City of Lake Charles
City
Downtown Lake Charles from the west side of Lake Charles
Nickname : Festival Capital of Louisiana
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Calcasieu
Area	42.5 mi² (110.1 km²)
- land	40.2 mi² (104.1 km²)
- water	2.4 mi² (6.2 km²), 5.65%
- metro	3,026 mi² (7,837.3 km²)
Location
- coordinates	30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W / 30.21472, -93.20861Coordinates: 30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W / 30.21472, -93.20861
- elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population	71,757 (2000)
- metro	193,568 (2000)
Density	1,786.6 /mi² (689.8 /km²)
- metro	64 /mi² (24.7 /km²)
Founded	1852
- Incorporated	March 7, 1861
- Re-Incorporated	March 16, 1867
Mayor	Randy Roach
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code	337
Location of Lake Charles in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Website : http://www.cityoflakecharles.com

Lake Charles is the fifth largest incorporated city in the US state of Louisiana. ^{[1] [2]} It is the major cultural and educational center in the southwest region of the state and one of the most important in Acadiana. As of the 2000 U.S. census, Lake Charles' population was 71,757. The city serves as the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish. Lake Charles is a freshwater lake located on the Calcasieu River in Southwest Louisiana just behind the western tier of the City of Lake Charles city limits. ... Motto: E Mari Merces(Latin) From the Sea, Wealth Coordinates: , Country Province Established April 1, 1996 Government  - Type Regional Municipality  - Mayor Peter Kelly  - Governing body Halifax Regional Council  - MPs List of MPs Alexa McDonough Geoff Regan Michael Savage Peter Stoffer (Bill Casey) (Gerald Keddy) (Peter MacKay)  - MLAs List of MLAs... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... List of cities, towns, and villages in Louisiana, arranged in alphabetical order. ... Download high resolution version (1629x792, 160 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Lake Charles is a freshwater lake located on the Calcasieu River in Southwest Louisiana just behind the western tier of the City of Lake Charles city limits. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Area code 337 is a telephone area code that covers southernwestern Louisiana. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 331 × 303 pixelsFull resolution (331 × 303 pixel, file size: 12 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Donaldsonville, Louisiana Gonzales, Louisiana Sorrento, Louisiana... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_LA.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Louisiana ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... A U.S. state is any one of the 50 states which have membership of the federation known as the United States of America (USA or U.S.). The separate state governments and the U.S. federal government share sovereignty. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Map of Acadiana Region with the Cajun Heartland USA subregion highlighted in dark red. ... Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... A parish seat is the administrative center of a parish in the US state of Louisiana. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...

Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the parishes of Calcasieu and Cameron. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area. Map of Louisiana highlighting the Lake Charles metropolitan area. ... Cameron Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Map of Louisiana highlighting the Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area The Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area is made up of three parishes in the Acadiana region of southwestern Louisiana. ...

The city is considered a major petrochemical refining center, gaming center, and home to McNeese State University. Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of petroleum (hydrocarbon) origin. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... McNeese State University, founded in 1939, is a university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ...

With over 75 festivals held annually, Lake Charles is referred to as the Festival Capital of Louisiana.

History

18th and 19th Centuries

Settlement and Incorporation

While several Indian tribes are known to have lived in the area of modern Lake Charles, the first European settlers arrived in the 1760s. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Martin LeBleu and his wife, Dela Marion, of Bordeaux, France were the first recorded Europeans to settle the area which they did in around 1781. The area they settled is now known as the LeBleu Settlement. Charles Sallier married LeBleu's daughter, Catherine LeBleu. The Salliers built their home on the beach where Lake Charles now stands. By 1860 the area become known as Charles Town in Sallier's honor. Bordeaux (Bordèu in Gascon) is a France. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Among the first to settle what is known today as Lake Charles were Mr. ...

The Rio Hondo, which flowed through Lake Charles, was later called Quelqueshue, a Native American term meaning "Crying Eagle." This term would later lend itself to the name of the parish, Calcasieu. On March 7, 1861, Lake Charles was officially incorporated as the town of Charleston, Louisiana. Lake Charles is a freshwater lake located on the Calcasieu River in Southwest Louisiana just behind the western tier of the City of Lake Charles city limits. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Industrial Growth and the Civil War

Lake Charles [lower left] is west of Lafayette or Baton Rouge, southwest of Alexandria and south of Natchitoches. Roads also lead to De Ridder, Kinder, Eunice, Jennings, Crowley and Sulphur to Orange, Texas.

The city's growth was fairly slow until Captain Daniel Goos, a Frisian by birth, came to the city in 1855. Goos established a lumber mill and schooner dock, now called Goosport. He promoted a profitable trade with Texas and Mexican ports by sending his schooner down river into the Gulf of Mexico. Until the arrival of Goos, a man named Jacob Ryan dominated the lumber industry. Between 1817 and 1855, the timber from longleaf pine and bald cypress remained the city's primary economic industry. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Lafayette is a city located on the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. ... Capitol Building Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, a state of the United States of America. ... Alexandria is a city in Louisiana, U.S.A.; it is the parish seat of Rapides Parish, on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. ... Natchitoches is a city located in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. ... De Ridder is a city located in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. ... Kinder is a town located in Allen Parish, Louisiana. ... Eunice is a city located in St. ... Jennings is a city located in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. ... Crowley is a city located in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. ... Sulphur is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Orange is a city located in Orange County, Texas. ... The Frisians are an ethnic group of northwestern Europe, inhabiting an area known as Frisia. ... Timber in storage for later processing at a sawmill Lumber or timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use — from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use — as structural material for construction... Two-masted fishing schooner A schooner (IPA: ) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... ...

