Editing Lake Charles, Louisiana (section)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
| 1880 = 838
| 1890 = 3442
| 1900 = 6680
| 1910 = 11449
| 1920 = 13088
| 1930 = 15791
| 1940 = 21207
| 1950 = 41272
| 1960 = 63392
| 1970 = 77998
| 1980 = 75226
| 1990 = 70580
| 2000 = 71757
| 2010 = 71993
| 2020 = 84872
}}
Lake Charles is the principal city of the [[Lake Charles metropolitan area|Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area]], which had a population of 240,082 as of 2023. It is the larger principal city of the [[Lake Charles–DeRidder CSA|Lake Charles-DeRidder combined statistical area]], with a population of 276,909.<ref name=PopEstCBSA>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2023 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=March 14, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 }}</ref> The 2020 population of the five-parish region of [[Southwest Louisiana]] was 313,951.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swift |first1=George |title=Census data key to redistricting |url=https://www.americanpress.com/2021/08/17/george-swift-column-census-data-key-to-redistricting/ |access-date=18 August 2021 |work=American Press |publisher=The American Press |date=August 17, 2021}}</ref> The city proper of Lake Charles at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] had a population of 84,872, with a population density of 1,890 people per square mile among 38,434 housing units.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> In 2010, the population was 71,993,<ref name="c2K">"Census 2010 Data for the State of Louisiana" (place list), [[US Census Bureau]], February 2011, webpage: [http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL1.ST13&prodType=table C2010-LA] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212205942/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL1.ST13&prodType=table |date=February 12, 2020 }}.</ref> reflecting a rebound from its 1990 population of 70,580.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the city was $36,001. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $22,855. About 20.9% of the population was below the [[poverty line]]; in 2020, the median income for a household in the city was $37,894; 26.7% of the population was below the poverty line. The average commute time was 22.4 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census - Table Results |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2241155&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05 |website=www.census.gov |publisher=Census Bureau |access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref>

===Race and ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Lake Charles city, Louisiana  – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lake Charles city, Louisiana |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=160XX00US2270000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake Charles city, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2270000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake Charles city, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2270000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|35,540
|32,793
|style='background: #ffffe6; |35,143
|49.53%
|45.55%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |41.41%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|33,414
|34,120
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38,943
|46.57%
|47.39%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |45.88%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|158
|272
|style='background: #ffffe6; |289
|0.22%
|0.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|766
|1,184
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,230
|1.07%
|1.64%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.63%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|13
|21
|style='background: #ffffe6; |82
|0.02%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.10%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some other race]] alone (NH)
|133
|300
|style='background: #ffffe6; |460
|0.19%
|0.42%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.54%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed or multiracial]] (NH)
|726
|1,234
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,953
|1.01%
|1.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.48%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,007
|2,069
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,772
|1.40%
|2.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.62%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''71,757'''
|'''71,993'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''84,872'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

The 2010 census determined that the [[Race (United States Census)|racial]] and ethnic makeup for the city was 47% [[African Americans|African American]], 46% [[White Americans|White]], <1% Native American]], 2% , 1% from other races, and 2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3% of the population. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the racial and ethnic makeup for Lake Charles was 46.2% Black or African American, 42.5% non-Hispanic white, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 2.6% some other race, 5.6% two or more races, and 5.6% Hispanics or Latinos of any race.<ref name=":0" />

===Religion===
In common with most of the [[Religion in the Southern United States|American South]], Christianity is the predominant religion in the Lake Area. According to the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] in 2020, the [[Roman Catholic church|Roman Catholic Church]] is the area's largest individual Christian denomination, with 51,161 adherents in Calcasieu Parish alone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 {{!}} U.S. Religion Census {{!}} Religious Statistics & Demographics |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=www.usreligioncensus.org}}</ref> The Southern Baptist Convention was the city and area's second largest denomination, followed by non-denominational Protestant churches. Other prominent Christian denominations have included the [[United Methodist Church]], [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention, USA]], [[Churches of Christ]], [[Church of God in Christ]], and the [[Assemblies of God USA]].

Additionally, outside of Christianity,  an estimated 354 adherents of [[Islam]] were in the city and metropolitan area. According to Dwellics and [[Sperling's BestPlaces]], the area also has a small [[Jews|Jewish]] population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population In Lake Charles, Louisiana (Community Demographics) |url=https://dwellics.com/louisiana/community-in-lake-charles |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Dwellics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion in Lake Charles, Louisiana |url=https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/louisiana/lake_charles |website=Sperling's BestPlaces}}</ref>

===Crime===
In 2018, the violent crime rate in the Lake Charles area was one of the highest in the United States, across communities of all sizes<!-- (both large and small) -->. Violent offenses tracked include rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/la/lake-charles/crime/|title=Lake Charles Crime Rates and Statistics |website=Neighborhoodscout.com|access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> Lake Charles is safer than 13% of cities in the United States. For every 100,000 people, 13.11 daily crimes occur in Lake Charles. <!-- out of date  Year over year, crime in Lake Charles has decreased by 25%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lake Charles, LA Crime Rates & Crime Map|url=http://www.areavibes.com/lake+charles-la/crime/|access-date=September 1, 2018|website=[[AreaVibes]]}}</ref> -->