 {{infobox settlement | name = lake charles, louisiana | native_name = | official_name = city of lake charles | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = city | image_skyline = lc_collage2.jpg | imagesize = 300px | image_alt = | image_caption = clockwise from left: downtown lake charles; lakefront promenade; i-210 bridge over the calcasieu river; mcneese state university entrance plaza | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | nickname = the lake area | motto = | image_map = map of usa la.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = location of louisiana in usa | pushpin_map = usa louisiana | pushpin_label_position = none | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = location of lake charles in louisiana | latd = 30 |latm = 12 |lats = 53 |latns = n | longd = 93 |longm = 12 |longs = 31 |longew = w | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_type = | coordinates_display = inline,title | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = country | subdivision_name = united states | subdivision_type1 = state | subdivision_name1 = louisiana | subdivision_type2 = parish | subdivision_name2 = calcasieu | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = founded | established_date = march 7, 1861 as charleston | established_title1 = renamed | established_date1 = march 16, 1867 as lake charles | founder = charles sallier | named_for = charles sallier | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = democrat | leader_title = mayor | leader_name = randy roach |leader_title1 = city council |leader_name1 = | unit_pref = imperial | area_magnitude = | area_footnotes = | area_total_sq_mi = 44.8 | area_land_sq_mi = 42.1 | area_water_sq_mi = 2.7 | area_water_percent = | area_note = | area_round = 1 | area_land_round = 1 | area_water_round = 1 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_ft = 13 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 71993 | population_as_of = 2010 | population_urban = 132977 | population_metro = 194138 | population_density_sq_mi= 1711.8 | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_demonym = lake charlesian | population_note = | timezone1 = cst | utc_offset1 = -6 | timezone1_dst = cst | utc_offset1_dst = -5 | postal_code_ty
1861_establishments_in_the_United_States Cities_in_Calcasieu_Parish,_Louisiana Cities_in_Lake_Charles_metropolitan_area Cities_in_Louisiana Lake_Charles,_Louisiana Louisiana_African_American_Heritage_Trail Parish_seats_in_Louisiana Populated_places_established_in_1861