Mississippi City, Mississippi

Mississippi City, Mississippi, was an unincorporated community in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States.[1] It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community was annexed by Gulfport in 1965.

History

Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot, circa 1910.

As the original county seat for Harrison County, Mississippi City was one of the most important towns on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the latter half of the 19th century.[2] In 1869 and 1870, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&NRR) was constructed through the southernmost section of Harrison County, connecting New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama.[3] Mississippi City was situated on the L&NRR, approximately 71 miles (114 km) east of New Orleans. In 1900, the population of Mississippi City was 534 and increased to 800 by 1906. At that time, the town had both public and private schools, a courthouse, post office, hotels, and several churches. Because of the mild climate, the town's beach location on the Mississippi Sound attracted visitors throughout the year. Mississippi City served as the county seat of Harrison County from 1841 to 1902.

In 1841, the Mississippi Legislature deliberated over prospective sites for a state university. Numerous Mississippi towns were considered, but in the final ballots, only Mississippi City and Oxford remained in contention. On January 21, 1841, the lawmakers selected Oxford over Mississippi City by a vote of 58 to 57 as the location for the University of Mississippi.[4]

On February 7, 1882, in front of the Barnes's Hotel, at Mississippi City, John L. Sullivan knocked out Patrick ‘Paddy' Ryan in the ninth round of a bareknuckle fight for the heavyweight championship.[5][6]

Plaque commemorating Jefferson Davis's Mississippi City speech.
Courthouse at Mississippi City, circa 1900.
Re-creation of the Mississippi City Grand Jury Courthouse

In March 1888, at the courthouse in Mississippi City, Jefferson Davis gave a speech pleading for unity of all U.S. citizens after the American Civil War.[7] Before the 20th century, Mississippi City had a colorful history as the site of courtroom gunfights, political debates, saloon brawls, and mule races.[7]

Harry G. Gibson (1870–1898), a native of Indiana, was indicted on January 17, 1898, by a grand jury of the Circuit Court of Harrison County, Mississippi. On July 16, 1898, Gibson was hanged at Mississippi City for the murder of John S. Parkhurst (1827–1897) and Caroline Boardman Parkhurst (1832–1897). He was the first person legally executed for a crime in Harrison County.[8]

Although Mississippi City experienced an extraordinary history, financial problems and politics prevented the community from achieving city status.[7] The community lost its independent identity in 1965 when it was annexed by the city of Gulfport.[9]

In the early 1890s, the Harrison County Courthouse was located in a complex at Mississippi City along with other courthouse buildings.[10][11] The last remaining of these buildings had served as a grand jury room and clerks' offices, but it was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of the hurricane, government officials committed to construct a period-style re-creation of the old grand jury courthouse, along with historical modifications, to serve as a visible reminder of historic buildings on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.[7]

Geography

The Mississippi City community is located at 30°22′54″N 89°02′38″W / 30.38167°N 89.04389°W / 30.38167; -89.04389Coordinates: 30°22′54″N 89°02′38″W / 30.38167°N 89.04389°W / 30.38167; -89.04389.[1] The elevation is 20 feet (6 meters).

References

  1. 1 2 Mississippi hometown locator.
  2. ↑ Dunbar Rowland (Editor). 1907. Encyclopedia of Mississippi history: comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions and persons, Volume 2. S. A. Brant, Madison, Wisconsin
  3. ↑ History of Harrison County Archived March 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Sansing, David G. 1999. The University of Mississippi: a sesquicentennial history. The University of Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi.
  5. ↑ John L. Sullivan
  6. ↑ Sullivan wins the fight Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Site of Davis’ final speech resurrected Archived February 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Biloxi, Mississippi History
  9. ↑ Mississippi City Methodist Church Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Mississippi City courthouse
  11. ↑ Gulfport, Mississippi, 1898-1973 Diamond Jubilee Album. 1973. Abbey Commercial Printers and Stationers, Gulfport, Mississippi.
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