Morgan City, the largest city in St. Mary Parish, has a population of 16,000 and is located along the banks of the beautiful Atchafalaya River in coastal south central Louisiana, approximately 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The climate is subtropical, with an average rainfall of 60 inches per year. Surrounded by rivers and lakes with beautiful cypress swamps to the north, and coastal marshes to the south, it is truly a sportsman’s paradise. Morgan City’s history goes back to 1860 when it was incorporated as the Town of Brashear. In 1876, the community’s name was changed to Morgan City in tribute to Charles Morgan, a rail and steamship magnate who launched the city on its route to be a very successful port city. The seafood and oil industry are the major economic influences and are showcased each Labor Day weekend at the nationally known Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. The Festival, rated as one of the top 100 events in North America, attracts upwards of 150,000 spectators for the four-day weekend event. Restaurants, hotels and retail shops are plentiful, along with a variety of tourist attractions. Lake End Park offers over 30 acres of camping, picnicking, fishing, canoeing, sailing, and many other recreational activities. Strategically located on Lake Palourde, the Park provides a beautiful setting for visitors The Brownell Memorial Complex is a centerpiece for the city. It encompasses parks, tennis courts, recreational areas, tourist centers and attractions. As part of the complex, the Municipal Auditorium boasts a Broadway-size stage in a 1,200-seat capacity theater. The 10,000-square-foot ballroom hosts many social and civic events each year. Morgan City combines many cultures and ideas to produce a special character all its own. A city which can, with accuracy, be proclaimed a true sportsman’s paradise, a center of commerce and industry, the home of numerous festivals and celebrations, and the possessor of a proud and impressive history. In short, Morgan City, in the past and present, has served as the queen of a grand and beautiful region of the south