Morton Chemical – Weeks Island

AKA Morton Salt Company, New Iberia, LA

Jobsite

In the 1940s, Morton Salt Company began operating two facilities on Weeks Island: a salt mine and a chemical plant.  Decades later, the original salt mine closed and was relocated to another area of Weeks Island and is still in operation.  Although renovated and renamed at points throughout its history, the chemical plant is still in operation and is now owned by Dow Chemical.

Address or general location

11911 Advanced Materials Rd

New Iberia, LA 70560

Detail

Fourteen miles south of New Iberia, LA, Weeks Island is part of a chain of islands formed by salt domes located along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.  In 1947, Morton Salt Company purchased Weeks Island from the property owners who had been operating a salt mine there since 1897.  Similar to many company-owned towns, all houses, plants and recreation centers were owned by Morton Salt Company during its prime.  Eventually, the original salt mine was closed and relocated to another part of Weeks Island.  The chemical plant was operated by Morton Chemical until the mid-1980s and then, after renovation, was operated by CVD, Inc. (acquired by Morton Thiokol), and is now owned by Dow Chemical.  Currently, over 80 workers are employed at the plant.