Ocean Springs, Mississippi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ocean Springs is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, about 2 miles east of Biloxi. The population was 17,225 at the 2000 census.
The town has had a reputation as an "arts community." Its secluded downtown area, with streets lined by long oak trees, has been home to several art galleries and shops plying shiny wares. It is also home to a number of ethnic restaurants, relatively uncommon in surrounding communities.
Ocean Springs was the hometown of the late Walter Inglis Anderson, a nationally renowned painter and muralist. The town plays host to several festivals, including its Peter Anderson Festival and The Herb Festival.
Ocean Springs was severely damaged on August 29, 2005, by Hurricane Katrina, which smashed many buildings along the shoreline, including the Ocean Springs Yacht Club, and the historic wooden Fort Maurepas, and gutted or flooded other buildings. Katrina's 28-foot storm surge also destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs.[1]
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[edit] Biloxi Bay Bridge
Hurricane Katrina's 28-foot storm surge destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs. As of 2006, the bridge still remains in ruins. Demolition has begun removing the remains of the bridge, clearing the way for new construction. Locals say that the new Biloxi Bay Bridge will be 100' in height, and will support 6 lanes of traffic. The bridge ruins, capturing the breathtaking results of the force of Hurricane Katrina, have become a popular target of photography by both professionals and amateurs alike.
[edit] Geography
Ocean Springs is located at (30.409948, -88.797422)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.4 km² (15.2 mi²). 30.1 km² (11.6 mi²) of it is land and 9.3 km² (3.6 mi²) of it (23.57%) is water. It is said to be finished by April 2008.
[edit] History
One of the oldest cities in the United States, Ocean Springs was founded in 1699 as Fort Maurepas by Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d'Iberville. It was the first permanent French settlement in French Louisiana, and also the first capital. A French colonial outpost, named Fort Maurepas, was established as a foothold under the authority of King Louis XIV. This site was maintained well into the early 18th century.
The name Ocean Springs was coined by Dr. William Glover Austin in 1854. He believed the local springs had healthy qualities. Ocean Springs became a prosperous resort town and after several years reinvented itself as a history oriented residential community. The history of the town is celebrated annually in reenactments depicting d'Iberville's landing near a replica of Fort Maurepas.
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 the Fort Maurepas/Old Biloxi area. In the late 19th century, the development of ice plant industries along the coast increased seafood sales. As of 2006, locals and tourists alike can still purchase freshly harvested shrimp, fish, crabs, and oysters because of the thriving industry.
Ocean Springs was in the international spotlight following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on August 29, 2005. The city, part of 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.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 17,225 people, 6,650 households, and 4,688 families residing in the city. The population density was 571.4/km² (1,479.9/mi²). There were 7,072 housing units at an average density of 234.6/km² (607.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.74% White, 7.03% African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.63% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.50% of the population.
There were 6,650 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,885, and the median income for a family was $56,237. Males had a median income of $37,733 versus $26,580 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,923. About 3.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gary Tuchman, Transcript of "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" (2006-08-29) 19:00 ET, CNN, CNN.com web: CNN-ACooper082906: GARY TUCHMAN, CNN Correspondent: Responds to Anderson Cooper that it felt like it would never end, saying winds were at least 100 miles per hour in Gulfport for seven hours, between about 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For another five or six hours, on each side of that, they [Gulfport] had hurricane-force winds over 75 miles per hour; much of the city [Gulfport, Mississippi, in Harrison County] of 71,000 was then under water.
[edit] External links
- Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
