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Added section about new LC Casino to be placed after information about L'Auberge. Information links to another wiki page about the new property. It was hyper linked and referenced.
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[[L'Auberge du Lac]] Casino Resort is a 26-story resort hotel with nearly 1000 guest rooms; it is the tallest building between [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] and [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]].<ref>http://www.ldlcasino.com/accommodations.aspx</ref> The resort includes a spa, two heated swimming pools and a lazy river, restaurants, gift shops, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge, which is an 18 hole [[golf course]] designed by [[Tom Fazio]].<ref>http://www.ldlcasino.com/golf.aspx</ref> The resort also provides venues for popular entertainers, such as [[Gretchen Wilson]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Wayne Newton]], [[Bill Cosby]], [[Jay Leno]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[Merle Haggard]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Kenny Rogers]], and [[Loretta Lynn]].
[[L'Auberge du Lac]] Casino Resort is a 26-story resort hotel with nearly 1000 guest rooms; it is the tallest building between [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] and [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]].<ref>http://www.ldlcasino.com/accommodations.aspx</ref> The resort includes a spa, two heated swimming pools and a lazy river, restaurants, gift shops, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge, which is an 18 hole [[golf course]] designed by [[Tom Fazio]].<ref>http://www.ldlcasino.com/golf.aspx</ref> The resort also provides venues for popular entertainers, such as [[Gretchen Wilson]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Wayne Newton]], [[Bill Cosby]], [[Jay Leno]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[Merle Haggard]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Kenny Rogers]], and [[Loretta Lynn]].


In July 2013, plans were revealed for another expansive [[casino|casino-resort]] in the area.<ref>http://www.khou.com/community/Fertitta-to-open-Golden-Nugget-in-Lake-Charles--217021971.html</ref> [[Houston]]-based [[Landry's, Inc.|Landry’s, Inc]]. announced construction of [[Golden Nugget Lake Charles]], a 242-acre waterfront complex.<ref>http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Golden-Nugget-to-be-erected-in-Louisiana-with-4687617.php</ref> Slated to open in 2014, the casino-resort will feature a 25-story tower with more than 740 guest rooms, an [[18-hole golf course|18-hole championship golf course]], 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a [[spa]] & salon, fitness center, retail corridor and casino floor with 60 [[table games]], [[poker room]] and 1600 slots.<ref>http://www.lasvegasnvblog.com/2014/05/bally-technologies-inks-exclusive-enterprise-wide-systems-agreement-with-golden-nugget-inc/</ref> <ref>http://www.12newsnow.com/story/24158908/600-million-lake-charles-casino-resort-expected-to-create-jobs-for-southeast-texans</ref>At a cost of more than $600 million, the project is one of the most expensive ongoing construction endeavors in the United States. <ref>http://kfdm.com/template/cgi-bin/archived.pl?type=basic&file=/shared/news/top-stories/stories/archive/2013/07/ZeKzaXgW.xml</ref>

Golden Nugget Lake Charles will also signal the arrival of a number of new restaurants in Lake Charles, including [[Landry's Seafood|Landry’s Seafood]], [[Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse|Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse]], Grotto Ristorante, Lillie’s Asian Cuisine, Cadillac Bar and Blue Martini.<ref>http://nrn.com/latest-headlines/landry-s-add-restaurants-new-hotel-casino</ref> Golden Nugget Lake Charles is the fifth Golden Nugget location, with others in [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada;]] [[Golden Nugget Laughlin|Laughlin, Nevada]]; [[Biloxi, Mississippi]]; and [[Golden Nugget Atlantic City|Atlantic City, New Jersey.]] <ref>http://www.goldennugget.com/</ref>
===Sports and recreation===
===Sports and recreation===
[[File:Bonnettefield.jpg|225px|left|thumb|Cowboy Stadium.]]
[[File:Bonnettefield.jpg|225px|left|thumb|Cowboy Stadium.]]

