Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles (French: Lac Charles) is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Founded in 1861 in Calcasieu Parish, it is a major industrial, cultural, and educational center in the southwest region of the state. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Lake Charles's population was 84,872.[4]

For the lake, see Lake Charles (Louisiana).

Lake Charles, Louisiana
City
Top to bottom, L-R: Downtown Lake Charles, L'Auberge du Lac Casino, McNeese State University, John McNeese statue, Israel LaFleur Bridge, Lake Charles City Court, Henderson Bayou
Top to bottom, L-R: Downtown Lake Charles, L'Auberge du Lac Casino, McNeese State University, John McNeese statue, Israel LaFleur Bridge, Lake Charles City Court, Henderson Bayou
Flag of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Flag
Official seal of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Seal
Official logo of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Logo of Lake Charles
Nickname: 
The Lake Area
Location of Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Location of Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Lake Charles is located in Louisiana
Lake Charles
Lake Charles
Location in Louisiana
Lake Charles is located in the United States
Lake Charles
Lake Charles
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W[1]
Country United States
State Louisiana
ParishCalcasieu
FoundedMarch 7, 1861 (1861-03-07) as Charleston
RenamedMarch 16, 1867 (1867-03-16) as Lake Charles
Founded byCharles Sallier
Named forCharles Sallier
Government
 • MayorNicholas E. "Nic" Hunter (R)
 • City Council[2]
Members list
Area
[3]
 • City48.60 sq mi (125.87 km2)
 • Land45.73 sq mi (118.44 km2)
 • Water2.87 sq mi (7.43 km2)
Elevation
15 ft (5 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City84,872
 • Estimate 
(2022)
87,448
 • Density1,855.98/sq mi (716.59/km2)
 • Urban
132,977
 • Metro
210,409
DemonymLake Charlesian
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CST)
ZIP Codes
70601, 70602, 70605, 70606, 70607, 70609, 70615, 70616, 70629
Area Code337
FIPS code22-41155
Websitewww.cityoflakecharles.com

The city and metropolitan area of Lake Charles is considered a regionally significant center of petrochemical refining, gambling, tourism, and education, being home to McNeese State University and Sowela Technical Community College. Because of the lakes and waterways throughout the city, metropolitan Lake Charles is often called the Lake Area.

History
Main article: History of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Ryan Street in Lake Charles, 1903
Downtown Lake Charles, c. 1917

On March 7, 1861, Lake Charles was incorporated as the town of Charleston, Louisiana.[5]

Lake Charles was founded by merchant and tradesman Marco Eliche (or Marco de Élitxe) as an outpost. He was a Sephardic Jewish trader of either Basque-Spanish or Venetian-Italian origins. He had arrived in Louisiana after hitchhiking and was invited onto a Spanish vessel due to his determination and loyalty to volunteer and work freely for the Spanish Empire. Long before incorporation and even before the Louisiana Purchase, other names for Lake Charles were Porte du Lafitte (Port of Jean Lafitte) or Rivière Lafitte (River Lafitte/Lafitte's River), among many other names now lost. Eliche had also founded other outposts and towns in Louisiana prior, most notably Marksville, which is named after him. There are also urban tales he had planned to name the settlement Nouveau Cadix (New Cádiz)", after the city in Spain, but this is uncertain.

The town was first incorporated in 1857 as Charleston, after an early settler, Charles Sallier. Ten years later, on March 16, 1867, Charleston was reincorporated as the City of Lake Charles.[6] The Great Fire of April 1910 devastated much of the city.[7]

Lake Charles soon rebuilt, grew and expanded in the twentieth century. The Charleston Hotel was completed in 1929, during the administration of Mayor Henry J. Geary.[8] During and after World War II, Lake Charles experienced industrial growth with the arrival of petrochemical refineries. The city grew to a high of some 75,000 people in the early 1980s, but with local economic recession, the population declined and stagnated. In 1985, the city was identified as a potential Strategic Homeport to support Navy Secretary John Lehman's desire for a 600-ship Navy.[9] Support ships were to be operated from the new Naval Station Lake Charles; but with the tailing-off of the Cold War, the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended it be closed. By 1991, the incomplete base was dropped from the program and shuttered.