Jacob Ryan convinced the state government to move the parish seat to Lake Charles from its former location at Marion, a settlement about eight miles upriver. Later that year, Ryan and Samuel Kirby transferred the parish courthouse and jail by barge to Lake Charles, which was at that time still named Charleston. Six years after the city was incorporated, dissatisfaction over the name Charleston arose; on March 16, 1867, Charleston, Louisiana, was incorporated into the town of Lake Charles. Marion is a town located in Union Parish, Louisiana. ... is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

By the time of the U.S. Civil War, many Americans from the North, along with a large influx of continental Europeans and Jews, had come to settle the area. Attitudes toward slavery in Lake Charles were mixed as slavery was secondary to business interests. In fact, fewer than 5% of the population were slaves. Many citizens became involved in the war, and young men from some local families served on the Confederate army. It is also known that some local families supported the cause of the Union. The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the northern states, popularly referred to as the U.S., the Union, the North, or the Yankees; and the seceding southern states, commonly referred to as the Confederate States of America, the CSA, the Confederacy... Slave redirects here. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Religion...

After the Civil War

In the years following the Civil War, Lake Charles regained its status as a major lumber community. Especially in the 1880s, the city saw an increase in population and economic demand due largely due to an innovative advertising campaign by J.B. Watkins. With his astounding $200,000 campaign, the town grew 400% during this decade.

Using the pine wood from the city's mills, construction of large Victorian mansions overwhelmed Lake Charles in the 1890s; carpenters struggled to outbuild each other with their use of elaborate fretwork and decoration, including spindles, newel posts, soldiers and paneled doors. The area of present-day Lake Charles located just east of downtown is known as the Charpentier District due to architecture during this period; charpentier means carpenter in French. Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ...

Twentieth Century

The courthouse donated by Ryan and Kirby was replaced many times, including a two-story cypress wood one in 1872, then a brick one in 1890. The 1890 courthouse was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1910. The historic Calcasieu Courthouse was completed in 1912, two months after the Louisiana legislature divided the former Imperial Calcasieu parish into the current parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu. Allen Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Beauregard Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Cameron Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...

After World War II Lake Charles experienced industrial growth with the onset of the petrochemical refining industries. The city grew to a height of 80,000 people in the early 1980s, but with economic recession, the population declined. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 71,757. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ...

Present Day

The destructive force of Hurricane Rita. Looking down the remains of the lakefront boardwalk toward the damaged Harrah's Lake Charles Casino property.

Pinnacle Entertainment opened their first riverboat casino in the Lake Charles area in May 2005. The name of the resort, L'Auberge du Lac, comes from the French for "The Inn on the Lake." The casino includes an 18-hole, championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio, several dining venues, a spa and salon, a pool area complete with lazy river, and several retail stores. It employs over 2000 citizens. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 841 KB) Summary Taken by Douglas Grohne on October 20, 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 841 KB) Summary Taken by Douglas Grohne on October 20, 2005. ... Great White Games is a publisher of role-playing games owned and operated by Shane Lacey Hensley. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... LAuberge du Lac Casino and Resort (French for The Lakes Inn) is a Lake Charles-based casino owned and operated by Pinnacle Entertainment. ... This article is about the sport of golf. ... Tom Fazio (born February 10, 1945) began his career as a golf course designer in the suburban Philadelphia and has created, considered by many, some of the most visually attractive golf holes in the world. ...

Lake Charles suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Rita, which struck the city as a Category 2 hurricane early on September 24, 2005. On September 22, Mayor Randy Roach ordered a mandatory evacuation of Lake Charles, and approximately 90% of the residents evacuated prior to the storm. Evacuees were asked not to return for 48 hours, due to the wind damage and flooding. There was extensive damage to the city's electrical grid as some areas took as long as three weeks to restore power. Many apartment residents had to be evicted because of the mold caused by the hurricane. Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most... is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Electric power transmission is the second process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ...

The Lake Charles American Press newspaper has a hurricane blog posted on the internet which captures the essence of the events that occurred in this significant event which impacted the City's history and residents forever: http://americanpress.blogspot.com

As part of the city's recovery from Hurricane Rita, elected officials proposed a plan to renovate the downtown area to make it more pedestrian-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing. Charrettes were held presenting architectural concept drawings and ideas of what downtown Lake Charles could look like in future years. Of primary concern was quality and affordable housing to help revitalize the area, and at the same time provide more housing for the housing shortage in the last few years. A parish-wide ballot initiative to increase sales and property taxes for 20 years to fund this proposal and numerous local road projects was rejected by taxpayers on July 15, 2006. Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On June 20, 2006 a Citgo Petroleum Plant located in Westlake released between 15,000 and 18,000 barrels of oil into the Calcasieu Ship Channel. The United States Coast Guard was called in to contain the spilled oil which flowed down the Calcasieu River; closures of many waterways included the Calcasieu River Channel and one mile of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Port of Lake Charles remained closed for some time after the disaster due to contamination.^[3] is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Citgo Petroleum Corporation or Citgo, a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., the Venezuelan state-owned petroleum company, is a United States-incorporated firm refiner and marketer of gasoline, lubricants, petrochemicals and other petroleum products. ... Westlake is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Synthetic motor oil For other uses, see Oil (disambiguation). ... USCG HH-65 Dolphin USCG HH-60J JayHawk USCG HC-130H departs Mojave USCG HC-130H on International Ice Patrol duties The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is at all times a branch of the U.S. military, a maritime law enforcement agency, and a federal regulatory body. ... The Calcasieu River (KAL-kuh-shoo) is a river on the Gulf Coast of southwestern Louisiana in the United States. ... Categories: Stub ...

