Iberia Parish, Louisiana

Iberia Parish
Historic House and Garden Shadows-on-the-Teche
Historic House and Garden Shadows-on-the-Teche
Map of Louisiana highlighting Iberia Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°47′N 91°47′W / 29.79°N 91.78°W / 29.79; -91.78
Country United States
State Louisiana
FoundedOctober 30, 1868
Named forIberian Peninsula
SeatNew Iberia
Largest cityNew Iberia
Area
 • Total1,031 sq mi (2,670 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water456 sq mi (1,180 km2)  44%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total69,929
 • Density68/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiteiberiaparishgovernment.com

Iberia Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Ibérie, Spanish: Parroquia de Iberia) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 69,929;[1] the parish seat is New Iberia.[2]

The parish was formed in 1868 during the Reconstruction era and named for the Iberian Peninsula.[3][4] It is part of the 22-parish Acadiana region of the state, with a large Francophone population. Some of its ethnic French residents had ancestors who settled here after being expelled in the 18th century by the British from Acadia in present-day Canada. Historically, it has also been a center for sugar cane cultivation and produces the most sugar of any parish in the state.

Iberia Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan area. The Port of Iberia has a waterway with access to the Gulf Coast.

  1. ^ "QuickFacts: Iberia Parish, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Iberia Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 164.