In 2005, the city was heavily damaged by Hurricane Rita. In 2020, it was battered by two hurricanes, Category 4 Hurricane Laura on August 26–27, and Hurricane Delta on October 9, 2020.[10][11]

The southern portion of the city was damaged by an EF2 tornado on October 27, 2021.[12]

Geography
Henderson Bayou

Lake Charles, located on a level plain about 30 miles (48 km) from the Gulf of Mexico, has an elevation of approximately 13 feet (4.0 m) above sea level,[13] and is located on the banks of the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana. It borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. Contraband Bayou, Henderson Bayou, and English Bayou flow through the city. Oak trees and pine trees dot the landscape; the lumber industry was once the main economic engine of the area. The Calcasieu Ship Channel, which allows large ocean-going vessels to sail up from the Gulf, also borders the city. The 2010 census recorded Lake Charles total land size was 48.6 sq miles was to 2023 census records Lake Charles being 61.35 sq miles in total size. According to the United States Census Bureau,[14] the city has a total area of 44.8 square miles (116.0 km2), of which 42.0 square miles (108.9 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.1 km2), or 6.12%, is water.[15]

Climate

Lake Charles is tied with Port Arthur, Texas, and Astoria, Oregon, as the most humid city in the contiguous United States, and the second-most humid measured location behind unincorporated Quillayute, Washington. The average relative humidity in Lake Charles is 90% in the morning, and 72% in the afternoon.[16] Average annual precipitation is also high among U.S. cities, at 57.49 inches (1,460 mm) per year.

Climate data for Lake Charles Regional Airport, Louisiana (1991–2020 normals,[17] extremes 1895–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31)		 88
(31)		 94
(34)		 95
(35)		 100
(38)		 106
(41)		 103
(39)		 109
(43)		 105
(41)		 103
(39)		 92
(33)		 89
(32)		 109
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 77
(25)		 78
(26)		 82
(28)		 86
(30)		 92
(33)		 95
(35)		 97
(36)		 98
(37)		 96
(36)		 91
(33)		 84
(29)		 79
(26)		 99
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 63.0
(17.2)		 66.7
(19.3)		 73.1
(22.8)		 79.0
(26.1)		 85.4
(29.7)		 90.5
(32.5)		 92.2
(33.4)		 92.8
(33.8)		 89.4
(31.9)		 82.1
(27.8)		 72.2
(22.3)		 65.3
(18.5)		 79.3
(26.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 53.2
(11.8)		 56.9
(13.8)		 63.1
(17.3)		 69.1
(20.6)		 76.4
(24.7)		 82.1
(27.8)		 83.9
(28.8)		 84.0
(28.9)		 80.1
(26.7)		 71.3
(21.8)		 61.4
(16.3)		 55.3
(12.9)		 69.7
(20.9)
Average low °F (°C) 43.4
(6.3)		 47.1
(8.4)		 53.1
(11.7)		 59.3
(15.2)		 67.3
(19.6)		 73.7
(23.2)		 75.6
(24.2)		 75.1
(23.9)		 70.7
(21.5)		 60.4
(15.8)		 50.6
(10.3)		 45.3
(7.4)		 60.1
(15.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 27
(−3)		 31
(−1)		 35
(2)		 43
(6)		 54
(12)		 66
(19)		 71
(22)		 69
(21)		 58
(14)		 43
(6)		 34
(1)		 30
(−1)		 25
(−4)
Record low °F (°C) 12
(−11)		 3
(−16)		 14
(−10)		 30
(−1)		 40
(4)		 51
(11)		 60
(16)		 59
(15)		 45
(7)		 30
(−1)		 23
(−5)		 11
(−12)		 3
(−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.89
(150)		 3.26
(83)		 3.67
(93)		 4.44
(113)		 5.40
(137)		 6.54
(166)		 5.69
(145)		 6.19
(157)		 5.18
(132)		 4.80
(122)		 4.13
(105)		 4.56
(116)		 59.75
(1,518)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.3 8.8 7.8 7.2 7.9 10.8 11.4 11.3 8.7 7.7 7.9 9.5 108.3
Average relative humidity (%) 78.8 76.5 76.3 76.1 77.3 78.2 80.1 79.8 79.4 75.9 77.3 79.0 77.9
Source: NOAA (relative humidity 1961–1990)[18][19][20][21]

