Berwick, Louisiana

Berwick, Louisiana
Town
A bright red lighthouse next to a waterfront promenade with multiple bridges in the background.
The Southwest Reef Lighthouse
Location of Berwick in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Berwick in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 29°41′53″N 91°13′37″W / 29.69806°N 91.22694°W / 29.69806; -91.22694
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishSt. 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 (0.91 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,771
 • Density808.5/sq mi (312.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code985
FIPS code22-07100
Websitewww.townofberwick.org

Berwick is a town in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Berwick had a population of 4,771.[2] It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

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

History

The first 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.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880796—
1890769−3.4%
1900713−7.3%
19102,183206.2%
19201,691−22.5%
19301,679−0.7%
19401,90613.5%
19502,61937.4%
19603,88048.1%
19704,1687.4%
19804,4667.1%
19904,375−2.0%
20004,4181.0%
20104,94612.0%
20204,771−3.5%
2024 (est.)4,495[6] Decrease−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
Berwick racial composition as of 2020[8]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 3,601 75.48%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 516 10.82%
Native American 40 0.84%
Asian 26 0.54%
Pacific Islander 3 0.06%
Other/Mixed 190 3.98%
Hispanic or Latino 395 8.28%

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

  • KBZE FM urban radio station

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  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. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Berwick town, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved March 29, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Louisiana