Revision as of 22:01, 13 May 2014

For the lake, see Lake Charles (Louisiana).
Lake Charles
City
City of Lake Charles
Clockwise from left: Downtown Lake Charles; Lakefront Promenade; I-210 Bridge over the Calcasieu River; McNeese State University entrance plaza.
Clockwise from left: Downtown Lake Charles; Lakefront Promenade; I-210 Bridge over the Calcasieu River; McNeese State University entrance plaza.
Nickname: 
The Lake Area
Location of Louisiana in USA
Location of Louisiana in USA
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishCalcasieu
FoundedMarch 7, 1861 as Charleston
RenamedMarch 16, 1867 as Lake Charles
Founded byCharles Sallier
Named forCharles Sallier
Government
 • MayorRandy Roach (D)
 • City Council[1]
Members List
Area
 • City42.5 sq mi (110 km2)
 • Land40.2 sq mi (104 km2)
 • Water2.4 sq mi (6 km2)
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • City71,993
 • Density1,700/sq mi (650/km2)
 • Urban
132,977
 • Metro
194,138
DemonymLake Charlesian
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CST)
ZIP Codes
70601, 70602, 70605, 70606, 70607, 70609, 70615, 70616, 70629
Area Code337
Websitecityoflakecharles.com

Lake Charles (French: Lac Charles) is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Founded in 1861 in Calcasieu Parish, it is a major industrial, cultural, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in Acadiana.

As of the 2010 census, the population was 71,993.[5] Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area, having a population of 202,040.[6] It is the larger principal city of the Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area, with a population of 225,235. A 2010 population estimate of the five parish area was over 292,619.[7]

It is considered a major center of petrochemical refining, gaming, tourism, and education, being home to McNeese State University and Sowela Technical Community College. Because of the lakes and waterways throughout the city, metropolitan Lake Charles is often referred to as the Lake Area.

History

Main article: History of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Ryan Street in Lake Charles, 1903.

On March 7, 1861, Lake Charles was officially incorporated as the town of Charleston, Louisiana.[8] Six years after the city was incorporated, dissatisfaction over the name Charleston arose; on March 16, 1867, Charleston, Louisiana, was renamed and incorporated as the town of Lake Charles. In 1910, a fire, known as the Great Fire of 1910 devastated much of the city. However, Lake Charles soon rebuilt itself and continued to grow and expand in the twentieth. During and after World War II, Lake Charles experienced industrial growth with the onset of the petrochemical refining industries. The city grew to a high of some 75,000 people in the early 1980s, but with local economic recession, the population declined. With the advent of the gaming, manufacturing, and aviation maintenance industries, the city rebounded with a population of 71,993 as of 2010.

Geography

Henderson Bayou

Lake Charles, located at 30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W / 30.21472°N 93.20861°W / 30.21472; -93.20861 (30.214656, -93.208537)Template:GR on a level plain about 30 miles (48 km) from the Gulf of Mexico, has an elevation of 13 feet (4.0 m)Template:GR, and is located on the banks of the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana. It borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. Contraband Bayou, Henderson Bayou, and English Bayou flow through the city. Oak trees and pine trees dot the landscape, as the lumber industry, once the main economic engine of the area, can attest to. The Calcasieu Ship Channel, which allows large ocean-going vessels to sail up from the Gulf, also borders the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau,[9] the city has a total area of 42.06 square miles (108.9 km2).

Climate

Lake Charles is tied with Port Arthur, Texas and Astoria, Oregon as the most humid city in the contiguous United States, and the second-most humid measured location behind unincorporated Quillayute, Washington. The average relative humidity in Lake Charles is 90% in the morning, and 72% in the afternoon.[10]

