 2020 American Community Survey, its median household income increased to $ 40,809. The median income for families grew to $ 54,023 with

7684-512: The metropolitan area. The largest companies operating within the metropolitan area are Amazon , Calumet Specialty Products Partners , SWEPCO , AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless , Louisiana State University , JPMorgan Chase , Regions Financial Corporation , Comcast , and Walmart . AT&T, Chase, and Regions have regional offices within Shreveport's downtown area. The Tyler, Texas -based Brookshire Grocery Company operates numerous Super 1 Foods and Brookshire's supermarkets in

7797-439: The metropolitan area. A 2014 study determined the leading Baptist denomination was the Southern Baptist Convention . The United Methodist Church was the largest Methodist body and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport was the primary Catholic jurisdiction. The same study also named Islam the second-largest religion in the area, with Shreveporter Muslims making up about 14% of Louisiana's total Muslim-affiliated population. In

7910-402: The metropolitan statistical area are Amazon , Calumet Specialty Products Partners , SWEPCO , AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless , Louisiana State University , JPMorgan Chase , Comcast , Regions Financial Corporation , Brookshire Grocery Company , and Walmart . The metropolis is one of the most religious in the United States, Shreveport being one of the top 5 most religious cities in

8023-557: The mid-1950s, KWKH was the first major radio station to feature the music of Presley on its long-running Louisiana Hayride program at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Horace Logan, long-term KWKH program manager and originator of the Hayride , and Frank Page introduced Presley on the Hayride . African American veterans of World War II were among activists in Shreveport through the 1960s who worked in

8136-489: The military installation, Bossier City grew and expanded southward and eastward, eventually enveloping the area surrounding the base. Technically, Barksdale AFB is neither in Bossier City nor Shreveport but, like all military bases, is an autonomous community with its own infrastructure. In September, 1941, the capture of the city of Shreveport was the objective of a U.S. Army war game, or military exercise , known as

8249-630: The minority group in Shreveport Louisiana. Females make up 54% of the population in Shreveport whereas males only make up 46% of the Shreveport population. This information is all according to the United States Census Bureau. In 2020 according to Sperling's BestPlaces , roughly 63.5% of Shreveport–Bossier City was religious. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, it remained one of

8362-405: The most Christian areas of the United States. Per Sperling's, the largest religion in the metropolitan statistical area is Christianity , followed by Islam , Judaism , and eastern religions including Buddhism , Sikhism , and Hinduism . There is also a growing spiritual but not religious community. Among Christians, Baptists , Methodists , and Catholics form the largest communities in

8475-521: The most respected regional orchestras in the United States. Presenting more than 200 concerts each season, over half of which are free educational events, the orchestra performs music of various genres, including classical and popular. The SSO was formed by a handful of interested local citizens with founding Music Director, John Shenaut and it experienced tremendous growth until his retirement in 1981. After three years under Principal Conductor Paul Strauss followed by Interim Music Director Marjorie Deutsch,

8588-410: The one page that is the face of the orchestra to the public is foolish and self-destructive, since it provides no reassurance to concertgoers that the organization stands a chance of surviving. The public should not be made to take sides in an issue that does not concern them. They are merely the audience, not the arbitrators. The audience may even turn against the management for such crude tactics, as

8701-553: The only medical school in northern Louisiana) and one of the largest nursing schools in northern Louisiana, the Northwestern State University College of Nursing (opened in 1949) as well as satellite campuses of Louisiana State University (opened as a two-year institution in 1967, and expanded into a four-year college in 1976), and Southern University (opened in 1967 with a two-year associate's degree program). The Shreveport Regional Airport

8814-462: The opening concert on September 15, 2007 was a memorable event, as the program shared a couple of selections with the first concert performed in November, 1948. In October 2008 a musicians' strike nearly terminated its operation. All performances of the orchestra musicians under the auspices of the SSO were cancelled for the 2008–'09 season, and for part of the season 2009–'10. Prior to this strike,

8927-505: The orchestra musicians under the auspices of the SSO were cancelled for the 2008–'09 season, and for part of the season 2009–'10. By March 2008, the symphony board's position had already spilled over to the SSO's own website, a tremendous gaffe for any organization. One such submission in the form of a press release was entitled Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Invites Musicians and Community To Embrace Board's Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility . Trying to promote one side of any labor dispute on

