Lake Charles, Louisiana
history,Perpignan, France | twin2 = Sioux City, Iowa | twin3 = Cobh, Ireland | twin1_country = France | twin2_country = United States | twin3_country = Ireland | website = »»http://www.cityoflakecharles.com | map = Louisiana Locator Map.PNG | map_size = | map_caption = Location of Lake Charles in Louisiana | map_locator = Louisiana | map1 = Map of USA LA.svg | map1_caption = 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, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. , "Lake Charles, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes), , City Data, 2007, webpage: , »C-LCh. , "Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list), , US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage: , »C2000-LA. It is the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in Acadiana. As of the 2000 census, the population was 71,757. Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area, having a population of 193,568. It is the larger principal city of the Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area, with a population of 225,003. A 2008 population estimate of the five parish area was over 285,853.»http://www.allianceswla.org/PageDisplay.asp?p1=4740
This growing city is considered a major center of petrochemical refining, tourism, gaming, and education being home to McNeese State University and Sowela. With over 75 festivals held annually, Lake Charles is referred to as the Festival Capital of Louisiana. »http://www.visitlakecharles.org/static/index.cfm?action=group&contentID=23
Geography and Climate
The city is located on the banks of the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana, and borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. Contraband Bayou and English Bayou run through the city. It is located on a plain about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
Lake Charles is located at (30.214656, -93.208537) and has an elevation of .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.5 square miles (110.2 km²), of which, 40.2 square miles (104.0 km²) of it is land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²) of it (5.57%) is water.
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"| | colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;"|Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color: #000000" height="17" | Month ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jan ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Feb ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Mar ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Apr ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | May ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jun ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jul ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Aug ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Sep ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Oct ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Nov ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Dec |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec High °F | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 87 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 87 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 94 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 95 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 100 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 106 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 103 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 107 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 105 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 103 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 93 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 89 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm High °F | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 60.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 64.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 71.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 77.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 84.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 88.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 91.0 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 91.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 87.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 80.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 70.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 63.3 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm Low °F | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 41.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 44.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 50.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 57.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 65.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 72.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 74.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 73.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 69.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 58.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 49.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 43.3 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec Low °F | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 12 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 3 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 21 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 30 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 40 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 51 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 60 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 59 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 45 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 30 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 20 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 11 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Precip (in) | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 5.52 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3.28 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3.54 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3.64 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 6.06 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 6.07 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 5.13 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 4.85 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 5.95 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3.94 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 4.61 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 4.60 |- | colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|Source: National Weather Service Lake Charles Office »http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/climate/climate.php |}
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"| | colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;"|Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color: #000000" height="17" | Month ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jan ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Feb ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Mar ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Apr ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | May ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jun ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jul ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Aug ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Sep ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Oct ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Nov ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Dec |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec High °C | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 30.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 30.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 34.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 35 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 37.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 41 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 39.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 41.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 40.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 39.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 33.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 31.6 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm High °C | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 15.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 18 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 21.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 25.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 28.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 31.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 32.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 32.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 30.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 26.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 21.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 17.4 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm Low °C | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 5.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 6.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 10.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 14 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 18.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 22.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 23.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 23.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 20.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 14.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 9.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 6.3 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec Low °C | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -11.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -16.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -6.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -1.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 4.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 10.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 15.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 15 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 7.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -1.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -6.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -11.6 |- ! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Precip (cm) | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 14 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 8.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 9 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 9.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 15.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 15.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 13 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 12.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 15.1 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 10 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 11.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 11.7 |- |}
in downtown Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita]]
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 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.
Manufacturing has been beginning 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. Louisiana Geothermal of Lake Charles will begin construction of a geothermal electric plant.»http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/69629807.html Aeroframe recently announced it will add 300 aerospace jobs at Chennault.»http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/83661877.html The Shaw Group is currently building a large manufacturing facility which will manufacture parts for nuclear power plants. The company has assured the city and residents that nuclear material and radioactive waste are not involved at the facility. Shaw will employ over one thousand workers when it is up to full capacity.»http://ir.shawgrp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61066&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1190729&highlight=
Lake Charles serves as the shopping and retail hub of the five-parish area. It supports many small businesses, especially along Ryan Street and throughout downtown. Prien Lake Mall, which serves nearly 300,000 people, is located right off of Interstate 210 and is anchored by three department stores: Dillard's, Sears, and JCPenney. It has over 80 specialty shops. Retailers include Talbots, Gap, Aeropostale, Bath & Body Works, American Eagle, Buckle, and Hollister. The Cinemark movie theatre, which is designed with a 1930s look, provides stadium seating with all digital technology.
