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Hancock County, Mississippi

 

 
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Hancock County, Mississippi
 
 
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Hancock County is the southernmost county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 of the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
, situated along the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
 and the state line with Louisiana
Louisiana

The State of Louisiana is a U.S. state located in the U.S. Southern States of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans....
. It is part of the Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi

Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson, Mississippi. It is the larger of two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area....
–Biloxi
Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2000 United States Census recorded the population as 50,644....
, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area

The Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Mississippi Mississippi Gulf Coast that covers three counties - Hancock County, Mississippi, Harrison County, Mississippi, and Stone County, Mississippi....
. As of 2000, the population was 42,967. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Bay St. Louis
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....
. The area is also home to the John C. Stennis Space Center
John C. Stennis Space Center

The John C. Stennis Space Center , located in Hancock County, Mississippi, at the Mississippi/Louisiana border, is NASA's largest rocket engine test facility....
, NASA's largest rocket engine test facility. Hancock County is named for Founding Father
Founding Fathers of the United States

The Founding Fathers of the United States were the political leaders who signed the United States Declaration of Independence or otherwise participated in the American Revolution as leaders of the Patriot s, or who participated in drafting the United States Constitution eleven years later....
 John Hancock
John Hancock

John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as President of the Continental Congress of the Second Continental Congress and was the first Governor of Massachusetts of the Massachusetts....
.

The county was severely damaged from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest Atlantic hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States....
 on August 28-29, 2005, causing catastrophic effects
Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi

Hurricane Katrina's winds and storm surge reached the Mississippi coastline on the afternoon of August 28, 2005,beginning a two-day path of destruction through central Mississippi; by 10 a.m....
.

005, the county was the scene of the final landfall of the eye of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest Atlantic hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States....
, and its communities and infrastructure suffered some of the most intense damage inflicted by that storm.






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Hancock County is the southernmost county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 of the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
, situated along the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
 and the state line with Louisiana
Louisiana

The State of Louisiana is a U.S. state located in the U.S. Southern States of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans....
. It is part of the Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi

Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson, Mississippi. It is the larger of two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area....
–Biloxi
Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2000 United States Census recorded the population as 50,644....
, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area

The Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Mississippi Mississippi Gulf Coast that covers three counties - Hancock County, Mississippi, Harrison County, Mississippi, and Stone County, Mississippi....
. As of 2000, the population was 42,967. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Bay St. Louis
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....
. The area is also home to the John C. Stennis Space Center
John C. Stennis Space Center

The John C. Stennis Space Center , located in Hancock County, Mississippi, at the Mississippi/Louisiana border, is NASA's largest rocket engine test facility....
, NASA's largest rocket engine test facility. Hancock County is named for Founding Father
Founding Fathers of the United States

The Founding Fathers of the United States were the political leaders who signed the United States Declaration of Independence or otherwise participated in the American Revolution as leaders of the Patriot s, or who participated in drafting the United States Constitution eleven years later....
 John Hancock
John Hancock

John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as President of the Continental Congress of the Second Continental Congress and was the first Governor of Massachusetts of the Massachusetts....
.

The county was severely damaged from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest Atlantic hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States....
 on August 28-29, 2005, causing catastrophic effects
Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi

Hurricane Katrina's winds and storm surge reached the Mississippi coastline on the afternoon of August 28, 2005,beginning a two-day path of destruction through central Mississippi; by 10 a.m....
.

History

In 2005, the county was the scene of the final landfall of the eye of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest Atlantic hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States....
, and its communities and infrastructure suffered some of the most intense damage inflicted by that storm. Over the entire beach front, not one building or home was left intact. This is true for nearly the entire 1st block off of the beach for the entire stretch.

Homes as far inland as were flooded by the historic storm surge which occurred during a full moon high tide. All rivers and waterways were inundated by the surge. Highway 603 south from Interstate 10 was completely submerged, and the Highway 90 - Bay St. Louis Bridge was left looking like a stack of dominoes. Houses were floated off their foundations. In Waveland and Bay St. Louis some homes were left atop the railroad tracks and others in the middle of streets. Towns like Pearlington, Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Diamondhead, and Kiln suffered catastrophic damage.

