Town file
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 578, "Video Poker Playboy Murder" (8 March 2025). Brian Davis was born on July 9th, 1969, in New Orleans and grew up in Independence, Louisiana, just outside the city.
- Town
- Lake Charles
- State
- Louisiana
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 578
- Approximate location
- 30.199, -93.211
Episode 578 / 8 March 2025 / 72 min / express
Video Poker Playboy Murder
"We're going down to Louisiana this week, Lake Charles, Louisiana." about 0:03:23
The case: Murder of Brian Davis (June 29th, 2009). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2025
- Population
- 83,444
- Median household income
- $49,913
- Median home value
- $179,400
History, in brief
- Originally called Port du Lafitte, for the pirate Jean Lafitte. about 0:05:42
- First incorporated in 1857 as Charleston, after an early settler named Charles Salier. about 0:05:55
- Reincorporated as the city of Lake Charles on March 16th, 1867. about 0:06:03
- In 1910 a great fire devastated the whole city; it was rebuilt and expanded. about 0:06:10
- The Charleston Hotel was built in 1929. about 0:06:27
- Industrial growth after the Second World War came with the petrochemical refineries. about 0:06:33
- Damaged badly by Hurricane Rita in 2005. about 0:06:52
- Battered in 2020 by two category four hurricanes, Laura and Delta. about 0:07:02
- The southern part of the city was damaged by an EF2 tornado in 2021. about 0:07:23
The reviews read out
5 stars
"The sportsman's paradise, with great food and great people and something for everyone; the only thing missing is a Dave & Buster's or a skating rink."about 0:08:16
1 star
"Written by a ten-year-old: the city sucks, the crime rate is horrible and all there is to do is go to a crappy casino."about 0:08:43
1 star
"A city of scumbags, low lives and thieves; the reviewer does not like Lake Charlesians and says the schoolchildren are among the meanest in the country."about 0:09:14
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Iowa, Louisiana12 miles
- Lake Arthur, Louisiana33 miles
- Ville Platte, Louisiana65 miles
- St. Martinville, Louisiana83 miles
- Dry Prong, Louisiana104 miles
- Franklin, Louisiana106 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.