Hurricanes

Hurricane Laura devastated the city in 2020.[22] The National Weather Service called the storm surge "unsurvivable" with one-minute sustained wind speeds of 150 mph (240 km/h). Numerous trees were blown down. The Lake Charles Regional Airport saw a gust of 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) as well as multiple hangars destroyed.[23] Another gust in the city reached 137 miles per hour (220 km/h). Many windows were blown out of Capital One Tower downtown. A communications tower collapsed onto the KPLC studio building (which had been evacuated) and part of a sky bridge was blown out. The radar at the NWS Lake Charles forecast office (whose staff evacuated, with the office's operations transferred to the Brownsville, Texas office) was destroyed around the time of landfall, with its dome and much of its internal equipment sheared from the radar tower's base. A few weeks later, Hurricane Delta also hit Lake Charles.[24]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880838—
18903,442310.7%
19006,68094.1%
191011,44971.4%
192013,08814.3%
193015,79120.7%
194021,20734.3%
195041,27294.6%
196063,39253.6%
197077,99823.0%
198075,226−3.6%
199070,580−6.2%
200071,7571.7%
201071,9930.3%
202084,87217.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 202,040 as of 2013.[25] It is the larger principal city of the Lake Charles-Jennings combined statistical area, with a population of 225,235. The 2010 population of the five-parish region of Southwest Louisiana was 292,619.[26] For the city proper of Lake Charles at the 2020 census, it had a population of 84,872, with a population density of 1,890 people per square mile among 38,434 housing units.[27] In 2010, the population was 71,993,[28] reflecting a rebound from its 1990 population of 70,580.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the city was $36,001. The per capita income for the city was $22,855. 20.9% of the population was below the poverty line; in 2020, the median income for a household in the city was $37,894. 26.7% of the population was below the poverty line. The average commute time was 22.4 minutes.[29]

Race and ethnicity
Lake Charles racial composition as of 2020[30]
Race Number Percentage
American Indian and Alaska Native 340 0.4%
Asian 2,244 2.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 39,199 46.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4,772 5.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 82 0.1%
Not Hispanic or Latino 35,143 41.4%
Some Other Race 2,205 2.6%
Two or More Races 4,744 5.6%
White (non-Hispanic) 36,058 42.5%

The 2010 census determined that the racial and ethnic makeup for the city was 47% African American, 46% White <1% Native American, 2% Asian, 1% from other races, 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3% of the population. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the racial and ethnic makeup for Lake Charles was 46.2% Black or African American, 42.5% non-Hispanic white, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 2.6% some other race, 5.6% two or more races, and 5.6% Hispanic or Latino American of any race.[4]

Religion

In common with most of the American South, Christianity in the predominant religion in the Lake Area. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the Roman Catholic Church is the area's largest individual Christian denomination, with 51,161 adherents in Calcasieu Parish alone.[31] The Southern Baptist Convention was the city and area's second largest denomination, followed by non-denominational Protestant churches. Other prominent Christian denominations have included the United Methodist Church, National Baptist Convention, USA, Churches of Christ, Church of God in Christ, and the Assemblies of God USA.

Additionally, outside of Christianity, there were an estimated 354 adherents of Islam in the city and metropolitan area. According to Dwellics and Sperling's BestPlaces, there is also a small Jewish population.[32][33]

Crime

In 2018, the violent crime rate in the Lake Charles area was of the highest in the United States, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Violent offenses tracked include rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon.[34] Lake Charles is safer than 13% of cities in the United States. For every 100,000 people, 13.11 daily crimes occur in Lake Charles. Year over year, crime in Lake Charles has decreased by 25%.[35]

Economy
Swimming in polluted Lake Charles opposite the Olin Mathieson chemical plant in 1972. Cleanup efforts of Lake Charles' waterways have been so successful that Prien Lake now supports both recreational and commercial fishing, and has a safe public beach.[36][37]

The top employer, the Calcasieu Parish School System, employs approximately 5,000 workers. The second-largest employer is L'Auberge Casino Resort, which has 2,400 workers.