Climate data for Lake Charles, Louisiana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 87
(31) 		87
(31) 		94
(34) 		95
(35) 		100
(38) 		106
(41) 		103
(39) 		107
(42) 		105
(41) 		103
(39) 		93
(34) 		89
(32) 		107
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 60.6
(15.9) 		64.5
(18.1) 		71.3
(21.8) 		77.4
(25.2) 		84.1
(28.9) 		88.9
(31.6) 		91.0
(32.8) 		91.3
(32.9) 		87.7
(30.9) 		80.5
(26.9) 		70.6
(21.4) 		63.3
(17.4) 		77.6
(25.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 41.2
(5.1) 		44.3
(6.8) 		50.8
(10.4) 		57.2
(14.0) 		65.7
(18.7) 		72.1
(22.3) 		74.3
(23.5) 		73.6
(23.1) 		69.1
(20.6) 		58.6
(14.8) 		49.7
(9.8) 		43.3
(6.3) 		58.3
(14.6)
Record low °F (°C) 12
(−11) 		3
(−16) 		21
(−6) 		30
(−1) 		40
(4) 		51
(11) 		60
(16) 		59
(15) 		45
(7) 		30
(−1) 		20
(−7) 		11
(−12) 		3
(−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.52
(140) 		3.28
(83) 		3.54
(90) 		3.64
(92) 		6.06
(154) 		6.07
(154) 		5.13
(130) 		4.85
(123) 		5.95
(151) 		3.94
(100) 		4.61
(117) 		4.60
(117) 		57.19
(1,451)
Source: NWS Lake Charles Office[11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880838—
18903,442310.7%
19006,68094.1%
191011,44971.4%
192013,08814.3%
193015,79120.7%
194021,20734.3%
195041,27294.6%
196063,39253.6%
197077,99823.0%
198075,226−3.6%
199070,580−6.2%
200072,1542.2%
201071,993−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the 2010 census, the population was 71,993.[5] In 2010,[12] the population density was 1,711.8 people per square mile (689.7/km²). There were 32,469 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 47% White, 47% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.47% from other races, 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 28,228 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.13.

In 2010,[13] the population was spread out with 27% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 20 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 25% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. The percentage of males was 45.7% versus 54.3% for females.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,001. The per capita income for the city was $22,855. 20.9% of the population was below the poverty line.

Economy

The top employer, the Calcasieu Parish School System, employs approximately 5,000 workers. The second-largest employer is L'Auberge Casino Resort, which has 2,400 workers.

Industry and manufacturing

Several petrochemical plants and an oil refinery are located nearby along the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Turner Industries, Axiall, and Citgo each employ over a thousand engineers.[14] The Trunkline LNG terminal, immediately southwest of Lake Charles, is one of the United States' few liquified natural gas terminals. It has facilities for LNG receipt, storage, and re-gasification. Other industrial companies include Phillips 66, Westlake Chemical Corp., Sasol, and Grace Davison. Local industry also includes a number of manufacturing companies. Chennault International Airport hosts AAR Corp, which services airplanes, and a Northrop Grumman facility. The Shaw Group has a manufacturing facility which manufactures and exports parts for nuclear power plants.[15]

Commerce and retail

Downtown Lake Charles, with the Capital One Tower to the left.

With small businesses, big box stores, and a regional mall, Lake Charles serves as the shopping and retail hub of the five-parish area. Prien Lake Mall, which serves nearly 300,000 people is anchored by four department stores: Dillard's, Sears, Kohl's, and JCPenney. It has over 80 retail options. Retailers include Talbots, Gap, Aéropostale, Bath & Body Works, American Eagle, Buckle, Hollister, and Coach. The Lake Charles Power Center is a shopping area that has 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of shopping space[16] The Cottage Shop District supports approximately a dozen small businesses.[17] L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort offers upscale clothing boutiques.[18]

Education

Universities and colleges

Entrance Plaza and Shearman Fine Arts Center at McNeese State University.

McNeese State University, located on a 121-acre (0.49 km2) main campus lined with oak trees in the heart of Lake Charles, is a four-year public university in the University of Louisiana System. Contraband Bayou flows through the campus. McNeese was founded in 1939 by educator John McNeese. It 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.[19] Other properties include a 65-acre (260,000 m2) athletic plant and student apartment complex, the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, Burton Coliseum, the 503-acre (2.04 km2) MSU Farm, and nearly 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of donated farm property used for research, farming, and ranching.[20] Over 8,500 students attend the university.[21]

Sowela Technical Community College offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as general education courses that can transfer to four-year universities.[22] Finally, Delta School of Business and Technology specializes in vocational courses.[23]

Libraries

The first library, financed by Andrew Carnegie, opened in 1904.[24] It is named the Carnegie Memorial Library after him; 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 has thirteen locations throughout Calcasieu Parish.[25] McNeese State University's Frazar Memorial Library contains over 400,000 volumes.[26]

Education

Lake Charles' public schools are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System. There are two charter schools, and a number of private schools as well.

See also: List of schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana and List of high schools in Louisiana

Culture

Arts and culture

The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center.

