Lake Charles Louisiana LA Warrant Search

Lake Charles, Louisiana Lake Charles is the fifth largest incorporated city in the US state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in Acadiana.As of the 2000 census, the population was 71,757. Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area, having a population of 194,138. It is the larger principal city of the Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area, with a population of 225,235. A 2008 population estimate of the five parish area was over 285,853.This growing city is considered a major center of petrochemical refining, tourism, gaming, and education being home to McNeese State University and Sowela. With over 75 festivals held annually, Lake Charles is referred to as the Festival Capital of Louisiana. In 2010, Bloomsberg Businessweek Magazine ranked it as the 19th best place to raise a family. Because of the lakes and waterways throughout the city, metropolitan Lake Charles is often referred to as the Lake Area. Geography and climate Lake Charles is located at 30°12′53″N 93°12′31″W / 30.21472°N 93.20861°W / 30.21472; -93.20861 (30.214656, -93.208537) and has an elevation of 13 feet (4.0 m). The city is located on the banks of the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana, and borders both Lake Charles and Prien Lake. Contraband Bayou, Henderson Bayou, and English Bayou flow through parts of the city. The city is located on a plain about 30 miles (48 km) from the Gulf of Mexico.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.5 square miles (110.2 km²), of which, 40.2 square miles (104.0 km²) of it is land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²) of it (5.57%) is water. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 71,757 people, 27,974 households, and 18,015 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,786.6 people per square mile (689.7/km²). There were 31,429 housing units at an average density of 302.1/km² (782.5/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was:50.23%White 46.82%African American 0.23%Native American 1.07%Asian 0.03%Pacific Islander 0.47% fromother races 1.15% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.40% of the population. There were 27,974 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.The population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.The median income for a household in the city was $30,774, and the median income for a family was $37,774. Males had a median income of $33,005 versus $21,041 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,922. About 16.3% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over. Industry and manufacturing Thousands in the Lake Area are employed by the petro-chemical refineries located across the river near Sulphur and Westlake. Some of the corporations with facilities in or around the city include PPG Industries, ConocoPhillips, and Citgo Petroleum Corporation. The Trunkline LNG terminal, immediately southwest of Lake Charles, is one of the United States' few liquified natural gas terminals. It has facilities for LNG receipt, storage, and re-gasification. Lake Charles Cogeneration, a subsidiary of Leucadia National, began construction of a $1.6 billion petroleum coke gasification plant in early 2009.Manufacturing has been achieving economic success in the area in order to diversify the economic base of the city. Chennault International Airport hosts Aeroframe, which services airplanes, and a Northrop Grumman facility. Louisiana Geothermal of Lake Charles will begin construction of a geothermal electric plant. Aeroframe recently announced it will add over 300 aerospace jobs at Chennault, and has announced that it will locate its global corporate headquarters to Lake Charles. The Shaw Group has built a large manufacturing facility which manufactures parts for nuclear power plants. The company has assured the city and residents that nuclear material and radioactive waste are not involved at the facility. Shaw employs over one thousand workers when at full capacity. Commerce and retail Lake Charles serves as the shopping and retail hub of the five-parish area. It supports many small businesses, especially along Ryan Street and throughout downtown. The Cottage Shop District, located three miles (5 km) south of downtown, supports approximately a dozen small businesses. Prien Lake Mall, which serves nearly 300,000 people, is located right off of Interstate 210 and is anchored by four department stores: Dillard's, Sears, Kohl's, and JCPenney. It has over 80 specialty shops. Retailers include Talbots, Gap, Aéropostale, Bath & Body Works, American Eagle, Buckle, and Hollister. The Cinemark movie theatre, which is designed with a 1930s look, provides stadium seating with all digital technology.The Lake Charles Power Center, located off of Interstate 210 and Highway 14, is a newer and growing shopping area that has 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of shopping space. It offers Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Home Depot, Office Depot, Lowe's, United Artists movie theatre, Academy Sports, Michaels, Old Navy, Shoe Carnival, Outback Steakhouse, Logan's Roadhouse, Carino's Italian Grill, Tequila's Mexican restaurant, and two Japanese steakhouses: Kyoto and Fuji.L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort offers retail options, including specialized stores and several upscale clothing boutiques. Healthcare and medicine Lake Charles is home to a growing medical community. It is served by five hospitals: Christus St. Patrick Hospital, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, W. O. Moss Regional Hospital, Women and Children's Hospital, and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, which is located in a growing area of the city. Many specialized doctors' offices and medical clinics have