Morganza, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morganza, Louisiana
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Village
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| Village of Morganza | |
Location of Morganza in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.
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.svg)
Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Pointe Coupee |
| Incorporated | 1908 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.38 sq mi (3.58 km2) |
| • Land | 1.21 sq mi (3.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 525 |
| • Density | 435.68/sq mi (168.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70759
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| Area code(s) | 225 |
| GNIS feature ID | 537212 |
| FIPS code | 22-52075 |
Morganza is a small village located near the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 525 people lived there. It is part of the larger Baton Rouge area. The village has its own zip code, 70759. A very important flood control structure, the Morganza Spillway, is also located nearby. This spillway helps manage the water levels between the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin.
Contents
History of Morganza
Morganza got its name from the Morganza Plantation. This plantation belonged to Charles Morgan, an important person in the early days. He was a surveyor, which means he measured land. He was also the first American sheriff of Pointe Coupee Parish. The U.S. Post Office in Morganza first opened in 1847. It closed for a while but reopened in 1899. The town officially became a village in 1908.
Morganza was a significant spot during the American Civil War. The Union Army set up camps here. A major battle in Pointe Coupee Parish, called the Battle of Stirling's Plantation, happened nearby on September 29, 1863. Many soldiers were killed or captured. Even though the Confederate side won this battle, the Union troops burned the town of Morganza on October 1, 1863.
In May 1864, Union troops led by General Nathaniel P. Banks arrived in Morganza. They had just lost a battle and were very tired. Conditions were tough with extreme heat and heavy rain. Many soldiers also got sick.
To celebrate Morganza's 100th birthday, U.S. Congressman Rodney Alexander gave a speech about the village. This speech was recorded in the Congressional Record on December 10, 2008.
Protecting Morganza from Floods
Morganza is located on a sharp bend of the Mississippi River. Because of this, it has experienced many floods over the years. The river's banks broke several times in the 1800s, causing floods in 1850, 1865, 1867, and 1890.
To prevent future floods, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Morganza Spillway. This huge project started in 1939 and was finished in 1955. The spillway helps guide high water from the Mississippi River away from the town. The water flows into the Atchafalaya Basin and then out to the Gulf of Mexico. The spillway's floodgates have only been opened a few times: in 1973, 2011, and 2019, when the river levels were extremely high.
Geography and Climate
Morganza is located at 30°44′8″N 91°35′36″W / 30.73556°N 91.59333°W. The village covers about 1.4 square miles (3.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.2 square miles (0.46 square kilometers) is water.
Morganza's Weather Patterns
Morganza has a climate known as "Humid Subtropical." This means it has relatively high temperatures all year round. Rain is spread out evenly throughout the year. Winters are usually mild, but it can get frosty sometimes. Most of the winter rain comes from weather systems called frontal cyclones.
| Climate data for Morganza, Louisiana | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17 (63) |
18 (65) |
22 (72) |
26 (79) |
29 (85) |
33 (91) |
33 (92) |
33 (92) |
31 (88) |
27 (81) |
22 (72) |
18 (64) |
26 (79) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4 (40) |
6 (43) |
10 (50) |
13 (56) |
17 (63) |
21 (69) |
22 (72) |
22 (71) |
19 (66) |
13 (55) |
8 (46) |
5 (41) |
13 (56) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 140 (5.4) |
120 (4.9) |
130 (5.0) |
130 (5.3) |
130 (5.2) |
100 (4.1) |
130 (5.1) |
110 (4.5) |
99 (3.9) |
74 (2.9) |
110 (4.2) |
150 (5.9) |
1,423 (56.4) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 296 | — | |
| 1920 | 332 | 12.2% | |
| 1930 | 608 | 83.1% | |
| 1940 | 744 | 22.4% | |
| 1950 | 817 | 9.8% | |
| 1960 | 937 | 14.7% | |
| 1970 | 836 | −10.8% | |
| 1980 | 846 | 1.2% | |
| 1990 | 759 | −10.3% | |
| 2000 | 659 | −13.2% | |
| 2010 | 610 | −7.4% | |
| 2020 | 525 | −13.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 659 people living in Morganza. This included 264 households and 191 families. By 2020, the population had decreased to 525 people.
Morganza in Media
Morganza was featured in the 1969 movie Easy Rider. In the film, the main characters visit a local restaurant in the town. Several scenes for the movie were filmed right there in Morganza. The old restaurant building was taken down in 2016, but a special plaque on the sidewalk remembers it.
Notable People from Morganza
- John B. Fournet, a well-known Louisiana politician and judge.
Images for kids
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Morganza on Norman's chart of the lower Mississippi River in 1858
See also
In Spanish: Morganza (Luisiana) para niños
