Small-town charm and riverside views define life in Berwick
Berwick is wedged between a bend in the Atchafalaya River. The small town of about 4,500 is marked by two bridges and a small red lighthouse. Residents flock to the waterfront for community events, food trucks and riverside walks. “It’s a close-knit community,” says Realtor Lori Broussard with Latter & Blum, who grew up in Berwick. “We’d walk the whole town when we were little because it was so safe and secure. It’s still like that.” While the town is mostly residential, Morgan City is a short drive across the E.J. “Lionel” Grizzaffi Bridge and offers grocery stores, a hospital and other necessities.
Lighthouse, golf and pickleball add variety to outdoor fun
The Berwick Civic Complex is a hub for sports, events and family activities, featuring a large gym, meeting rooms, a stage, a playground and athletic facilities. Many youth and adult sports leagues are held at the civic complex, including flag football, volleyball and pickleball. Along the river, the historic Southwest Reef Lighthouse, relocated to the town in 1987, sits near grassy areas and a wooden walkway that contours the water. Nearby Pharr Park features a playground and sports courts, while St. Mary Golf & Country Club offers a private 9-hole course. The Berwick Trail loops about 5 miles through the community. Additionally, boating and fishing on the Atchafalaya River and nearby lakes are very popular with residents.
Coffee shops, seafood spots and food trucks near the river
Daily Dose Coffee is a go-to for morning lattes. Bayou Lagniappe is known for its low prices, boiled crawfish and crabs. Nearby T-Noon’s Seafood serves PoBoys, burgers and hot dogs in addition to its seafood platters. While there’s a Dollar General and a few gas stations with convenience stores attached in Berwick, most residents travel across the river to Morgan City to shop. Here, there’s a Walmart Neighborhood Market, Rouses Market, Walgreens, CVS and more.
At The Lighthouse Food Truck Park, mobile kitchens park along the seawall. Opened in 2022, it hosts a rotating lineup of food trucks that serve a variety of foods. There are picnic tables and open-air seating for visitors, as well as occasional live music.
Ranch-style and New Traditional homes line Berwick’s walkable blocks
Most homes sit on wide, walkable streets with an irregular grid pattern. While this area is surrounded by water, only a few parts of the community are deemed low-risk flood zones. “We don’t ever have flooding, but as far as FEMA is concerned, some areas are in a flood zone,” Broussard says. Ranch-style homes can range in price from $140,000 to $290,000, while New Traditional properties can cost $300,000 to $500,000. Many homes in the Country Club Estates subdivision back up to a golf course, while the Renwick subdivision features some of the region’s newest construction, primarily built in the early 2000s. “Renwick is the only development right now with newer housing,” Broussard says. “There are some lots available in older subdivisions that people can build on, though.”
Town market and lighthouse festival bring residents together
The Berwick Town Market occurs every third Saturday from March to December. Vendors sell mostly homemade goods, from furniture and clothing to vegetables and baked goods. The Berwick Lighthouse Festival on the waterfront brings out the community for live music, a carnival, fireworks, a parade, a cornhole tournament, cook-offs and more. “It draws a lot of people from other areas,” Broussard says. “The whole parish goes to that festival.”
Students zoned for St. Mary Parish Public Schools
The St. Mary Parish Public Schools district serves this community. Berwick Elementary and Berwick Middle receive B-plus scores from Niche. Berwick High earns an A-minus and is ranked the best high school in St. Mary Parish by Niche. The high school also offers dual enrollment courses with Louisiana State University.
Berwick’s location offers regional access but limited transit
Berwick is car-dependent. U.S. Route 90 runs through and leads about 67 miles northwest to Lafayette. Baton Rouge is about 65 miles north and New Orleans is about 87 miles east. Louisiana state Highway 182 also travels through Berwick. In case of emergency, Ochsner St. Mary Hospital is across the river, about 3 miles away. For air travel, Lafayette Regional Airport is about 65 miles away, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is about 71 miles away and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is about 74 miles away.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
