| The Lake Area | |
| Official Name: | Lake Charles, LA metropolitan statistical area |
| Settlement Type: | Metropolitan statistical area |
| Image Alt: | Downtown Lake Charles |
| Map Alt: | Map of Lake Charles Metropolitan Area |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Louisiana |
| Subdivision Type2: | Largest city |
| Subdivision Name2: | Lake Charles |
| Subdivision Type3: | Other cities |
| Unit Pref: | US |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 254652 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 240082 |
| Population Rank: | US 199th |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
The Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area is a metropolitan area in the Acadiana region of southwest Louisiana that covers three parishes—Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis. According to a 2023 census estimate, the MSA had a population of 240,082.[1] It is also part of the larger Lake Charles–DeRidder combined statistical area which had a population of 276,909 in 2023.[1] The Lake Charles MSA also shares borders with the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area to the west. Metropolitan Lake Charles, the principal city, is commonly referred to as the Lake Area.
By 2021, its population was 208,680 according to statistics from the American Community Survey.[2] In 2021, the racial and ethnic makeup was an estimated 67% non-Hispanic white, 24% African American or Black, 1% Asian, 3% two or more races, and 4% Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2000 census, its racial makeup was 74.63% White, 22.94% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the MSA was $34,802, and the median income for a family was $40,783. Males had a median income of $33,868 versus $20,252 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $16,529. At the 2021 ACS census-estimates, its median household income increased to $58,736 with a per capita income of $30,000. Approximately 18.7% of the metropolitan population lived at or below the poverty line, with 24% of children under age 18 considered in poverty.
Interstate 10 intersects the metropolitan area with Houston, Texas and New Orleans. Interstate 210 loops around the city of Lake Charles, and U.S. Highway 90 runs parallel with Interstate 10; U.S. Highway 171 connects the area with Central and North Louisiana.