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73-464: After being purchased in 1999 by a company called Mississippi Indoor Sports headed by majority owners and Mississippi businessmen Bernie Ebbers , the then MCI WorldCom president and CEO, and J.L. Holloway, the then president and CEO of Friede-Goldman International, the franchise was moved to Jackson, Mississippi , and began playing home games at the Mississippi Coliseum . The team was renamed

146-419: A basketball scholarship. Between schools, he worked as a milkman and bouncer . An injury before his senior season prevented him from playing his final year and he was instead assigned to coach the junior varsity team . In 1967, he received a Bachelor's degree in physical education , with an academic minor in secondary education , from Mississippi College . Ebbers began his business career operating

219-597: A sit-in at the lunch counter of the S. H. Kress & Co. downtown. Vela Uniform was an element of Project Vela , conducted jointly in the 1960s by the United States Department of Energy and the Advanced Research Projects Agency . Its purpose was to develop seismic methods for detecting underground nuclear testing . The Project Dribble program involved two underground nuclear detonations. Test SALMON occurred on October 22, 1964, with

292-701: A 5.3 kiloton yield; test STERLING was detonated December 3, 1966, with a yield of 380 tons. Both detonations took place within Tatum Salt Dome, southwest of the Hattiesburg/ Purvis area. Most of Hattiesburg is in Forrest County. A smaller portion on the west side is in Lamar County , with abundant commercial land gained in a 2008 annexation. This consists of a narrow stretch of land east of I-59 and an irregularly shaped extension into West Hattiesburg . In

365-944: A campus in Long Beach , Mississippi, and William Carey has campuses in Gulfport , and New Orleans , Louisiana. The Forrest County Center of Pearl River Community College , a public institution, is located in Hattiesburg, with the main campus located in Poplarville , Mississippi. Public education in most of Hattiesburg is served by the Hattiesburg Municipal Separate School District , serving grades K–12. Portions of Hattiesburg are served by Forrest County Schools . Portions of Hattiesburg in Lamar County are zoned to Lamar County School District . Hattiesburg High School

438-471: A center of the lumber and railroad industries, from which was derived the nickname "The Hub City". Hattiesburg is a prominent college town, home to the University of Southern Mississippi (founded as Mississippi Normal College, for the training of teachers) and William Carey University (formerly William Carey College). South of Hattiesburg is Camp Shelby , the largest US National Guard training base east of

511-690: A cession of lands from the Choctaw and Chickasaw under the terms of the Treaty of Mount Dexter in 1805. After the treaty was ratified, European-American settlers began to move into the area. In the 1830s, the Choctaw and Chickasaw were relocated by United States authorities by treaties authorized by the Indian Removal Act , which sought to relocate the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast to west of

584-830: A chain of motels in Mississippi. In 1983, in a coffee shop in Hattiesburg, Mississippi , he and 3 other investors formed Long Distance Discount Services, Inc. and in 1985, he was named chief executive officer . The company acquired over 60 telecommunications firms and in 1995, it changed its name to WorldCom. In 1996, WorldCom acquired MFS Communications (originally Metropolitan Fiber Systems ) and in September 1998, it acquired MCI Communications . In July 2000, it abandoned its planned $ 115 billion acquisition of Sprint Corporation after U.S. and European Union antitrust regulators raised objections. Between September 2000 and April 2002,

657-610: A community center was established. Many whites opposed civil rights efforts by blacks, and both summer volunteers and local African Americans endured arrests, beatings, firings, and evictions. Forrest County was also a center of activity for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). It sent a slate of delegates to the National Democratic Convention in Atlantic City that year to challenge

730-516: A crook," he said. "No one will find me to have knowingly committed fraud." Ebbers died at his home in Brookhaven, Mississippi , on February 2, 2020, at the age of 78, just over a month after being granted compassionate release from prison due to his ill health. His lawyers said that he was, by the time of his death, legally blind and suffering from dementia , anemia and significant weight loss. Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg

803-544: A home in Mississippi, and his interests in a lumber company, a marina, a golf course, a hotel, and thousands of acres of forested real estate. After the settlement, Ebbers's wife was left with an estimated $ 50,000 in known assets. On September 21, 2005, Judge Cote approved the settlement and dismissed the lawsuit against Ebbers. In 1968, Ebbers married Linda Pigott and the couple raised three daughters. Ebbers filed for divorce in July 1997 and married his second wife, Kristie Webb, in

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876-477: A local newspaper. It was named because it was at the intersection of a number of important rail lines. Later U.S. Highway 49 , U.S. Highway 98 and U.S. Highway 11 , and later, Interstate 59 also intersected in and near Hattiesburg. The region around Hattiesburg was involved in testing during the development of weapons in the nuclear arms race of the Cold War . In the 1960s, two nuclear devices were detonated in

949-505: A month later. In 2013, Portfolio.com and CNBC named Ebbers as the 5th-worst CEO in American history. In 2009, Time named him the 10th-most corrupt CEO of all time. Dubbed the "Telecom Cowboy," Ebbers often wore boots and blue jeans instead of the typical corporate uniform of a suit and tie. He also lived on a farm and loved to drive a tractor. Ebbers was born in Edmonton , Alberta,

1022-586: A new arena built, the Bandits ceased operations in 2003 after the ECHL denied the team's request to suspend operations for a year. This American ice hockey team-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a sports team in Mississippi is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bernie Ebbers Bernard John Ebbers (August 27, 1941 – February 2, 2020)

1095-647: A realistic chance of victory. Nonetheless, their campaigns helped to encourage the further enfranchisement and political agency of black citizens. Even after passage of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 , white resistance continued in Mississippi and Hattiesburg. On the night of January 10, 1966, the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan attacked the Hattiesburg home of NAACP leader Vernon Dahmer with firebombs and gunfire. Dahmer

1168-660: A result of Ebbers's securities fraud violations. Judge Denise Cote of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered the parties in the lawsuit to negotiate. The parties agreed that Ebbers and his codefendants would distribute over $ 6.13 billion, plus interest, to over 830,000 individuals and institutions that had held stocks and bonds in WorldCom at the time of its collapse. Ebbers agreed to relinquish almost all of his assets, including

1241-583: A series of investigations and legal proceedings, which focused on Ebbers, WorldCom's former CEO. Ebbers blamed the accounting scandal on his subordinates, including WorldCom CFO Scott Sullivan . In response to a subpoena , Ebbers appeared before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services on July 8, 2002. At these hearings, Ebbers stated "I do not believe I have anything to hide, I believe that no one will conclude that I engaged in any criminal or fraudulent conduct." After making this statement, Ebbers asserted his right against self-incrimination per

1314-473: A seven-year, $ 10 million restoration. The completed depot now functions as an intermodal transportation center for bus, taxi and rail, as well as a space for exhibitions, meetings and special events. Hattiesburg is governed via a mayor-council system. The mayor, currently Toby Barker , is elected at large. The city council consists of five members who are each elected from one of five wards, known as single-member districts . The current city council consists of

1387-494: A walking pace. The Miss Hospitality Pageant began in 1949. Hattiesburg was chosen in 1997 to sponsor the state pageant. The purpose of the pageant is the selection and presentation of a young, knowledgeable lady to help promote the state in tourism and economic development. Contestants are judged on the following categories: panel interview, one-on-one interview competition, Mississippi speech competition, commercial/black dress competition, and evening gown competition. The 2011 winner

1460-608: Is a part of the Hattiesburg district. North Forrest High School (grades 7–12) is a part of the Forrest school district. Oak Grove High School (grades 9–12) is under the Lamar County School District. Forrest County Agricultural High School is an independent public high school near Hattiesburg. Forrest County Public Library serves the city. The library has a location in downtown Hattiesburg as well as in neighboring Petal. Amtrak 's Crescent train connects Hattiesburg with

