Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

The first European settlers in this area were French colonists, whose culture still influences the small city. They imported slaves from Africa. A Louisiana Creole population developed of free people of color.

The county was organized by European Americans, who named it after John Hancock, who was a Founding Father of the United States. While more Protestant Americans migrated into this area after Indian Removal in the 1830s, there are still many Catholic families, some dating to both African and French ancestors of the colonial era. Roman Catholic schools still draw area students.

The 1966 movie This Property is Condemned starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford was filmed in Bay St. Louis, which was called "Dodson" in the movie, with some additional shooting in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana.[4]

Bay St. Louis is located in southeastern Hancock County at 30°18'53" North, 89°20'39" West (30.314696, −89.344096).[5] It is situated on west side of the Bay of St. Louis, which empties into the Mississippi Sound. The city is bordered to the north by the Jourdan River, the primary inlet of the bay. The eastern border of the city is the Harrison County line in the middle of the bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.6 square miles (69.0 km²), of which 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²) are land and 11.9 square miles (30.9 km²), or 44,82%, are water.[6]

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

Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis

As of the census[8] 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% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 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.

The city of Bay St. Louis is served by the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District.

It is the home of Bay High School. In addition there are private Catholic schools: 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. The latter two share some classrooms as well as a Roman Catholic curriculum.

The Bay Bridge on US Highway 90 in 2005, following Hurricane Katrina

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

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

USGS topographic maps show a common 25-foot (7.6 m) elevation contour line running throughout a ridge along the former routing of Highway 90 (Old Spanish Trail) on the western edge of the city. As higher ground, this area was spared inundation from the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina damaged more than 40 Mississippi libraries, including severe roof and water damage to the Bay St. Louis Public Library. The library reopened to the public on October 12, 2005.[10]

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 received America's Transportation Award. It includes a pedestrian bridge with an art walk featuring the works of local artists.

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

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.[11]

• Albert J. Raboteau, is an African-American scholar of African and African-American religions, a professor at Princeton University for more than 30 years. He was born into a Catholic family and lived here for a few years as a child.
• Jacob Lindgren, MLB player.

• List of cities in Mississippi

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

• Official website