St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
About 90 miles west of New Orleans, St. Mary Parish lies along Louisiana’s central Gulf Coast. It’s where the bayous meet the sea and Cajun culture remains strong.
U.S. Highway 90 runs through the parish, providing a connection to Franklin, the parish seat. The area is also home to Morgan City, which was once known as the “jumbo shrimp capital of the world.”
But seafood isn’t the only thing you’ll find here. Sugar cane fields stretch across the landscape, old plantation homes still remain, and you may even spot an oil rig or two on the horizon.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Parish Name | St. Mary Parish |
| Parish Seat | Franklin |
| Etymology | Named after Saint Mary |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Morgan City, Franklin, Patterson, Berwick, Baldwin, Amelia, Bayou Vista, Verdunville |
| Interstates and Highways | US-90, LA-182, LA-70, LA-317 |
| FIPS Code | 22-101 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 1,119 square miles (555 sq mi land, 564 sq mi water) |
| Adjacent Parishes (and Direction) | Iberia Parish (North), St. Martin Parish (East), Assumption Parish (Southeast), Terrebonne Parish (South) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| State | Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 29.7281° N, 91.4950° W |
| Major Landmarks | Wedell-Williams Aviation Museum, Brownell Memorial Park & Carillon Tower, Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, Grevemberg House Museum, Cypremort Point State Park |
| Population | Approximately 47,000 |