Industry and manufacturing

Several petrochemical plants and an oil refinery are located nearby along the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Turner Industries, Westlake Chemical Corporation, and Citgo each employ over a thousand people.[38] The Trunkline LNG terminal, immediately southwest of Lake Charles, is one of the United States' few liquified natural gas terminals. It has facilities for LNG receipt, storage, and re-gasification. Other industrial companies include PPG Industries, Phillips 66, Sasol, and W. R. Grace. Local industry also includes a number of manufacturing companies. Chennault International Airport hosts AAR Corp, which services airplanes, and a Northrop Grumman facility. The Shaw Group has a manufacturing facility which manufactures and exports parts for nuclear power plants.[39]

Commerce and retail

With small businesses, big box stores, and a regional mall, Lake Charles serves as the shopping and retail hub of the five-parish area. Prien Lake Mall, which serves nearly 300,000 people is anchored by three department stores.[40] The Lake Charles Power Center is a shopping area that has 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of shopping space.[41] The Cottage Shop District supports approximately a dozen small businesses.[42]

Casinos
Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles

Lake Charles has Louisiana's biggest casino market.[43] The L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort is a 242 acres (98 ha), 26-story hotel in Lake Charles. It has nearly 1000 guest rooms, a casino, golf course, spa, and meeting center.[44] A second casino, the Golden Nugget Lake Charles, opened in 2014 next to L'Auberge du Lac.[45] The 18-story casino resort hotel has more than 740 guest rooms, a casino, golf course, meeting space, retail corridor and a private beach and marina.[46]

While Horseshoe Lake Charles is technically in one of the city's suburbs known as Westlake, Louisiana, it forms part of the city's gambling market along with Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana and Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.

Arts and culture
City Hall Arts and Cultural Center

Lake Charles has a Creole and Cajun culture because of its location in Southwest Louisiana—an extension of Acadiana.

The city has its own symphony orchestra, the Lake Charles Symphony. It was founded in 1938 and hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre,[47] which has a capacity of over 2,000.[48]

The Lake Charles Little Theatre was founded in 1927 and is the second oldest community theater in Louisiana.[49]

Lake Charles is home to a number of museums and art galleries. The largest, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, features a permanent historical exhibit with artifacts and an art gallery.[50] Its grounds are home to the Sallier oak tree, which is around 400 years old.[51] The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is used as exhibition space; moving art exhibits are displayed at this public art gallery each month.[52] It also hosts the Charlestown Farmers' Market, which provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell goods.[53]

The Central School Arts and Humanities Center, located in the historical Charpentier District, is owned by the city. Charpentier is French for "carpenter", a reference to the carpenter-architects who built the mixed-style homes in the district. Central School features the Black Heritage Art Gallery, which is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail,[54] as well as the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which features extravagant costumes and an interactive float. It has the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia in the South.[55] Other studios and cultural activities include the Art Associates Gallery, Studio 347 Gallery, the Lake Charles Symphony, and the Lake Charles Community Band.

McNeese State University produces the annual Banners Series of various musical and theatrical performances. Banners also hosts lectures and presentations from notable persons and academics. Local theaters include the Lake Charles Little Theatre, the Artists Civic Theatre and Studio (ACTS), and the Children's Theatre.

Louisiana Pirate Festival
Main article: Contraband Days

Many festivals are held at the Civic Center. The most popular, the Louisiana Pirate Festival (formerly Contraband Days), is hosted on the Civic Center grounds and lakefront. The festival is a twelve-day annual festival held during the first two weeks of May. The celebrations are filled with savory Cajun food, family fun, and live entertainment, including several national acts. The festival is regularly attended by more than 200,000 people, making it one of the largest celebrations in Louisiana. In a reference to the legends of piracy on the lake and Contraband Bayou, the festival begins when the pirate Jean Lafitte[5] and his crew capture the city and force the mayor to walk the plank.

Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles has a long history dating back to 1882, when Momus, King of Mardi Gras, landed his royal yacht at the foot of Pujo Street downtown. Throughout the two World Wars, Mardi Gras was downsized which led to a lack of participation by the area's youth. However, an interest in redeveloping the festivities arose, and the first Mardi Gras Ball in Lake Charles was staged in 1964. The full revival of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles was not realized until 1979, when several Krewe captains formed the "Krewe of Krewes", with the primary purpose of parading and promoting Mardi Gras for local residents. In 1985, Mardi Gras of Imperial Calcasieu, Inc. was formed by a group of civic-minded volunteers to further aid in the preservation of this festival.[56] Mardi Gras in Lake Charles regularly draws in crowds of 150,000.