9040-400: The orchestra well in the 2010–2011 season. Escude helped to give the SSO a new face in the public eye, through clever use of the social media on the internet, such as Facebook and Twitter, and helped to recover the orchestra's prestige in the wake of a difficult strike in 2008. More recently, in June 2014, the SSO musicians and management reached a collective bargaining agreement, which ensured

9153-524: The population was Hispanic or Latino American of any race. Reflecting the decline in North Louisiana's population, the city of Shreveport's racial and ethnic makeup among Hispanic and Latino Americans declined from 2010 yet rebounded from 2019's census estimates. At the 2020 census, Shreveport remained a predominantly Black and African American city, with 55.77% of the population identifying as such; non-Hispanic whites slightly declined to 35.26% and multiracial or Americans of another race increased to 3.45% of

9266-690: The population. Data from the 2020 United States census reflected growing trends of Hispanic and Latino, and Asian American population growth nationwide. Christianity is the city and metropolitan area's dominant religion, being part of the Bible Belt . Its residents were predominantly Protestant through the nineteenth century, and today, Baptists form the majority of Christians in Shreveport, followed by Methodists and Roman Catholics . Many Baptist and Methodist churches are affiliated with evangelical Protestant denominations, though several are also affiliated with mainline Protestantism ; among Baptists,

9379-457: The previous record set in 1993. Shreveport is the educational, commercial and cultural center of the Ark-La-Tex region, where Arkansas , Louisiana, and Texas meet. It is the location of Centenary College of Louisiana , Louisiana State University Shreveport , Louisiana Tech University Shreveport , Southern University at Shreveport , and Louisiana Baptist University . It forms part of

9492-565: The racial and ethnic makeup of Shreveport was 56.9% Black and African American , 36.8% non-Hispanic white , 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native , 1.7% Asian , 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander , 0.1% some other race, 1.5% two or more races , and 2.6% Hispanic and Latino American of any race. At the 2010 U.S. census, the racial and ethnic composition of the population was 54.70% Black or African American, 41.16% White, 1.0% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 1.2% from some other race and 1.5% from two or more races. In 2010, about 6.5% of

9605-495: The region. The bureau maintains a comprehensive database of restaurants, accommodations, attractions, and events. Shreveport %E2%80%93 Bossier City metropolitan area The Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area , officially designated Shreveport–Bossier City by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget , or simply Greater Shreveport , is a metropolitan statistical area in northwestern Louisiana that covers three parishes: Caddo , Bossier , and DeSoto . At

9718-804: The revitalization plan of the Shreveport Economic Recovery Task Force after the Cross Bayou redevelopment plan was rejected. In June 2020, rapper Hurricane Chris was arrested in Shreveport for second-degree murder . Following the George Floyd killing in Minnesota, multiple protests were held in the city. Shreveport is located in Northwest Louisiana . It is the center of the Ark-La-Tex region where Arkansas , Louisiana, and Texas meet. It

9831-623: The riverfront, this year the SSO and the Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra (ALTYSO) joined together for a free indoor concert on May 30, 2010. Michael Butterman explained it this way, "We're doing much the same thing, but this time indoors," he said. "We will open with the youth orchestra playing a couple of things on its own and then the symphony will play on its own and then they will play together." The program included works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Richard Wagner and Gustav Holst, as well as music from "Fiddler on

9944-498: The role of the orchestra in the community, while increasing the administrative capacity of the orchestra to support that expansion. September 24, 2011, was the beginning of a new era for this orchestra, and the variety of the programming included a guest appearance by one of America's most accomplished cellists, Zuill Bailey, in Elgar's famous Cello Concerto in E minor. Robinson replaced the interim general manager, Leah Escude, who served

10057-493: The state capital of Baton Rouge , 99 miles (159 km) from Monroe , 69 miles (111 km) from Ruston , and 30 miles (48 km) from Minden , Louisiana. The city's proximity to the nearby cities makes it North Louisiana and the Ark-La-Tex's transportation hub. Shreveport is the parish seat of Caddo Parish . Portions of the city extend into neighboring Bossier Parish , bordering Bossier City . Shreveport sits on

10170-484: The state. Steamboats plied the Red River, and stevedores loaded and unloaded cargo. By 1860, Shreveport had a population of 2,200 free people and 1,300 slaves within the city limits. During the American Civil War , Shreveport was the capital of Louisiana from 1863 to 1865, having succeeded Baton Rouge and Opelousas after each fell under Union control. The city was a Confederate stronghold throughout

