They ran a trading post across the river on what was then Caddo Indian territory, a portion called "Bennett's Bluff".

Like most plantations, Elysian Grove had frontage on the Red River for access to transportation for shipping cotton and other commodities.

The trading post on the west side operated a ferry between what would become Shreveport and Bossier City.

The plantation loading and unloading dock was later recorded as "Cane's Landing" in the old ferry log books.

[10] Of ethnic French descent, he was one of the first European settlers in the area after most of the Native Americans had been forcibly removed by the federal government.

In the 1840s, the Great Western Migration of Americans and immigrants from the East and Upper South began.

During the American Civil War, companies of Confederate soldiers shipped out of Cane's Landing aboard steamboats for distant battlefields.

Mrs. Cane's plantation was fortified to protect Shreveport by three batteries, with Fort Kirby Smith in the center.

[7] The American Civil War reached Bossier Parish in 1861, and ended in Shreveport four years later, when the Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered.

[5] Anna B., granddaughter of James and Mary Cane, felt the area would prosper and began promoting the idea of a riverfront city.

Blanchard appointed Ewald Max Hoyer, a Shreveport businessman, as the first Bossier City mayor.

Continued growth led to Bossier City's being reclassified from village to town by Governor John M. Parker.

These railroads and highways combined to make Bossier City a hub for future activity.

The advantages brought by black gold fueled many civic, social and economic improvements.

Through the years, Bossier City expanded, eventually encompassing the area surrounding the base.

[13] Three casinos in the city have financed a number of municipal projects, many completed during the administration of the late Mayor George Dement.

Recent improvements include the CenturyLink Center, Louisiana Boardwalk, Benton Road Overpass, and the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, located along the eastern side of the Red River.

Ongoing projects contributing to growth include the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway (the north parkway extension named for former state representative and judge Walter O. Bigby), Shed Road construction, and the South Bossier redevelopment districts.

[18] The city lies primarily on the banks of the Red River, and has a largely flat topography in contrast with Shreveport's terrain.

During the warmer months, the city is prone to severe thunderstorms that feature heavy rain, high winds, hail, and occasional tornadoes.

A notable occurrence of severe flooding occurred in March 2016 after torrential rains caused a rapid rise of many local waterways, displacing upwards of 3,500 people from their homes across the area.

The city shares the same television and radio markets with Shreveport and the Texarkana metropolitan area as part of the Ark-La-Tex.

The Brookshires Grocery Arena (formerly CenturyTel Center) in Bossier City was the home of the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings of the AF2, as well as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League.

The arena has hosted top performers, including Britney Spears and Aerosmith, as well as rodeos, ice shows, and children's entertainment.

The 2005 Red River Classic PRCA Rodeo to be hosted at the CenturyTel Center was cancelled due to the arena's use as a shelter for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

[47] The city hosts three riverboat casino gambling resorts along the east bank of the Red River: Margaritaville, Horseshoe, and Boomtown.

Diamond Jacks previously operated in the area before closing, but Foundation Gaming has plans for reopening in 2024.