North LA (Shreveport, Ruston, Haynesville: layoffs, school district, to live in)

[TN-rox]

Hello, I had posted a thread a long while back about North Louisiana, and I have once again been offered a job relocation in the same area. I was just wondering how everything is going down there, economy-wise, as that was a problem with the last offering. Leaning towards the Shreveport area, about from Ruston west to the Texas/ Arkansas border. Looking for a smaller town with a more rural feel. Any suggestions on a safe, clean town would be greatly appreciated! Oh, and a good school district? Thank ya'll so much for your help!

[anchor]

Shreveport Youree Drive/Bert Kouns area = very good area. I've lived here all my life and this is definitely the best side of town, but fairly expensive because all the new stores were put up over here. Captain Shreve, (good highschool) Youree Drive Middle School, (good school) and A.C. Steere, (good elementary school) and Loyola. (good private school) Flournoy and Lucas / Ellerbe Road is a really nice side of town.

[redbean]

Just saw this post. Benton and Blanchard would be my recommendations as far as a small town goes. I've never lived in either but have worked in the area and used to live in south Shreveport. They seem like nice areas. The economy around Shreveport is doing well, mainly because of the Haynesville Shale and the movie industry. But with gas prices dropping and layoffs at the GM plant, who knows how long that will last. I think the next few years will not be pretty anywhere. Shreveport's economy should do better than most.