Lake Charles has a strong Cajun culture because of its location in south Louisiana. The city has its own symphony orchestra, the Lake Charles Symphony. It was founded in 1938 and hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre,[27] which has a capacity of over 2,000.[28]

Lake Charles is home to a number of museums and art galleries. The largest, Imperial Calcasieu Museum, features a permanent historic exhibit with artifacts and an art gallery.[29] Its grounds are home to the Sallier oak tree, which is around 400 years old.[30] The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is used as exhibition space; moving art exhibits are displayed at this public art gallery each month.[31] It also hosts the Charlestown Farmers' Market, which provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell goods.[32] The USS Orleck Naval Museum, a naval destroyer from 1945, is open for public tours as a veterans memorial and museum.[33]

The Central School Arts and Humanities Center, located in the historic Charpentier District, is owned by the city. Charpentier is French for carpenter, a reference to the carpenter-architects who built the Victorian-style homes. Central School features the Black Heritage Art Gallery, which is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail[34] as well as the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which features extravagant costumes and an interactive float. It has the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia in the South.[35] Other studios and cultural activities include the Art Associates Gallery, Studio 347 Gallery, the Lake Charles Symphony, and the Lake Charles Community Band.

McNeese State University annually produces the Banners Series, a series of various musical and theatrical performances. Banners also hosts lectures and presentations from notable persons and academics. Local theaters include the Lake Charles Little Theatre, the Artists Civic Theatre and Studio (ACTS), and the Children's Theatre.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu.

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles has a long 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.[36] Mardi Gras in Lake Charles regularly draws in crowds of 150,000.

Contraband Days

Main article: Contraband Days
Lake Charles Boardwalk.

Many festivals are held at the Civic Center. The most popular, Contraband Days, is hosted on the Civic Center grounds and lakefront. 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 regularly 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[8] and his crew capture the city and force the mayor to walk the plank.

Entertainment

L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. At 26 stories, it is the tallest building between Houston and Baton Rouge.

Lake Charles is home to many other popular events, including CultureFest, Black Heritage Festival, Live @ the Lakefront Music Festival, Rouge et Blanc, Downtown at Sundown Concert Series, Arts & Crabs Fest, DownTown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival, and many more.[37] L'Auberge du Lac also has its own nightlife with its Jack Daniel's Bar and Grill.[38] Ryan Street in the historic downtown area is known for its restaurants and bars such as Luna's Bar and Grill, Sha Sha's Creole Restaurant, Dharma, and Pujo Street Cafe. Other bars throughout the area include Cowboys, Yesterdays, Buffalo Wild Wings, Micci's, Frosty Factory, and Nate's Place.

L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort is a 26-story resort hotel with nearly 1000 guest rooms; it is the tallest building between Houston and Baton Rouge.[39] The resort includes a spa, two heated swimming pools and a lazy river, restaurants, gift shops, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge, which is an 18 hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio.[40] The resort also provides venues for popular entertainers, such as Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, The Beach Boys, Merle Haggard, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, and Loretta Lynn.

In July 2013, plans were revealed for another expansive casino-resort in the area.[41] Houston-based Landry’s, Inc. announced construction of Golden Nugget Lake Charles, a 242-acre waterfront complex.[42] Slated to open in 2014, the casino-resort will feature a 25-story tower with more than 740 guest rooms, an 18-hole championship golf course, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa & salon, fitness center, retail corridor and casino floor with 60 table games, poker room and 1600 slots.[43] [44]At a cost of more than $600 million, the project is one of the most expensive ongoing construction endeavors in the United States. [45]

Golden Nugget Lake Charles will also signal the arrival of a number of new restaurants in Lake Charles, including Landry’s Seafood, Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Grotto Ristorante, Lillie’s Asian Cuisine, Cadillac Bar and Blue Martini.[46] Golden Nugget Lake Charles is the fifth Golden Nugget location, with others in Las Vegas, Nevada; Laughlin, Nevada; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. [47]

Sports and recreation

Cowboy Stadium.

