
It borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. Lake Charles, located on a level plain about 30 miles (48 km) from the Gulf of Mexico, has an elevation of approximately 13 feet (4.0 m) above sea level, and is located on the banks of the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana. The southern portion of the city was damaged by an EF2 tornado on October 27, 2021. In 2020, it was battered by two hurricanes, Category 4 Hurricane Laura on August 26–27, and Hurricane Delta on October 9, 2020. In 2005, the city was heavily damaged by Hurricane Rita. By 1991, the incomplete base was dropped from the program and shuttered. Support ships were to be operated from the new Naval Station Lake Charles but with the tailing-off of the Cold War, the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended it be closed. In 1985, the city was identified as a potential Strategic Homeport to support Navy Secretary John Lehman's desire for a 600-ship Navy. The city grew to a high of some 75,000 people in the early 1980s, but with local economic recession, the population declined and stagnated. During and after World War II, Lake Charles experienced industrial growth with the arrival of petrochemical refineries. The Charleston Hotel was completed in 1929, during the administration of Mayor Henry J. Lake Charles soon rebuilt, grew and expanded in the twentieth century. The Great Fire of April 1910 devastated much of the city. Ten years later, on March 16, 1867, Charleston was reincorporated as the City of Lake Charles. The town was first incorporated in 1857 as Charleston, after an early settler, Charles Sallier.

There are also urban tales he had planned to name the settlement Nouveau Cadix (New Cádiz)", after the city in Spain, but this is uncertain.

Eliche had also founded other outposts and towns in Louisiana prior, most notably Marksville, which is named after him. Long before incorporation and even before the Louisiana Purchase, other names for Lake Charles were Porte du Lafitte (Port of Jean Lafitte) or Rivière Lafitte (River Lafitte/Lafitte's River), among many other names now lost. He had arrived in Louisiana after hitchhiking and was invited onto a Spanish vessel due to his determination and loyalty to volunteer and work freely for the Spanish Empire. He was a Sephardic Jewish trader of either Basque-Spanish or Venetian-Italian origins. Lake Charles was founded by merchant and tradesman Marco Eliche (or Marco de Élitxe) as an outpost. This map shows the current & 7-day weather forecast, weather alerts, and weather radar for Lake Charles, Louisiana.On March 7, 1861, Lake Charles was incorporated as the town of Charleston, Louisiana. Fast Facts About Lake Charles, LAĪs of 2020, the city population is 145029.

There is an average of 3.6 inches of precipitation during this season, which includes occasional snowfall. Winter (December-February) in Lake Charles is cool with temperatures ranging from an average low of 40☏ (4☌) to an average high of 64☏ (18☌). There is an average of 4.5 inches of precipitation during this season, which includes occasional thunderstorms. There is an average of 6.8 inches of precipitation during this season, which includes frequent thunderstorms.Īutumn (September-November) in Lake Charles is mild with temperatures ranging from an average low of 55☏ (13☌) to an average high of 79☏ (26☌).

Summer (June-August) in Lake Charles is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 75☏ (24☌) to an average high of 93☏ (34☌). Spring (March-May) in Lake Charles, Louisiana is generally mild with temperatures ranging from an average low of 46☏ (8☌) to an average high of 82☏ (28☌).
