This small city in Calcasieu Parish derived its name from the sulfur mines established there in the 1890s. Sulphur later emerged as a bedroom community for many workers who were part of Lake Charles' vast petrochemical industry—and it largely remains so today. "We have one of the busiest ports on the Gulf. We also have a lot of oil refineries and chemical plants, which have been driving our economy for 80 years now," says Realtor Tim Feist of Century 21 Bono Realty of Lake Charles; the city is just 10 miles east of Sulphur. And the industry continues to grow with companies like Woodside Energy, which is investing billions in a new liquid natural gas facility.
Another major employer in the region is the casino industry. Most resort casinos are along the waterfront in Lake Charles, while Delta Downs Racetrack Hotel & Casino is about 16 miles west of Sulphur. The Calcasieu Parish government, the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools District and the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital are other large employers for residents of Sulphur, a city of roughly 20,000.
Launch your boat and explore Lake Charles from La Fleur Park.
Enjoy bird watching at Center Circle Park in Maplewood.
Beverly Hills is a small neighborhood located in eastern Sulphur, LA.
Sulphur's economy is deeply rooted in petrochemical processing.
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Single-family homes dating from the 1920s to today
In Sulphur, almost 75% of homes are owner-occupied, and most rentals are single-family houses. Because neighborhoods were developed at different stages of Sulphur's history, single-family homes vary with age. Cottages in established neighborhoods like Maplewood, originally built as a company town for Citgo workers, date back to the 1920s. Ranch-style homes are all around the city, dating from the 1950s to the early 2000s. Homes on the western edges of Sulphur, closer to Lake Charles, were typically built within the last few years. The median price for a single-family home in Sulphur is around $205,000.
Smaller cottages can be found on the eastern edge of Beverly Hills.
Residents of Central Carlyss enjoy quiet streets.
Many young homeowners are choosing Maplewood as the place to set their roots.
Many homes in Beverly Hills offer two car garages.
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A touch of Texas in crawfish country
Lake Charles, and Sulphur by extension, has a slightly different culture than the rest of Southern Louisiana. "Lafayette is an hour away to the east, and their culture is much different than ours, even though we're only 70 miles apart," says Realtor Tim Feist of Century 21 Bono Realty. "We do have a lot of the Cajun influences, but we also have a lot of Texas influence." The Texas border is less than 30 miles from Sulphur. Texas-style rodeos and livestock shows regularly take place at Sulphur's West Cal Arena and Events Center.
Downtown Lake Charles tends to be the area's main dining and shopping hub, but Sulphur is home to numerous Cajun and Mexican restaurants and big-box retailers, mostly on major roads like Ruth Street and Beglis Parkway. Crawfish, whether enjoyed at sit-down restaurants or bought at roadside vendors, are big news in Sulphur and the surrounding areas. "When crawfish season comes around in January, all the cars are lined up by my house at a place that sells it fresh," says Realtor Vicky Fuselier of Exit Realty Southern, who was born and raised in Sulphur.
Friends often gather to enjoy burgers at Maplewood Burgers in central Maplewood.
Residents can enjoy seafood and daiquiris at Paradise Grill near Carlyss.
Paradise Grill, near Beverly Hills, offers seafood and burgers.
Maria's Cocina is a local favorite for authentic mexican food in Beverly Hills.
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Golf courses, athletic complexes and a waterpark in Sulphur
Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) maintains 14 facilities across the city. They include public parks with expansive athletic complexes, like the baseball diamonds at Pattison Park. Frasch Park is the city's largest park, offering a par-71 public golf course and the seasonal SPAR Waterpark, which includes a lazy river. In 2024, Center Circle Park in the Maplewood community reopened with a new playground, splash pad and pool following destruction from two 2020 hurricanes; more improvements will be unveiled in 2025. Other facilities include the Henning Cultural Center, which has free local art exhibitions, and a recreation center, which has an indoor gym and pool. Surrounding Sulphur are the Calcasieu River and hunting preserves like Big Woods. "It's a sportsman's paradise, for sure. There's a lot of hunting and especially fishing from here to Cameron and Big Lake," Fuselier says.
Baseball players get batting practice in at Frasch Park near Beverly Hills.
Shoot hoops at the shaded basketball courts at Center Circle Park in Beverly Hills.
Play a round of golf at Frasch Golf Course near Beverly Hills.
Feel like a kid again at Bord du L.Ac. Park.
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Served by Calcasieu Parish Public Schools
Sulphur is part of the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools District, the state's sixth-largest district, with a total enrollment of around 29,500 students across 65 facilities. The district earns an overall Niche rating of B-plus. Sulphur High School's Golden Tornados football team draws cheering fans on fall Friday nights, and its marching band is also popular.
Maplewood Elementary has a student body of 651 students.
Maplewood Middle serves grades 6-8.
Sulphur High is a place where students can thrive.
Sulphur High boasts a football, baseball, and soccer program.
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Events in Sulphur and nearby
The Grove at Heritage Square is a favorite gathering spot for community events. Christmas Under the Oaks takes place in early December with three days of holiday cheer, including live music. Year-round, the park's small stage hosts live performances. Nearby, Lake Charles hosts the Chuck Fest food and music festival in October. Festival International in Lafayette takes place in spring and features international music.
Watch ballerinas dance to holiday classics at the Downtown Holiday Stroll.
Sulphur certainly stands on its own from Lake Charles.
Carlyss offers several paved tennis courts that are open to the public.
Let kids enjoy playing in the festive fake snow at the Downtown Holiday Stroll.
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A new and improved Calcasieu River Bridge for I-10 commuters
Sulphur does not have public transportation, making it a car-dependent community. Interstate 10 is the primary connector between Sulphur and Lake Charles and larger cities to the east and west of Calcasieu Parish, like Lafayette and Beaumont, Texas, about 50 miles away. Commuters working in south Lake Charles tend to use Interstate 210 rather than crossing the aging and traffic-prone I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, which is in the process of being replaced – a long-awaited project. The Lake Charles Airport, about 12 miles away, offers non-stop flights to DFW International Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport.
Hurricanes and tornados in Sulphur
Southwest Louisiana is a hurricane-prone region. In 2020, back-to-back hurricanes wreaked havoc on communities like Sulphur with intense winds and flooding. Although improvements have been made since then—including upgrades to pump stations and drainage canals—lower-lying areas are still prone to flooding. A tornado also struck Sulphur in 2024, causing extensive damage.
Sulphur also deals with the effects of industrial pollution. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the region ranks in the 95th percentile for toxic air releases and the 90th percentile for proximity to Superfund sites. This has prompted a grim nickname for the area, "Cancer Alley," due to the disproportionate rates of diagnoses for certain cancers. Yet, the petrochemical plants are a fact of life for most locals. "We drive through that every day and never think about it, even when we go over the bridge, and it's all lit up with all the plants around us," Fuselier says.
The city also contends with higher-than-average rates of property crime, particularly home and car break-ins. Sulphur has an average property crime rate of 244 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the average for Lake Charles. Violent crime, on the other hand, occurs at a much lower rate, with an average of 86 violent crimes per 100,000 residents—well below the U.S. average.
The neighborhood of Maplewood is a growing area.
The Golden Nugget is a popular spot for entertainment in Sulphur.
Discover the pride of Downtown Lake Charles with the American flag waving proudly.
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital is a major employer for Sulphur residents.
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Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Fox
Video By
Matt Ferguson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Vicky Fuselier,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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