1533-399: Is dedicated to the many African-American soldiers who have fought for their country. Hattiesburg and the unincorporated African-American community of Palmers Crossing played a key role in the civil rights transitions of the 1960s. In 1959, black Korean War veteran Clyde Kennard applied to attend then all-white Mississippi Southern College (today University of Southern Mississippi ). He

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1606-556: Is home to several national business branches that hold thousands of jobs across the Pine Belt . It was headquarters to the now defunct International Filing Company and currently hosts branches of Kohler Engines and BAE Systems Inc. , as well as Berry Plastics and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company United , Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. , and Budweiser Distribution Co. Companies such as Sunbeam (shared with Mr. Coffee , and

1679-612: Is the 5th most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi , located primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat and most populous city) and extending west into Lamar County . The city population was 45,989 at the 2010 census , with the population now being 48,730 in 2020 . Hattiesburg is the principal city of the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses Covington , Forrest , Lamar , and Perry counties. The city

1752-506: Is the anchor of the Pine Belt region. Development of the interior of Mississippi took place primarily after the American Civil War. Before that time, only properties along the major rivers were developed as plantations. Founded in 1882 by civil engineer William H. Hardy , Hattiesburg was named in honor of Hardy's wife Hattie. The town was incorporated two years later with a population of 400. Hattiesburg's population first expanded as

1825-433: Is the case throughout the southern United States, severe thunderstorms can pose a threat, particularly during spring. Such storms spawn frequent lightning, heavy rain, occasional large hail, and tornadoes. An EF4 tornado struck the Hattiesburg area on February 10, 2013, between roughly 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CST. It formed in Lamar County just west of Oak Grove and quickly increased in size and intensity. Although

1898-581: Is the only remaining USO club site in the United States. It has been adapted for use as a museum interpreting African-American military history. Exhibits show their participation in all the major wars and the founding of Hattiesburg: exhibits include the Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, World Wars I and II, Desegregation, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism, You Can Be A Soldier, Hattiesburg's Hall of Honor, and World Map. The museum

1971-589: The Coleman Company ) and Kimberly Clark used to manufacture in Hattiesburg. Regions Financial Corporation operates a large operations center in the city, which employs nearly 500 people. Jones Capital recently celebrated the groundbreaking of their new $ 50 million corporate headquarters facility in Midtown Hattiesburg across from The University of Southern Mississippi. Jones operates globally with over 1,000 employees in total, 500 of those are employed in

2044-641: The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution . Ebbers's statement constituted testimony that could not undergo cross-examination and Ebbers was threatened with Contempt of Congress charges, although no charges were filed. On August 27, 2003, Attorney General of Oklahoma Drew Edmondson filed a 15-count indictment against Ebbers. The indictment charged that he violated securities laws by defrauding investors on multiple occasions between January 2001 and March 2002. On November 20, 2003,

2117-576: The Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District was named one of the "Great Places In America," to live by the American Planning Association . Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest. The twenty-five-block neighborhood has one of the best collections of Victorian-era houses in Mississippi, with more than ninety percent of

2190-542: The Mississippi River , which hosts up to 100,000 National Guardsmen and Reservists annually. During European colonization, this area was first claimed by the French. Between 1763 and 1783 the area that is currently Hattiesburg fell under the jurisdiction of the colony of British West Florida . After the United States gained its independence, Great Britain ceded this and other areas to it after 1783. The United States gained

2263-540: The United States Congress to improve competition with the incumbent telecommunications companies. In 1997, he became the chair for Mississippi College's New Dawn Campaign, a $ 100 million fundraising campaign to improve campus facilities. In July 2001, Ebbers was proposed by George W. Bush as the chair for the President 's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. While CEO of WorldCom, Ebbers

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2336-414: The board of directors of Worldcom authorized several loans and loan guarantees to Ebbers so that he would not have to sell his Worldcom shares to meet margin calls as the share price plummeted during the bursting of the dot-com bubble . By April 2002, Ebbers had lost substantial support on the board due to these loans. Additionally, a number of directors believed Ebbers had not charted a way forward after

