Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles (French: Lac Charles) is the fifth-most populous 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.

Lake Charles, Louisiana
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
Nickname: 
The Lake Area
Location of Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Lake Charles
Location in Louisiana
Lake Charles
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W
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
Members list
Area
  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)
83,444
  Density1,856.0/sq mi (716.59/km2)
  Urban
auto
  Metro
254,652
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.

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