St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

St. Mary Parish (French: Paroisse de Sainte-Marie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,406.[1] The parish seat is Franklin.[2] The parish was created in 1811.[3]

Saint Mary Parish
Parish
Main street in Franklin.
Main street in Franklin.
Map of Louisiana highlighting Saint Mary Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°38′N 91°28′W
Country United States
State Louisiana
Founded1811
Named forSaint Mary
SeatFranklin
Largest cityMorgan City
Area
 • Total1,119 sq mi (2,900 km2)
 • Land555 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Water564 sq mi (1,460 km2)  50%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total49,406
 • Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.stmaryparishla.gov

St. Mary Parish comprises the Morgan City, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lafayette-Opelousas-Morgan City, LA Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,119 square miles (2,900 km2), of which 555 square miles (1,440 km2) is land and 564 square miles (1,460 km2) (50%) is water.[4] Cypremort Point State Park is located in the parish on Vermilion Bay.

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

Protected areas

The parish has both national and state protected areas within its borders.

National protected area

State protected areas

Part of the Attakapas Wildlife Management Area is located within St. Mary Parish as well as in St. Martin and Iberia Parishes.[5]

Communities
Map of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18306,442—
18408,95038.9%
185013,69753.0%
186016,81622.8%
187013,860−17.6%
188019,89143.5%
189022,41612.7%
190034,14552.3%
191039,36815.3%
192030,754−21.9%
193029,397−4.4%
194031,4587.0%
195035,84814.0%
196048,83336.2%
197060,75224.4%
198064,2535.8%
199058,086−9.6%
200053,500−7.9%
201054,6502.1%
202049,406−9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010[10]
St. Mary Parish racial composition as of 2020[11]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 26,334 53.3%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 14,950 30.26%
Native American 911 1.84%
Asian 647 1.31%
Pacific Islander 13 0.03%
Other/Mixed 2,027 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4,524 9.16%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 49,406 people, 19,856 households, and 11,354 families residing in the parish. As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 53,500 people, 19,317 households, and 14,082 families residing in the parish. The population density was 87 people per square mile (34 people/km2). There were 21,650 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the parish was 62.79% White, 31.79% Black or African American, 1.39% Native American, 1.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 5.43% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home, while 2.45% speak Spanish and 1.59% Vietnamese.

There were 19,317 households, out of which 36.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 29.70% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $28,072, and the median income for a family was $33,064. Males had a median income of $31,570 versus $18,341 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,399. About 20.60% of families and 23.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.30% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

St. Mary Parish School Board operates local public schools.

The Chitimacha Day School, affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), is in the Charenton community of unincorporated St. Mary Parish.[13]

It is in the service area of Fletcher Technical Community College.[14]

Media

St. Mary Parish has two daily newspapers, the Morgan City Daily Review (circulation under 6,000) and the Franklin Banner-Tribune in Franklin (circulation 3,350).

National Guard

B Company 2-156TH Infantry Battalion of the 256TH IBCT resides in Franklin, Louisiana. This unit has deployed to Iraq twice, 2004-5 and 2010.

Politics
United States presidential election results for St. Mary Parish, Louisiana[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 14,811 63.88% 8,055 34.74% 320 1.38%
2016 14,359 62.77% 8,050 35.19% 468 2.05%
2012 13,885 58.74% 9,450 39.97% 305 1.29%
2008 13,183 57.56% 9,345 40.80% 375 1.64%
2004 12,877 56.74% 9,547 42.07% 270 1.19%
2000 11,325 51.93% 9,851 45.17% 634 2.91%
1996 8,018 35.53% 12,402 54.95% 2,149 9.52%
1992 8,792 37.51% 10,648 45.43% 4,000 17.06%
1988 11,540 51.71% 10,364 46.44% 414 1.86%
1984 15,275 61.16% 9,411 37.68% 288 1.15%
1980 10,378 48.03% 10,506 48.63% 722 3.34%
1976 8,919 47.67% 9,401 50.25% 388 2.07%
1972 11,117 68.44% 4,435 27.30% 691 4.25%
1968 4,586 27.53% 5,312 31.89% 6,761 40.58%
1964 5,530 43.01% 7,327 56.99% 0 0.00%
1960 2,992 27.62% 6,671 61.59% 1,169 10.79%
1956 4,097 61.49% 2,395 35.94% 171 2.57%
1952 4,417 50.97% 4,249 49.03% 0 0.00%
1948 824 23.52% 918 26.21% 1,761 50.27%
1944 538 13.03% 3,591 86.97% 0 0.00%
1940 739 16.70% 3,686 83.30% 0 0.00%
1936 487 20.05% 1,942 79.95% 0 0.00%
1932 473 18.59% 2,072 81.41% 0 0.00%
1928 605 25.65% 1,754 74.35% 0 0.00%
1924 633 48.69% 639 49.15% 28 2.15%
1920 788 59.38% 539 40.62% 0 0.00%
1916 162 11.42% 652 45.95% 605 42.64%
1912 147 13.89% 652 61.63% 259 24.48%

St. Mary Parish used to be a swing parish. Between 1928 and 2008, the county only voted for losing presidential candidates in 1948, 1968, and 1980, with none of these candidates receiving a majority. Since 2008, the county has become more Republican leaning, with Donald Trump breaking 60% of the vote in both of his runs.

Notable people

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana.

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: St. Mary Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "St. Mary Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. Attakapas WMA- Retrieved 2017-02-19
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "BIE - School Directory". Archived from the original on September 4, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  14. "Our Colleges". Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  16. Marks, Jason. Around the World in 72 Days: The race between Pulitzer's Nellie Bly and Cosmopolitan's Elizabeth Bisland (Gemittarius Press 1993) (ISBN 978-0963369628)
  17. "Dr. Sally Clausen" (PDF). regents.ohio.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  18. "Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 32, 2002" (PDF). lanewsbureau.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2013.

29.64°N 91.47°W / 29.64; -91.47

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