Berwick, Louisiana

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Berwick, Louisiana
Town
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; -91.22694Coordinates: 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]
 • Total6.07 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
 (2010)
 • Total4,946
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
4,419
 • Density748.86/sq mi (289.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)985
FIPS code22-07100
Websitewww.townofberwick.org

Berwick is a town in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,946 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Perhaps the most prominent person from Berwick is Jenny Craig, weight loss guru and founder of Jenny Craig, Inc.

History[edit]

The first white settler to trek through the wilderness in this area was Thomas Berwick.[4] He settled along the banks of the Atchafalaya River in the late 18th century. Today the town of Berwick is home to several seafood processing plants and numerous boat companies.[5]

Geography[edit]

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.[3]

On the eastern bank of Berwick over the Atchafalaya River is Morgan City which is accessible by Louisiana Highway 182, which is carried by the Long-Allen Bridge, and U.S. Highway 90, which is carried by the E. J. "Lionel" Grizzaffi Bridge.

From both communities, U.S. Highway 90 heads west approximately 70 miles to Lafayette and approximately 90 miles east to New Orleans, and will eventually be part of the I-49 extension between both cities.

The town is home to the Southwest Reef Lighthouse, built in 1859, which sits on the western bank of the Atchafalaya River at what's known as the Everett S. Berry Light House Park which was established in 1989, two years after the lighthouse was restored and moved ashore by the town.

The Berwick area is known for its high academic standards and high performing bands. Berwick High School ranked as the seventh best public high school in Louisiana for the 2006-2007 school year.[citation needed]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
2019 (est.)4,419[2]−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 4,418 people, 1,655 households, and 1,193 families residing in the town. The population density was 741.3 people per square mile (286.2/km2). There were 1,825 housing units at an average density of 306.2 per square mile (118.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 86.65% White, 8.26% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 1,655 households, out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,208, and the median income for a family was $40,297. Males had a median income of $33,413 versus $21,620 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,099. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education[edit]

St. Mary Parish School Board operates public schools:

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "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.
  4. ^ Leeper, Clare D'Artois (19 October 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.
  5. ^ "www.cajuncoast.com "Berwick"". Archived from the original on 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Berwick,_Louisiana&oldid=1019749147"