Morganza, Maryland facts for kids

Morganza is a small, quiet place in St. Mary's County, Maryland, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it's not a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county.

What You'll Find in Morganza

Today, Morganza is home to a few houses and a very old church called St. Joseph's Catholic Church. This church has been in the area since 1759! The church building you see now, located on Route 5 at the top of a hill, was built in 1860.

The Morganza Post Office was first set up near the church in 1867. It was named after the Morgan family. Now, the post office is located across the street from Chopticon High School. The ZIP Code for Morganza is 20660.

A Look Back: Morganza's History

Morganza has a rich history, especially when it comes to education. In the past, it had two public one-room schoolhouses. Imagine all the students from different grades learning together in just one room!

The St. Joseph's Church also played a big role in education. It opened its own schools: one for white students in 1926 and another for Black children in 1927. These schools were started by a priest named John LaFarge. He was known for his writings and actions that supported fairness and equality for all people, no matter their race. Father LaFarge once said that working with both white and African-American people in his church helped him understand the unfairness some people faced because of their race.

Old Cemeteries of Morganza

St. Joseph's Church has an original cemetery located at the bottom of the hill along Route 5. For many years, this old cemetery was hidden by thick bushes and forgotten. But now, it has been cleared and can be seen again. A newer, larger cemetery, which is about 4 acres (16,187 square meters) in size, was bought in 1904. It is located across from St. Joseph's Church.