2409-600: The salt domes near Lumberton , Mississippi, about 28 miles southwest of Hattiesburg. Extensive follow-up of the area by the EPA has not revealed levels of nuclear contamination in the area that would be harmful to humans. Throughout the 20th century, Hattiesburg benefited from the founding of Camp Shelby (now a military mobilization center), two major hospitals, and two colleges, The University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University . The growing metropolitan area that includes Hattiesburg, Forrest and Lamar counties,

2482-520: The 2000 census, 42,475 of the city's 44,779 residents (94.9%) lived in Forrest County and 2,304 (5.1%) in Lamar County. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 54.3 square miles (140.6 km ), of which 53.4 square miles (138.3 km ) is land and 0.89 square miles (2.3 km ), or 1.63%, is water. Hattiesburg is 74 miles (119 km) north of Biloxi and 90 miles (140 km) southeast of Jackson ,

2555-489: The 38th Annual Victorian Candlelit Christmas and Holiday Tour of Homes. During the two nights of the Victorian Candlelit Christmas, thousands of candles burn in white bags lining the sidewalks. Christmas carolers from the three churches: Sacred Heart, Court Street Methodist, and Bay Street Presbyterian, stroll house to house singing Christmas music. Horse-drawn carriages carry visitors through the neighborhood at

2628-826: The Jackson Bandits in reference to outlaws famous for robbing wealthy travelers along the Natchez Trace in the 19th century. Derek Clancey, a former Chesapeake Icebreakers' star and eight-year veteran minor-league player, was named head coach and director of hockey operations, positions he would hold during the franchise's entire existence in Jackson. Ebbers' interest in the Bandits was bought out by local businessmen/investors in 2002, shortly after his resignation as President/CEO of WorldCom. The new ownership group included Holloway, Brian Fenelon, Billy Mounger III, and Isaac Byrd. After declining attendance and unsuccessful attempts to get

2701-606: The Mississippi River. They and their slaves were moved to Indian Territory in today's Kansas and Oklahoma . Hattiesburg developed at the confluence of the Leaf and Bouie rivers. It was founded in 1882 by Captain William H. Hardy , a civil engineer. The city of Hattiesburg was incorporated in 1884 with a population of approximately 400. Originally called Twin Forks and later Gordonville,

2774-587: The Sprint merger collapsed. On April 26, Worldcom's board voted unanimously to demand that Ebbers resign, which he formally did on April 30, 2002. As part of his departure, his loans were consolidated into a single $ 408.2 million promissory note . In 2003, Ebbers defaulted on the note and Worldcom foreclosed on many of his assets. On June 25, 2002, WorldCom admitted to nearly $ 3.9 billion in accounting misstatements and on July 22, 2002, it filed for bankruptcy . The figure eventually grew to $ 11 billion. This initiated

2847-615: The State of MS. The new headquarters facility will serve as the primary office for over 300 MS-based employees. The main shopping mall is Turtle Creek Mall . The Hattiesburg Train Depot was constructed in 1910 by the Southern Railway Company, and was the city's largest and most architecturally significant depot. The City of Hattiesburg purchased the depot and 3.2 acres (1.3 ha) of land from Norfolk Southern Railway in 2000, and began

2920-648: The auspices of the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO). By 1964, the Delta Ministry was active in the city. In cooperation with the NAACP and local civil rights leaders, they formed the Forrest County Voters League. In conjunction with the 1963 elections, civil rights leaders organized a statewide Freedom Ballot , a mock election that highlighted both the statewide pattern of voting rights discrimination and

2993-429: The charges by Oklahoma were dropped, with the right to refile retained, to defer to federal charges. On March 2, 2004, federal authorities indicted Ebbers on securities fraud and conspiracy charges. On May 25, 2004, federal prosecutors increased the list of charges to 9 felonies : 1 count each of conspiracy and securities fraud, and 7 counts of filing false statements with securities regulators. On March 15, 2005, Ebbers

