Harrison County, Mississippi

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Harrison County
U.S. county
Harrison County Courthouse (constructed in 1903, destroyed by fire in 1970s)[1]
Harrison County Courthouse (constructed in 1903, destroyed by fire in 1970s)[1]
Official seal of Harrison County
Seal
Map of Mississippi highlighting Harrison County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°25′N 89°05′W / 30.42°N 89.09°W / 30.42; -89.09
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1841
Named forWilliam Henry Harrison
SeatBiloxi and Gulfport
Largest cityGulfport
Area
 • Total976 sq mi (2,530 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water402 sq mi (1,040 km2)  41%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total187,105
 • Estimate 
(2019)
208,080
 • Density362/sq mi (140/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.co.harrison.ms.us

Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 187,105,[2] making it the second-most populous county in Mississippi. Its county seats are Biloxi and Gulfport.[3] The county is named after U.S. President William Henry Harrison.[4]

Harrison County is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county was severely damaged from both Hurricane Camille on August 17, 1969, and Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, causing catastrophic effects.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 976 square miles (2,530 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 402 square miles (1,040 km2) (41%) is water.[5] The Tchoutacabouffa River has its mouth at Biloxi Bay just north of the city of Biloxi. Gulfport, Mississippi is the chief port in the state, with access to the Gulf of Mexico through a ship channel. This is the second-largest county in Mississippi by total area.

Wildlife[]

A single pond in the county contains the critically endangered dusky gopher frog.[6]

Major highways[]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18504,875—
18604,819−1.1%
18705,79520.3%
18807,89536.2%
189012,48158.1%
190021,00268.3%
191034,65865.0%
192032,855−5.2%
193044,14334.4%
194050,79915.1%
195084,07365.5%
1960119,48942.1%
1970134,58212.6%
1980157,66517.2%
1990165,3654.9%
2000189,60114.7%
2010187,105−1.3%
2019 (est.)208,08011.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2017[2] 2019[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 187,479 people, 71,538 households, and 48,574 families residing in the county. The population density was 326 people per square mile (126/km2). There were 79,636 housing units at an average density of 137 per square mile (53/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.15% White, 21.09% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 2.60% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. 2.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 71,538 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.10% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The main income for a household in the county was $35,624, and the median income for a family was $41,445. Males had a median income of $29,867 versus $22,030 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,024. 14.60% of the population and 11.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.70% of those under the age of 18 and 11.30% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Harrison County has the sixth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Corrections system[]

Harrison County has been studied by CNN and other media, which have reported on the beatings of inmates in the Harrison County Jail in Gulfport, Mississippi. Inmate Jessie Lee Williams Jr. died while in custody on February 4, 2006.[13] In 2006 and 2007, six Harrison County Sheriff's Department deputies pleaded guilty to crimes related to the abuse of inmates at the jail.[14] Sheriff Melvin Brisolara-R was elected in 2008, for Harrison County.

Communities[]

Water from the Tchoutacabouffa River overflowing its banks near the intersection of Old Hwy 67 and MS 15 on September 29, 1998, after Hurricane Georges made landfall.

Cities[]

Census-designated places[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Politics[]

Since 1964, Harrison County has voted overwhelmingly Republican. The last Democrat to receive over 40% of the vote was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential elections results

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Shaw, Betty Hancock. 2011. Gulfport: Images of America, Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, SC (page 28).
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 150.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Dusky gopher frog
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "QuickFacts. Mississippi counties". Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "CNN.com - Anderson Cooper 360° Blog". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  14. ^ "Sixth Harrison County Sheriff's Department Officer Pleads Guilty"
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2017-10-18.

Further reading[]

  • Burt, D.E. and H.L. Welch. (2007). Quality of water in selected wells, Harrison County, Mississippi, 1997-2005 [U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1287]. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

External links[]

Coordinates: 30°25′N 89°05′W / 30.42°N 89.09°W / 30.42; -89.09

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