Patterson is a city in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 6,112 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

During the early 19th century, a group of Pennsylvania Dutchmen boarded a sailing vessel in New Orleans and ventured into the Bayou Teche. One of them, Hans Knight, decided to settle his family in what is now Patterson. The community was originally called Dutch Settlement, Dutch Prairie, and Dutch Town.

In 1832, Captain John Patterson, a trader from Indiana, settled there. He built a store and became a prominent citizen. The town was renamed Pattersonville after the captain successfully moved the post office to Dutch Settlement.

In 1885, the All Saints Episcopal Church was completed. It was later moved to DeQuincy, Louisiana in the 1940s.

Pattersonville was incorporated in 1907 as the Town of Patterson.

Patterson is located at 29°41′33″N 91°18′24″W / 29.69250°N 91.30667°W / 29.69250; -91.30667 (29.692466, -91.306569).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km), all land.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	2,998		—
1920	2,538		−15.3%
1930	2,206		−13.1%
1940	1,800		−18.4%
1950	1,938		7.7%
1960	2,923		50.8%
1970	4,409		50.8%
1980	4,693		6.4%
1990	4,736		0.9%
2000	5,130		8.3%
2010	6,112		19.1%
2020	5,931		−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Patterson racial composition

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	2,740	46.2%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,559	43.15%
Native American	66	1.11%
Asian	43	0.73%
Pacific Islander	1	0.02%
Other/Mixed	260	4.38%
Hispanic or Latino	262	4.42%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,931 people, 2,217 households, and 1,235 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,112 people residing in 2,291 households within the city of which 1,581 households were family units. 65.5% of all households were owner-occupied. The racial makeup of the city was 51.9% White, 44.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 2,291 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 7.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16. In the city 27.0% of people were under the age of 18 and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,706, and the median income for a family was $54,066. The median personal income was $27,417. Males had a median income of $47,687 versus $14,118 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,756. About 15.9% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over. In the city, 74.1% had graduated from high school, 10.5% had attained bachelor's degree or higher and 3.5% had attained a graduate or professional degree.

Patterson uses a city council consisting of five council members. As of February 2020, the current mayor of Patterson is Rodney A. Grogan.

It is served by the St. Mary Parish School Board. Schools in Patterson include Hattie A. Watts Elementary School, Patterson Junior High School, and Patterson High School.

Though Patterson has only been to the football championship twice, it is a traditional playoff team. Patterson is also the home of LSU and New Orleans Saints running back Dalton Hilliard (in Saints Hall of Fame) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ike Hilliard.

On January 15, 2009, Kenny Hilliard was named ESPN RISE Sophomore Player of the Year.

• Ralph Norman Bauer, Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1940 to 1948, was born in Patterson in 1899
• Dalton Hilliard, running back for the New Orleans Saints
• Ike Hilliard, wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Gillis Wilson, defensive end for the Carolina Panthers

• Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum - Patterson
• Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild: nearby attraction
• Calumet Plantation House: nearby historic house

• City of Patterson official website