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3066-401: The cities of New York , Philadelphia , Baltimore , Washington , Charlotte , Atlanta , Birmingham and New Orleans . The Amtrak station is located at 308 Newman Street. Rail freight service is offered by three Class I railroads : CN to Jackson and Mobile , Kansas City Southern to Gulfport , and Norfolk Southern to Meridian and New Orleans . Hattiesburg owns and operates

3139-523: The city received its final name of Hattiesburg from Capt. Hardy, in honor of his wife Hattie. Hattiesburg is centrally located less than 100 miles from the state capital of Jackson, as well as from the Mississippi Gulf Coast , New Orleans , Louisiana, and Mobile , Alabama. In 1884, a railroad—known then as the New Orleans and Northeastern —was built from Meridian , Mississippi, in the center of

3212-407: The city's mass transit service, HCT, Hub City Transit. HCT offers daily routes to many major thoroughfares. The Intermodal Depot downtown services Amtrak as well as the city transit services. Due to recent growth in passenger transport in the city, HCT is currently planning additional routes and services, including bus service to the suburbs of Oak Grove and Petal. Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport

3285-642: The city, reflecting the continued positive increase in municipal population since the 1900 census . In 2010 the Hattiesburg Metropolitan area has an Evangelical Protestant majority with 66,000 members. The Southern Baptist Convention had 85 congregations and 53,000 members. The United Methodist Church had 35 congregations and 9,000 members. The third largest was the Presbyterian Church in America with 5 congregations and 1,518 members. Hattiesburg

3358-477: The conviction. The MSSC conducted outrageous activities against citizens of the state: MSSC agents investigated citizens while the organization created blacklists of activists and black professionals who were suspected of working for civil rights, conducted economic boycotts against black-owned businesses, and arranged for blacks to be fired from state and local jobs. They also worked to have Black activists or suspected activists evicted from rental housing. All of this

3431-489: The courthouse for voting rights without being arrested. Roughly 100 African Americans attempted to register, though only a few were allowed into the courthouse. Fewer still succeeded in gaining entry on the rolls. Each day thereafter for many months, activists resumed the courthouse protest in what became known as the "Perpetual Picket." During Freedom Summer in 1964, the Hattiesburg/Palmers Crossing project

3504-551: The houses substantially renovated and maintained. The Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District [HHND] was Hattiesburg's first recognized historic district and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is also part of an Historic Conservation District and protected by Historic Hattiesburg Design Guidelines. In 2013, the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District celebrated

3577-428: The members (Council President) Ward 1 - Jeffrey George, Ward 2 - Deborah Delgado, Ward 3 - Carter Carroll, (Council Vice President) Ward 4 - Dave Ware, and Ward 5 - Nicholas Brown. Hattiesburg is home to the main campuses of two institutions of higher learning: the public University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the private Baptist-supported William Carey University . Both have campuses in other locations; USM has

3650-485: The most severe damage occurred in the Oak Grove area, especially near Oak Grove High School, the tornado continued eastward into Hattiesburg, causing widespread EF1-EF3 damage to the southern portion of the University of Southern Mississippi campus and the areas just north of downtown. It then moved into neighboring Petal and rural Forrest County. More than 80 injured were reported but no fatalities. The prevention of deaths

3723-605: The next day. His murder sparked large protest marches in Hattiesburg. A number of Klansmen were arrested for the crime, and four were eventually convicted. After four previous trials had ended in deadlocks, KKK Imperial Wizard Samuel Bowers was finally convicted in August 1998 for ordering the assassination of Dahmer. He was sentenced to life in prison. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against trespass convictions of civil rights protesters in Adickes v. S.H. Kress Co. . The case involved

