Lake Charles
City in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Lake Charles is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, with 84,872 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 10 ft (3 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Prien, 5.0 miles SW.
- 84,872residents (2020 Census)
- 10 ftelevation · 3 m
- 47.5 sq miland area · 123.0 km²
- 1,788 / sq mipopulation density
- 70609main ZIP code (4 in total)
About Lake Charles
Lake Charles is the fifth-most-populous city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, located on the namesake lake, 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 Louisiana. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Lake Charles's population was 84,872.
The city and metropolitan area of Lake Charles are considered a significant center of petrochemical refining, gambling, 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 called the "Lake Area".
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Charles weather: 7-day forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast…
Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Lake Charles
Webcams: Windy.com
Living in Lake Charles
- Median household income
- $59,235
- Median home value
- $214,300
- Median rent
- $1,109/mo
- Median age
- 36.6
Do you know Lake Charles? Tell us about it
Help other travelers: share what makes Lake Charles special. We review every message before publishing it.
Map of Lake Charles
Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Lake Charles Street View
Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.
Open in Google Maps ›Lake Charles, LA population
Lake Charles had 84,872 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 84,872 |
|---|---|
| Density | 1,788 per sq mi (690 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Lake Charles at a glance
| State | Louisiana (LA) |
|---|---|
| County | Calcasieu Parish |
| Type | City |
| Population | 84,872 (2020) |
| Land area | 47.48 sq mi (123.0 km²) |
| Water area | 2.87 sq mi (7.43 km²) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Coordinates | 30.1990° N, 93.2108° W |
| ZIP codes | 70609, 70601, 70629, 70669 |
| Official website | cityoflakecharles.com |
| Census code (GEOID) | 2241155 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Lake Charles
- Prien5.0 mi SW
- Westlake5.3 mi NW
- Moss Bluff7.6 mi N
- Sulphur8.9 mi W
- Carlyss9.6 mi W
- Iowa12.2 mi E
- Gillis12.3 mi N
- Lacassine17.5 mi E
- Hayes18.2 mi E
- Hackberry20.1 mi SW
- Fenton20.9 mi NE
- Vinton22.2 mi W
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Lake Charles
What county is Lake Charles in?
Lake Charles is in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
What is the population of Lake Charles, LA?
84,872 people lived in Lake Charles at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Lake Charles, LA?
The main ZIP code is 70609. Other ZIP codes: 70601, 70629, 70669.
What is the elevation of Lake Charles?
10 feet (3 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Lake Charles?
Prien (5.0 mi), Westlake (5.3 mi), Moss Bluff (7.6 mi), Sulphur (8.9 mi), Carlyss (9.6 mi).
Last updated: