Lake Charles, Louisiana | |
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![]() Zephyr's at Downtown Lake Charles | |
Nickname: The Lake Area | |
![]() Interactive map of Lake Charles | |
Coordinates: 30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W / 30.21472°N 93.20861°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Parish | Calcasieu |
Founded | March 7, 1861 | as Charleston
Renamed | March 16, 1867 | as Lake Charles
Founded by | Charles Sallier |
Named for | Charles Sallier |
Government | |
• Mayor | Nicholas E. "Nic" Hunter (R) |
• City Council[1] | Members list |
Area | |
• City | 48.5 sq mi (125.5 km2) |
• Land | 45.7 sq mi (118.2 km2) |
• Water | 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2) |
Elevation | 15 ft (5 m) |
Population | |
• City | 84,872 |
• Estimate (2023)[4] | 79,633 |
• Rank | CA: 1st LA: 5th |
• Density | 1,700/sq mi (680/km2) |
• Urban | 162,501 |
• Metro | 254,652 |
Demonym | Lake Charlesian |
Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CST) |
ZIP Codes | 70601, 70602, 70605, 70606, 70607, 70609, 70615, 70616, 70629 |
Area Code | 337 |
Primary airport | Lake Charles Regional Airport |
Interstates | ![]() ![]() |
U.S. Route | ![]() ![]() |
Waterways | Calcasieu River |
Website | www |
Lake Charles is the most populous city in the southwest Louisiana. It is the second most populous city in the Acadiana (after Lafayette). It is the fifth most populous city in the U.S. state of Louisiana (after New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette). The actual population is about 85,000. The city was founded as Charleston, March 7, 1861. The name was changed to Lake Charles on March 16, 1867. The city was founded by and named for Charles Sallier.