Oil prices surged to over $74 per barrel in part due to the Citgo spillage. The Calcasieu Refining Co., which normally processes 76,500 barrels a day, was at low levels weeks after the accident.^[4]

One idea for the revitalization of downtown Lake Charles circa March 2007.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1922x1136, 1511 KB) My pic. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1922x1136, 1511 KB) My pic. ...

Geography and Climate

 Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana, and borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. It is a port on a deep-water channel to the Gulf of Mexico, and was first settled in 1852. 

Lake Charles is located at 30°12′53″N, 93°12′31″W (30.214656, -93.208537)^GR1 and has an elevation of 13 feet (4.0 m)^GR3. The Calcasieu River (KAL-kuh-shoo) is a river on the Gulf Coast of southwestern Louisiana in the United States. ... Prien Lake is a lake that is connected to the Calcasieu River, which flows through the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana (USA). ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 110.2 km² (42.5 mi²). 104.0 km² (40.2 mi²) of it is land and 6.1 km² (2.4 mi²) of it (5.57%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Primarily the city is located on a plain about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Many pine trees used to grow around the waterways, and some still do. Few hills are to be seen, except when one is near the water, or in Moss Bluff.

Nearby Cities

The following is a list of Lake Charles' nearby cities:

• Moss Bluff - suburb of 10,535 north of Lake Charles via U.S. Highway 171. Moss Bluff is the fastest-growing area in the greater city^{[citation needed]}, and predicted to be the largest satellite in the near-future.
• LeBleu Settlement - extensive area spanning over Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes, adjacent to Moss Bluff and Iowa.
• Iowa - small city of 2,663 east of Lake Charles.
• Carlyss - town of 4,049 located between Sulphur and Hackberry. Carlyss is also one of the fastest growing communities in Calcasieu parish^{[citation needed]}.
• Sulphur - city of 22,512 located to the west of Lake Charles via Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90.
• Westlake - suburb of 4,668 located directly west of downtown Lake Charles across from the Calcasieu River and Lake Charles.

Capital One Tower in downtown Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita

Moss Bluff is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... United States Highway 171 is a north-south United States highway. ... The LeBleu Settlement is named after the first residents of present-day Lake Charles, Mr. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Iowa is a town in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Carlyss is a census-designated place located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Hackberry is a census-designated place located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. ... Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Interstate 10, a major transcontinental Interstate Highway in the Southern U.S., runs across the southern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... United States Highway 90 is an east-west United States highway. ... Westlake is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... The Calcasieu River (KAL-kuh-shoo) is a river on the Gulf Coast of southwestern Louisiana in the United States. ... Lake Charles is a freshwater lake located on the Calcasieu River in Southwest Louisiana just behind the western tier of the City of Lake Charles city limits. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 663 KB)My picture I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 663 KB)My picture I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Capital One Tower (formerly Hibernia)in downtown Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita The Capitol One Tower is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana and is the tallest building in southwest Louisiana. ... Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1] Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect Areas affected Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most...

Neighborhoods/Districts

List of relatively large or established neighborhoods and districts in Lake Charles:

Central Business District

Downtown

North Lake Charles

Central Lake Charles

• Historic Charpentier District
• Historic Margaret Place District
• Oak Park

South Lake Charles

• Barbe Court
• Graywood Estates
• The Oaks
• University
• Gulfgate
• Heyd Park
• Sunset Acres
• Brentwood

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness.

Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.

Demographics

As of the census ^GR2 of 2000, there were 71,757 people,^[2] 27,974 households, and 18,015 families residing in the city. The population density was 689.7/km² (1,786.6/mi²). There were 31,429 housing units^[2] at an average density of 302.1/km² (782.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was:

• 50.23% White
• 46.82% African American
• 0.23% Native American
• 1.07% Asian
• 0.03% Pacific Islander
• 0.47% from other races
• 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 27,974 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06. The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... Matrimony redirects here. ...

In the city of Lake Charles, the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,774, and the median income for a family was $37,774. Males had a median income of $33,005 versus $21,041 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,922. About 16.3% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Education

See also: List of schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles' public schools are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System, although there are a number of private schools located in the city. List of schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States: // [edit] Colleges and universities McNeese State University, graduate and undergraduate studies. ... Calcasieu Parish Public Schools is a school district based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. ...

See also: List of high schools in Louisiana and Calcasieu Parish

// This is a list of high schools in the state of Louisiana. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...

Colleges and universities

See also: List of schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles is home to McNeese State University, a public university in the Louisiana School System. McNeese offers a variety of courses, including well-respected schools of education, engineering, nursing, and biology. Over 8,000 students attend the university. The motto is "Excellence, with a Personal Touch." List of schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States: // [edit] Colleges and universities McNeese State University, graduate and undergraduate studies. ... McNeese State University, founded in 1939, is a university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... Engineering is the discipline of acquiring and applying knowledge of design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... For the song by Girls Aloud see Biology (song) Biology studies the variety of life (clockwise from top-left) E. coli, tree fern, gazelle, Goliath beetle Biology (from Greek: βίος, bio, life; and λόγος, logos, speech lit. ...

Also located in Lake Charles are Delta School of Business and Technology [2] and Sowela Technical Community College [3] which offer vocational courses.