10283-533: The symphony to continue operating for at least another two years. On May 14, 2011, the SSO completed another successful season with a spectacular program including works by Smetana, Brahms and Dvořák, with a world-renowned violinist, Rachel Barton Pine , featuring in the Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major . During the concert season 2010–2011, the SSO was able to acquire at least 50 new subscribers. Brian Hebert, Shreveport Symphony board president,

10396-413: The symphony, as it had already weathered a nine-week strike during the 1996–'97 season, which culminated in a collective bargaining agreement on March 11, 1997. The drastic budget cut that was narrowly averted in 2002 did finally come home to roost in 2008. The 2008–'09 season was officially canceled on January 30, 2009. Following the enthusiastic response from the community to a new series of concerts,

10509-413: The town consisted of 64 city blocks, created by eight streets running west from the Red River and eight streets running south from Cross Bayou, one of its tributaries. Shreveport soon became a center of steamboat commerce, carrying mostly cotton and agricultural crops from the plantations of Caddo Parish. Shreveport also had a slave market, though slave trading was not as widespread as in other parts of

10622-645: The war and was the site of the headquarters of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederate Army. Fort Albert Sidney Johnston was built on a ridge northwest of the city. Because of limited development in that area, the site is relatively undisturbed in the 21st century. Isolated from events in the east, the Civil War continued in the Trans-Mississippi theater for several weeks after Robert E. Lee 's surrender in April 1865, and

10735-623: The wider Ark-La-Tex region. The Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan region comprises the highest concentration of colleges and universities in the Ark-La-Tex. It is part of the I-20 Cyber Corridor linking the area to Ruston , Grambling , and Monroe , Louisiana; Dallas and Tyler , Texas ; and Atlanta , Georgia . Shreveport–Bossier City's metropolitan economy is primarily based on oil and natural gas , manufacturing , casinos , restaurants , commerce , telecommunications , technology , banking , healthcare and medical research , and advertising . The largest companies operating within

10848-435: The years but closed in 2001) Honeywell UOP , Libbey-Owens-Ford , Beaird-Poulan (the originator of and, for decades, the only manufacturer of the single-operator chainsaw in the world), Calumet Specialty Products Partners (originally United Gas Corporation 's Atlas Processing Unit and then Pennzoil ), and Frymaster, LLC (a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company ). Today, only Calumet Packaging and Honeywell UOP survive as

10961-682: The younger population of the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area . Innovative marketing and fresh ideas could enhance the appeal of live music to an ever-widening audience. Even two of the original Big Five orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra, have recently been subjected to the vagaries of the economy and the competitive nature of the entertainment/cultural industry. While technology allows subscribers of some orchestras

11074-733: Was a CBS outlet prior to conversion to NBC, when it began to cover Shreveport as well as Texarkana . 3.3 KTBS 24 Hour News 12.3 Bounce TV 24.3 AM stations FM stations The Shreveport–Bossier City area is home to several colleges: among them, the Methodist -affiliated Centenary College of Louisiana (originally founded in the East Feliciana Parish town of Jackson in 1825, eventually relocating to Shreveport in 1908), Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary (founded in 1973), Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (opened in 1969 as

11187-502: Was appointed as the new concertmaster of the SSO. Mr. Albert had performed previously in a Chamber Music series in Shreveport, as well as in the guest concertmaster role with the SSO. Albert left the SSO in 2016 for another opportunity. Shreveport, Louisiana Shreveport ( / ˈ ʃ r iː v p ɔːr t / SHREEV -port ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana . It is the third-most populous city in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge . The bulk of Shreveport

11300-667: Was appointed the fourth Music Director in the orchestra’s 58-year history. Prior to his appointment, Butterman divided his time between Florida, New Mexico and New York where he served as the Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra , Music Director of Opera Southwest, and Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra . In 2007, he was named Music Director of

11413-475: Was arrested in Shreveport after his band tried to register at a "whites-only" Holiday Inn , where they planned to stay before performing in the city. Public facilities in Louisiana were still segregated. In the months following, Cooke recorded the civil rights era song, " A Change Is Gonna Come ". In 1964 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act to end segregation of public facilities. In the mid-1990s,

