55-622: The Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA) is located in Ocean Springs, Mississippi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. WAMA is dedicated to the work of Walter Inglis Anderson (1903–1965), whose depictions of coastal plants, animals, landscapes, and people have placed him among the most singular artists of the 20th century; and to his brothers, Peter Anderson (1901–1984), potter and founder of Shearwater Pottery ; and James McConnell Anderson (1907–1998), painter and ceramist. The mission of
110-753: A household in Ocean Springs was $ 59,516, and the per capita income was $ 33,107. About 9.7% of the population was below the poverty line. Ocean Springs is served by the Ocean Springs School District . Ocean Springs is served by the Gulfport – Biloxi –Pascagoula media market. Its primary daily newspapers is the Sun Herald . Three local television stations also serve the area: WLOX, WXVO and WXXV. Biloxi Biloxi ( / b ɪ ˈ l ʌ k s i / bih- LUK -see ; French: [bilusi] )
165-479: A more heterogeneous population. During World War II , the United States Army Air Forces built Keesler Field, now Keesler Air Force Base , which became a major basic training site and site for aircraft maintenance. The Biloxi economy boomed as a result, attracting new residents and businesses. By 1958, the first Jewish synagogue had been built in the town. Biloxi's casino history dates to
220-524: A period in the 1940s. At the time, open, if technically illegal, gambling took place in a casino within the Broadwater Beach Resort . Open gambling ended during the 1950s. The Mississippi Gulf Coast became known as the "Poor Man's Riviera", and was frequented by Southern families interested in fishing expeditions during the summer. Commercially, Biloxi was dominated by shrimp boats and oyster luggers. The tradition of blessing fishing boats in
275-407: A vacation spot. Its popularity as a destination increased with railroad access. In 1881, the first cannery was built in the town to process seafood, leading others to join the location. This stimulated development in the city and attracted new immigrants from Europe and various ethnic groups who worked in the seafood factories. They processed shrimp and other local seafood. These changes gave Biloxi
330-408: Is 95' in height at its main span, and supports six lanes of traffic. Two lanes of the six-lane bridge opened November 1, 2007. The new bridge has a curving roadway due to the implemented design-build process. In order to speed the process of rebuilding, the main body of the bridge was moved outside of the previous bridge's debris area. The landing points for each side of U.S. Route 90 correspond with
385-705: Is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi , United States. It lies on the Gulf Coast in southern Mississippi, bordering the city of Gulfport to its west. The adjacent cities are both designated as seats of Harrison County. The population of Biloxi was 49,449 at the 2020 census , making it the state's 4th most populous city . It is a principal city of the Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area , home to 416,259 residents in 2020. The area's first European settlers were French colonists. The beachfront of Biloxi lies directly on
440-568: Is a city in Jackson County , Mississippi , United States, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Biloxi and west of Gautier . It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area . The population was 18,429 at the 2020 U.S Census, down from 18,434 in 2010. The town has a reputation as an arts community and is a popular tourist destination. The town was voted as a top 10 Happiest Seaside Town by Coastal Living in 2015 and
495-429: Is also prone to tropical weather such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes. Autumns and springs are usually cool to warm. Winters typically are warm with cool spells. Cool spells are accompanied with strong, Northerly dry winds which are unexpectedly chilly but do not typically last more than just a couple of days. Summers are consistently hot and humid both day and night with high temperatures usually in
550-499: Is extremely rare in Biloxi. Summers are hot and humid, bearing the brunt of tropical storms during the late summer to fall. Biloxi's record low of 1 °F (−17.2 °C) was recorded on February 12, 1899, and the record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded on August 29, 2000, and tied again on August 26, 2023. Biloxi is the smaller of two principal cities of the Gulfport -Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area , which
605-538: Is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula Combined Statistical Area . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 49,449 people, 17,923 households, and 10,922 families residing in the city. Biloxi is home to eight casino resort hotels, with 24-hour gambling , concert entertainment shows, and several restaurants. Some of the current casino resorts include (dates reflect business status after Hurricane Katrina): In
