About Lake Charles
Lake Charles is a thriving city in southwestern Louisiana, home to 81,157 residents as of the latest Census estimates. It ranks as the 5th largest city in Louisiana.
Lake Charles holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 47.47 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,710 residents per square mile.
📰 Lake Charles News Today
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Lake Charles Unique
- One of the 5 largest cities in Louisiana (#5 statewide).
- The only place in America named Lake Charles — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
- Positioned in southwestern Louisiana, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
Why People Love It Here
- Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
- Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 81,157.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.
📍 Neighborhoods in Lake Charles
Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Lake Charles
- Jojo's Chinese Bistro — chinese
- Mr. Gatti's Pizza — pizza
- Olive Garden — italian
- Restaurant Calla — american
- Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
- Stellar Beans — coffee shop (café)
- 1910
- Area 337 — latin american
- Bekery (café)
- Blue Iguana — mexican
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center · Museum
- Imperial Calcasieu Museum · Museum
- Imperial Calcasieu Museum - The Annex Gallery · Art gallery
- The Children's Museum · Museum
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Lake Charles
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Lake Charles
- Alfred M. Barbe High School
- Barbe Elementary School
- Brentwood Elementary School
- College Oaks Elementary School
- Dolby Elementary School
- Fairview Elementary School
- Henry Heights Elementary School
- Jessie D. Clifton Elementary School
- Lake Charles Charter Academy
- Lake Charles College Prep
- M. J. Kaufman Elementary School
- Sam Houston High School
- Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy
- T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital ★★★ (3/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
- Lake Charles Memorial Hospital ★★★ (3/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
- Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital · 24/7 ER
- Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Lake Charles · Psychiatric
- Stonebridge Behavioral Hospital · Psychiatric
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.