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Hancock County, Mississippi

Coordinates: 30°23′N 89°28′W / 30.39°N 89.47°W / 30.39; -89.47
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Hancock County
County
Hancock County courthouse in Bay St. Louis
Hancock County courthouse in Bay St. Louis
Map of Mississippi highlighting Hancock County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°23′N 89°28′W / 30.39°N 89.47°W / 30.39; -89.47
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1812
Named forJohn Hancock
SeatBay St. Louis
Largest cityBay St. Louis
Area
 • Total
553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Land474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Water79 sq mi (200 km2)  14%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
43,929
 • Estimate 
(2019)
47,632
 • Density100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitehancockcounty.ms.gov

Hancock County is the southernmost county of the U.S. state of Mississippi and is named for Founding Father John Hancock.[1] As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,929.[2] Its county seat is Bay St. Louis.[3]

Hancock County is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is situated along the Gulf of Mexico and the state line with Louisiana. The area is home to the John C. Stennis Space Center, NASA's largest rocket engine test facility.

The county was severely damaged from Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, which caused a huge storm surge and catastrophic damage.

History

This area of Mississippi was inhabited by indigenous peoples at the time of European colonization; the French were the first settlers and traders in the area. They imported African slaves as laborers, and in time a Creole class of free people of color developed.

After the United States conducted Indian Removal in the 1830s, more Protestant Americans migrated into this area, but it retained French and African Catholic influences. Located on the Gulf Coast, the county was regularly hit by hurricanes but its residents learned to handle these incidents.

In 2005, the county was the scene of the final landfall of the eye of Hurricane Katrina, and its communities and infrastructure suffered some of the most intense damage inflicted by that storm. Over the entire 7-mile (11 km) beach front, not one building or home was left intact. Nearly the entire first block off the beach was destroyed for the entire 7-mile (11 km) stretch.

Homes as far inland as 10 miles (16 km) 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 stranded 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" arrived in Hancock County soon after Hurricane Katrina. From early September 2005 to early December 2005, they ran the "New Waveland Cafe and Clinic" [1] [2] 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 more than 5000 patients during the duration. They provided treatment free of charge and dispensed free medications. Donations of medications and supplies came from a multitude of sources, with International Aid [3] arranging the most donations. This was the first experience of the 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, Rotary International 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, although the owner's store and home were both severely damaged. Other business such as Dairy Queen and Subway donated their foodstuffs, before it could spoil, in order to feed survivors.

Geography

Coastal counties of Mississippi.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 553 square miles (1,430 km2), of which 474 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 79 square miles (200 km2) (14%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,594—
18301,96223.1%
18403,36771.6%
18503,6729.1%
18603,139−14.5%
18704,23935.0%
18806,43951.9%
18908,31829.2%
190011,88642.9%
191011,207−5.7%
192010,380−7.4%
193011,41510.0%
194011,328−0.8%
195011,8915.0%
196014,03918.1%
197017,38723.8%
198024,53741.1%
199031,76029.4%
200042,96735.3%
201043,9292.2%
2019 (est.)47,6328.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[2] 2019[9]

2020 census

Hancock County racial composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 37,341 81.08%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,911 8.49%
Native American 244 0.53%
Asian 424 0.92%
Pacific Islander 9 0.02%
Other/Mixed 2,206 4.79%
Hispanic or Latino 1,918 4.16%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 46,053 people, 20,036 households, and 13,081 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 42,967 people, 16,897 households, and 11,827 families residing in the county. The population density 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, 6.83% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 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 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 eighth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.


Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics

United States presidential election results for Hancock County, Mississippi[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 16,132 76.98% 4,504 21.49% 321 1.53%
2016 13,811 78.31% 3,344 18.96% 482 2.73%
2012 12,964 75.52% 3,917 22.82% 286 1.67%
2008 13,020 76.34% 3,768 22.09% 268 1.57%
2004 12,581 70.41% 5,107 28.58% 181 1.01%
2000 9,326 64.11% 4,801 33.00% 421 2.89%
1996 5,820 51.16% 4,303 37.82% 1,254 11.02%
1992 6,422 47.78% 4,651 34.61% 2,367 17.61%
1988 7,763 66.42% 3,760 32.17% 164 1.40%
1984 7,662 74.07% 2,630 25.43% 52 0.50%
1980 5,088 57.07% 3,544 39.75% 283 3.17%
1976 3,765 48.01% 3,855 49.16% 222 2.83%
1972 5,133 86.28% 745 12.52% 71 1.19%
1968 1,065 17.63% 904 14.96% 4,072 67.41%
1964 2,550 62.95% 1,501 37.05% 0 0.00%
1960 719 21.44% 2,132 63.58% 502 14.97%
1956 1,421 53.14% 1,179 44.09% 74 2.77%
1952 1,347 46.05% 1,578 53.95% 0 0.00%
1948 151 8.51% 222 12.51% 1,402 78.99%
1944 137 7.70% 1,642 92.30% 0 0.00%
1940 197 11.27% 1,550 88.67% 1 0.06%
1936 164 11.20% 1,284 87.70% 16 1.09%
1932 109 7.40% 1,349 91.64% 14 0.95%
1928 456 26.21% 1,284 73.79% 0 0.00%
1924 192 27.08% 467 65.87% 50 7.05%
1920 130 29.68% 305 69.63% 3 0.68%
1916 68 11.68% 512 87.97% 2 0.34%
1912 28 6.19% 365 80.75% 59 13.05%

Education

School districts include:[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 148.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "QuickFacts. Mississippi counties". Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  13. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hancock County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list

30°23′N 89°28′W / 30.39°N 89.47°W / 30.39; -89.47

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