Saint Martin

Formed January 1, 1811 (22^nd parish)

Saint Martin Parish (51,776), Saint Martinville (5,437), Beaux Bridge (7,514)

The stately Greek Revival courthouse was built in 1858.  The stucco and concrete structure is located on Main Street at Claiborne Street in a city square configuration.  Main Street is Louisiana State Highway 31 passing through the city.  The courthouse was enlarged in 1937, 1955, and 1966 and renovated in 2011.  An Administration building was built in 1997 and an Annex in 2007.  Saint Martinville has always been the parish seat.  The courthouse architects are John Moore, Alexandre DeClouer, Valery Martin, Alexander Landry, Charles M. Oliver.  Saint Martin Parish was created on January 1, 1811 as the 22^nd parish.  The parish was originally part of Attakapas County.  Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, was the source for both the parish and parish seat’s names. 

The area of the parish is 817 square miles.  It is 24 out of 64 in the state.  It ranks 21 out of 64 in population in the state.  It has a density of 63.4 persons per square mile making it 25 out of 64 in the state.  Saint Martin Parish has 29.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 10 crosses the north of the parish from Iberville Parish to Lafayette Parish, east to west.  United States Highway 90 cuts the extreme western part from Lafayette Parish, northwest, to Iberia Parish, southwest.  Bayou Atchafalaya is a large part of the east border.  The parish is split into a large north section and a smaller south section.  Iberia Parish separates the two parts.  The northern part is shaped like an upside-down vase.  The southern part is shaped like an arrowhead. 

Saint Martin Parish government consists of a President, a sheriff, a clerk, a treasurer, and a coroner (executive).  It has 9 Council Jury Members (legislative.)  Eight District Court Judges serve Saint Martin, Iberia, and Saint Mary parishes and Five Justice Court Judges serve Saint Martin Parish (judicial.) The parish is located in the south-central bayou area between Lafayette, Louisiana, west, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, east.  The parish center is 11.7 miles Northeast of Saint Martinville nearer Catahoula.  The parish is surrounded clockwise by Pointe Coupee, Iberville, Assumption, Saint Mary, Iberia, Lafayette, and Saint Landry parishes.  Saint Martinsville is located in the extreme southwest corner of the northern part of the parish.  Beaux Bridge is on the northwest border of the parish.  Saint Martinville is the parish seat and Beaux Bridge is the largest city.  Saint Martinville is 10.5% of the parish population while Beaux Bridge is 14.5% of the parish population.  The largest city is pronounced BOW BRIG.  This parish is in the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Morgan City