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#1732869741384660-518: Is rapidly implementing plans to allow the redevelopment of commercial properties south of Highway 90 . Biloxi is located in southeastern Harrison County, bordered to the south by Mississippi Sound (part of the Gulf of Mexico ) and to the northeast partially by Biloxi Bay, which forms part of the Jackson County line. To the northeast, across Biloxi Bay, are the Jackson County city of Ocean Springs and
715-725: Is served by the Biloxi Public School District and the Harrison County School District . Places of worship in Biloxi include Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Biloxi, Mississippi) and the First Baptist Church of Biloxi . The Catholic Diocese of Biloxi had the first black Bishop, Bishop Howze. The diocese is considered an Irish mission and has had priests from Ireland here since
770-863: The Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers play at Keesler Federal Park . The Mississippi Sea Wolves of the Federal Prospects Hockey League have played at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum since 2022. Biloxi was previously home to the original Sea Wolves team of the ECHL , and the Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League . Biloxi was the host city of
825-533: The Mississippi Gulf Coast , which at one time had twelve. ) In the early stages of the Civil War , Ship Island was captured by Union forces , enabling them to take control of Biloxi. No major battles were fought in the area, and Biloxi did not suffer direct damage from the war. Some local Union sentiment could be discerned following the war's conclusion. In the postbellum period, Biloxi again emerged as
880-630: The Mississippi River , except for New Orleans, to Great Britain , as part of the Treaty of Paris . At the same time, the French colony west of the Mississippi, plus New Orleans, was ceded to Spain as part of the Treaty of Fontainebleau . British rule lasted from 1763 to 1779, followed by Spanish rule from 1779 to 1810. Despite this, the character of Biloxi remained mostly French, as their descendants made up
935-563: The Mississippi Sound , with barrier islands scattered off the coast and into the Gulf of Mexico . Keesler Air Force Base lies within the city and is home to the 81st Training Wing and the 403rd Wing of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In 1699, French colonists formed the first permanent, European settlement in French Louisiana , at Fort Maurepas , now in Ocean Springs, Mississippi , and referred to as "Old Biloxi". The settlement
990-466: The 1950s. Biloxi has one daily newspaper, the Sun Herald , which is headquartered in nearby Gulfport . 20 FM and 7 AM radio stations operate in and/or serve the Biloxi area. According to Nielsen Media Research , the Biloxi market, as of the 2015–2016 season, is the third largest of five television markets in Mississippi, and the 158th largest in the country. Three major television stations serve
1045-462: The 1962 Biloxi Bay Bridge. As of 2007, the majority of the bridge's remains have been removed via cranes based on barges located next to the bridge debris. The bridge ruins, capturing the breathtaking results of the force of Hurricane Katrina , had become a popular spot of photographers both professional and amateur. The construction for the new bridge was completed in April 2008. The new Biloxi Bay Bridge
1100-589: The 1990s, Biloxi was again transformed. It became an important center in the resort casino industry. The new hotels and gambling complexes brought millions of dollars in tourism revenue to the city. The more famous casino complexes were the Beau Rivage casino resort, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino , Casino Magic , Grand Casino , Isle of Capri Casino Resort Biloxi , Boomtown Casino , President Casino Broadwater Resort , and Imperial Palace . Like Tunica County in
1155-714: The 2009 Women's World Military Cup . Biloxi City Futbol Club is set to join the Louisiana Premier League for the fall of 2016. The Bolton State Office Building in Biloxi includes the headquarters of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the South Regional Office of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality . The United States Postal Service operates the Biloxi Post Office and other area post offices. The city
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#17328697413841210-484: The 53 confirmed fatalities in Biloxi, a figure that includes one unidentified male, Hargrove said the average age was 58, with the youngest being 22 and the oldest 90; 14 were female and 39 were male. Biloxi is the site of a well-known memorial to Katrina victims. The memorial was created by a team of local artists (Elizabeth Veglia and Aaron Kramer), an architect (Dennis Cowart), a contractor (Roy Anderson Corporation), and city liaison (Nathan Sullivan), with assistance from
