St. Martin Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Martin Parish
Parish
Parish of St. Martin
St. Martin Parish Courthouse, St. Martinville
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Founded	1811
Named for	St. Martin
Seat	St. Martinville
Largest city	Breaux Bridge
Area
• Total	816 sq mi (2,110 km2)
• Land	738 sq mi (1,910 km2)
• Water	79 sq mi (200 km2)  9.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	51,767
• Density	63.44/sq mi (24.494/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

St. Martin Parish (French: Paroisse de Saint-Martin) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, founded in 1811. Its parish seat is St. Martinville, and the largest city is Breaux Bridge. At the 2010 U.S. census, the population was 52,160. At the 2020 census, 51,767 people lived in the parish. St. Martin Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan area in the region of Acadiana, along the Gulf Coast.

Demographics

At the 2000 United States census, there were 48,583 people, 17,164 households, and 12,975 families residing in the parish. The population density was 66 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 20,245 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (11/km²). The 2019 American Community Survey determined 53,732 people lived in St. Martin Parish. The median age of its population was 37.7, and 6.9% of its population were under 5 years of age; of the population aged 18 and older, they made up 75.7% of the population, and people aged 65 and older were 14.7% of the total population. By the 2020 United States census, there were 51,767 people, 19,749 households, and 13,960 families residing in the parish.

In 2000 the racial makeup of the parish was 65.95% White, 31.98% Black or African American, 0.92% Asian, 0.29% Native American, 0.20% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latino Americans of any race made up 0.83% of the population. The 2000 U.S. census counted 44,915 people in the parish who are at least five years old of whom 31,229 (69.5%) speak only English at home, 27.44% reported speaking French (Colonial French also known as Plantation Society French) or Cajun French at home, while 1.52% speak Louisiana Creole French. St. Martin has the highest percentage of French-speaking residents of any county or parish in the United States.

In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of St. Martin was 66.8% non-Hispanic white, 29.1% Black and African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.5% some other race, 2.1% multiracial, and 3.0% Hispanic and Latino American of any race. An estimated 1.0% of the parish were foreign-born from 2014 to 2019. At the 2020 census, non-Hispanic whites declined to 63.59% of the population; Black or African Americans were 29.07% of the population, and Hispanic and Latino Americans made up 3.24% of the population.

In 2000 there were 17,164 households, out of which 39.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 15.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.22. The median income for a household in the parish was $30,701, and the median income for a family was $36,316. Males had a median income of $30,701 versus $18,365 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,619. About 18.40% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 22.10% of those age 65 or over. There were 19,749 households at the 2019 U.S. census estimates, and 4,800 businesses operating in the parish. The parish had an employment rate of 53.8%, and its population lived in 23,384 housing units. There was a median gross rent of $658 and the median household income was $48,656. Approximately 18.9% of the parish lived at or below the poverty line, and males earned $51,609 versus $32,748 for females from 2015 to 2019.

Education

Public schools in St. Martin Parish are operated by the St. Martin Parish School Board. South Louisiana Community College's service area includes the northern part and Fletcher Technical Community College's service area includes the southern part.

Transportation

Major highways

• Interstate 10
• U.S. Highway 90
• Louisiana Highway 31
• Louisiana Highway 94
• Louisiana Highway 96
• Louisiana Highway 70
• Louisiana Highway 328
• Louisiana Highway 347
• Louisiana Highway 353

Notable people

• Ali Landry, Miss USA 1996 pageant winner
• Scott Angelle, director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, former member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, former lieutenant governor, unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2015
• Calvin Borel, American Thoroughbred Jockey and 3-time Kentucky Derby winner
• Gerald Boudreaux, state senator for St. Martin Parish, effective January 2016
• Etnah Rochon Boutte, French teacher, pharmacist in Harlem
• Jake Delhomme, retired NFL quarterback
• Charles Fuselier, sheriff of St. Martin Parish from 1980 to 2003; "National Sheriff of the Year" in 1996
• Jesse J. Guidry, state representative, former director of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
• Mike "Pete" Huval, state representative; former member of the St. Martin Parish Council
• Jeff Landry, Attorney General of Louisiana; former U.S. representative
• Wade O. Martin, Jr., secretary of state
• James D. Simon, state senator

Images for kids

• 

  Map of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

See also

In Spanish: Parroquia de St. Martin para niños