Lake Charles, Louisiana

History
The first recorded Europeans to settle in the area now known as the LeBleu Settlement were Mr. and Mrs. LeBleu of Bordeaux, France. Another pioneer, Charles Sallier, married LeBleu's daughter Catherine, and they built their home on the lake. By 1860 the area known as Charlie's Lake was being called Charleston or Charles Town. The city of Lake Charles was incorporated in 1861.

McNeese Archives &amp; Special Collections
Search the McNeese State University Archives website for information about area history and genealogy. Online information includes:


 * Historic Photographs of Southwest Louisiana
 * Full-text books about Southwest Louisiana history
 * Interactive map of Lake Charles in 1948
 * Map of Lake Charles' Fire of 1910

Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary
Thomas Rigmaiden, known to be the first school teacher west of the Calcasieu River, wrote daily in a diary for 29 years. Diary entries, written from 1836 to 1865, mention people, events and locations.

Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary on LAGenWeb Archives

Websites

 * City of Lake Charles
 * Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library