St. Martin Parish, LA

St. Martin Parish, LA St. Martin Parish, Louisiana is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,767. The parish seat is St. Martinville. The parish was founded in 1811 and is part of the Lafayette, Louisiana metropolitan area.

History

St. Martin Parish was established in 1811, making it one of the older parishes in Louisiana. The area has a rich Creole and Cajun heritage, with a significant portion of the population descending from Acadians who were expelled from Canada in the 18th century. The parish is named after Saint Martin of Tours, a patron saint of France.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 816 square miles (2,110 km²), of which 738 square miles (1,910 km²) is land and 78 square miles (200 km²) (9.6%) is water. The Atchafalaya Basin, one of the largest wetlands in the United States, is located in the western part of the parish.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 51,767 people, 18,000 households, and 13,000 families residing in the parish. The population density was 70 people per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 67.5% White, 29.1% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

Economy

The economy of St. Martin Parish is diverse, with significant contributions from agriculture, oil and gas, and tourism. The parish is known for its crawfish farming, which is a major industry in the region. The Atchafalaya Basin also attracts tourists for its unique ecosystem and opportunities for fishing, hunting, and boating.

Education

St. Martin Parish is served by the St. Martin Parish School Board, which operates several public schools in the area. Higher education is accessible through nearby institutions such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Communities

St. Martin Parish includes several communities, both incorporated and unincorporated:

Cities

• Breaux Bridge

Towns

• St. Martinville

Villages

• Parks

Unincorporated communities

• Catahoula
• Cecilia
• Henderson

Notable People

• Dewey Balfa, Cajun fiddler and musician
• Clementine Hunter, folk artist

See Also

• List of parishes in Louisiana
• Atchafalaya Basin
• Acadians
• Creole people