located along the recently-renamed Dr. Michael E. DeBakey Drive, named after the world-renowned surgeon who was born and raised in Lake Charles. Another new medical complex is the Imperial Calcasieu Surgical Center, located on Imperial Boulevard. In addition, McNeese State University's Nursing program is a nationally recognized program with many nursing graduates employed at area hospitals. Education Lake Charles' public schools are operated by the Calcasieu Parish Public School System. There are a number of private schools located in the city as well. Universities and colleges Lake Charles is home to McNeese State University , a four-year public university in the University of Louisiana System. McNeese is located on a 121-acre (0.49 km2) main campus lined with live oak trees in the heart of Lake Charles. The beautiful Contraband Bayou flows through the campus. McNeese offers over 80 majors, and includes the colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Science, Honors College, and the Doré School of Graduate Studies. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Other properties include a 65-acre (260,000 m2) athletic plant and student apartment complex, the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, Burton Coliseum, the 503-acre (2.04 km2) MSU Farm, and nearly 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of donated farm property used for research, farming, and ranching. Over 8,500 students attend the university.Also located within the city is Sowela Technical Community College , which offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as general education courses that can transfer to four-year universities. It is accredited by the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Finally, Delta School of Business and Technology specializes in vocational courses. Libraries The city's first library opened in 1904, and was financed by Andrew Carnegie. Located downtown, it is named the Carnegie Memorial Library; it also houses the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library. Lake Charles is also home to Epps Memorial Library in north Lake Charles, and Central Library located off of Ernest Street. The Calcasieu Parish Public Library has thirteen locations throughout Calcasieu Parish. McNeese State University's Frazar Memorial Library is four stories and contains over 400,000 volumes. Culture Lake Charles has a strong Cajun culture because of its location in south Louisiana. Many festivals are held at the Civic Center. The most popular, Contraband Days, is hosted on the Civic Center grounds and lakefront. The city has its own symphony orchestra, the Lake Charles Symphony. It was founded in 1938 and hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre, which has a capacity of over 2,000. Nightlife and entertainment A burgeoning nightlife is one cultural facet of the city. Lake Charles hosts popular concerts known as Downtown at Sundown at the Civic Center. L'Auberge du Lac also has its own nightlife with its Jack Daniel's Bar and Grill. Ryan Street in the historic downtown area is known for its restaurants and bars such as AJ's Bar and Grill, Luna's Bar and Grill, Sha Sha's Creole Restaurant, Sylvia's Bistro, and Pujo Street Cafe. Other popular bars throughout the area include Cowboys, Yesterdays, Buffalo Wild Wings, Micci's, and Frosty Factory.L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort is a 26-story hotel with nearly 1000 guest rooms; it is the tallest building between Houston and Baton Rouge. The resort includes a spa, two heated swimming pools and a lazy river, restaurants, gift shops, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge, which is an 18 hole public golf course designed by Tom Fazio. The resort also provides a venue for popular entertainers, such as Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, The Beach Boys, Merle Haggard, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, and Loretta Lynn have entertained at the L'Auberge Event center. During the summer, Parties by the Pool bring in thousands of people across the area. Museums and theatres Lake Charles has five museums. The Central School Arts and Humanities Center features the Black Heritage Art Gallery, which is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which features extravagant costumes and an interactive float, is located inside. The Children's Museum of Lake Charles caters to children as a learning center. The Imperial Calcasieu Museum, the largest museum in Lake Charles, features a permanent historic exhibit with artifacts and an art gallery. Its grounds are home to the Sallier oak tree, which is over 400 years old. The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is used as exhibition space; many moving art exhibits are displayed at this public art gallery each month. It also hosts the Charlestown Farmers' Market, which provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell goods.McNeese State University produces The Banners Series, which includes a series of various musical and theatrical performances throughout the year. Banners also hosts lectures from notable persons and academics each year. In addition, The Lake Charles Little Theatre, The Artists Civic Theatre Studios (ACTS) Theatre and The Children's Theatre Company provide excellent theater with local talent. Sports and recreation Lake Charles is home to the McNeese Cowboys, whose football team hosts games at Cowboy Stadium which has a seating capacity of 17,410. It is also home to the Louisiana Swashbucklers, who play games at Sudduth Coliseum downtown. Burton Coliseum hosts the Cowboys' basketball teams. Golf is popular at the city's Mallard Cove Golf Course. Four other golf courses are played by many residents and visitors: Greywood Plantation Golf Course, Lake Charles Country Club Golf Course, Pine Shadows Golf Course, and