Libraries

In March 1904 the Carnegie Memorial Library [4], the modern Calcasieu Parish Library, opened, having been partly financed by Andrew Carnegie and built on land donated by W. S. B. McLaren, President of the North American Land and Timber Company of London, England. Andrew Carnegie (last name pronounced IPA: )[1] (November 25, 1835 – August 11, 1919) was a Scottish industrialist, businessman, a major philanthropist, and the founder of Pittsburghs Carnegie Steel Company which later became U.S. Steel. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

The Calcasieu Parish Public Library [5] has several locations throughout Calcasieu Parish. Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...

Culture

Lake Charles has several small museums and other cultural facilities such as the Central School Arts and Humanities Center, the Children's Museum of Lake Charles, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, and the Mardi Gras Museum. The Old City Hall has been renovated for exhibition space and many moving art exhibits are displayed at the locale every year.

McNeese State University puts on The Banners Series, a series of various musical and theatrical performances, throughout the year. In addition, The Lake Charles Little Theatre, The Artists Civic Theatre Studios (ACTS) Theatre and The Children's Theatre Company provide theatrical shows using local talent.

The city boasts its own symphony orchestra, the Lake Charles Symphony. The Lake Charles Symphony is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ...

Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion in the Lake Charles area. Roman Catholicism is the largest individual denomination of which, claiming a Diocese of 82,414 parishioners, or about 33% of the general population, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles is currently led by Bishop Glen Provost. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (also known as the USCCB) is the official governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. ... The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles, located in southwest Louisiana (USA) is a fairly new diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church; it was founded in 1980. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... Glen John Provost (9 August 1949) is the current Bishop of Lake Charles since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 6 March 2007 to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles. ...

Lake Charles is home to several Protestant Christian denominations as well, which when combined, comprise the majority of the population. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Transportation

Interstate 10 passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Sulphur, Vinton, and eventually the Louisiana-Texas state border to the west; to the east lies Iowa and Jennings. Interstate 210 loops through the southern half of Lake Charles. U.S. Highway 90 runs parallel with Interstate 10, and U.S. Highway 171 connects the city with De Ridder. The main commercial road through the city is Ryan Street, which leads to downtown. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (abbreviated I-10) is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast interstate highway in the United States. ... Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Vinton is a town located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Iowa is a town in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Jennings is a city located in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. ... Interstate 210 (abbreviated I-210) in Louisiana is a 12. ... United States Highway 90 is an east-west United States highway. ... United States Highway 171 is a north-south United States highway. ... The city of DeRidder is the parish seat of Beauregard Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. ...

Lake Charles Regional Airport, located south of the city, is the Lake Charles's only airport which provides commercial services. Chennault International Airport, while a fully operational airport, is strictly an industrial and maintenance center. The latter airport is named for Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, the aviator famous for commanding the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II. Lake Charles Regional Airport (IATA: LCH, ICAO: KLCH) is a public airport located 5 miles (8 km) south of Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA. The airport has 2 runways. ... Chennault International Airport (IATA: CWF, ICAO: KCWF) is a public airport located 4 miles (6 km) east of the city of Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA. It was previously Chennault Air Force Base and before that, Lake Charles Air Force Base, and as such, was home to the... Maj. ... Flying Tigers was the nickname of the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG), a group of United States Army (USAAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and ground crew, recruited under a secret Presidential sanction by Claire Chennault. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

The Port of Lake Charles is the sixteenth-largest 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 Calcasieu Ship Channel provides direct access to the Gulf of Mexico 34-miles downstream. The ship channel, which has a projected depth of 40 feet and a bottom width of 400 feet, intersects the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just north of Calcasieu Lake. The Port of Lake Charles is an industrial port based in the city of Lake Charles. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Port. ... Categories: Stub ...

The City of Lake Charles has an operating bus system throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. On July 7, 2006, The U.S. Dept. of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a $290,142 grant to the Lake Charles Bus Terminal and Support Facilities Transit System. The City will use these funds towards their bus terminal and support facility, which adds more federal funds for engineering and design, as well as rehabilitation and renovation of the bus terminal and support facility.

A Greyhound Bus Station is located in Lake Charles, and Amtrak has a station located there.

Industry

Many area residents are employed by the petro-chemical refineries in nearby Westlake; some of the corporations with facilities in or around the city include PPG Industries, ConocoPhillips, and Citgo Petroleum Corporation. Westlake is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... PPG Industries NYSE: PPG was founded in 1883, under the name Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. ... ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is an international energy company with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas. ... Citgo Petroleum Corporation or Citgo, a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., the Venezuelan state-owned petroleum company, is a United States-incorporated firm refiner and marketer of gasoline, lubricants, petrochemicals and other petroleum products. ...

The Trunkline LNG terminal, immediately southwest of Lake Charles, is one of the United States' few LNG terminals. It has facilities for LNG receipt, storage and regassification. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas which has been artificially condensed into a liquid form by a combination of pressurisation and cryogenic cooling. ...

Manufacturing has been periodically struggling to achieve economic success in the area in order to diversify the economic base of the city. Chennault International Airport hosts Aeroframe (formerly EADS Aeroframe Services), which services airplanes, and a Northrop Grumman facility. Chennault International Airport (IATA: CWF, ICAO: KCWF) is a public airport located 4 miles (6 km) east of the city of Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA. It was previously Chennault Air Force Base and before that, Lake Charles Air Force Base, and as such, was home to the... Aeroframe, LLC is an airplane service company specializing in MRO, formed on August 1, 2005, when Roger Porter aqcuired EADS Aeroframe Services. ... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (EADS) is a large European aerospace corporation, formed by the merger on July 10, 2000 of Aérospatiale-Matra of France, Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain, and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) of Germany. ... The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of a 1994 merger between Northrop and Grumman. ...

