If you plan on visiting Lake Charles, LA, there are a few things you need to know. The people are friendly, and they are always trying to feed you. That's okay because NOLA isn't the only place in Louisiana with good cooks. Lake Charles has some of the best Louisiana cuisines you can eat.

The Lake City is also home to many festivals year-round, and most have something to do with food! There is a great art and music district, and the community is very diverse. This is why Southwest Louisiana is so rich in culture and tradition.

The climate is tropical, and the vibe is relaxed. When visiting this part of the U.S. packing cool clothing and comfortable shoes is the best choice. Most of this you probably already knew, but here are some more fun facts about Lake Charles you may not have known.

Port of Lake Charles/Facebook
Port of Lake Charles/Facebook
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The Humidity is very high.

All visitors notice that Southwest Louisiana has a different kind of heat. Summers can be grueling, and that's because  Lake Charles is one of the most humid cities in the nation. That's good for the skin but bad if you want to be comfortable outside.

On an average morning, the humidity is 90%, and in the evening about 72%. There are only two other cities in the country with humid climates that can measure up to that of SWLA: Port Arthur, Texas, and Astoria, Oregon.

What is Lake Charles known for?

Lake Charles is known for casinos, gambling, Zydeco and Cajun music, Mardi Gras parades, Carnival balls, and festivals.

2023 Lake Charles Mardi Gras
2023 Lake Charles Mardi Gras
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Lake Charles Has A Motto
“Louisiana's Playground.” This indicates the party, eat, and sleep atmosphere of the city's casinos and resorts, fishing piers, boating, and various outdoor activities.

Lake Charles Refinery Production 

Lake Charles has one of the nation's three largest crude oil refineries CITGO operates. This one plant produces 418,000 - 463,000 barrels per day of high-quality transportation fuels and petrochemicals - gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, propane, and more.

Louisiana has 15 active refineries, all of which are in Lake Charles and Garyville.

The Old Lake Charles City Hall.
Gary Shannon
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Lake Charles Is Owned By One Entity

Lake Charles LNG, formerly known as Trunkline LNG Co. LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer Equity LP and Energy Transfer Partners LP.

Is Lake Charles a real lake?

Lake Charles is a brackish lake located on the Calcasieu River, almost entirely within the city limits. The Calcasieu River is a 68-mile deep draft navigation channel, with the southern boundary extending to the Gulf of Mexico.

Google Maps
Google Maps
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When Was Lake Charles Incorporated?

The city was founded by Charles Sallier in 1861, and its original name was Charleston. The city was incorporated in 1857 and reincorporated on March 16, 1867, as the City of Lake Charles.

Population

Lake Charles is the 5th largest city in Louisiana. It is the second-largest city in the Acadiana. It is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. States of Louisiana. The population is roughly 73,000 to 80,000.

Lake Charles Has A Sister City

Sioux City established a sister city partnership with Lake Charles in 1995.

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