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Gulfport

is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi after the state capital, Jackson. Along with Biloxi, Gulfport is the co-county seat of Harrison County and part of the Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, Gulfport has a population of 72,926; the metro area has a population of 416,259. Gulfport lies along the gulf coast of the United States in southern Mississippi, taking its name from its port on the Gulf Coast on the Mississippi Sound. It is home to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Seabees.

History

Steamer loading resin in Gulfport, 1906

U.S. President Gerald Ford visited Gulfport during his 1976 reelection campaign

This area was occupied by indigenous cultures for thousands of years, culminating in the historic encounter between the Choctaw and the first European explorers of the area. Along the Gulf Coast, French colonists founded nearby Biloxi, and Mobile in the 18th century, well before the area was acquired from France by the United States in 1803 in the Louisiana Purchase. By the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the United States completed treaties to extinguish Choctaw and other tribal land claims and removed them to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. In that period, the other four of the Five Civilized Tribes in the Southeast were also removed, to make way for white settlers to take over the lands and develop them for agriculture, especially cotton.

14th Street in Downtown Gulfport

An early settlement near this location, known as Mississippi City, appeared on a map of Mississippi from 1855.Mississippi City was the county seat of Harrison County from 1841 to 1902, but is now a suburb in east Gulfport.

Gulfport was incorporated on July 28, 1898. The city was founded by William H. Hardy,^[9] who was president of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad (G&SIRR) that connected inland lumber mills to the coast. He was joined by Joseph T. Jones, who later took over the G&SIRR, dredged the harbor in Gulfport, and opened the shipping channel to the sea. In 1902, the harbor was completed and the Port of Gulfport became a working seaport. On April 28, 1904, the Treasury Department changed the port of entry for the district of the Pearl River from Shieldsboro to Gulfport.^[10] It now accounts for millions of dollars in annual sales and tax revenue for the state of Mississippi.

In 1910, the U.S. Post Office and Customhouse was built here. This Gulfport Post office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

In March 1916, Mayor George M. Foote announced that the Andrew Carnegie foundation was going to aid in construction of a Carnegie Library in Gulfport. The city had agreed to providing matching funds for the construction as well as committing to provide operating funds. In the 20th century, the city developed as an important port; as it was served by railroads from the interior, it stimulated town growth by providing a way to get products to markets.

The city’s location on the coast made it vulnerable to hurricanes and it weathered several. But on August 17, 1969, Gulfport and the Mississippi Gulf Coast were hit by Hurricane Camille. Measured by central pressure, Camille was the second-strongest hurricane to make U.S. landfall in recorded history. The area of total destruction in Harrison County was 68 square miles (180 km²). The total estimated cost of damage was $1.42 billion (1969 USD, $9 billion 2012 USD). Camille was the second-most expensive hurricane in the United States, up to that point (behind Hurricane Betsy). The storm directly killed 143 people in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

In December 1993, the City annexed 33 square miles (85 km²) north of Gulfport, making it the second-largest city in Mississippi.

Hurricane Katrina

Damage to Marine Life Oceanarium and casinos at port facility after Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, Gulfport was hit by the strong eastern side of Hurricane Katrina. Much of the city was flooded or destroyed that day by the strong, hurricane-force winds, which lasted more than 16 hours, and a storm surge exceeding 28 feet (8.5 m) in some sections.

Hurricane Katrina damaged more than 40 Mississippi libraries, gutting the Gulfport Public Library, first floor, and breaking windows on the second floor, beyond repair. It required total reconstruction.

Although Katrina’s damage was far more widespread, it was not the fiercest hurricane to hit Gulfport. Katrina, a Category 3 storm at landfall, was dwarfed by Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 storm, which had hit Gulfport and neighboring communities on August 17, 1969, with 175 mph sustained winds compared to Katrina’s 120 mph sustained winds.

The Sun Herald newspaper in Biloxi-Gulfport won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in journalism for its Katrina coverage. The local ABC television affiliate, WLOX, won the Peabody Award for its Hurricane Katrina coverage.

Geography

Gulfport, Mississippi (map center) is east of Long Beach, west of Biloxi, along the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 64.2 sq mi (166.4 km²), of which 56.9 sq mi (147.4 km²) is land and 7.3 sq mi (19.0 km²) (11.40%) is water.

