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| History |
Imperial Calcasieu was originally inhabited by Indian tribes. Vestiges of Indian culture live on in local names and places such as the Coushatta Indian Reservation in Elton, 45 miles northeast of Lake Charles.
The first homestead in this area was established six miles east of Lake Charles in 1781, by a Frenchman from Bordeaux, Barthelmy LeBleu. In 1803, Charles Sallier, also from France, married LeBleu's daughter Catherine, and built a log cabin on the lake giving it his name.
The river flowing through our community was called Quelqueshue by the Indians. Eventually, the river and the surrounding area became known as Calcasieu. In 1840, 6,000 acres of Southwest Louisiana were organized into six parishes, Louisiana's equivalent of counties.
The influence of the French Acadians is present in the cuisine of local restaurants as well as in the architecture of homes and buildings. Acadian language, customs and music are also evident. In fact "Cajun" French is still spoken in many small towns in the bayou country near Lake Charles.
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