Cultural events

Some of the city's cultural events include Chuck Fest, Martin Luther King Festival, Livestock Show & Rodeo, Black Heritage Festival, Garden Festival, Palm Sunday Tour of Homes, Downtown at Sundown, Memorial Day Avenue of Flags, Crawfish Festival, Asian/American Culturefest, Cajun French, Creole, Zydeco Music & Zydeco Trail Rides, Food Festivals, Marshland Festival, Gatorman Triathlon, Music & Food Festival, Arts Fest, and Riverside Fall Festival.[57][58][59][60]

Libraries
Central Library

Lake Charles has four libraries. The largest, with over 400,000 volumes, is Frazar Memorial Library, on the McNeese State University campus.[61] The first library, Carnegie Memorial Library, was financed by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1904.[62] It also houses the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library. It, Central Library and Epps Memorial Library are part of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library, which has 13 locations in Calcasieu Parish.[63]

Sports
Cowboy Stadium

Lake Charles is home to the McNeese Cowboys, whose football team hosts games at Cowboy Stadium which has a seating capacity of 17,410.[64] Burton Coliseum hosts the McNeese basketball teams.

Lake Charles has been home to the Lake Charles Lakers and other minor-league baseball teams, indoor football teams, a minor-league ice hockey team and soccer teams.

Golf is popular at the city's Mallard Cove Golf Course. Other golf courses include Gray Plantation Golf Course, Lake Charles Country Club Golf Course, the Contraband Bayou Golf Club, and the Country Club at Golden Nugget. Gray Plantation Golf Course is featured on Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail.[65]

South Lake Charles Little League has had nationally winning teams televised on ESPN.

Parks and recreation
Boardwalk

The city has 31 parks, many of which include playground equipment, athletic facilities, and walking paths.[66] Shiver-Me-Timbers Millennium Park, located downtown, was built entirely by volunteers in 2000. Adventure Cove, a state-of-the-art park, was also built by volunteers, and is specifically designed for handicapped children.[67] Hunting and fishing are popular with both residents and visitors to the Lake Area.[68] An All-American Road, the Creole Nature Trail – "Louisiana's Outback" – brings tourists to Lake Charles and throughout Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas.

Government

Lake Charles has a mayor-council government. The elected officials include the mayor, the clerk of court, and seven city council members. Each council member represents a district within the city limits. One is elected president and presides over each meeting. The mayor serves a four-year term. The current mayor is Nic Hunter.[69] The mayor appoints the city attorney.

The Lake Charles Police Department (LCPD) provides law enforcement and protection for the city. The police chief is appointed to a six-year term,[70] and the fire chief is also appointed.[71] The Lake Charles Fire Department has eight stations and 15 companies.[72] McNeese State University also has its own police department, the McNeese State University Police Department.[73]

The Lake Charles City Court's jurisdiction covers the city and Ward 3 in Calcasieu Parish.[74] The Fourteenth Judicial District Court, in downtown Lake Charles, covers Calcasieu Parish and includes nine judges who preside over family, juvenile, civil, and criminal trials.[75] Lake Charles is home to a United States District Court, also downtown.[76] The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals is headquartered in the city.[77]

Lake Charles is represented by Clay Higgins of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Most of the city is represented by Senator Jeremy Stine of District 27 in the Louisiana State Senate, though Mark Abraham's District 25 includes some neighborhoods of south Lake Charles.

Education

Universities and colleges
Entrance Plaza and Shearman Fine Arts Center at McNeese State University

The city has one university and one community college. McNeese State University, on a 121-acre (0.49 km2) campus lined with oak trees in the heart of Lake Charles, is a four-year public university in the University of Louisiana System. Contraband Bayou flows through it. McNeese was founded in 1939 and named after educator John McNeese. It offers over 80 majors, and includes the colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Science, Honors College, and the Doré School of Graduate Studies. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[78] Other properties include a 65-acre (260,000 m2) athletic plant and student apartment complex, the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, Burton Coliseum, the 503-acre (2.04 km2) MSU Farm, and nearly 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of donated farm property used for research, farming, and ranching.[79] Over 8,500 students attend McNeese.[80]

Sowela Technical Community College offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificate programs, and general education courses that can transfer to four-year universities.[81] Delta School of Business and Technology specializes in vocational courses.[82]

Primary and secondary schools

Lake Charles's public schools are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System. There are two charter schools and several private schools. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles operates and/or is affiliated with private Roman Catholic schools.