Gulfport Formation, here named in Harrison Co., southeastern MS, described as barrier ridge composed of white, medium- to fine-grained sand, yellow-orange near surface. Thickness ranges form 5.0 to 9.5 m. Overlies Biloxi Formation. Age is late Pleistocene.

Gulfport Formation is limited to a 1- to 3-km-wide discontinuous barrier ridge belt that borders the Gulf mainland shore. Commonly overlies Prairie Formation (alluvium) landward and Biloxi Formation (shelf deposits) near shore. Grades upward from poorly to moderately sorted shoreface sands to foreshore sand and dunes. Fig. 1 shows unit extending from Gulfport, MS, eastward to the mouth of the Ochlockonee River, Franklin County, Florida. Deposited during the Sangamonian.

Neighborhoods

The city listed 39 official neighborhoods in 2000. These neighborhoods are sometimes subdivisions or accumulations of gradual home development. These include:

• Lyman
• Orange Grove
• Biloxi River
• Lorraine
• The Reserve
• Pine Hills
• Bayou Bernard Industrial District
• Bayou View North
• The Island
• Fernwood
• Handsboro
• College Park
• Silver Ridge
• Great Southern
• Mississippi City
• Gooden
• East Park
• Bayou View South
• Magnolia Grove
• East Beach
• Broadmoor
• Soria City
• CBD
• State Port & Jones Park
• West Beach
• Gaston Point
• Fairgrounds
• Central Gulfport
• 25th Avenue Commercial
• Original Gulfport
• Mid-City
• Brickyard Bayou
• North Gulfport Industrial Center
• Turkey Creek
• North Gulfport
• CB Base
• Gulfport Heights
• Forest Heights
• Sports Super Complex

Climate

Gulfport has a humid subtropical climate, which is strongly moderated by the Gulf of Mexico. Winters are short and generally mild; cold spells do occur, but seldom last long. Snow flurries are rare in the city, with no notable accumulation occurring most years. Summers are generally long, hot and humid, though the city’s proximity to the Gulf prevents extreme summer highs, as seen farther inland. Gulfport is subject to extreme weather, most notably tropical storm activity through the Gulf of Mexico. The all-time record high for the city is 107 °F (41.7 °C), set on August 26, 2023, and the record coldest is 1 °F (−17.2 °C) on February 12, 1899. Climate records for the city date back to 1893; however, until 1998 records were stitched with neighboring Biloxi.

Demographics

Historical population

Gulfport racial composition as of 2020

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 72,926 people,25,559 households, and 15,584 families residing in the city.

Economy

According to Gulfport’s 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

Tourism

From its beginnings as a lumber port, Gulfport evolved into a diversified city. With about 6.7 miles (10.8 kilometres) of white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, Gulfport has become a tourism destination, due in large part to Mississippi’s coast casinos. Gulfport has served as host to popular cultural events such as the “World’s Largest Fishing Rodeo,” “Cruisin’ the Coast” (a week of classic cars), “Black Spring Break” and “Smokin’ the Sound” (speedboat races). Gulfport is a thriving residential community with a strong mercantile center. There are historic neighborhoods and home sites, as well as diverse shopping opportunities and several motels scattered throughout to accommodate golfing, gambling, and water-sport tourism. Gulfport is also home to the Island View Casino, one of twelve casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Gulfport/Biloxi and the Gulf Coast area is served by the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport.

The Coast Transit Authority provides bus service to the region with fixed-route and paratransit services.

Major roads and highways serve Gulfport. Interstate 10 runs east–west through the middle section of Gulfport. U.S. 90, following the coast in this region, runs east–west through the downtown area. U.S. 49 from the north terminates in Gulfport.

Until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Amtrak‘s Sunset Limited from Los Angeles to Orlando made stops in Gulfport station. Well into the 1960s, the Louisville and Nashville ran several trains daily, making stops in Gulfport–Crescent, Gulf Wind, Humming Bird, Pan-American and Piedmont Limited—varied destinations including New Orleans, Cincinnati, Atlanta, New York City and Jacksonville.

Public safety

The Gulfport Police Department has 160 sworn personnel and 80 civilian staff. It is assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, which operates 9 boats out of the port of Gulfport, 4 of which are Patrol Boats. The Gulfport station has 110 members which include Active, Reserve and Coast Guard Auxiliary who respond to an average of 300 search and rescue cases annually.