The Lake Charles Power Center, located off of Interstate 210 and Highway 14, is a newer and growing shopping area that has 1,000,000 square feet of shopping space.»http://www.derekdevelopmentcorp.com/dev_lakecharles.php It offers Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Home Depot, Office Depot, Lowe's, United Artists movie theatre, Academy Sports, Michaels, Goody's, Old Navy, Shoe Carnival, Outback Steakhouse, Logan's Roadhouse, Carino's Italian Grill, Back Yard Burgers, Tequila's Mexican restaurant, and two Japanese steakhouses.
L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort offers retail stores as well, including specialized stores and several upscale clothing boutiques.»http://www.ldlcasino.com/retail.aspx
Lake Charles is home to a growing medical community. It is served by five hospitals: »Christus St. Patrick Hospital, »Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, »W. O. Moss Regional Hospital, »Women and Children's Hospital, and »Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, which is located in a growing area of the city. Many specialized doctors' offices and medical clinics have located along the recently-renamed Dr. Michael E. DeBakey Drive, named after the world-renowned surgeon who was born and raised in Lake Charles. Another new medical complex is the Imperial Calcasieu Surgical Center, located on Imperial Boulevard. In addition, McNeese State University's Nursing program is a nationally recognized program with many nursing graduates employed at area hospitals.
Lake Charles is home to McNeese State University »http://www.mcneese.edu, a four-year public university in the University of Louisiana System. McNeese is located on a 121-acre main campus lined with live oak trees in the heart of Lake Charles. The beautiful Contraband Bayou flows through the campus. McNeese 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. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools»http://catalog.mcneese.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=68#accr. Other properties include a 65-acre athletic plant and student apartment complex, the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, Burton Coliseum, the 503-acre MSU Farm, and nearly 1,600 acres of donated farm property used for research, farming, and ranching»http://www.mcneese.edu/parents/facts.asp. Over 8,500 students attend the university»http://www.mcneese.edu/news/news/f09enrollment.asp.
Also located within the city is Sowela Technical Community College »http://www.sowela.edu, which offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as general education courses that can transfer to four-year universities. It is accredited by the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.»http://www.sowela.edu/about_us.asp Finally, Delta School of Business and Technology »http://www.deltatech.edu specializes in vocational courses.
The city's first library opened in 1904, and was financed by Andrew Carnegie.»http://calcasieulibrary.org/about Located in downtown, it is named the Carnegie Memorial Library; it also houses the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library. Lake Charles is also home to Epps Memorial Library in north Lake Charles, and Central Library located off of Ernest Street. The Calcasieu Parish Public Library System »http://calcasieulibrary.org/ has thirteen locations throughout Calcasieu Parish.»http://calcasieulibrary.org/branchhistory
and conventions in Calcasieu Parish]]
Culture is something the city is known for because of south Louisiana's strong Cajun influence. Many of the popular festivals are held at the Civic Center. The most popular, Contraband Days, is hosted on the Civic Center grounds and lakefront. The city has its own symphony orchestra, the »Lake Charles Symphony, which was founded in 1938 and hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre»http://www.lcsymphony.org/history.html, which has a capacity of over 2,000.»http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=5-38
A burgeoning nightlife is one cultural facet of the city. Lake Charles hosts popular concerts known as Downtown at Sundown at the Civic Center.»http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/docs/1240869336223.htm L'Auberge du Lac also has its own nightlife with its Jack Daniel's Bar and Grill.»http://www.ldlcasino.com/Jack-Daniels-Bar-Grill.aspx Ryan Street in the historic downtown area is known for its karaoke bars and restaurants such as Luna's Bar and Grill, Blue Duck Cafe, O.B.'s Bar and Grill, Sylvia's Bistro, and Pujo Street Cafe. Other popular bars throughout the area include »Cowboys, »Yesterdays, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Frosty Factory.
