Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

This article is about the city. For body of water with the same name, see Bay of Saint Louis.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
City

Bay St. Louis, the new bay bridge, and the City of Bay St. Louis on the upper (western) shore

Location of Bay St. Louis, MS
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 30°18′53″N 89°20′39″W / 30.31472°N 89.34417°W / 30.31472; -89.34417Coordinates: 30°18′53″N 89°20′39″W / 30.31472°N 89.34417°W / 30.31472; -89.34417
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Hancock
Government
  Mayor Les Fillingame
Area
  Total 16.9 sq mi (43.7 km2)
  Land 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2)
  Water 10.7 sq mi (27.8 km2)
Elevation 23 ft (7 m)
Population (2000) Suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina, is recovering
  Total 8,209
  Density 1,342.1/sq mi (518.2/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
  Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code 28-03980
GNIS feature ID 0666588
Website Bay St. Louis

Bay Saint Louis is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Mississippi.[1] It is part of the GulfportBiloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,209. The city is recovering population lost due to Hurricane Katrina, and the Census Bureau's 2011 population estimate was 9,408. Like several other upper Gulf Coast cities, Bay Saint Louis was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 (see details below).

Geography

Bay St. Louis is located at 30°18'53" North, 89°20'39" West (30.314696, −89.344096).[2] It is situated on the Bay of Saint Louis, which empties into the Mississippi Sound.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.9 square miles (44 km2), of which 6.1 square miles (16 km2) is land and 10.7 square miles (28 km2) is water.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi (left center) is west of Pass Christian, along the Gulf of Mexico.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18801,978
18901,974−0.2%
19002,87245.5%
19103,38818.0%
19203,033−10.5%
19303,72422.8%
19404,13811.1%
19504,62111.7%
19605,0739.8%
19706,75233.1%
19807,85016.3%
19908,0632.7%
20008,2091.8%
20109,26012.8%
Est. 201512,030[3]29.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 8,209 people, 3,271 households, and 2,064 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,342.1 people per square mile (517.9/km²). There were 3,817 housing units at an average density of 624.1 per square mile (240.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.23% White, 16.59% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,271 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% have someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the city the population was 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,106, and the median income for a family was $41,957. Males had a median income of $32,261 versus $21,308 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,483. 13.2% of the population and 10.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.2% of those under the age of 18 and 11.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The City of Bay St. Louis is served by the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District It is the home of Bay High School, St. Stanislaus College Prep, a residency and day school for boys grades 7–12, and Our Lady Academy, a day school for girls grades 7–12. These later two share some classrooms as well as a Catholic curriculum.

Hurricane Camille

On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille made landfall at the tip of Louisiana before continuing to Bay St. Louis.

Hurricane Katrina

The Bay bridge on US Highway 90, damaged by Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, Hurricane Katrina made its final landfall near Bay St. Louis, at the mouth of the Pearl River, with a 28-foot (8.5 m) storm surge. Hurricane Katrina came ashore during the high tide of 9:15AM, +2.3 feet more,[6] causing a storm tide over 30 feet (9.1 m) deep.

USGS topographical maps show a common 25 feet (7.6 m) elevation contour line running throughout a ridge along old Hwy 90 (Old Spanish Trail) on the western edge of the city. It was primarily this area which did not see the surge inundation of Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina damaged over 40 Mississippi libraries, with severe roof and water damage to the Bay St. Louis Public Library. The library reopened to the public on October 12, 2005.[7]

The Bay St. Louis Bridge on US Highway 90 was severely damaged, with many bridge sections down-dropped at the west edges. The destroyed bridge was replaced by a new Bay St. Louis Bridge, which was awarded America's Transportation Award. It features a pedestrian bridge with an art walk featuring the works of local artists.[8]

The underground utility infrastructure in Bay St. Louis received a Federally-funded total overhaul and replacement.

See also

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bay St. Louis has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]

References

  1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "2005 NOAA Tide Predictions: St. Louis Bay entrance" (2005), tide on 29-Aug-2005, NOAA, web: NOAA-tide-tables.
  7. "Hurricane Katrina Related Damages to Public Libraries in Mississippi" (September 2005), Mississippi Library Commission, (ALA-Katrina).
  8. http://www.hancockchamber.org/Events/Bridgefest2009/bridgefestartists.asp[]
  9. Climate Summary for Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
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