Lake Charles is home to the McNeese Cowboys, whose football team hosts games at Cowboy Stadium which has a seating capacity of 17,410.[48] Burton Coliseum hosts the Cowboys' basketball teams. Golf is popular at the city's Mallard Cove Golf Course. Other golf courses include Gray Plantation Golf Course, Lake Charles Country Club Golf Course, Pine Shadows Golf Course, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club. Gray Plantation Golf Course is featured on Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail.[49] The city has 31 parks, many of which include playground equipment, athletic facilities, and walking paths.[50] Shiver-Me-Timbers Millenium Park, located downtown, was built entirely by volunteers in 2000. Adventure Cove, a state-of-the-art park, was also built by volunteers, and is specifically designed for handicapped children.[51] 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.[52] An All-American Road, the Creole Nature Trail - Louisiana's Outback - brings tourists to Lake Charles and throughout Southwest Louisiana.

Government and politics

The 14th Judicial District Courthouse, located in downtown Lake Charles.

The City of Lake Charles is governed by a mayor-council form of government. The elected officials include the Mayor, the Clerk of Court, and seven City Council members. Each council member represents a particular district within the city limits. One council member is elected president and presides over each meeting. The mayor serves a four-year term. The current mayor is Randy Roach, who has been serving since 2001.[53] Non-elected members include the City Attorney, who is appointed by the mayor.

The Lake Charles Police Department provides law enforcement and protection for the city. The Police Chief is appointed for a six-year term,[54] and the Fire Chief is appointed as well.[55] The Lake Charles Fire Department consists of eight fire stations with fifteen fire companies.[56] McNeese State University also has its own security, the McNeese Police Department.[57]

The Lake Charles City Court's jurisdiction covers all within the city limits as well as Ward 3 in Calcasieu Parish.[58] The Fourteenth Judicial District Court, located in downtown Lake Charles, covers Calcasieu Parish and includes nine judges who preside over family, juvenile, civil, and criminal trials.[59] Lake Charles is home to a United States District Court, located downtown.[60] The Third Circuit Court of Appeals is headquartered in the city.[61]

Lake Charles is served by Charles Boustany of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Much of the city is represented by Senator Ronnie Johns of District 27 in the Louisiana State Senate; however, Dan Morrish's District 25 includes some neighborhoods of south Lake Charles.

Media

Print

The most widely distributed, daily newspaper is The American Press. Other popular periodicals include Lagniappe Magazine, The Jambalaya News, Gumbeaux Magazine, and Thrive Magazine. The Contraband is McNeese State University's student newspaper.

Television

Major television network affiliates include KPLC an (NBC) affiliate, KLTL a (PBS) affiliate, and KVHP a (Fox) affiliate.

Radio

Eleven radio stations are based in the city, including public radio KRVS, religious stations KYLC, KELB, KOJO, W252AQ, and KBAN, country stations KYKZ and KNGT, and KBIU which features contemporary music. News/talk station KAOK and sports station KXZZ are AM radio stations.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Israel LaFleur Bridge
Calcasieu River Bridge

The city's streets are laid out primarily in a grid pattern. Interstate 10 passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Houston to the west and New Orleans to the east. The Calcasieu River Bridge crosses the Calcasieu River and part of lake. Featuring decorative guns on the railing, it is 135 feet (41 m) high. About 50,000 vehicles pass over it daily.[62] Despite its age of over 50 years, it is considered safe by the Louisiana DOTD.[63]

Interstate 210 is an interstate highway bypass that loops through the southern portion of the city. The curving Israel LaFleur 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, and carries about 40,000 vehicles per day.[64]

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. Louisiana Highway 14 ends at a junction with Highway 90, and runs south then east of the city.

Airports

Lake Charles Regional Airport terminal.

Lake Charles is served by two airports. Lake Charles Regional Airport,[65] located south of the city, provides commercial airline service to Houston and Dallas. Chennault International Airport,[66] 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.

Seaports

The Port of Lake Charles is the thirteenth-busiest seaport 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.[67] The Calcasieu Ship Channel provides direct access to the Gulf of Mexico 34 miles (55 km) downstream. The ship channel, which has a projected depth of 40 feet (12 m) and a bottom width of 400 feet (120 m), intersects the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just north of Calcasieu Lake.[68]

Public transportation

Lake Charles Transit, the city's bus system, provides five routes throughout the city.[69] It has one Greyhound bus station, and the Amtrak station serves the Sunset Limited train route.