The city's newest casino resort, L'Auberge du Lac, provides many cultural opportunities open to the public. At 26 stories (the first 21 of which consist of guest rooms) and with nearly 1000 guest rooms, this hotel tower is the tallest building between Houston and Baton Rouge.»http://www.ldlcasino.com/accommodations.aspx The resort includes a spa, two heated swimming pools and a non-heated lazy river, restaurants, gift shops, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge, an 18 hole public golf course designed by Tom Fazio.»http://www.ldlcasino.com/golf.aspx The resort also provides a venue for popular entertainers; celebrities such as Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, The Beach Boys, Merle Haggard, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, and Loretta Lynn have entertained at the L'Auberge Event center. The casino resort has a great nightlife; bands are showcased at Jack Daniel's Bar & Grill and at the Stage Bar inside the casino. During the summer, Parties by the Pool»http://www.ldlcasino.com/partybythepool.aspx bring in thousands of people across the area.
Lake Charles has five museums. The Central School Arts and Humanities Center features the Black Heritage Art Gallery, which is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which features extravagant costumes and an interactive float, is located inside.»http://www.swlamardigras.com/year-round/mardi-gras-museum.cfm The Children's Museum of Lake Charles »http://www.child-museum.org caters to children as a learning center. The Imperial Calcasieu Museum, the largest museum in Lake Charles, »http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org features a permanent historic exhibit with artifacts and an art gallery.»http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID=769 Its grounds are home to the Sallier oak tree, which is over 400 years old.»http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID=781 The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is used as exhibition space; many moving art exhibits are displayed at this public art gallery each month.»http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=3-29 It also hosts the Charlestown Farmers' Market, which provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell goods.»http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=3-33
McNeese State University produces »The Banners Series, a series of various musical and theatrical performances, throughout the year. The Series also hosts lectures from notable persons and academics each year. In addition, »The Lake Charles Little Theatre, »The Artists Civic Theatre Studios (ACTS) Theatre and »The Children's Theatre Company provide excellent theater with local talent.
Lake Charles is home to the McNeese Cowboys, whose football team hosts games at Cowboy Stadium which has a seating capacity of 17,000.»https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=22000&ATCLID=1505202 It is also home to the Louisiana Swashbucklers, who play games at Sudduth Coliseum at the Civic Center.»http://www.labucs.com/tickets/ Lake Charles is also home to Burton Coliseum, which hosts the Cowboys basketball teams. Golf is popular at the city's Mallard Cove Golf Course. Four other golf courses are played by many residents and visitors: Greywood Plantation Golf Course, Lake Charles Country Club Golf Course, Pine Shadows Golf Course, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge du Lac, designed by Tom Fazio. Graywood Plantation Golf Course is featured on Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail.»http://www.audubontrail.com/courses/index.asp?id=7 The city has 31 parks, many of which include playground equipment, athletic facilities, and walking paths.»https://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=12-172 The South Lake Charles Little League has had nationally-winning teams televised on ESPN. Hunting and fishing are popular with both residents and visitors to the Lake Area.»http://www.visitlakecharles.org/static/index.cfm?contentID=84
''' Print '''
Lake Charles has several publications in circulation. The most widely distributed, daily newspaper is »The American Press. Other popular periodicals include Lagniappe Magazine, '' »The Times of Southwest Louisiana, »The Jambalaya News, ''Gumbeaux Magazine, and Thrive magazine; however, the latter four are non-daily.