the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge du Lac. Graywood Plantation Golf Course is featured on Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail. The city has 31 parks, many of which include playground equipment, athletic facilities, and walking paths. Shiver-Me-Timbers Millenium Park, located downtown, was built entirely by volunteers in 2000. Adventure Cove, a state-of-the-art park, was also built by volunteers, and is specifically designed for handicapped children. The South Lake Charles Little League has had nationally-winning teams televised on ESPN. Hunting and fishing are popular with both residents and visitors to the Lake Area. An All-American Road, the Creole Nature Trail - Louisiana's Outback - brings tourists to parts of Lake Charles and throughout Southwest Louisiana. Government and politics The City of Lake Charles is governed by a mayor-council form of government. The elected officials include the Mayor, the Clerk of Court, and seven City Council members. Each council member represents a particular district within the city limits. One council member is elected president and presides over each meeting. The mayor serves a four-year term. The current mayor is Randy Roach, who has been serving since 2001. Non-elected members include the City Attorney, who is appointed by the mayor.The Lake Charles Police Department provides law enforcement and protection for the city. The Police Chief is appointed for a six-year term, and the Fire Chief is appointed as well. The Lake Charles Fire Department consists of eight fire stations with fifteen fire companies. McNeese State University also has its own security, the McNeese Police Department.The Lake Charles City Court's jurisdiction covers all within the city limits as well as Ward 3 in Calcasieu Parish. The Fourteenth Judicial District Court, located in downtown Lake Charles, covers Calcasieu Parish and includes nine judges who preside over family, juvenile, civil, and criminal trials. Lake Charles is home to a United States District Court, located downtown. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals is headquartered in the city.Lake Charles is served by Charles Boustany of Louisiana's 7th congressional district, which covers much of southern Louisiana. Much of the city is represented by Senator Willie Mount of District 27 in the Louisiana State Senate; however, Dan Morrish's District 25 includes some neighborhoods of south Lake Charles. Print Lake Charles has several publications in circulation. The most widely distributed, daily newspaper is The American Press. Other popular periodicals include Lagniappe Magazine, The Times of Southwest Louisiana, The Jambalaya News, Gumbeaux Magazine, and Thrive magazine. Thrive magazine is currently expanding into television. The Contraband is McNeese State University's student newspaper. Television Major television network affiliates serving the city include:7KPLC(NBC) affiliate 18KLTL(PBS) affiliate 29KVHP(Fox) affiliate Transportation The city's streets are laid out primarily in a grid pattern. Interstate 10 passes through Lake Charles, connecting the city with Houston to the west and New Orleans to the east. The Lake Charles I-10 Bridge goes over part of the lake, that shares the same name with the city, and Calcasieu River. Featuring decorative guns on the siding, it is 135 feet (41 m) high. About 50,000 vehicles pass over it daily. Despite its age of over 50 years, it is considered safe by the Louisiana DOTD.Interstate 210 is an interstate highway bypass that loops through the southern portion of the city. The curving I-210 Calcasieu River High Bridge goes over the Calcasieu Ship Channel. This bridge has a 96% rating even after withstanding recent hurricanes. The loop has served Lake Charles commuters for 40 years, and carries about 40,000 vehicles per day. Its ten exits and the seven exits of I-10 drastically lower the commute time.Other major highways include U.S. Highway 90, which runs parallel with Interstate 10, and U.S. Highway 171, which connects the city to the north with Moss Bluff, DeRidder, and Shreveport. Highway 165, which runs northeast to Alexandria terminates at Highway 90 just a few miles east of the city. Louisiana Highway 14 ends at a junction with Highway 90, and runs south then east of the city. Another major thoroughfare is Ryan Street, running north to south connecting downtown to the southern portions of the city. Airports Lake Charles is served by two airports. Lake Charles Regional Airport , located south of the city, provides commercial airline service to Houston and Dallas. Chennault International Airport , while a fully operational airport, is an industrial and maintenance center. The latter airport, a former Strategic Air Command US Air Force base during the Cold War, is named for Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, the aviator famous for commanding the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II. Both airports provide jobs for the area. Seaports The Port of Lake Charles is the twelfth-largest seaport in the United States, the fourth-largest liner service seaport in the U.S. Gulf, and a major West Gulf container load center. The City Docks in Lake Charles are the main hub of shipping activity. The Calcasieu Ship Channel provides direct access to the Gulf of Mexico 34 miles (55 km) downstream. The ship channel, which has a projected depth of 40 feet (12 m) and a bottom width of 400 feet (120 m), intersects the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just north of Calcasieu Lake. The Port itself creates over 10,000 direct jobs, and is a major economic engine of Lake Charles . The Port leases industrial properties in other areas of the parish as well. Public transportation The City of Lake Charles has an operating bus system, Lake Charles Transit, which currently provides five routes