1265-462: The Beau Rivage, which reopened on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Multiple plans have been laid out to rebuild the waterfront areas of Biloxi, and the federal government has recently announced that it is considering giving up to 17,000 Mississippi coast homeowners the option to sell their properties so that a vast hurricane-protection zone can be implemented. Meanwhile, the city of Biloxi
1320-527: The Biloxi area. ABC and CBS affiliate WLOX 13 and PBS / MPB member station WMAH-TV 19 are located in Biloxi, while Fox / MyNetworkTV affiliate WXXV-TV 25 is located in Gulfport. In addition to the stations' main programming, WLOX and WXXV-TV broadcast programming from other networks on digital subchannels. WLOX-DT2 serves as the market's CBS affiliate, while WXXV-TV operates the market's respective NBC and CW affiliates on DT2 and DT3 . Biloxi
1375-479: The Fort Maurepas/Old Biloxi area. In the late nineteenth century, the development of ice plant industries along the coast increased seafood sales. Locals and tourists can still purchase freshly harvested shrimp, fish, crabs, and oysters to this day because of this thriving industry. Ocean Springs was in the international spotlight following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on August 29, 2005. The city, part of
1430-629: The Mississippi Gulf Coast directly hit by the storm, sustained significant damage. The Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge, part of Highway 90 along the beach, was destroyed and was a widely broadcast visual testament to the hurricane's impact. The first bridge to connect Biloxi to Ocean Springs was the War Memorial Bridge which opened on June 3, 1930. The War Memorial bridge was replaced by the 1962 Biloxi Bay Bridge, which sustained some damage in 1969 by Hurricane Camille . On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina 's 28-foot (8.5 m) storm surge destroyed
1485-477: The Mississippi Gulf Coast, but the most destructive, as measured by storm surge levels in the Biloxi Lighthouse , occurred in 1855, 1906, 1909, 1947, 1969 ( Hurricane Camille ), and 2005 ( Hurricane Katrina ) On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast with high winds, heavy rains and a 30-foot (9.1 m) storm surge, causing massive damage to the area. Katrina came ashore during
1540-538: The Shearwater compound. The museum connects Anderson's most public project – the 3,000 square-foot Ocean Springs Community Center murals, with his most private work – the Little Room murals, an immersive space discovered after his death in 1965 and installed at the museum. This Mississippi museum-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ocean Springs, Mississippi Ocean Springs
1595-463: The US seems to have first taken place in Biloxi in 1929 and has been practised ever since. In 1959, Biloxi was the site of "Mississippi's first public assault on racial barriers in its 15-year civil rights struggle." Gilbert R. Mason , a black physician in Biloxi, went swimming at a local beach with seven black friends. They were ordered to leave by a city policeman, who told them that "Negroes don't come to
1650-514: The advantages of proximity to New Orleans and ease of access via water. Summer homes were built by wealthy slave-owners and commercial figures, and hotels and rental cottages were developed to serve those who could not afford their own homes. The Biloxi Lighthouse was built in Baltimore , Maryland, and shipped south, where it was completed at the site in May 1848. (It is one of two surviving lighthouses on
1705-401: The buildings along the coast in Biloxi and neighboring Gulfport had been destroyed by the hurricane. Several of the "floating" casinos were torn off their supports and thrown inland, contributing to the damage. Many churches were destroyed or severely damaged, including St. Michael's Catholic Church, which was gutted by the storm surge, breaking the entry doors and stained-glass windows along
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1760-490: The center of what fisheries biologists term "The Fertile Fisheries Crescent", Biloxi offers some of the finest sportsfishing along the entire northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Spotted seatrout , red drum , Spanish and king mackerel , flounder , snapper , grouper , sharks , and more are all available to anglers during the fishing season. It is not known how Hurricane Katrina affected this ecosystem . The Biloxi Shuckers ,
1815-556: The city was 85.4% White , 7.4% African American , 0.40% Native American , 3.1% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 1.3% from other races , and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population. Of the 6,393 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.1% of all households had householders living alone, and 12.5% consisted of someone living alone who
1870-786: The crew and volunteers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition . Many casinos were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Of the casinos that were located in Biloxi, eight have reopened since Katrina. They are the Grand Biloxi Casino Hotel Spa (formerly known as Grand Casino Biloxi), the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the Golden Nugget, the Palace Casino Resort, the IP Casino Resort Spa (formerly known as Imperial Palace), Treasure Bay Casino, Boomtown Casino, and
1925-468: The first floor; however, the interior was later removed, and the structure was still solid enough to allow repairing the church. Hurricane Katrina damaged over 40 Mississippi libraries beyond repair, breaking windows and flooding several feet in the Biloxi Public Library, requiring a total rebuild. Hurricane-force winds persisted for 17 hours and tore the branches off many coastal oak trees, but
1980-424: The high tide of 6:56 am, +2.3 feet more. Commenting on the power of the storm and the damage, Mayor A. J. Holloway said, "This is our tsunami ." Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was quoted as saying the destruction of the Mississippi coastline by Hurricane Katrina looked like an American Hiroshima . On the morning of August 31, 2005, in an interview on MSNBC , Governor Barbour stated that 90% of
2035-484: The low nineties and low temperatures oftentimes just barely below 80 degrees. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 18,429 people, 6,639 households, and 4,423 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 census , there were 17,442 people, 6,393 households, and 4,717 families residing within the city. The population density was 1,513.5 people per square mile. There were 7,814 housing units at an average density of 678.3 per square mile. The ethnic makeup of
2090-419: The majority of the population. In 1811, the U.S. traded with Spain to take over Biloxi and the related area, making it part of their Mississippi Territory . Mississippi, and Biloxi with it, was admitted as a state to the union in 1817. Biloxi began to grow. In the antebellum period of the 19th century, it became known as a summer resort due to its proximity to the breezes and beaches of the coast. It also had
2145-459: The modern state of Louisiana . Due to fears of tides and hurricanes, colonial governor Bienville moved the capital of French Louisiana in 1722 from Biloxi to a new inland harbor town named La Nouvelle-Orléans ( New Orleans ), built for this purpose in 1718–1720. In 1763, following Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War / French and Indian War , France had to cede their colonies east of
2200-439: The museum is to “empower lifelong curiosity and connection to the natural world through the art of Walter Anderson and kindred artists.” The Walter Anderson Museum of Art began as an idea by a group of people in Ocean Springs and Jackson, Mississippi to preserve the art and culture of Walter Inglis Anderson. The Friends of Walter Anderson was chartered in 1974, and through their efforts, funds and grant money were raised to build
2255-411: The museum on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs on land leased from Jackson County. Mark A Tullos, Jr. was hired as the museum's first director in 1990. The museum was dedicated on May 4, 1991, at a cost estimated at $ 1.3 million. The conceptual architect of the project, Edward Pickard, former husband of Mary Anderson, the eldest child of Walter Anderson, designed the building to keep it in the style of
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2310-466: The name was sometimes used in English as "Fort Bilocci". In 1720, the area of today's city of Biloxi was settled for the first time around Fort Louis, and the administrative capital of French Louisiana was moved to Biloxi from Mobile . French Louisiana, part of New France , was known in French as La Louisiane in colonial times. In modern times it is called La Louisiane française to distinguish it from
2365-468: The northern part of the state, Biloxi and the surrounding Gulf Coast region were considered a leading gambling center in the Southern United States . To celebrate the area's tricentennial in 1998/99, the city's tourism promotion agency invited the nationally syndicated Travel World Radio Show to broadcast live from Biloxi, with co-host Willem Bagchus in attendance Scores of hurricanes have hit
2420-532: The previous bridge. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39 km ), of which 11.6 square miles (30 km ) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km ) (23.57%) is water. The city is classified as having a subtropical climate. This has a hot, humid monsoon season, beginning in late spring and ending in early autumn, with frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms with torrential downpours. Thunderstorms usually don't last long but can be strong or even severe. The area
2475-504: The sand beach". In the early 1960s, the Gulf Coast again emerged as a prime alternative to Florida as a southern vacation destination among Northerners , with Biloxi a favored destination. Biloxi hotels upgraded their amenities and hired chefs from France and Switzerland in an effort to provide some of the best seafood cuisine in the country. Edgewater Mall was built in 1963. With the introduction of legal gambling in Mississippi in
2530-498: The town is celebrated annually in re enactments depicting d'Iberville's landing near a replica of Fort Maurepas. The authorities had authorized John Egan to construct and operate a public wharf near this ancient fort site at the foot of Jackson Avenue prior to the Civil War. From colonial times to present day, seafood has been celebrated. The abundance of seafood allowed French and French-Canadian explorers and settlers to thrive within
2585-400: The tree trunks survived the 30-foot (9.1 m) flood and many have since regrown smaller branches. Some reconstructed homes still have their antebellum appearance, and miles inland, with less flooding, shopping centers have reopened. Harrison County Coroner Gary T. Hargrove told the mayor and City Council that Hurricane Katrina had claimed 53 victims in Biloxi, as of January 30, 2006. Of
2640-420: The unincorporated community of St. Martin . The Back Bay of Biloxi continues west from the Jackson County line, crossing the city of Biloxi to Big Lake on the city's western boundary, where the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa rivers join. The Tchoutacbouffa flows from east to west across the city and forms part of the city's eastern boundary. Biloxi is bordered to the north and east by the city of D'Iberville and to
2695-478: The west by the city of Gulfport . According to the United States Census Bureau , Biloxi has a total area of 46.7 square miles (120.9 km ), of which 38.2 square miles (99.0 km ) are land and 8.5 square miles (21.9 km ), or 18.14%, are water. Biloxi has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa ) that is heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico . Winter days are mild and wet. Snow
2750-647: The year, including its Peter Anderson Festival, one of the Southeast’s premiere arts and crafts festivals. Ocean Springs was severely damaged on August 29, 2005, by Hurricane Katrina , which destroyed many buildings along the shoreline, including the Ocean Springs Yacht Club, and the wooden replica of Fort Maurepas . Katrina's 28 ft (8.5 m) storm surge also destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge , which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs. A new bridge
2805-427: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01. In the city, the population was spread out, with 5.6% under the age of 5, 6.7% from 10 to 14, 6.6% from 15 to 19, 4.8% from 20 to 24, 5.1% from 25 to 29, 11.8% from 30 to 39, 15.4% from 40 to 49, 14.8% from 50 to 59, 11.1% from 60 to 69, and 11.6% from 70 and above. The median age was 42.1 years. The median income for
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#17328697413842860-461: Was also voted as a top 10 Best Coastal Small Town by USA Today in 2022. Its historic and secluded down town area, with streets lined by live oak trees, is home to several art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. Ocean Springs was the home town of the late Walter Inglis Anderson , a nationally renowned painter and muralist who drew inspiration from the natural coastal landscape and nearby barrier islands. The town hosts several festivals throughout
2915-455: Was constructed and opened on November 1, 2007. The settlement of Fort Maurepas or Old Biloxi, in colonial French Louisiana (New France), began in April 1699 at present-day Ocean Springs, under the authority of King Louis XIV , as Fort Maurepas by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville . It was the first permanent French outpost in French Louisiana and was established as a foothold to prevent Spanish encroachment on France's colonial claims. The site
2970-427: Was maintained well into the early 18th century. The town was briefly called Lynchburg Springs when the first post office was established in 1853. The name Ocean Springs was coined by Dr. William Glover Austin in 1854. He believed the local springs had healing qualities. Ocean Springs became a prosperous resort town and after several years reinvented itself as a historically-oriented residential community. The history of
3025-519: Was under the direction of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville . La Louisiane was separated from Spanish Florida at the Perdido River near Pensacola (this was founded by the Spanish 1559 and again in 1698). The name of Biloxi in French was Bilocci , a transliteration of the term for the local Native American tribe in their language . Labeled along with "Fort Maurepas" on maps dated circa year 1710/1725,
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