''' Television '''
Major television network affiliates serving the city include:
''' Radio '''
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
!align="left" valign="top"|Call Letters
!align="left" valign="top"|Frequency
!align="left" valign="top"|City of License
!align="left" valign="top"|Format
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KRVS
|align="left" valign="top"|88.7
|align="left" valign="top"|Lafayette
|align="left" valign="top"|National Public Radio
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KYLC
|align="left" valign="top"|90.3
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|Religious
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KTSR
|align="left" valign="top"|92.1
|align="left" valign="top"|DeQuincy
|align="left" valign="top"|Mainstream Top-40
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KHLA
|align="left" valign="top"|92.9
|align="left" valign="top"|Jennings
|align="left" valign="top"|Classic Hits
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KYKZ
|align="left" valign="top"|96.1
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|Country
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KQLK
|align="left" valign="top"|97.9
|align="left" valign="top"|Deridder
|align="left" valign="top"|Rhythmic Top-40
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KNGT
|align="left" valign="top"|99.5
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|Country
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KELB (LP)
|align="left" valign="top"|100.5
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|Religious
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KKGB
|align="left" valign="top"|101.3
|align="left" valign="top"|Sulphur
|align="left" valign="top"|Rock
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KAJN
|align="left" valign="top"|102.9
|align="left" valign="top"|Crowley
|align="left" valign="top"|Contemporary Christian
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KBIU
|align="left" valign="top"|103.3
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|JACK-FM
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KZWA
|align="left" valign="top"|104.9
|align="left" valign="top"|Moss Bluff
|align="left" valign="top"|Urban Contemporary
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KJMH
|align="left" valign="top"|107.5
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Arthur
|align="left" valign="top"|Urban
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KEZM
|align="left" valign="top"|1310 AM
|align="left" valign="top"|Sulphur
|align="left" valign="top"|Sports
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KAOK
|align="left" valign="top"|1400 AM
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|News & Sports Talk
|-
|align="left" valign="top"|KXZZ
|align="left" valign="top"|1580 AM
|align="left" valign="top"|Lake Charles
|align="left" valign="top"|Soul
|}
Interstate 210 is an interstate highway bypass that loops through the southern portion of the city. The beautiful curving I-210 Calcasieu River High 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. Its ten exits and the seven exits of I-10 drastically lower the commute time.»http://www.cppj.net/index.aspx?page=218
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. Another major thoroughfare is Ryan Street, running north to south connecting downtown to the southern portions of the city.
Lake Charles Regional Airport »http://www.flylakecharles.com/, located south of the city, is Lake Charles's only airport that provides commercial airline service. Chennault International Airport »http://www.chennault.org/about/, 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. Both airports provide many jobs for the area.
The Port of Lake Charles»http://www.portlc.com is the twelfth-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 City Docks in Lake Charles are the main hub of shipping activity. 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 itself creates over 10,000 direct jobs, and is a major economic engine of Lake Charles »http://www.portlc.com/PageDisplay.asp?p1=1874. The Port leases industrial properties in other areas of the parish as well.
Contraband Days 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 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 and his crew capture the city and force the mayor to walk the plank.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 71,757 people, 27,974 households, and 18,015 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,786.6 people per square mile (689.7/km²). There were 31,429 housing units at an average density of 302.1/km² (782.5/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was:
Economy
Industry and Manufacturing
Thousands in the Lake Area are employed by the petro-chemical refineries located across the river near Sulphur and Westlake.»http://www.laia.com/economics_ImpactReport.aspx Some of the corporations with facilities in or around the city include PPG Industries, ConocoPhillips, and Citgo Petroleum Corporation. 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 re-gasification. Lake Charles Cogeneration, a subsidiary of Leucadia National, began construction of a $1.6 billion petroleum coke gasification plant in early 2009.»KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |$1.6 Billion Petroleum Coke Gasification Plant Gets Funding
Education
Lake Charles' public schools are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System. There are a number of private schools located in the city as well.
Transportation
Interstate 10 passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Houston to the west and New Orleans to the east. The Lake Charles I-10 Bridge goes over part of the lake and Calcasieu River. Featuring decorative guns on the siding, it is 135 feet high. About 50,000 vehicles pass over it daily. »http://bridgehunter.com/la/calcasieu/71004509127691/ Despite its age of over 50 years, it is considered safe by the Louisiana DOTD.»http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/pressreleases/release.aspx?key=971
Public Transportation
The City of Lake Charles has an operating bus system which currently provides five routes throughout the city.»http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/apps/directory/list.egov?path=divs&action=108&fDD=14-108 Lake Charles also has its own Greyhound bus station. Its Amtrak station is located near Interstate 10.
Religion
Christianity is the predominant religion in the Lake Area. Roman Catholicism is the largest individual denomination, claiming about 50% of the population. Lake Charles is also home to various Protestant Christian denominations, the largest being the Southern Baptist congregation with 30%»http://www.city-data.com/city/Lake-Charles-Louisiana.html. The city is home to a Jewish community as well as other faiths.
Festivals and Holidays
Lake Charles plays host to over one-hundred festivals and carnivals, giving the city its nickname, "The Festival Capital of Louisiana."
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in Lake Charles has a colorful 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 to redevelop 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.»http://www.swlamardigras.com/about/history.cfm Mardi Gras in Lake Charles, which regularly draws in crowds of 150,000, was recently named a Top 100 Event by the American Bus Association.»http://www.buses.org/files/Top100-10_Layout_1.pdf
Sister Cities
Lake Charles is a proud sister city of: