Morgan City, Louisiana

Morgan City is a city in St. Mary and lower St. Martin parishes in the U.S. State of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census. Known for being “right in the middle of everywhere”, Morgan City is located 68 miles southeast of Lafayette, 64 miles south of Baton Rouge, and 86 miles west of New Orleans [3]

Morgan City, Louisiana
City
City of Morgan City
Motto(s): 
Right in the Middle of Everywhere
Location of Morgan City in St. Mary and St. Martin Parishes, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 29°42′03″N 91°11′50″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishSt. Mary
Government
 • MayorDallas Marcantel
Area
 • Total6.25 sq mi (16.19 km2)
 • Land5.98 sq mi (15.50 km2)
 • Water0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2)
Elevation
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total12,404
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
10,742
 • Density1,795.42/sq mi (693.16/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
70380
Area code(s)985
FIPS code22-52040
Websitewww.cityofmc.com

Morgan City sits on the banks of the Atchafalaya River. The town was originally named "Tiger Island" by surveyors appointed by U.S. Secretary of War John Calhoun, because of a particular type of wild cat seen in the area. It was later changed for a time to "Brashear City," named after Walter Brashear, a prominent Kentucky physician who had purchased large tracts of land and acquired numerous sugar mills in the area.[4] It was incorporated in 1860.

History

Capture of Brashear City

During the American Civil War, the Star Fort of Fort Brashear was the larger of two works erected by the Union Army occupying the city to defend a Federal military depot and the town. During the Bayou Teche Campaign, on the night of June 22, 1863, 325 Confederates of Gen. A. A. Mouton's command, led by Major Sherod Hunter, landed their skiffs and flats in the rear of the town. Attacking the next day, they surprised and captured the city, taking 1,300 Union prisoners, 11 heavy siege guns, 2,500 stands of rifles, immense quantities of quartermaster, commissary and ordnance stores. They also captured 2,000 African Americans, between 200 and 300 wagons and tents, all while suffering losses of only 3 killed, 18 wounded.[5]

Morgan City
Flooding in May 1973

In 1876, the community's name was changed to Morgan City in tribute to Charles Morgan, a rail and steamship magnate who first dredged the Atchafalaya Bay Ship Channel to accommodate ocean-going vessels.[6][7]

On October 28, 1985, Hurricane Juan (not to be confused with the 2003 storm of the same name) made landfall near Morgan City, flooding many parts of the city. The storm then looped offshore and came onshore again in Alabama.

On August 26, 1992, Hurricane Andrew came ashore 20 miles (32 km) to the southwest of Morgan City. Andrew was the second most destructive hurricane in U.S. history, crossing Florida and then regaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico before it struck Louisiana.

In 2019, Morgan City and the surrounding area were selected as a setting for the paranormal-themed reality TV show Ghosts of Morgan City, broadcast on the Travel Channel.[8] On July 13, 2019 Hurricane Barry (2019) made landfall west of Morgan City as a Category 1 Hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Scale.

Agricultural

A type of Blackberry deemed the Youngberry was developed by B.M. Young in 1905 in Morgan City, as a hybrid between a variety of blackberries. The Youngberry is a cross between Luther Burbank's, Phenomenal Berry, and the Austin-Mayes Dewberry, a trailing Blackberry. The Youngberry was introduced commercially in 1926 and quickly came to rival the Loganberry. The Youngberry had excellent qualities, such as taste and high yields and it soon replaced the Loganberry of California.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (15.5 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km2), or 4.03%, is water.[9]

If the Mississippi River were to experience a major course change in the vicinity of the Old River Control Structure or Morganza Spillway, the main channel of the river would likely enter the Gulf of Mexico near Morgan City instead of New Orleans.[10][11][12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18802,015—
18902,29113.7%
19002,3321.8%
19105,477134.9%
19205,429−0.9%
19305,98510.2%
19406,96916.4%
19509,75940.0%
196013,54038.7%
197016,58622.5%
198016,114−2.8%
199014,531−9.8%
200012,703−12.6%
201012,404−2.4%
2019 (est.)10,742[2]−13.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,703 people, 5,037 households, and 3,394 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.5 people per square mile (837.0/km2). There were 5,627 housing units at an average density of 959.7 per square mile (370.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.28% White, 23.90% African American, 0.91% American Indian (U.S. Census), 1.02% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic of any race were 3.37% of the population.

There were 5,037 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,324, and the median income for a family was $36,196. Males had a median income of $31,712 versus $19,550 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,577. About 17.7% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

St. Mary Parish School Board operates public schools:

Elementary schools:

  • J. B. Maitland Elementary School
  • M. E. Norman Elementary School
  • M. D. Shannon Elementary School
  • Wyandotte Elementary School

There is a Catholic school, Central Catholic High School.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Morgan City, Louisiana". quickfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  4. www.cajuncoast.com "Morgan City" Archived 2007-11-17 at the Wayback Machine
  5. L. Boyd Finch, "Surprise at Brashear City: Sherod Hunter’s Sugar Cooler Cavalry," Louisiana History, Fall 1984, pp. 403-435.
  6. www.oceanmarine.com "The Area of Morgan City, Louisiana History" Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Morgan City Historical Marker".
  8. Gremillion, Nick (May 21, 2019). "Paranormal TV Show 'Ghosts of Morgan City' to Premiere in June". WAFB.
  9. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Morgan City city, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  10. "Will the Mississippi River change its course in 2011 to the red line?". Mappingsupport. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  11. Controlling the Mighty Mississippi's path to the sea
  12. "Mississippi Rising: Apocalypse Now? (April 28, 2011)". Daily Impact. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  13. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 23, 2013.
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