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3796-407: The only— Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies federally accredited law enforcement agency in the State of Mississippi. The department is served by its own training academy. It is considered one of the most difficult basic academies in the country, with a more than 50% attrition rate. The Hattiesburg Zoo at Kamper Park is a longstanding tourist attraction in the city. In 2011,

3869-470: The prison in his Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Ebbers served in the low-security portion of the complex, which typically houses non-violent offenders and is built like a school dormitory. He was granted early release after serving 12 years in December 2019, due to health problems. On October 11, 2002, WorldCom investors brought a class action civil lawsuit against Ebbers and other defendants, alleging injuries as

3942-517: The seating of the all-white, pro-segregation delegates elected by the regular party in primaries from which African Americans had been largely excluded due to voter registration barriers. Victoria Jackson Gray of Palmers Crossing ran on the MFDP ticket against incumbent Senator John Stennis , and John Cameron of Hattiesburg ran for Representative in the 5th District. With few blacks having successfully been able to register to vote, these candidates did not have

4015-580: The second of five children of Kathleen and John Ebbers, a traveling salesman. His family were devout Christians . When Ebbers was young, the family moved to California and later lived for a while on a mission post on a Navajo Nation Indian reservation in New Mexico before moving back to Canada when Ebbers was a teenager. After high school, Ebbers briefly attended the University of Alberta and Calvin College before enrolling at Mississippi College on

4088-537: The spring of 1999. She filed for divorce on April 16, 2008, less than two years after he entered prison. At his peak in early 1999, Ebbers was worth an estimated $ 1.4 billion and listed as 174th on the Forbes 400 . His personal holdings included: From 1993 through 1995, Ebbers served as chairman of the board of directors of the Competitive Telecommunications Association, where he pleaded with

4161-623: The state access to a deep water harbor at Gulfport, more than doubled the population of towns along its route, stimulated the growth of the City of Gulfport, and made Hattiesburg a railroad center. In 1924, the G&;SIRR operated as a subsidiary of the Illinois Central Railroad but lost its independent identity in 1946. Hattiesburg gained its nickname, the Hub City, in 1912 as a result of a contest in

4234-570: The state capital. Hattiesburg is on an outcrop of the Pascagoula and Hattiesburg formation that is thought to be Miocene in age. Miocene plant and animal fossils discovered in Hattiesburg's vicinity indicate the area was once more swamp-like and dominated by low-growing palm trees. Hattiesburg has a humid subtropical climate , with short, mild winters and hot, humid summers. Snowfall is extremely rare, but on December 11, 2008, areas around Hattiesburg received 3 to 5 inches (0.076 to 0.127 m). As

4307-457: The state, through Hattiesburg to New Orleans . The completion of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad (G&SIRR) from Gulfport , to the capital of Jackson , Mississippi, also ran through Hattiesburg. It stimulated a lumber boom in 1897, with interior pine forests being harvested at a rapid pace. Although the railroad took 20 years to be developed, the G&SIRR more than fulfilled its promise. It gave

4380-451: The strong desire of Mississippi blacks for the franchise. Despite the serious risk of both physical and economic retaliation, nearly half of Forrest County blacks participated, the highest turnout in the state. January 22, 1964, was "Freedom Day" in Hattiesburg, a major voter registration effort supported by student demonstrators and 50 northern clergymen. For the first time since Reconstruction , an inter-racial protest successfully picketed

4453-501: Was Ann Claire Reynolds, a junior at University of Southern Mississippi who was majoring in elementary and special education. Hattiesburg is home to the African American Military History Museum . The building opened as a USO club in 1942 to serve African Americans serving at Camp Shelby, as local facilities were racially segregated. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places . This building

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4526-534: Was a Canadian-American businessman and the co-founder and CEO of WorldCom . Under his management, WorldCom grew rapidly but collapsed in 2002 amid revelations of accounting irregularities , making it at the time one of the largest accounting scandals in the United States. Ebbers blamed his subordinates but was convicted of fraud and conspiracy . In December 2019, Ebbers was released from Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth , due to declining health, having served 13 years of his 25-year sentence, and he died just over