Recovery from Hurricane Katrina

A loosely knit group of hippies called the "Rainbow Family
Rainbow Family

The Rainbow Family of Living Light, also known as The Rainbow Family, are a loosely affiliated group of individuals committed to principles of non-violence and non-hierarchical egalitarianism....
" arrived in Hancock County soon after Hurricane Katrina. From early September 2005 to early December 2005, they ran the "New Waveland Café & Clinic" located in the parking lot of Fred's Dept Store on Highway 90. The café provided free hot meals three times a day. The clinic was staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses from around the United States who saw over 5000 patients during the duration, free of charge and dispensing free medications. Donations of medications and supplies came from a multitude of sources, with International Aid arranging the most donations. This was the first experience of the counter-culture Rainbow Family in running a disaster relief center. The Bastrop Christian Outreach Center also volunteered with the Rainbow Family.

Local churches were central points of recovery in Bay St. Louis, Waveland, and Diamondhead. Some churches provided shelter, meals, clothing, and various clean-up supplies. The churches also provided distribution points where supplies could be donated and easily passed on to those who needed help. Other disaster relief agencies that were active in Hancock County include Samaritan's Purse, Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, Red Cross, and Salvation Army.

Businesses became operational as quickly as possible. The Waveland Wal-Mart operated out of a tent for 3 months following the storm; Diamondhead Discount Drug was opened within 2 days following Katrina despite the owner's store and home damages. Other business like Dairy Queen and Subway donated their foodstuffs, before it could spoil, for feeding survivors.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 553 square miles (1,431 km²), of which, 477 square miles (1,235 km²) of it is land and 76 square miles (196 km²) of it (13.69%) is water.

Mississippi Coast Towns Noaa

Major highways

  • I 10
    Interstate 10
    Interstate 10

    Interstate 10 is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway in the United States. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at California State Route 1 in Santa Monica, California, California to Interstate 95 in Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, Florida....
  • Us 90
    U.S. Highway 90
  • Circle Sign 43
    Mississippi Highway 43
  • Circle Sign 53
    Mississippi Highway 53
    Mississippi Highway 53

    Mississippi Highway 53 is a state highway in Mississippi. The highway runs approximately from Poplarville, MS to Gulfport, MS and is part of the list of Mississippi state highways....


Adjacent counties

  • Pearl River County
    Pearl River County, Mississippi

    Pearl River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Presently over 57,000 people live in the county. As of 2000, the population was 48,621....
     (north)
  • Harrison County
    Harrison County, Mississippi

    Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 189,601. Its county seats are Biloxi, Mississippi and Gulfport, Mississippi....
     (east)
  • St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
    St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

    St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans, Louisiana–Metairie, Louisiana–Kenner, Louisiana New Orleans metropolitan area....
     (west)


Demographics


As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 42,967 people, 16,897 households, and 11,827 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 90 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 21,072 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.19% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 6.83% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.60% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.88% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race.

There were 16,897 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,202, and the median income for a family was $40,307. Males had a median income of $32,229 versus $22,066 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the county was $17,748. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Hancock County has the ninth highest
Mississippi locations by per capita income

Mississippi is the poorest state in the United States of America, with a per capita income of $15,853 ....
 per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Communities

  • Cities
    • Bay St. Louis
      Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

      Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....
    • Waveland
      Waveland, Mississippi

      Waveland is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....


  • Census-designated places
    • Diamondhead
      Diamondhead, Mississippi

      Diamondhead is a census-designated place in Hancock County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....
    • Kiln
      Kiln, Mississippi

      Kiln is a census-designated place in Hancock County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....
    • Pearlington
      Pearlington, Mississippi

      Pearlington is a census-designated place in Hancock County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States, on U.S. Route 90, along the Pearl River, at the Louisiana stateline....
    • Shoreline Park
      Shoreline Park, Mississippi

      Shoreline Park is a census-designated place in Hancock County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport, Mississippi–Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....


  • Unincorporated places
    • Bayou Caddy
    • Clermont Harbor
      Clermont Harbor, Mississippi

      Clermont Harbor is an unincorporated area on the western end of Hancock County, Mississippi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
    • Lakeshore


External links