Utilities

Electrical needs are provided by the energy company Entergy. The city provides drinking water and sewage service to residents within city limits. Water is treated at six water treatment facilities in the city.[70]

Healthcare and medicine

Lake Charles is served by four hospitals: Christus St. Patrick Hospital, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, Lake Area Medical Center, and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women. Many specialized doctors' offices and medical clinics are located along Dr. Michael E. DeBakey Drive, named after the world-renowned surgeon who was born and raised in Lake Charles.

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%.[71] There is a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lake Charles. There are also religious communities from other faiths such as Islam and Judaism.

Cultural references

The musical Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner, which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2004, is set in Lake Charles. Tony Kushner, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Angels in America, grew up in Lake Charles.[72] Lake Charles is mentioned in Jack Kerouac's On The Road. After leaving Sal Paradise in Mexico, Dean Moriarty's car breaks down in Lake Charles. It is mentioned by the character played by Tom Hanks in the movie Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Lake Charles is mentioned in the novel Devil in a Blue Dress, by Walter Mosely, and its film adaptation. In the movie Tigerland, Colin Farrell's character Private Bozz learns that his unfaithful girlfriend is the "prettiest girl in Lake Charles High". In an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, Andy mentions visiting Uncle Olly and Aunt Flora in Lake Charles. In the season 1 episode of Grimm titled "Cat & Mouse" (ep. 18), character Ian Harmon, using the pseudonym 'Lester Cullum' flashes a fake Louisiana I.D. that shows him to be a resident of Lake Charles, residing at the fictional address of "2279 Verbena Ave., Lake Charles, LA 70606".

Music

Lake Charles is the setting and title of a song by Lucinda Williams (a Lake Charles native) on her album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. It is mentioned in the lyrics of the song Continental Trailways Blues by Steve Earle. It is mentioned in Robbie Robertson's lyrics of the song "Up on Cripple Creek" by The Band, sung by Levon Helm:

"When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go?
Straight down the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico
To Lake Charles, Louisiana, little Bessie, girl that I once knew ..."

Films

Lake Charles is featured or mentioned in The Drowning Pool, The Beyond, A Taste of Louisiana with Chef John Folse & Co., Passion Fish, Good Eats, UFC 22: There Can Be Only One Champion, UFC 24: First Defense, Blue Vinyl,[73] Little Chenier, Mercy,[74] Split Ends, All Over But to Cry, Film Hustle, and Good Boy.[75][76]