On May 26, 2006, nearly 900 members of the Local 470 at PPG Industries went on strike due to issues of pensions, healthcare, and a 2-tier, hire-in wage rate. PPG proposed that newly hired employees would no longer receive retirement medical benefits or a defined-benefit pension. On August 31, 2006, striking members voted to ratify a new contract with PPG. PPG officials had threatened to permanently replace them and prolonged the strike by refusing to negotiate key issues, which left many members and community leaders bitter.

Holidays and Festivitals

Lake Charles plays host to over one hundred festivals and carnivals which give the city its nickname, "The Festival Capital of Louisiana."

Contraband Days

Main article: Contraband Days

Contraband Days is a 12-day, annual festival in early May filled with savory cajun food, family fun and festivities, including entertainment with live bands, and is attended by more than 200,000 people. It is one of the largest celebrations in Louisiana. The festival begins when pirate Jean Lafitte captures the port and throws the mayor of the city of Lake Charles into Lake Charles; i.e. the lake itself. It takes place the first two weekends in May ending on Mothers Day. The boardwalk on Lake Charles. ... Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles and peoples of other ethnicities with whom the Acadians eventually intermarried on the semitropical frontier. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Jean Lafitte (1776 - 1854?), was a famous pirate in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. ...

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in Southwest Louisiana has a colorful history dating back to 1882, when Momus, King of Mardi Gras, landed his royal yacht at the foot of Pujo Street in downtown Lake Charles. For other uses, see Mardi Gras (disambiguation). ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Throughout the two World Wars, Mardi Gras was downsized which lead to a lack of participation by the area's youth. However, an interest to redevelop the festivities arose, and the first Mardi Gras Ball in the Lake Charles area was staged in 1964. For other uses, see Mardi Gras (disambiguation). ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ...

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 prime 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.^[5] For other uses, see Mardi Gras (disambiguation). ... A Krewe (pronounced identically to English crew) is an organization that puts on a parade and or a ball for the Carnival season. ... This article is about the year. ...

Other Festivals

• Cajun Music and Food Festival
• CAL-CA-CHEW (Calcasieu) Festival
• Celtic Nations Heritage Festival
• International Food and Music Festival
• Marshland Festival
• Red, White, Blue and You July 4 Celebration
• Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival
• Veteran's Day Parade

Media

Print

Lake Charles has many publications in circulation. The most-widely distributed, daily newspaper is The American Press. Other popular periodicals include Lagniappe Magazine,''The Times of Southwest Louisiana, and Thrive magazine; however, the latter three are non-daily.

Television

Major television network affiliates serving the area include:

• 7 KPLC (NBC)
• 18 KLTL (PBS)
• 29 KVHP (FOX)

KPLC is the FCC identification call sign for TV channel 7, licensed to Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... The National Broadcasting Company or NBC is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is a state-run, viewer-supported network of PBS member stations serving the state of Louisiana. ... Note: Public Broadcasting Services is a broadcaster in Malta. ... KVHP channel 29 is a Fox affiliate for Lake Charles and southwestern Lousiana, owned locally by National Communications. ... FOX redirects here. ...

Radio

Low-power broadcasting is the concept of broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area. ...

Famous residents (Past & Present)

• Lynn Anderson, born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and famous for the classic song "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden," was married to oilman Harold "Spook" Stream of Lake Charles. They lived on Shell Beach Drive of Lake Charles until their divorce.
• Zachary Levi, actor, Born September 29, 1980 in Lake Charles, L.A.
• James David Cain (b. 1938) is a retiring state senator and former state representative from Beauregard Parish whose district includes a part of Calcasieu Parish.
• A.C. Clemons (1921-1992) was a trucking executive in Jefferson Davis Parish who was the first Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate since Reconstruction.
• Alvin Dark was a 1948 alumnus of the Boston Braves, a legend at LSU, and a former major league baseball player & manager.
• Michael E. DeBakey, world-renown heart surgeon, was the first person to successfully implant an artificial heart (in 1963), was born in Lake Charles. He's a member of Health Care Hall of Fame, a recipient of The United Nations Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, and The National Medal of Science. Additionally, he was the originator of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or M.A.S.H. unit, concept.
• Andre Dubus, well-known author and essayist, was born in Lake Charles and was educated at McNeese State University.^[6]
• Joe Dumars, former player and current General Manager for the Detroit Pistons, played for McNeese State University before going on to have a successful NBA career including being named the MVP of the 1989 NBA Finals. More recently, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.^[7]
• David Filo, now a billionaire, was born and raised in the Lake Charles area called Moss Bluff. He created the Internet portal YAHOO! along with several partners.
• Sean Patrick Flanery, who starred in The Boondock Saints and The Dead Zone television series, was born in Lake Charles on October 11, 1965.^[8]
• Mike Heinen, American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. Former winner of the PGA Shell Houston Open.
• Lether Frazar, McNeese university president and lieutenant governor of Louisiana under Earl Kemp Long from 1956-1960
• Bob Hilton was the host of the game show Truth or Consequences and numerous other game shows of the past. He appeared briefly as the announcer for The Price is Right. He began his career at KPLC TV.^[9]
• Sam Houston Jones was born in Merryville, Louisiana in 1897. He served as Assistant Parish Prosecutor in Lake Charles for nine years before defeating the Long dynasty, becoming Governor of Louisiana in 1940. Governor Jones died on February 8, 1978 in Lake Charles, where he is buried at Prien Pines Cemetery.
• Jesse Knowles was a businessman, civic leader, state legislator representing Calcasieu Parish, and survivor of the World War II Bataan Death March.^[10]
• Nellie Lutcher is a jazz singer who gained some national popularity in the late 1940s and 1950s. At one point she recorded for Capital Records. ^[11]
• Robert Marciano, a weather anchor for CNN, was the morning and chief meteorologist at KPLC TV in Lake Charles.
• Tommy Mason was the first draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1961.
• Charles "Cotton" Nash was the first Kentucky basketball player to average twenty points in three straight seasons. In 1967 and 1968 he was in the pros.
• Isaac Ryan lost his life as one of the defenders of the Alamo.
• Eddie Shuler was the founder of Goldband Records and a legend in the South for recording swamp pop, cajun, and other genres of music. Dolly Parton, at the age of 13, recorded her first single at Goldband Studios.^[12] Rockin' Sidney, Jo-El Sonnier, Freddy Fender, Phil Phillips and many others have passed through the doors of the little studio on Church Street.
• Joe Gray Taylor was a distinguished historian of Louisiana and the American South and a professor and graduate school dean at McNeese State University.
• George H. Wells (1833-1905) was a Northern-born Confederate States of America officer who practiced law in Lake Charles and served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1878 to 1880.
• Singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams was born in Lake Charles and recorded the song "Lake Charles" about Clyde Woodward, a boyfriend of hers born in Nacogdoches, Texas, who nevertheless told everybody that he was from Lake Charles. Lucinda's father, Miller Williams, taught English at McNeese State University at the time of her birth.
• Ted Williams, a Fox News contributor and a criminal defense attorney, was born in Lake Charles.

