Lake Charles (pop. 84,872; met. area pop. 254,652) is an industrial and shipping center in southwestern Louisiana. Lake Charles lies on a lake of the same name and on the Calcasieu River. A channel links the city and the Gulf of Mexico, which lies about 34 miles (55 kilometers) to the south. The center of Lake Charles, which includes City Hall and a civic center, lies along the lake. McNeese State University is in Lake Charles.
People of the Atakapa Native American group once lived in what is now the Lake Charles area. In the early 1780’s, Charles Sallier became the first white person to settle within the present city limits. The settlement around the lake came to be known as Charlestown (or Charleston), and was renamed Lake Charles in 1867.
Oil and natural gas were discovered in the Lake Charles area in the late 1800’s, and the channel to the Gulf of Mexico was opened in 1926. Petroleum, chemical, and shipping industries were developed. Aircraft maintenance, offshore oil and gas industries, and riverboat casino gambling are also some of the city’s industries. The city’s products include chemicals, refined petroleum, plastics, and synthetic rubber. Lake Charles is the parish (county) seat of Calcasieu Parish and has a mayor-council form of government.
Lake Charles, like many communities located near the Gulf of Mexico, has experienced many severe storms in its history. Particularly damaging storm events have included Hurricane Audrey in 1957; Rita in 2005; and Laura and Delta, both in 2020.
