Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles is a city on the western part of Louisiana. It is within Calcasieu Parish, in the vicinity of Lake Charles, Prien Lake and Calcasieu River. The city covers 42.5 sq mi (110.1 sq km) and has a population of 72,000 people (2011 estimate). It is the fifth most populous city in Louisiana.

Historic City Hall of Lake Charles
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Charles_23.jpg
Author: Team at Carnaval.com Studios


The warmest month in Lake Charles is August, when the average high temperature reaches 91.3°F (32.9°C). Coldest month is January, when it drops to 41.2°F (5.1°C). The wettest months are May and June, each receiving 6.06 in (153.9 mm) of precipitation or more.

The Lake Charles area was originally inhabited by Native Americans until the arrival of Europeans in the 1760s. The city got its name from the lake, which in turn was named after Charles Sallier, one of the earliest settlers in the area. The village was of limited significance until 1855, when Captain Daniel Goos established a lumber mill and schooner dock in the area. The lumber industry helped to spur the growth of Lake Charles.

Lake Charles Broadwalk
© https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boardwalk_LakeCharlesLA.jpg
Author: Peter O'Carroll

When Lake Charles was founded in 1861, it originally took the name of Charleston. It was renamed Lake Charles in 1867. The city entered the 20th century as a major lumbering center. A big fire destroying much of the city in 1910 failed to halt its growth, and Lake Charles simply rebuilt and continued to expand. It was only in the 1980s that it suffered a local economic recession, resulting in a decline in its population.

On September 24, 2005, Lake Charles was hard hit by Hurricane Rita, though it helped to revitalize in the city's downtown area in its wake.

Visiting Lake Charles

Interstate-10 passes through Lake Charles from east to west, connecting Lake Charles with Lafayette in the east and Beaumont to the west.

Places of Interest in Lake Charles

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