See also: List of schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana and List of high schools in Louisiana

Media

Print

The most widely distributed, daily newspaper is The American Press. Other popular periodicals include Lagniappe Magazine, The Jambalaya News, Gumbeaux Magazine, and Thrive Magazine. The Contraband is McNeese State University's student newspaper.

Television

Major television network affiliates include KPLC 7, an NBC affiliate also operating the area's CW affiliate on its DT2 subchannel, KSWL-LD 17, a CBS affiliate, KLTL 18, a PBS member station, KWWE-LD 19, a MyNetworkTV/MeTV affiliate, and KVHP 29, a Fox affiliate also operating the area's ABC affiliate on its DT2 subchannel.

Radio

KBYS 88.3 Oldies, KRVS 88.7 Npr, KRLR 89.1 K-Love, KYLC 90.3, KOJO (FM) 91.1, KBAN 91.5, KTSR 92.1 Classic Rock, KHLA 92.9 Classic Hits, KPPM-LP 93.5 Black Gospel, KSMB 94.5 Top40(Chr), KYKZ 96.1 Country, KQLK 97.9 Country, W252AQ 98.3, KNGT 99.5 Country, KELB-LP 100.5, KKGB 101.3 Mainstream Rock, KYBG 102.1 Classic Hits, KAJN-FM 102.9 Contemporary Christian, KBIU 103.3 Chr, KLCJ 104.1 Oldies, KKMY 104.5 Rhythmic Top 40, KZWA 104.9 Urban Adult Contemporary, KIOC 106.1 Active Rock, KJMH 107.5 Urban, KLVI 560 News/Talk, KJEF 1290 Cajun Music, KAOK 1400 Talk, KLCL 1470 Urban Adult Contemporary, KHB42 162.400 NOAA Weather Radio

Infrastructure

Roads

The city's streets are laid out primarily in a grid pattern. Interstate 10 passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Houston to the west and New Orleans to the east. The Calcasieu River Bridge crosses the Calcasieu River and part of lake. Featuring decorative flintlock pistols on the railing, it is 135 feet (41 m) high. About 50,000 vehicles pass over it daily.[83] Despite its age of over 60 years, it is considered safe by the Louisiana DOTD.[84]

Interstate 210 is an interstate highway bypass that loops through the southern portion of the city. The curving Israel LaFleur Bridge goes over the Calcasieu Ship Channel. This bridge has a 96% rating even after withstanding recent hurricanes. The loop has served Lake Charles commuters for 40 years, and carries about 40,000 vehicles per day.[85]

Other major highways include U.S. Highway 90, which runs parallel with Interstate 10, and U.S. Highway 171, which connects the city to the north with Moss Bluff, DeRidder, and Shreveport. Highway 165, which runs northeast to Alexandria terminates at Highway 90 just a few miles east of the city. Louisiana Highway 14 ends at a junction with Highway 90, and runs south then east of the city.

Airports
Lake Charles Regional Airport terminal

Lake Charles is served by two airports. Lake Charles Regional Airport,[86] located south of the city, provides commercial airline service to Houston and Dallas. Chennault International Airport,[87] while a fully operational airport, is an industrial and maintenance center. The latter airport, a former Strategic Air Command US Air Force base during the Cold War, is named for Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, the aviator famous for commanding the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II.

Seaports

The Port of Lake Charles is the thirteenth-busiest seaport in the United States, the fourth-largest liner service seaport in the U.S. Gulf, and a major West Gulf container load center. The City Docks in Lake Charles are the main hub of shipping activity.[88] The Calcasieu Ship Channel provides direct access to the Gulf of Mexico 34 miles (55 km) downstream. The ship channel, which has a projected depth of 40 feet (12 m) and a bottom width of 400 feet (120 m), intersects the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just north of Calcasieu Lake.[89]

Public transportation

Lake Charles Transit, the city's bus system, provides five routes throughout the city.[90] It has one Greyhound bus station, and the Amtrak station serves the Sunset Limited train route.

