This combina-tion of new and old helps make Shreveport an unusually pleasant and attractive city. Over 360,000 people live in Shreveport's metropolitan area, but many of the problems usually associated with living in a city of this size are unknown. Housing is plentiful and affordable for both renters and buyers. The cost of living is lower here than in most parts of the country. Property taxes are among the lowest in the nation.
Traffic congestion is rare.
Shreveport offers a rich intellectual and cultural environment to its residents. Louisiana State University in Shreveport and Centenary College provide both undergraduate and graduate education programs. The Shreveport Symphony, the Shreveport Civic Opera and many community theater groups display the best of the performing arts, and the Strand Theatre brings Broadway plays and nationally known performers to the city. Opportunities abound for sports enthusiasts. Some of the best hunting and fishing areas in the country are within a 100-mile radius of Shreveport.