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 (0.9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,771
 • Density808.51/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. The population was 4,946 at the 2010 census.[2] It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.


History

The first white settler to trek through the wilderness in this area was Thomas Berwick.[3] 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.[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%±
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%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

2020 census

Berwick racial composition[6]
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.

2000 census

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 inhabitants 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.

Notable People

Jenny Craig, weight loss guru and founder of Jenny Craig, Inc., is originally from Berwick.

Education

St. Mary Parish School Board operates public schools:

Media

  • KBZE FM urban radio station

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  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. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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