Utilities

Electrical needs are provided by the energy company Entergy. The city provides drinking water and sewage service to residents within city limits. Water is treated at six water treatment facilities in the city.[91]

Healthcare and medicine

Lake Charles is served by two hospitals with multiple locations. Christus St. Patrick Hospital operates the Lake Area Medical Center campus in south Lake Charles, and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital operates a birthing hospital called Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women.

Films

Lake Charles is featured or mentioned in The Drowning Pool, The Beyond, A Taste of Louisiana with Chef John Folse & Co., Passion Fish, Good Eats, UFC 22: There Can Be Only One Champion, UFC 24: First Defense, Blue Vinyl,[93] Little Chenier, Mercy,[94] Split Ends, All Over But to Cry, Film Hustle, Good Boy,[95][96] and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

  • In the 1969 film Easy Rider, the as-yet unfinished I-210 Israel LaFleur Bridge can be seen in the background of a motorcycle scene with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda traveling west through Lake Charles on the I-10 Interstate.

Sister cities
See also: List of sister cities in the United States

See also

References
  1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  2. "City of Lake Charles". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  4. "2020 United States Census". www.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Lake Charles Historical Marker".
  6. D’Artois Leeper, Clare (October 19, 2012). Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: LSU Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-8071-4738-2. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  7. "Five Thousand Homeless in Fire-Swept City". The New York Times. April 24, 1910. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  8. "Document Center / History of Lake Charles / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  9. General Accounting Office, Navy Homeports: Expanded Structures Unnecessary and Costly, NSIAD-91-158, June 1991, p.8
  10. Santana, Rebecca; Plaisance, Stacey; Richer, Alanna (October 10, 2020). "Delta adds insult to injury in hurricane-ravaged Louisiana". AP NEWS. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  11. Bote, Joshua; Shannon, Joel (October 10, 2020). "Photos show Hurricane Delta's aftermath as Louisiana suffers back-to-back storms". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  12. By, daryl herzmann. "IEM :: PNS from NWS LCH". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  13. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. "Census". Census. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  15. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lake Charles city, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  16. "Average Relative Humidity – Morning (M), Afternoon (A)" (PDF). Comparative Climatic Data for the United States Through 2012. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: U.S. Dept. of Commerce. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2014.
  17. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  18. "National Weather Service". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  19. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  20. "Station: lake Charles, LA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  21. "WMO Climate Normals for Lake Charles/WSO AP, LA 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  22. Rojas, Rick (October 20, 2020). "After 2 Hurricanes, Lake Charles Fears Its Cries for Help Have Gone Unheard". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  23. Bertorelli, Paul (August 28, 2020). "Hurricane Laura Damages Lake Charles Airport, Destroys Radar". AVweb. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  24. Spradling, Travis. "Aerial photos: See Hurricane Delta path of destruction in southwest Louisiana, weeks after Laura". The Advocate. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  25. Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  26. "Retrieved March 27, 2014". Allianceswla.org. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  27. "U.S. Census website". Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  28. "Census 2010 Data for the State of Louisiana" (place list), US Census Bureau, February 2011, webpage: C2010-LA Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today.
  29. "Census - Table Results". www.census.gov. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  30. "Geography Profile Lake Charles city". www.census.gov. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  31. "Maps and data files for 2020 | U.S. Religion Census | Religious Statistics & Demographics". www.usreligioncensus.org. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  32. "Population In Lake Charles, Louisiana (Community Demographics)". Dwellics. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  33. "Religion in Lake Charles, Louisiana". Sperling's BestPlaces.
  34. "Lake Charles Crime Rates and Statistics". Neighborhoodscout.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  35. "Lake Charles, LA Crime Rates & Crime Map". AreaVibes. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  36. "Total Maximum Daily Load for Toxics for the Calcasieu Estuary" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. May 2002.
  37. "Where to Fish in the Lake Charles Area". Gulf Coast Council Federation of Fly Fishers. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  38. "2011 Southwest Louisiana Major Employers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  39. "Shaw Group Announces Nuclear Component Manufacturing Plant Joint Venture - Atomic Insights". August 28, 2008. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  40. "Complete List Of Stores Located At Prien Lake Mall – A Shopping Center In Lake Charles, LA – A Simon Mall". Simon.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  41. "Lake Charles Power Centre". Derekdevelopmentcorp.com – Derek Development Corp. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  42. "The Cottage Shops Cultural District". thecottageshops.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  43. Boone, Timothy. "The Advocate". Theadvocate.com. The Advocate. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  44. "L'Auberge Casino Resort Property Fact Sheet". KPLCtc.com. January 14, 2013.
