Editing Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (section)

=== "Imperial Calcasieu" era ===
Calcasieu Parish was created in 1840 from the Parish of [[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|Saint Landry]]. The new parish was the largest in the state, larger than either of the two smallest states, [[Delaware]] and [[Rhode Island]].<ref name=":0" /> This size, which ultimately was divided into five parishes, led to the parish's nickname "Imperial Calcasieu."<ref name=":0" />

On August 24, 1840, six men met at a private home near present-day [[Chloe, Louisiana|Chloe]] to organize as the parish [[police jury]] representing six wards. The first order of business was to elect officers, appoint a parish clerk, and settle on simple parliamentary rules that would enable the president to keep the meetings orderly and progressive. The jury adopted all of the laws then in force in Saint Landry Parish. They appointed a parish constable, a parish treasurer, two parish assessors, and an operator of the ferry at Buchanan's crossing. The assessors were given two months to assess all of the property in the parish and a salary of $90.

On September 14, 1840, a survey was authorized of land known then as Marsh Bayou Bluff in order to establish a seat of justice (parish seat) and construct a courthouse and jail. On December 8, 1840, the jury chose to rename this community as Marion. In 1843, the Legislature authorized a vote to move the parish seat.

Finally in 1852, Jacob Ryan was successful in having the parish seat relocated from Marion to the east bank of Lake Charles. This parish seat was incorporated in 1857 as the town of Charleston; it was reincorporated in 1868 as [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]]. It is located about {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} from Marion, now known as Old Town. The name Lake Charles commemorates one of the first European settlers, Charles Sallier, a Frenchman who acquired land in this area at the beginning of the 19th century.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cppj.net/government/parish-history|title=History of Calcasieu Parish|website=Calcasieu Parish Police Jury|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>