[2] Morgan City sits on the banks of the Atchafalaya River near its intersection with the Intracoastal Waterway.

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.

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.

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.

The youngberry is a cross between Luther Burbank's Phenomenal Berry and the Austin-Mayes dewberry, a trailing blackberry.

[8] The northeastern border of Morgan City is at the lower St. Martin Parish line via Louisiana Highway 70.

U.S. 90 is a freeway between Morgan City and the Houma area with the route planned to become a section of future Interstate 49.

Morgan City is served by the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport, a general aviation airfield located near the U.S. 90 four lane highway in nearby Patterson, Louisiana.