Lynn Anderson (b. ... Nickname: Motto: A Place of Excellence Location in North Dakota Coordinates: , Country State County Grand Forks County Founded June 15, 1870 Incorporated February 22, 1881 Government  - Mayor Michael Brown Area  - City  19. ... (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden (AKA Rose Garden) was the title of a song written by Joe South, most famously associated with Lynn Anderson, whose recording topped the U.S. country charts and reached #3 on the U.S. pop charts in 1970. ... Zachary Levi Pugh (born September 29, 1980, better known as Zachary Levi), is an American television actor best known for playing Kipp Steadman on the ABC sitcom Less Than Perfect. ... James David Cain (born October 13, 1938) is a retired farmer and rancher from the Dry Creek community in eastern Beauregard Parish, who is a departing Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Beauregard Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... A.C. Ace Clemons, Jr. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... GOP redirects here. ... The Louisiana State Legislature is the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... For other uses, see Reconstruction (disambiguation). ... Alvin Ralph Dark (born January 7, 1922 in Comanche, Oklahoma), nicknamed Blackie and The Swamp Fox, is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. ... Major Leagues redirects here. ... Michael Ellis DeBakey Michael Ellis DeBakey (born September 7, 1908, Born Michel Dabaghi (according to the American Lebanese Medical Association (ALMA). ... The Mobile Army Surgical hospital (MASH) refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. ... Andre Dubus (August 11, 1936 - February 24, 1999) was an American short story writer, essayist, and autobiographer. ... Joe Dumars (born May 24, 1963 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is the Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations and a former NBA basketball player. ... The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area. ... NBA redirects here. ... Basketball Hall of Fame Logo The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A billionaire is a person who has a net worth of at least one billion units of currency, such as United States Dollars (USD), Pounds or Euros. ... Moss Bluff is a census-designated place located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Sean Patrick Flanery (born October 11, 1965 in Lake Charles, Louisiana) is an American Actor known for such roles as Connor MacManus in The Boondock Saints, and its sequel, as well as portraying Indiana Jones in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. ... The Boondock Saints is a 1999 action crime drama film written and directed by Troy Duffy. ... The Dead Zone may refer to: The Dead Zone (novel) - A 1979 novel by Stephen King. ... // William Michael Heinen (born January 17, 1967) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. ... In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. ... The PGA Tour is an organization that operates the USAs main professional golf tours. ... // Golfs Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S. based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that levels Qualifying School (the main tours qualifying tournament, popularly referred to as Q-School) to earn their PGA Tour... The Shell Houston Open is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. ... Lether Edward Frazar (December 1, 1904 – May 15, 1960) was the Democratic lieutenant governor of Louisiana under Governor Earl Kemp Long from 1956-1960, who had earlier, as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Beauregard Parish, authored the state teacher retirement law. ... A Lieutenant Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... Earl Kemp Long (26 August 1895 - 5 September 1960) was an American politician and three-time Governor of Louisiana. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bob Hilton with The Price Is Right announcer Rich Fields. ... Sam H. Jones Sam Houston Jones (July 15, 1897 - February 7, 1978) was the reform Democratic governor of Louisiana from 1940 to 1944. ... Merryville is a town located in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. ... This is a list of Governors of [[Louisiana== First French Era == Sauvole de la Villantry 1699-1701 Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville 1701-1713 Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac 1713-1716 Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville 1716-1717 Jean-Michel de Lepinay 1717-1718 Jean... Jesse Knowles (1919-April 23, 2006) was a Lake Charles, Louisiana, businessman, civic leader, former member of the state legislature representing Calcasieu Parish, and a survivor of the Bataan Death March in World War II. He was born in Merryville, Louisiana, in Beauregard Parish, but had resided in Lake Charles... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Note on correct pronunciation: Filipino (Tagalog) speakers pronounce Bataan as (phonetically) Bata-An. In English, the name is rendered Baaa-Tan or Bat-tan. The Bataan Death March (also known as The Death March of Bataan) took place in the Philippines in 1942 and was later accounted as a Japanese... Nellie Lutcher (born October 15, 1915) was an African-American jazz singer and pianist who achieved some prominence in the late 1940s and early 1950s. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Viktor the Viking League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division... The University of Kentucky, also referred to as UK, is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Goldband Records is an American record company based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, founded in 1945 and best known for its Cajun and R&B recordings in the 1950s and 1960s. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American, Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, composer, author, actress, and philanthropist. ... Rockin Sidney Simien ( April 9, 1938 - February 25, 1998) was an United States R&B, Zydeco, and Soul music musician who began recording in the late 1950s and continued performing until his death. ... Jo-El Sonnier (IPA pronunciation: ) (born October 2, 1946 in Rayne, Louisiana) is an American country music and Cajun music artist. ... Freddy Fender Freddy Fender (June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006), born Baldemar Huerta in San Benito, Texas, USA, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country, and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. ... Phil Phillips promotional advertisement Phil Phillips (born John Phillip Baptiste on March 14, 1931 in Lake Charles, Louisiana) is an African American singer and songwriter best known for his 1959 hit Sea of Love. ... Joe Gray Taylor (February 14, 1920 - December 8, 1987) was a historian of the American South who published fifteen essays and eight books, including Louisiana: a Bicentennial History (1976). ... This article is about the occupation of studying history. ... George H. Wells (September 1, 1833 - February 1, 1905) was a Northern-born officer in the Army of the Confederate States of America and an attorney and Democratic politician in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... Year 1833 (MDCCCXXXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see 1905 (disambiguation). ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Religion... The Louisiana State Legislature is the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other persons named Lucinda Williams, see Lucinda Williams (disambiguation). ... Nacogdoches (pronounced ) is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Cultural references