The Gulfport Fire Department was founded in 1908 and currently provides fire suppression, HAZMAT response, and technical rescue services within the city limits of Gulfport, Mississippi . The GFD operates out of 11 active stations and is staffed by professional firefighters. The GFD works in conjunction with American Medical Response for EMS related emergencies.

Government

Gulfport uses a strong mayor-council form of government. The city is subdivided into seven wards, where members are elected as part of the Gulfport City Council. The current mayor is Billy Hewes who is serving his third term in office.

Education

Harrison County School District headquarters

Upstairs in Gulfport Public Library

The City of Gulfport is served by the Gulfport School District and the Harrison County School District. The Harrison County Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is also located in Gulfport.

Before Hurricane Katrina, William Carey University had a satellite campus in Gulfport. In 2009, the university moved to its new Tradition Campus, constructed off Mississippi Highway 67 in north Harrison County.

The Gulf Park Campus of the University of Southern Mississippi is located in Long Beach, just west of Gulfport. In 2012, repairs and renovations to campus buildings were still in progress following extensive damage in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.

Media

Newspaper

Headquartered in Gulfport,^[36] The Sun Herald is the local newspaper for Gulfport, Biloxi, and other Gulf Coast cities.

Radio

There are six FM radio stations licensed in Gulfport: W209CF 89.7, WA0Y 91.7 (American Family Radio), WGBL 96.7, WGCM-FM 102.3, WAIP-LP 103.9, and WLGF 107.1 (K-Love). There are also three AM radio stations licensed in Gulfport, all with FM translators: WQFX 1130 (W254DJ 98.7), WGCM 1240 (W265DH 100.9), and WROA 1390 (W261CU 100.1).

Television

It is also served by two television stations, the ABC affiliate WLOX and CBS affiliate WLOX-DT2,^[40] as well as the Fox affiliate WXXV on 25.1, NBC affiliate on 25.2, CW+ affiliate on 25.3, and Defy TV affiliate on 25.4.

Film

Movies and TV series filmed in Gulfport include the 2016 film Precious Cargo, the 2017 TV movie Christmas in Mississippi, the 2015 TV series The Astronaut Wives Club, and other productions.

Notable people

• Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, former NBA point guard for the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Vancouver Grizzlies
• Stacey Abrams, American politician, lawyer, and author
• Thomas H. Anderson, Jr., Ambassador of the United States to Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Vincent, and St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla from 1984 to 1986, was born in Gulfport
• Tommy Armstrong, Jr., quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
• Jerome Barkum, former wide receiver and tight end for the New York Jets from 1972 to 1983 in the National Football League
• Milton Barney, 1990 AFL Ironman of the Year
• William Joel Blass, attorney and educator
• Timmy Bowers, professional basketball player
• Rod Davis, professional football player, played for the Minnesota Vikings
• Brett Favre, quarterback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, born in Gulfport
• William H. Hardy, co-founder of the city of Gulfport
• Josh Hayes, professional motorcycle roadracer, AMA Superbike Championship title winner
• William Gardner Hewes, politician and Mayor of Gulfport
• Jonathan Holder, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Boyce Holleman, attorney, politician and actor
• Jaimoe, original member and drummer of the Allman Brothers Band, grew up in Gulfport
• Joseph T. Jones, co-founder of the city of Gulfport
• Matt Lawton, former Major League Baseball player best known for his stint with the Minnesota Twins
• Matt Luke, former head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels football team of the University of Mississippi.
• Stanford Morse (1926-2002), member of the Mississippi State Senate, 1956–1964; Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 1963.
• Brittney Reese, long jumper, Olympic gold medalist
• John C. Robinson (1903-1954), “The Brown Condor”, aviator and civil rights activist
• Stuart Roosa, Colonel, US Air Force, Apollo 14 astronaut, Command Module Pilot. Brought seeds to moon that germinated in space
• Tiffany Travis, former WNBA Basketball player, played for Charlotte Sting
• Natasha Trethewey, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, former Poet Laureate of the United States, and Professor at Emory University, born in Gulfport
• Tim Young, professional baseball player, played for the Montreal Expos and the Boston Red Sox

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