History History of Lake Charles, Louisiana

1 history

1.1 18th , 19th centuries

1.1.1 historical events, settlement , incorporation
1.1.2 industrial growth , civil war
1.1.3 after civil war


1.2 twentieth century
1.3 present day

history

18th , 19th centuries
early historical events, settlement , incorporation

while several american indian tribes known have lived in area occupied present-day lake charles, first european settlers arrived in 1760s.

the calcasieu river bridge seen downtown lake charles.

in 1781 martin lebleu , wife, dela marion, of bordeaux, france first recorded europeans settle in area known lebleu settlement. charles sallier, 1 of first settlers, married lebleu s daughter, catherine lebleu; salliers built home on beach in current-day lake charles. area on east side of calcasieu river defined southern part of neutral ground until ratification of adams-onís treaty ratified in 1821. infamous pirate, jean lafitte, once delivered stolen slaves , contraband james bowie , other plantation owners in area. 1860 area become known charles town in sallier s honor.

the rio hondo, flowed through lake charles, later called quelqueshue, native american term meaning crying eagle . transliterated through french, became name of calcasieu parish. on march 7, 1861, lake charles officially incorporated town of charleston, louisiana.

industrial growth , civil war

the city s growth slow until captain daniel goos, frisian birth, came city in 1855. goos established lumber mill , schooner dock, in became known goosport. promoted profitable trade texan , mexican ports sending schooner downriver gulf of mexico. until arrival of goos, man named jacob ryan dominated lumber industry. between 1817 , 1855, timber sales longleaf pine , bald cypress remained city s primary source of economic revenue.

jacob ryan convinced state government move parish seat lake charles former location @ marion, settlement 8 miles (13 km) upriver. later year, ryan , samuel kirby transferred parish courthouse , jail barge then-named charleston. 6 years after city incorporated, dissatisfaction on name charleston arose; on march 16, 1867, charleston, louisiana, renamed , incorporated town of lake charles.

by time of u.s. civil war, many americans north, along large influx of continental europeans , jews, had come settle area. attitudes toward slavery in lake charles mixed, slavery secondary business interests. in fact, fewer 5 percent of population slaves. many citizens became involved in war. local families supported confederacy, while others supported cause of union.

after civil war

in years following civil war, lake charles regained status lumbering center. in 1880s, city saw increase in population , economic demand largely due innovative advertising campaign j.b. watkins. campaign, city s population grew four-hundred percent during decade.

using pine wood city s mills, construction of large victorian mansions transformed lake charles during 1890s. carpenters competed verve out-build each other use of elaborate fretwork , decoration. area of present-day lake charles located east of downtown known charpentier historic district french word carpenter , features unique homes era.

twentieth century

ryan street in lake charles, 1903.

on april 23, 1910, great fire, known great fire of 1910 devastated of city. 1890 courthouse, along of downtown lake charles, destroyed. 2 months afterwards, louisiana legislature divided former imperial calcasieu parish current parishes of allen, beauregard, cameron, jefferson davis , calcasieu. however, lake charles rebuilt , continued grow , expand.

a view of downtown lake charles, circa 1917

after world war ii, lake charles experienced industrial growth onset of petrochemical refining industries. lake charles civic center, built on reclaimed land on lakefront in 1970s, hosted many national shows, acts, , pop singers such elvis. city grew high of 80,000 people in 1980s, local economic recession, population declined. advent of gaming industry, city has begun again see growth. of 2000 census, city had total population of 71,757.

present day

the destructive force of hurricane rita. looking down remains of lakefront boardwalk toward damaged harrah s lake charles casino property.

lake charles suffered extensive damage hurricane rita, struck city category 3 storm september 24, 2005. on september 22, mayor ordered mandatory evacuation of city, , approximately ninety percent of residents left. evacuees asked not return 48 hours, due wind , flood damage. there extensive damage city s electrical grid, , many areas did not have power restored 3 weeks.

on june 20, 2006, citgo petroleum plant located in sulphur, louisiana released between 15,000 , 18,000 barrels (2,400 , 2,900 m) of oil calcasieu ship channel. united states coast guard called in contain spilled oil, had time flowed down calcasieu river. because of disaster, coast guard had close many waterways, including calcasieu river channel , one-mile (1.6 km) stretch of gulf intracoastal waterway. port of lake charles remained closed time after accident due contamination.

oil prices surged on $74 per barrel in part due citgo spillage. calcasieu refining co., processes 76,500 barrels (12,160 m) of oil day, working @ low levels weeks after incident.

as part of city s recovery hurricane rita, elected officials proposed plan renovate downtown area make more attractive , pedestrian-friendly. primary concern downtown revitalization include quality , affordable housing. fund proposal, officials proposed city-wide bond issue. date, 1 third of 90-million dollar bond proposal has been spent. lakefront promenade under construction, 52-berth marina south of civic center grounds. monies issued bond used other capital projects throughout city.

in 2008, report showed overall criminal offenses down 15%, , major crimes down 9% in city.