As this blog-to explain what is meant by Imperial Calcasieu - was started, it became apparent that for the sake of those relocating to Southwest Louisiana, it would be best to explain "Why Louisiana has parishes instead of counties."

CalcasieuParish (Lake Charles is the "Parish Seat" of Calcasieu Parish) was first created in 1840 from one of the original 19 civil parishes established by the Louisiana legislature in 1807. That area was called "St. Landry Parish."

By 1840, the area had grown such that what had been Calcasieu Parish was separated into 5 smaller parishes.

The original, larger area is referred to now as "Imperial Calcasieu."

The five parishes that comprise Imperial Calcasieu are as follows:

• Calcasieu
• Cameron
• Jeff Davis
• Beauregard
• Allen