Music:

• Subject and title of the song Lake Charles by Lucinda Williams.
• Mentioned in the lyrics of the song Continental Trailways Blues by Steve Earle.
• Mentioned in the lyrics of the song Up on Cripple Creek by The Band:

• Mentioned in the lyrics of the song Stet Troop '88! by Stetsasonic:

Literature For other persons named Lucinda Williams, see Lucinda Williams (disambiguation). ... Steve Earle (born Stephen Fain Earle January 17, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, well known for his rock and country music, as well as for his political views. ... For other uses, see Band. ... Stetsasonic, appearing on the cover of their debut album, On Fire Stetsasonic was an American hip hop group formed in 1981 (see 1981 in music) in Brooklyn, New York. ...

• Mentioned in Jack Kerouac's On The Road - After leaving Sal Paradise in Mexico, the famous Dean Moriarty's car breaks down in Lake Charles.
• Lake Charles is mentioned in the movie Catch Me If You Can, staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
• Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Angels in America, was born to a Jewish family in Manhattan, but his parents, William Kushner and Sylvia (Deutscher) Kushner, both classically trained musicians, moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana shortly after his birth. His father William is the recently retired conductor of the Lake Charles symphony orchestra.

This article is about the novel On the Road. ... Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 motion picture set in the 1960s. ... Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is an award winning play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. ...

Sister Cities

Lake Charles is a sister city of:

• Perpignan, Catalonia, France, 1993.^[13]
• Sioux City, Iowa, 1996.^[14]

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Perpignan (French: Perpignan, pronounced ; Catalan Perpinyà, pronounced ) is a commune and the préfecture (administrative capital city) of the Pyrénées-Orientales département in southern France. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Sioux City (IPA: ) is a city located in northwest Iowa in the United States. ...

Films

• 2002 - Blue Vinyl (dir. Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand)

Blue Vinyl is a 2002 documentary film directed by Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand. ...

External links and References

• City of Lake Charles
• Calcasieu Public Library - history of the library
• Showcasing the Recovery of Louisiana, including the proposed Downtown Development of the City of Lake Charles
• The City of Lake Charles website on Contraband Days
• The Official Contraband Days website
• The Lake Charles LNG terminal
• Level 6 Studios Inc. Lake Area's Largest ISP

References

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Parish seat: Lake Charles
Cities	DeQuincy | Lake Charles | Sulphur | Westlake The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... A parish seat is the administrative center of a parish in the US state of Louisiana. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... DeQuincy is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Westlake is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ...
Towns	Iowa | Vinton Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Ronda, Spain Main street in Bastrop, Texas, United States, a small town A town is a community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... Iowa is a town in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Vinton is a town located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ...
Census-designated places	Carlyss | Moss Bluff | Prien A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... Carlyss is a census-designated place located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Moss Bluff is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Prien is a census-designated place located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ...

