St Mary parish was created out of the Attakapas District of south Louisiana. St Mary was an anomaly as it was settled by primarily Anglo-Protestants in the midst of the French Catholics.

From the beginning, St Mary parish has been a major producer of sugar cane, and though refineries have been closing, it still remains a major sugar producer. Bayou Teche served as a highway for shipping goods until the building of the railroad. For the most part, the railroad followed Bayou Teche westward.

St Mary parish is home to over 400 historic ante bellum homes, mostly located along Bayou Teche.

St Mary parish became a jump off point for offshore oil exploration, with it's access through the Atchafalaya River.

For more information about St Mary parish see http://www.cajuncoast.com/