throughout the city. Lake Charles also has its own Greyhound bus station. Its Amtrak station, which serves the Sunset Limited route, is located near Interstate 10. Utilities Electrical needs are provided by the energy company Entergy. The city provides drinking water and sewage service to residents within city limits. Water is treated at six water treatment facilities in the city. Religion Christianity is the predominant religion in the Lake Area. Roman Catholicism is the largest individual denomination, claiming about 50% of the population. Lake Charles is also home to various Protestant Christian denominations, the largest being the Southern Baptist congregation with 30%. There are also religious communities from other faiths such as Islam and Judaism. Festivals and holidays Lake Charles plays host to over 75 festivals and carnivals, giving the city its nickname, 'The Festival Capital of Louisiana.' Contraband Days Contraband Days is a twelve-day annual festival held during the first two weeks of May. The celebrations are filled with savory Cajun food, family fun, and live entertainment, including several national acts. The festival is attended by more than 200,000 people, making it one of the largest celebrations in Louisiana. In a reference to the legends of piracy on the lake and Contraband Bayou, the festival begins when the pirate Jean Lafitte and his crew capture the city and force the mayor to walk the plank. Mardi Gras Mardi Gras in Lake Charles has a colorful history dating back to 1882, when Momus, King of Mardi Gras, landed his royal yacht at the foot of Pujo Street downtown. Throughout the two World Wars, Mardi Gras was downsized which led to a lack of participation by the area's youth. However, an interest to redevelop the festivities arose, and the first Mardi Gras Ball in Lake Charles was staged in 1964. The full revival of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles was not realized until 1979, when several Krewe captains formed the 'Krewe of Krewes', with the primary purpose of parading and promoting Mardi Gras for local residents. In 1985, Mardi Gras of Imperial Calcasieu, Inc. was formed by a group of civic-minded volunteers to further aid in the preservation of this festival. Mardi Gras in Lake Charles, which regularly draws in crowds of 150,000, was recently named a Top 100 Event by the American Bus Association. Other festivals Cajun Music and Food Festival CAL-CA-CHEW (Calcasieu) Festival Celtic Nations Heritage Festival Gallery Promenade Arts Showcase International Food and Music Festival Marshland Festival Con du Lac - The Louisiana Sci-Fi Expo Red, White, Blue and You July 4 Celebration Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival Veteran's Day Parade Cultural references Lake Charles is mentioned inJack Kerouac'sOn The Road- After leaving Sal Paradise in Mexico,Dean Moriarty's car breaks down in Lake Charles. Lake Charles is mentioned by the character played byTom Hanksin the movieCatch Me If You Can, starringLeonardo DiCaprio. The musicalCaroline, or Changeby Tony Kushner, which was nominated for theTony Awardfor Best Musical in 2004, is set in Lake Charles.Tony Kushner, the Pulitzer Prize winning author ofAngels in America, grew up in Lake Charles. Lake Charles is mentioned in the movieDevil in a Blue Dress, starringDenzel Washington. In the movieTigerland,Colin Farrell's character Private Bozz learns that Private Miter's unfaithful girlfriend is the 'prettiest girl in Lake Charles High'. In an episode of theAndy Griffith Show, Andy mentions visiting Uncle Olly and Aunt Flora in Lake Charles. Music Setting and title of a song byLucinda Williamsabout a fatal car crash. Mentioned in the lyrics of the songContinental Trailways BluesbySteve Earle. Mentioned in the lyrics of the songUp on Cripple CreekbyThe Band: Films 2002 -Blue VinylDirected by Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand. It featured Mossville, a community stranded near the petrochemical plants, dealing with the effects of vinyl chloride pollution. 2006 -MercyDirected by Patrick Roddy. Ex con John Mercy finds the transition from prison life is not easy. As John begins to settle into his new life on the outside, a mysterious woman starts to follow him and finds her way into his dreams, creating nightmares with devastating consequences that threatens his parole, sanity and dream for a new start. 2009 -Good BoyDirected by Patrick Roddy, written by Ken Henderson of Moss Bluff, LA. Good Boy is about a young man in a dead end job, who steals from his employer and hits the road for a new life. His journey to freedom is derailed by a mysterious, sadistic killer and his human pets. Nearby suburbs and cities Bell Cityis a small town of a few thousand located southeast of the city. Carlyssis a town of 4,049 located between Sulphur andHackberry. DeQuincyis a town of 3,398 northwest of the city. Grand Lakeis a growing town of 2,320 located south of Lake Charles just south of the Calcasieu-Cameron Parish line. The area is primarily connected to Lake Charles via Louisiana Highway 385. Iowais a town of 2,663 just east of the city. Hackberryis a town of a few thousand south of Sulphur in Cameron Parish. LeBleu Settlementis extensive area spanning overCalcasieuandJefferson Davisparishes, adjacent to Moss Bluff and Iowa, with several thousand residents. Moss Bluffis an unincorporated, growing suburb of 10,535 north of the city viaU.S. Highway 171. Prienis an unincorporated, growing suburb of 7,215 just south of the city limits. Starksis a town of about one thousand located west of the city. Sulphuris a city of 22,512 located to the west of Lake Charles viaInterstate 10andU.S. Highway 90. Welshis a town of 3,380 east of the city. Westlakeis a suburb of 4,668 located directly west of theCalcasieu RiverandLake Charlesfrom the city. Vintonis a town of 3,338 west of the city.