	v • d • e State of Louisiana Baton Rouge (capital)
Topics	History | Louisianans | Constitution | Governors | Lieutenant Governors | Attorneys General | Legislature | Supreme Court Image File history File links Flag_of_Louisiana. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For the Canadian restaurant, see Baton Rouge (restaurant). ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... The history of Louisiana is long and rich. ... People from the state of Louisiana who have achieved fame or note include: Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Jamar Adcock (1917–1991) politician and banker... This is a list of Governors of [[Louisiana== First French Era == Sauvole de la Villantry 1699-1701 Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville 1701-1713 Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac 1713-1716 Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville 1716-1717 Jean-Michel de Lepinay 1717-1718 Jean... The Office of Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana is the second highest state office in Louisiana. ... The office of Attorney General of Louisiana existed from the colonial period to the present. ... The Louisiana State Legislature is the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... // The Supreme Court of Louisiana The law of Louisiana and the Supreme Court of Louisiana both have a rich history based in the colonial governments of France and Spain during the early eighteenth century. ...
Regions	Acadiana | Central Louisiana | Florida Parishes | Greater New Orleans | North Louisiana This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ... Map of Acadiana Region with the Cajun Heartland USA subregion highlighted in dark red. ... The Central Louisiana region is shaded in green. ... The Florida Parishes The Florida Parishes are those parishes in Louisiana which were part of West Florida in the early 19th century. ... The New Orleans Metropolitan Area, consisting of the Greater New Orleans region and three addtional parishes which share the perimeter of Lake Ponchartrain, is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Louisiana, centered around the city of New Orleans. ... Map of Louisiana regions, the North region is shaded in green. ...
Cities	Alexandria | Baton Rouge | Bossier City | Houma | Kenner | Lafayette | Lake Charles | Monroe | New Iberia | New Orleans | Opelousas | Ruston | Shreveport | Slidell | Sulphur Metropolitan areas and urbanized areas of Louisiana by population. ... Alexandria is a city in Louisiana and the parish seat of Rapides Parish. ... For the Canadian restaurant, see Baton Rouge (restaurant). ... Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, USA. [1] [2] As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 56,461. ... The city of Houma (pronounced ) is the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Kenner is a suburb of New Orleans that has a population of 70,517 (census 2000). ... : Hub City : The Heart of Cajun Country United States Louisiana Lafayette 47. ... The city of Monroe is the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. ... The city of New Iberia (French: La Nouvelle-Ibérie) is the parish seat of Iberia Parish, in the US state of Louisiana, 125 miles (201 km) west of New Orleans. ... NOLA redirects here. ... The city of Opelousas is the parish seat of St. ... The city of Ruston is the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... : Port City , River City , Ratchet City : The Next Great City of the South United States Louisiana Caddo 117. ... , Slidell is a city in St. ... Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. ...
CDPs	Chalmette | Harvey | LaPlace | Marrero | Metairie | Terrytown A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... The unincorporated community of Chalmette is the parish seat of St. ... Harvey is a census-designated place and town located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. ... La Place (sometimes spelled LaPlace or Laplace) is a suburb of New Orleans and a census-designated place in St. ... Marrero is a census-designated place and unincorporated community located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. ... , Metairie (local pronunciations , ) is a suburb of New Orleans. ... Terrytown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana on the West <a href=http://en. ...
Metros	Alexandria | Baton Rouge | Houma‑Bayou Cane‑Thibodaux | Lafayette | Lake Charles | Monroe | New Orleans | Shreveport‑Bossier City This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Map of Louisiana highlighting the Alexandria metropolitan area. ... The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area, centered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is inhabited by about 700,000 people. ... Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodeaux is a metropolitan statistical area, synonynous with both Terrebonne and Assumption Parishes, located in southeast Louisiana. ... Lafayette metropolitan area, located in the Cajun Heartland region of Acadiana, is composed of Lafayette and St. ... Lake Charles metropolitan area, located in Acadiana, is composed of Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. ... Map of Louisiana highlighting the Monroe metropolitan area. ... The New Orleans Metropolitan Area, consisting of the Greater New Orleans region and three addtional parishes which share the perimeter of Lake Ponchartrain, is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Louisiana, centered around the city of New Orleans. ... Shreveport-Bossier City is a metropolitan statistical area, composed of Bossier, Caddo and De Soto parishes, located in North Louisiana. ...
Parishes	Acadia | Allen | Ascension | Assumption | Avoyelles | Beauregard | Bienville | Bossier | Caddo | Calcasieu | Caldwell | Cameron | Catahoula | Claiborne | Concordia | De Soto | East Baton Rouge | East Carroll | East Feliciana | Evangeline | Franklin | Grant | Iberia | Iberville | Jackson | Jefferson | Jefferson Davis | La Salle | Lafayette | Lafourche | Lincoln | Livingston | Madison | Morehouse | Natchitoches | Orleans | Ouachita | Plaquemines | Pointe Coupee | Rapides | Red River | Richland | Sabine | St. Bernard | St. Charles | St. Helena | St. James | St. John the Baptist | St. Landry | St. Martin | St. Mary | St. Tammany | Tangipahoa | Tensas | Terrebonne | Union | Vermilion | Vernon | Washington | Webster | West Baton Rouge | West Carroll | West Feliciana | Winn List of Louisiana parishes The state of Louisiana is divided into parishes in the same way that the other states of the United States are divided into counties. ... Acadia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Allen Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Ascension Parish (French: Paroisse dAscension) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Assumption Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Avoyelles (French: Paroisse des Avoyelles) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Beauregard Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Bienville Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Bossier Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Caddo Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Caldwell Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Cameron Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Catahoula Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Claiborne Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Concordia Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... De Soto Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Location Location of St. ... East Carroll Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... East Feliciana Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Evangeline Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Franklin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Grant Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Iberia Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Iberville Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. ... Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... La Salle Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Lafayette Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Lafourche Parish is a parish located in the south of the state of Louisiana. ... Lincoln Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Livingston Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Madison Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Morehouse Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Natchitoches Parish (French: Paroisse des Natchitoches) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... NOLA redirects here. ... Ouachita Parish is a parish (population 148,287 as of the 2000 census) located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Plaquemines Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Pointe Coupee Parish, pronounced Point Coo-Pea in English (French: Paroisse de la Pointe Coupée), is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Rapides Parish (French: Paroisse des Rapides) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Red River Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Richland Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Sabine Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... St. ... St. ... St. ... St. ... St. ... St. ... St. ... St. ... Tangipahoa Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Tensas Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Terrebonne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Union Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Vermilion Parish (French: Paroisse de Vermilion) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Vernon Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Washington Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Webster Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... West Baton Rouge Parish (French: Paroisse de Baton Rouge Ouest) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... West Carroll Parish (French: Paroisse de Carroll Ouest) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... West Feliciana Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Winn Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...