4599-501: Was a member of the Easthaven Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi . As a high-profile member of the congregation, Ebbers regularly taught Sunday school and attended the morning church service with his family. His faith was overt, and he often started corporate meetings with prayer. When the allegations of conspiracy and fraud were first brought to light in 2002, Ebbers addressed the congregation and insisted on his innocence. "I just want you to know you aren't going to church with

4672-433: Was allowed to remain free for another year while his appeal was being considered. His conviction was upheld in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in July 2006. On September 6, 2006, the presiding judge ordered him to report to jail on September 26 to start serving his 25-year sentence. Ebbers reported to Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale, Louisiana , on September 26, 2006, driving himself to

4745-495: Was attributed to the nearly 30-minute lead time of the tornado warning. The most recent tornado struck on January 21, 2017 , when an EF3 hit the city early in the morning, killing four and injuring 20. Some 10,000 people were left without power. In 2000, there were 44,779 people, 17,295 households, and 9,391 families residing within the city limits. By the publication of the 2020 United States census , there were 48,730 people, 17,778 households, and 9,165 families residing in

4818-496: Was black, but less than 1% of blacks had been able to register, regardless of their education level. Registration by whites was close to 100%. In 1961, the U.S. Justice Department filed suit against Lynd. He was the first southern registrar to be convicted under the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for systematically violating African-American voting rights. In 1962, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) began one of its first voter-registration projects in Hattiesburg under

4891-403: Was conducted in secret, until later allegations of revelations brought the state's activities into the open. Forrest County Registrar Theron Lynd prevented blacks in the area from registering to vote, based on such devices in the state constitution as poll taxes , and literacy and comprehension tests, subjectively administered by whites. In 1960, thirty percent of the population in the county

4964-508: Was denied admission because of his race, as state colleges were legally segregated. When he persisted, the newly formed Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission , a taxpayer-supported agency ostensibly set up to encourage tourism, conspired to have him framed for a crime. He was sentenced to seven years in Parchman Prison . For years, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People leaders Medgar Evers , Vernon Dahmer , and other Forrest County civil rights activists fought to overturn

5037-441: Was designated a Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1994 with a combined population of more than 100,000 residents. Although about 75 miles (121 km) inland, Hattiesburg was hit very hard in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina . Around 10,000 structures in the area received major damage of some type from the heavy winds and rain, as the hurricane tracked inland. Approximately 80 percent of the city's roads were blocked by trees, and power

5110-427: Was found guilty of all charges. On March 30, 2005, an agreement to extend the statute of limitations on the charges from Oklahoma was signed, allowing Oklahoma prosecutors time to see the results of federal sentencing. On July 13, 2005, federal judge Barbara S. Jones , of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York , sentenced Ebbers to 25 years in a federal prison in Louisiana . Ebbers

5183-402: Was out in the area for up to 14 days. The storm killed 24 people in Hattiesburg and the surrounding areas. The city has struggled to cope with a large influx of temporary evacuees and new permanent residents from coastal Louisiana and Mississippi towns to the south, where damage from Katrina was catastrophic. The City is known for its police department, as it was the first—and for almost a decade

5256-518: Was the headquarters for all civil rights activity in Mississippi's 5th congressional district . This was the largest and most active site in the state, with more than 90 volunteers and 3,000 local participants. Hundreds of Forrest County blacks tried to register to vote at the courthouse, but blacks once again were prevented from doing so. More than 650 children and adults attended one of the seven Freedom Schools in Hattiesburg and Palmers Crossing, three freedom libraries were set up with donated books, and

5329-498: Was the most prominent black leader in the county and had been the primary civil rights leader for many years. Just prior to the attack, he had announced that he would help pay a $ 2 poll tax (equivalent to $ 19 in 2023) for black voters too poor to do so themselves. Dahmer held off the Klan with his rifle to give his wife, their three young children, and elderly aunt time to escape their burning home, but he died of burns and smoke inhalation

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