Berwick, Louisiana

Last updated

Berwick, Louisiana
Town
LighthouseWM.jpg
St. Mary Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Berwick Highlighted.svg
Location of Berwick in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Louisiana in United States (US48).svg
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 29°41′53″N91°13′37″W / 29.69806°N 91.22694°W / 29.69806; -91.22694
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
Parish St. Mary
Founded byDaniel Gray
Area
[1]
  Total
6.07 sq mi (15.72 km2)
  Land5.90 sq mi (15.28 km2)
  Water0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2)
Elevation
3 ft (0.9 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
4,771
  Density808.51/sq mi (312.18/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 985
FIPS code 22-07100
Website www.townofberwick.org

Berwick is a town in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,946 at the 2010 census. [2] It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

The town relocated the Southwest Reef Light and has been trying to save the Ship Shoal Light

History

The first white settler in the area was Thomas Berwick (c. 1740-c. 1792), a Philadelphia-born surveyor in the Opelousas district. [3] He and his family settled on the banks of the Atchafalaya River after receiving a land grant in 1779. Berwick wanted to establish a port at the mouth of the river. His son Joseph (1783-1852) established a settlement on the west bank of the river that became the town of Berwick.

Today Berwick is home to several seafood processing plants and numerous boat companies. [4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.7 km2), of which 5.9 square miles (15.3 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 2.84%, is water. [2]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 796
1890 769−3.4%
1900 713−7.3%
1910 2,183206.2%
1920 1,691−22.5%
1930 1,679−0.7%
1940 1,90613.5%
1950 2,61937.4%
1960 3,88048.1%
1970 4,1687.4%
1980 4,4667.1%
1990 4,375−2.0%
2000 4,4181.0%
2010 4,94612.0%
2020 4,771−3.5%
2024 (est.)4,495 [5] −5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
Berwick racial composition as of 2020 [7]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)3,60175.48%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)51610.82%
Native American 400.84%
Asian 260.54%
Pacific Islander 30.06%
Other/Mixed 1903.98%
Hispanic or Latino 3958.28%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,771 people, 1,665 households, and 1,016 families residing in the town.

Education

St. Mary Parish School Board operates public schools:

Media

Notable people

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Berwick town, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  3. Leeper, Clare D'Artois (October 19, 2012). Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. LSU Press. p. 40. ISBN   978-0-8071-4740-5.
  4. "www.cajuncoast.com "Berwick"". Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  5. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.