St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish is an administrative division in Louisiana situated along the Gulf of Mexico coast with cities including Franklin, Morgan City, and Patterson. The territory encompasses both coastal areas and inland towns that form the parish's economic and social core.

St. Mary Parish was established in 1811 and rapidly became a major sugar production center by the 1840s with numerous plantations. This agricultural industry shaped the region's economy and settlement patterns for generations.

The parish developed as an English-speaking Protestant area surrounded by French-speaking Catholic communities, making it stand apart in its regional identity. Visitors notice this cultural difference when they walk through towns and interact with the local population.

Visitors can access the parish by car via main highways that connect the different towns and communities. Plan to spend time driving between locations as the area spreads across the coast.

Franklin contains approximately 420 preserved structures from the sugar industry era, including homes of wealth merchants and landowners. Many of these buildings reflect railroad commerce that grew here during the early 1900s.

Location: Louisiana

Inception: 1811

Capital city: Franklin

Shares border with: Iberia Parish, St. Martin Parish, Assumption Parish, Terrebonne Parish

Website: https://stmaryparishla.gov

GPS coordinates: 29.64000,-91.47000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:03