Local History: Highland

For a good portion of my adult life, I have lived in Shreveport's Highland Neighborhood. It's centrally located, the rent is reasonable, and it's filled with some of the most beautiful architecture and most diverse people in the city.

It's full of restaurants, shops, music, and The Krewe Of Highland. But how did Highland even get its start?

The name, Highland, comes from the obvious "high land" that was south of downtown. It began as plantation land with a few plantation homes dotting the countryside, some of which are still standing. During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers were stationed in the area.

After the war ended, the city began to expand south out of downtown, and heavy development began in Highland in the 1890s.

According to The Highland Restoration Association's website:

The Highland Historic District is one of the oldest and most important residential neighborhoods in Shreveport.

The district contains a wide variety of architectural styles, from Colonial Revival mansions and Queen Anne cottages to Romanesque churches and one of the finest collections of Craftsman bungalows and foursquares in the state.

Today Highland is home to an eclectic and vibrant group of residents who like to celebrate their beautiful neighborhood with events such as:

Highland Holiday Tour of Homes
Highland Jazz and Blues Fest
Krewe of Highland Mardi Gras ball & parade
Highland Experience, and other signature celebrations that just can’t be found anywhere else.

The modern boundaries of Highland are commonly considered to be Stoner Avenue to the north, Youree Drive to the east, Kings Highway to the south, and Line Avenue to the west. Historic maps and landmark sites are also available on The Highland Restoration Association Website.