  45. Erin Mulvaney (December 7, 2014). "Houston billionaire's Lake Charles casino opens early". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  46. Kaplan, David (July 25, 2013). "Golden Nugget to be erected in Louisiana with 'the best synergy outside of Vegas'". Mysanantonio.com – San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  47. "History". Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  48. "Rosa Hart Theatre / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  49. "The Lake Charles Little Theater Home". The Lake Charles Little Theatre 337-433-7988. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  50. "Imperial Calcasieu Museum - the Leading Fine Arts and Cultural Center of Lake Charles, LA". Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  51. "Imperial Calcasieu Museum - the Leading Fine Arts and Cultural Center of Lake Charles, LA". Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  52. "Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  53. "Charlestown Farmer's Market / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  54. "African American Heritage Trail". Astorylikenoother.com. October 26, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  55. Lake Charles. "The Mardi Gras Museum in Lake Charles". Swlamardigras.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  56. Lake Charles. "Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras History in Lake Charles". Swlamardigras.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  57. "Community Links". City of Lake Charles. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  58. "Meeting of the Downtown Development Authority" (PDF). City of Lake Charles. October 1, 2012.
  59. "2012 Riverside Park Fall Festival". City of Lake Charles. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  60. "Meeting of the Downtown Development Authority" (PDF). City of Lake Charles. September 4, 2012.
  61. "Welcome@McNeese Library". Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  62. "Calcasieu Parish Public Library". Archived from the original on April 12, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  63. "Calcasieu Parish Public Library : History of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library Branches". Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  64. "Invalid Access". Admin.xosn.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  65. "Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail | Louisiana Travel". Audubontrail.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  66. "City of Lake Charles, Louisiana /". cityoflakecharles.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  67. "Adventure Cove | Louisiana Official Travel and Tourism Information". Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  68. "What to do in Southwest Louisiana". Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
  69. "/ City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  70. "City of Lake Charles, Louisiana – Chief of Police Dixon". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  71. "City of Lake Charles, Louisiana /". cityoflakecharles.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  72. "City of Lake Charles, Louisiana /". cityoflakecharles.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  73. "University Police – McNeese State University". Mcneese.edu. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  74. Retrieved April 3, 2010 Archived July 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  75. "Judges and Staff". 14th Judicial District Court. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  76. Retrieved May 26, 2010 Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  77. Retrieved May 26, 2010 Archived December 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  78. "General Information – McNeese State University – Acalog ACMS™". Catalog.mcneese.edu. September 11, 1939. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  79. "McNeese State University". Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  80. "McNeese State University". Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  81. "About SOWELA Technical Community College Programs, Non-credit Programs". Sowela.edu. July 1, 2003. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  82. "Fast Facts – Delta Tech". Deltatech.edu. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  83. "I10 Calcasieu River Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  84. "LaDOTD". Dotd.louisiana.gov. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  85. "LaDOTD". Dotd.louisiana.gov. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  86. nileforest. "Lake Charles Regional Airport". Flylakecharles.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  87. "About – Chennault International Airport". Chennault.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  88. "About - Port of Lake Charles - Port of Lake Charles". portlc.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  89. "Calcasieu River Ship Channel – Port of Lake Charles". February 22, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  90. "Transit / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  91. "Water Operations / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana". Cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  92. Smigelski, Joseph (May 25, 2011). "Lucinda Williams: She Breaks My Heart". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  93. "Blue Vinyl". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  94. "Mercy". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  95. "Good Boy". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  96. "IMDb: Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA"". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  97. "Welcome". Krewe de Charlie Sioux. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  98. Sister City directory Archived June 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lake Charles.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.