11526-576: Was considered part of Greater Shreveport; it is now part of the Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden combined statistical area . Communities of the metropolis sit at elevations over 100 feet above sea level making them primary locations for coastal retreat due to rising sea levels . The Shreveport–Bossier City area is located in the South Central United States , bordering East Texas and South Arkansas . As such, it

11639-652: Was established to create a town at the meeting point of the Brown Bricks and the Texas Trail. The Red River was made navigable by Captain Henry Miller Shreve , who led the United States Army Corps of Engineers efforts to clear the Red River. A 180-mile-long (290 km) natural log jam, the Great Raft , had previously obstructed passage to shipping. Shreve used a specially modified riverboat ,

11752-536: Was expected to gain at least 5,000 jobs by the third quarter of 2021. As of 2021, its gross metropolitan product grew to $ 24.1 billion. The principal cities of Shreveport and Bossier City have their own newspapers, The Shreveport Times and Bossier Press-Tribune , respectively. Other major publications in the metropolitan area include The Barksdale Warrior, The Shreveport Sun , Caddo Citizen, SB Magazine, The Forum Newsweekly, City Lights, The Inquisitor and The Shreveport Catalyst . The central city of Shreveport

11865-577: Was formed in August, 2003. LASO consists of all seven professional orchestras in Louisiana. The mission of the LASO is to promote and facilitate the interchange of ideas, advocate for the support of orchestras in the State, and coordinate collaborative projects in music education and other areas of mutual interest. Since its founding in 1948, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has become Louisiana’s oldest continually operating professional orchestra and one of

11978-491: Was formerly a major player in United States oil business, and once hosted the Standard Oil of Louisiana offices, a branch of Standard Oil . The Louisiana branch was later absorbed by Standard Oil of New Jersey . Beginning in 1930, United Gas Corporation , the nation's busiest pipeline operator and massive integrated oil company, was headquartered in Shreveport. Pennzoil performed a hostile takeover in 1968, and forced

12091-575: Was hired to fly over the local area in order to find a suitable site for the airfield. Captain Harris selected what he felt was an adequate location for a military airfield. It was a sprawling section of cotton plantation near Bossier City. The site selection committee, representing the wealthiest taxpayers in the city, unanimously agreed upon the Barksdale Field location. A delegation of citizens traveled to Washington, D.C. , to personally present

12204-456: Was likewise pastored by Dr. E. Edward Jones, another civil rights icon. Among its Methodist churches has been the large First Methodist Church , established in 1884. The current edifice dates to 1913. Among its former pastors were D. L. Dykes Jr. and John E. Fellers. During a severe thunderstorm in 2009, the fiberglass steeple of the church toppled and fell onto a passing car. It has since been replaced. A second prominent Methodist congregation

12317-409: Was once a major player in the national oil industry. Standard Oil of Louisiana and United Gas Corporation were headquartered in the city until the 1960s and 1980s. Since the downturn in the oil industry, telecommunications , technology , banking , healthcare and medical research , and advertising have been rising industries since the early 2000s. Filming has also been a prevalent industry in

12430-604: Was pleased with the state of the orchestra after the foregoing season, and attributed the solid financial footing in part to the reorganization of the symphony and significant concessions made by the musicians. Lois Robinson was named as the new executive director of the SSO, starting on August 22, 2011. She had previously been general manager of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans, especially helping to rebuild that orchestra after

12543-428: Was second only to New Orleans in Louisiana tourism. Nearby Bossier City is home to one of the three horse racetracks in the state, Louisiana Downs . Casinos in Shreveport-Bossier include Sam's Town , Bally's , Horseshoe , Boomtown , and Margaritaville . Diamond Jacks Casino (formerly Isle of Capri) closed in 2020. The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau is the official tourism information agency for

12656-472: Was shown in the case of the Philadelphia Orchestra's dispute in 2004. An editorial from The Times [Shreveport] in late March, 2008 summarized the critical situation at that time with respect to the financial status of the SSO. The strike of orchestra musicians was necessitated by the refusal of the Board of Directors to compromise with the musicians' union on matters of salary and job security, issues not new to

12769-428: Was taken to the nearby Barksdale Air Force Base . He also made a visit to speak in the city on March 11, 2005. Since the downturn in the oil industry and other economic problems, the city has struggled with a declining population, unemployment, poverty, drugs and violent crime. City data from 2017 showed a dramatic increase in certain violent crimes from the previous year, including a 138 percent increase in homicides,

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