After the third black man had been fatally shot by whites within a few months, on September 23–24, 1988, there was rioting in black neighborhoods after charges were reduced for a defendant in a case of a young white woman fatally shooting a David McKinney, a black man who appeared to be an innocent bystander. Both blacks and whites lost good-paying work, and many people left. The city and region suffered during and after the decline of the oil business. During its heyday from 1948 to 1960, it featured musicians who became noted nationally, such as Hank Williams, Sr., and Elvis Presley (who got his start at this venue). Shreveport was home to the Louisiana Hayride, a radio broadcast from the city's Municipal Auditorium.
Central Fire Station downtown 1900 to present Shreveport in 1920 Mayor Clyde Fant in the Holiday in Dixie Parade, 1962 Downtown Shreveport at night, showing Streetscape-enhanced sidewalks. On March 20, 1839, the town was incorporated as 'Shreveport'. Shreveport remains the parish seat of Caddo Parish today. In 1838, Caddo Parish was created from the large Natchitoches Parish and Shreve Town was designated as the parish seat. Shreve Town was originally contained within the boundaries of a section of land sold to the company by the indigenous Caddo Indians in the year of 1835, during the period of Indian Removal.
