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Louisiana’s northernmost portion of the state, and a relatively small portion of Arkansas, is where the Shreveport Destination is located. Some cities in Arkansas that are found in the region include Magnolia, Emerson, Stamps, and Taylor. Several cities in Louisiana can also be found in the destination, namely Monroe, Bastrop, Ruston, Minden, and Shreveport, the namesake of the destination. This area is often referred to as the “Ark-La-Tex region” because it is where the borders of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet. Shreveport, Louisiana, was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company. One relatively significant source of growth for the town was the newly established steamboat commerce during that time.[1] As of the 2020 census, Shreveport had a population of 187,338 people; however, this number has since decreased by 5.22% and now rests at 177,562 residents.[2] Tourists who come to the destination can visit various attractions. Specific draws to Shreveport include The Agora Borealis, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, Cypress Black Bayou, and Caddo Lake.[4] For those looking to participate in warm weather activities, the most temperate times to visit the area occur between mid-April to June or September to the middle of October.[3]
In addition to a relatively small part of Arkansas, the northern portion of Louisiana is where the Shreveport Destination is located. A few towns of Arkansas that are found in the region are Stamps, Rosston, and Magnolia. Sibly, Ruston, Monroe, Bastrop, and Shreveport are all situated in Louisiana as well. Shreveport is Louisiana's third-largest city, in terms of population.[1] Currently, the city is home to a total of 177,562 people; however, this population count is 5.22% less than the most recent census in 2020.[2]
Shreve Town Company settled the area of Shreveport in 1836, which was a “corporation established to develop a town at the juncture of the newly navigable Red River and the Texas Trail.”[1] Today, the city offers various places for tourists to visit. Attractions near Shreveport include The Agora Borealis, which is an art gallery located in a historic building; Orlandeaux’s Café, "the oldest continuously operated African-American family-owned restaurant in the United States"; Shreveport Aquarium; Asian Gardens of Shreveport; Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, formally used as an army barracks before it was converted into a performance hall; and the Lousiana State Exhibit Museum. The Cypress Black Bayou, Caddo Lake, and Gators & Friends Adventure Park are outdoor draws to the area.[4]
As previously mentioned, another city in the destination is Monroe, located east of Shreveport by the Mississippi border. Monroe is known for being the largest city in northeastern Louisiana. The city was named after the James Monroe, a steamboat captained by J.A. Paulfrey. Museums, such as Biednharn Museum & Gardens, Masur Museum of Art, and Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, are what this area of the destination is “best known for,” in addition to its cultural attractions and restaurants.[5] Tourists from “around the world travel to Monroe and West Monroe” to see the area where the Robertson family lives, who starred in the reality TV show Duck Dynasty. Visitors are able to participate in the Official Duck Commander Hometown Tour. Debbie’s Snowballs, Landry Vineyard, and Haskell’s Donuts are establishments featured on the show which are popular among tourists who visit Monroe and West Monroe.[6]
Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas are the states that border the Shreveport Destination. In terms of the border with Mississippi, the two states meet on either side of the Mississippi River. Minden, Monroe, West Monroe, Bastrop, Ruston, and Shreveport are all cities located in the region, the latter of which is the destination's namesake. Cities located in the Arkansas portion include Mangolia, Stamps, Bradley, Taylor, and Rosston, among others.
The Shreveport Destination is located in the "Ark-La-Tex region where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet” and is considered the transportation hub of that region. The location of Shreveport is at a generally low elevation that overlooks the Red River, while parts of the city have an elevation that reaches over 253 feet above sea level. Cotton fields, wetlands, pine forests, and waterways are all characteristics of the region.[1]
Magnolia, Arkansas is located about 80 miles northeast of Shreveport. The city is classified as being on the “West Gulf coastal Plain between Texarkana and El Dorado.”[7] The altitude for the area rests at an average of 336 feet above sea level. Rolling hills, forests, and farm prairies make up the landscape of Magnolia. Temperatures in this part of the destination generally average about 64 degrees Fahrenheit.[8]
Weather in Shreveport generally ranges anywhere from 38 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are described to be “hot and oppressive,” while the winter time is “short, cold, and wet.” The average daily high between the end of May and the end of September is 86 degrees Fahrenheit. However, July alone produces an average of 92 degrees Fahrenheit as an average high. In contrast, wintertime experiences a high of 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on the varying temperatures, one tourism score for the area indicates that “the best times of year to visit Shreveport for warm-weather activities” is from either the middle of April to the beginning of June or September to mid-October. Regarding precipitation, the area’s wettest season is typically from March to July. Any given day has a 29% chance of rain between these months.[3]
Shreveport, Louisiana, the namesake of the Shreveport Destination, was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company. This company served the purpose of developing a town “at the juncture of the newly navigable Red River and the Texas Trail.” Navigation of the trail is accredited to Captian Henry Miller Shreve, who was a part of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to clear the Red River. In 1835, a year prior to the official settling of the area, the land was sold to the company by the indigenous Caddo Indians. Four years later, on March 20, 1839, the town was officially recognized as Shreveport. The area continued to grow following its settlement, specifically through steamboat commerce. In 1860, the town was recorded to have a total population of about 3,500 people.[1]
Today, Shreveport has grown considerably in population. As of the 2020 census, the population was recorded to be 187,338 people. The demographic that makes up over half of the population is Black or African American (57.3%). The second largest racial group is White, making up 37.17% of the population. Christianity is the predominant religion in the area; however, the dominant religion was previously Protestantism in the 19th century.[2]
Magnolia, Arkansas, is another city in the destination that has seen considerable growth since first being settled. Originally founded in 1853, Magnolia had an initial population of 1,950 people. Currently, Magnolia has a population of 10,858 people, with the majority of the population being either White (58.24%) or Black (39.38%). One notable event for this city was the discovery of the Magnolia Oil Field. During Ward War II, this establishment “was the largest [oil-]producing field (in volume).”[8]
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