Lake Charles is the fifth largest city in Louisiana and serves as the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish. As of 2000, Lake Charles had a population of 71,757 people and is the cultural and educational center of southwest Louisiana. It is also the principal city of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes.
![. Lake Charles is the fifth largest incorporated city in the US state of Louisiana. It is the major cultural and educational center in the southwest region of the state and one of the most important in Acadiana. As of the 2000 census, Lake Charles' population was 71,757. The city serves as the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish. Lake Charles is the principal city of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the parishes of Calcasieu and Cameron. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area. ,[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)