Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana | |
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Location in the U.S. state of Louisiana |
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Louisiana's location in the U.S. |
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Founded | 1811 |
Named for | Saint Mary |
Seat | Franklin |
Largest city | Morgan City |
Area | |
• Total | 1,119 sq mi (2,898 km2) |
• Land | 555 sq mi (1,437 km2) |
• Water | 564 sq mi (1,461 km2), 50% |
Population (est.) | |
• (2015) | 52,810 |
• Density | 98/sq mi (38/km²) |
Congressional district | 3rd |
Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
Website | www |
St. Mary Parish (French: Paroisse de Sainte-Marie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,650. The parish seat is Franklin. The parish was created in 1811.
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.
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.Cypremort Point State Park is located in the parish on Vermilion Bay.
The parish has both national and state protected areas within its borders.
Part of the Attakapas Wildlife Management Area is located within St. Mary Parish as well as in St. Martin and Iberia Parishes.
As of the census 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/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.[1]