Sister cities

See also: List of sister cities in the United States

See also

References

  1. ^ "City of Lake Charles". www.cityoflakecharles.com. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Perpignan, France". Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Sioux City, Iowa". Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Cobh, Ireland". Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Census 2010 Data for the State of Louisiana" (place list), US Census Bureau, February 2011, webpage: C2010-LA.
  6. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml Retrieved March 27, 2014
  7. ^ http://www.allianceswla.org/PageDisplay.asp?p1=4740 Retrieved March 27, 2014
  8. ^ a b Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Lake Charles Historical Marker".
  9. ^ [quickfacts.census.gov">http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/2241155.html "Census"]. Census. Retrieved 14 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  10. ^ "Average Relative Humidity - Morning (M), Afternoon (A)" (PDF). Comparative Climatic Data for the United States Through 2012. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: U.S. Dept. of Commerce. 2013.
  11. ^ "National Weather Service". Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  12. ^ name="quickfacts.census.gov"/
  13. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk
  14. ^ http://allianceswla.org/Images/Interior/2011%20major%20employers.pdf Retrieved March 27, 2014
  15. ^ http://atomicinsights.com/shaw-group-announces-nuclear-component-manufacturing-plant-joint-venture/= Retrieved March 27, 2014
  16. ^ http://www.derekdevelopmentcorp.com/developments/lake-charles-power-center/ Retrieved March 14, 2014
  17. ^ http://www.thecottageshops.com/ Retrieved March 14, 2014
  18. ^ https://www.llakecharles.com/amenities/shopping/
  19. ^ http://catalog.mcneese.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=68#accr
  20. ^ http://www.mcneese.edu/parents/facts.asp
  21. ^ http://www.mcneese.edu/news/news/f09enrollment.asp
  22. ^ http://www.sowela.edu/about_us.asp
  23. ^ http://deltatech.edu/about-us/fast-facts/ Retrieved March 13, 2014
  24. ^ http://calcasieulibrary.org/about
  25. ^ http://calcasieulibrary.org/branchhistory
  26. ^ http://library.mcneese.edu/info/welcome.htm
  27. ^ http://www.lcsymphony.org/history.html
  28. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=5-38
  29. ^ http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID=769
  30. ^ http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID=781
  31. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=3-29
  32. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=3-33
  33. ^ http://orleck.org/home0.aspx Retrieved March 15, 2014
  34. ^ http://www.astorylikenoother.com/explore/sites/16.php Retrieved March 13, 2014
  35. ^ http://www.swlamardigras.com/year-round/mardi-gras-museum.cfm
  36. ^ http://www.swlamardigras.com/about/history.cfm
  37. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/docs/1240869336223.htm
  38. ^ http://www.ldlcasino.com/Jack-Daniels-Bar-Grill.aspx
  39. ^ http://www.ldlcasino.com/accommodations.aspx
  40. ^ http://www.ldlcasino.com/golf.aspx
  41. ^ http://www.khou.com/community/Fertitta-to-open-Golden-Nugget-in-Lake-Charles--217021971.html
  42. ^ http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Golden-Nugget-to-be-erected-in-Louisiana-with-4687617.php
  43. ^ http://www.lasvegasnvblog.com/2014/05/bally-technologies-inks-exclusive-enterprise-wide-systems-agreement-with-golden-nugget-inc/
  44. ^ http://www.12newsnow.com/story/24158908/600-million-lake-charles-casino-resort-expected-to-create-jobs-for-southeast-texans
  45. ^ http://kfdm.com/template/cgi-bin/archived.pl?type=basic&file=/shared/news/top-stories/stories/archive/2013/07/ZeKzaXgW.xml
  46. ^ http://nrn.com/latest-headlines/landry-s-add-restaurants-new-hotel-casino
  47. ^ http://www.goldennugget.com/
  48. ^ https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=22000&ATCLID=1505202
  49. ^ http://www.audubontrail.com/courses/index.asp?id=7
  50. ^ https://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=12-172
  51. ^ http://www.louisianatravel.com/adventure-cove
  52. ^ http://www.visitlakecharles.org/static/index.cfm?contentID=84
  53. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=2-23 Retrieved March 31, 2010
  54. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/docs/1184608211100.htm Retrieved April 1, 2010
  55. ^ https://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=9-153 Retrieved April 1, 2010
  56. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=9-15 Retrieved May 2, 2010
  57. ^ http://www.mcneese.edu/police/ Retrieved September 9, 2010
  58. ^ http://www.lccitycourt.org/Pages/WhoSued.htm Retrieved April 3, 2010
  59. ^ http://www.14jdc.org/pages/Divisions.htm Retrieved April 3, 2010
  60. ^ http://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/General_Info/Court_Locations/Lake_Charles/lake_charles.html Retrieved May 26, 2010
  61. ^ http://www.la3circuit.org/directions.htm Retrieved May 26, 2010
  62. ^ http://bridgehunter.com/la/calcasieu/71004509127691/
  63. ^ http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/pressreleases/release.aspx?key=971
  64. ^ http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/highways/letswstp/documents/450-30-0085 - I-210 (CalcRiverBr. - I-10).pdf
  65. ^ http://www.flylakecharles.com/
  66. ^ http://www.chennault.org/about/
  67. ^ http://portlc.com/about/Retrieved March 7, 2014
  68. ^ http://portlc.com/facilities-and-services/calcasieu-river-ship-channel/ Retrieved March 7, 2014
  69. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?structureid=194
  70. ^ http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=15-134
  71. ^ http://www.city-data.com/city/Lake-Charles-Louisiana.html
  72. ^ http://www.barclayagency.com/kushner.html Retrieved August 30, 2010.
  73. ^ Blue Vinyl (2002 film)
  74. ^ Mercy (2006 film)
  75. ^ Good Boy (2009 film)
  76. ^ List of films in Lake Charles, Louisiana
  77. ^ Sioux City Sister-City
  78. ^ Sister City directory

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
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