Saint Mary County

As of the most recent data, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, has a population of approximately 49,000 people. The racial composition is around 62% White, 31% African American, 1.5% Native American, and 0.5% Asian. The Hispanic or Latino population is about 5% of the total. The median household income is approximately $41,000, and 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. The median age in the parish is 38 years.

As of the latest data, St. Mary Parish, LA, has a median home value of approximately $110,000. The homeownership rate is around 67.8%. Median gross rent is about $700 per month. The county has a mix of housing types, with 59.5% being single-family homes. The average household size is 2.61 persons. Approximately 12% of the housing units are vacant. The region has experienced modest population decline, impacting housing demand. Property taxes in St. Mary Parish are relatively low, with a median annual property tax payment of $500.

Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana, conducts elections for various local, state, and federal offices. The parish, part of Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District, also elects council members, sheriff, and other local officials.

• Recent elections saw participation from around 15,000 registered voters (exact numbers can vary with each election cycle).
• Local elections include races for parish council seats, with typically 5 to 10 candidates vying for positions.
• In the 2023 election cycle, notable candidates include:
  • Sheriff: Blaise Smith (incumbent) and several challengers.
  • Parish President: David Hanagriff (incumbent) versus new candidates.
  • Council Members: Various positions across multiple districts.

State-level elections often see candidates for Governor, State Senate, and House positions relevant to the parish. For precise, up-to-date information, voters should refer to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s official website or local election officials.

Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana presents notable education statistics. As of recent data, approximately 77.7% of residents aged 25 and older graduated high school, which is lower than the national average of 88%. For higher education, about 10.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 33.1% and the state average of 25.4%. These figures indicate that Saint Mary Parish lags behind both state and national averages in educational attainment. The disparity suggests a significant opportunity for policy interventions and programs aimed at increasing educational engagement and attainment in the region.

As of recent data, St. Mary Parish, LA, has a labor force participation rate of approximately 55%, slightly below the national average of 61.7% and Louisiana's state average of around 58%. The unemployment rate in St. Mary Parish hovers around 7%, higher than the national average of 3.7% and Louisiana's average of about 4.3%.

Top industries in St. Mary Parish include:

1. Oil and Gas Extraction: A key driver, reflecting Louisiana's broader energy sector prominence.
2. Manufacturing: Significant contributions come from shipbuilding and machinery.
3. Healthcare and Social Assistance: Consistent with state and national trends.
4. Retail Trade: Common across both state and national economies.

Comparatively, St. Mary Parish relies more heavily on the energy sector compared to the national average, where healthcare and technology industries dominate. Similar to statewide trends, St. Mary Parish sees a significant presence of manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana, has an average household income of approximately $49,000. In comparison, the national average household income is roughly $68,700. The state average for Louisiana is about $51,700. This indicates that Saint Mary Parish's average income is below both the national and state averages.

These figures illustrate that Saint Mary Parish residents generally have a lower household income compared to both the state and national benchmarks.

As of the most recent data available, Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana, has a fluctuating crime rate that varies by crime type. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program data:

Crime Rate Statistics for Saint Mary County, LA (per 100,000 people):

Note: These values are indicative and may have slight discrepancies based on the latest reports and data aggregation methods used by law enforcement agencies. For the most up-to-date information, refer to local law enforcement resources or official state databases.