HARRISON COUNTY, MS
County Offices
1801 23rd Avenue
Gulfport 228-865-4164
https://harrisoncountyms.gov
Chamber of Commerce
11975 E Seaway Road
Gulfport 228-604-0014
https://mscoastchamber.com
Nestled in the heart of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, beautiful Harrison County is the most densely populated of the South Mississippi communities, home to bustling cities that provide urban amenities to a regional population. Just beyond the city lights, miles of white-sand beaches offer a natural paradise for outdoor recreation, relaxation, and stellar entertainment. Well-served by the Interstate 10 corridor and its centralized location, the county thrives on diverse businesses and industries, from tourism and retail to pharmaceuticals, advanced materials manufacturing, and shipbuilding.
Services
Newcomers will appreciate the comprehensive network of quality healthcare facilities and services in Harrison County, anchored by Gulfport Memorial Hospital. The campus includes a 303-bed, acute-care hospital, a 33-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, the outpatient surgery center, medical offices, and satellite outpatient diagnostic centers. More than 300 highly skilled physicians are on staff and available in local clinics. The hospital offers some of the region’s most comprehensive clinical programs, including pediatric subspecialties, Neonatal ICU, Level II Trauma Center, and a nationally certified stroke center along with advancements like robotic surgery or Varian® TrueBeam Radiation Therapy and CyberKnife® Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Memorial Cancer Center. Gulfport is also home to Garden Park Medical Center, a 130-bed, acute-care hospital with specialties that include a Wound Healing Center, orthopedic and neurosurgery with minimally invasive surgical techniques, and a welcoming Family Birth Center. Select Specialty Hospital in Gulfport focuses on patients with acute or chronic respiratory disorders. Downtown Biloxi is home to Biloxi Regional Medical Center with a 198-bed, acute-care hospital that features all-private rooms and extensive supportive programs for all ages. Biloxi is also the location of the sprawling medical campus for the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System.
Educational opportunities are outstanding, beginning with progressive public school districts and options for private education that include Biloxi’s St. Patrick Catholic High School—honored among the Top 50 Catholic schools in the nation for academic excellence. Those seeking an affordable start on a four-year degree or any number of career and training programs will find abundant options within the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College system—one of the top associate degree producers in the nation with more than 10,000 students. Within the county, the Jefferson Davis Campus and the Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center are both in Gulfport, Long Beach offers the West Harrison County Center, and Biloxi is home to the Keesler Center at Keesler Air Force Base. Four-year institutions include the Gulf Coast Campus for the University of Southern Mississippi in Long Beach, a comprehensive doctoral and research-driven institution that offers degree programs in six colleges. Biloxi provides a second campus for nationally recognized William Carey University with a main campus in Hattiesburg. William Carey has continued to expand its program offerings, most recently opening the College of Osteopathic Medicine—the first in Mississippi to focus on osteopathic medicine. Tulane University maintains a campus for the School of Continuing Studies in Biloxi. The Center for Higher Learning at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County provides a unique regional advantage with its integrated consortium of three universities and one community college.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to the Gulf Coast region will discover a rare quality of life that comes with a surprisingly low cost of living. Excellent school systems and regional healthcare facilities combine with great shopping, fine dining, cultural enrichment, and outstanding waterfront recreation. Family-friendly activities are plentiful in nature’s own playground, from dolphin watches and Ship Island ferry rides to historic Fort Massachusetts or nature tours on the Tchoutacabouffa, Wolf and Pascagoula rivers. The nationally acclaimed Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport is a regional treasure, inviting children of all ages to enjoy indoor and outdoor exhibits and a calendar filled with educational and entertaining events. Not far from home, INFINITY at the NASA Stennis Space Center features a 72,000-square-foot science center for opportunities to explore and discover. Shopping is a delight in Harrison County, home to sprawling malls, suburban shopping centers, exclusive boutiques, and factory outlets.
Permanent companies for the performing arts that include the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra are complemented by star-studded entertainment in luxurious casino resorts. Famous artists have long found an inspiring home along the Gulf Coast, and the visual arts are well represented in scores of galleries and outstanding museums. The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi combines original work by George Ohr with those of other contemporary artists in a venue that Time magazine honored among the top five in the world for architectural design. One of the latest additions is the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi, covering 20,000 square feet with fascinating displays. Historical treasures include gems like Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and grounds. Colorful celebrations and festivals include unique events like the Blessing of the Fleet and Fais Do-Do, where the state’s finest chefs complete for the Mississippi Seafood title, surrounded by live entertainment and hundreds of artisan booths. Premier recreational amenities from famous golf courses to scenic backdrops for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, cycling, camping, and nature study contribute to a healthy and active lifestyle. With a virtually endless array of residential settings in bustling cities or quiet small towns, newcomers are sure to find their dream home in vibrant Harrison County.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
Biloxi
City Offices
228-435-6257
https://www.biloxi.ms.us
Chamber of Commerce
228-604-0014
https://www.biloxi.org
Distinguished as one of the oldest cities along the Gulf Coast, historic Biloxi has also become one of the fastest-growing. Waterfront hotels and world-class casino resorts and spas drive a flourishing tourism industry. Gaming, in turn, has helped to fund improvement projects and created thousands of jobs in hospitality and construction industries. Other important growth factors and contributors to the robust economy is the strong military presence at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi Regional Medical Center, Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, and several nearby campuses/centers of higher education. Fine museums, great shopping, performing and visual arts, a charming downtown district, and developed recreational amenities add to the quality of life in this beachfront city. Home choices are diverse, from charming small cottages in the heart of the city with live oaks arching over the streets to newer developments.
D’Iberville
City Offices
228-392-7966
http://diberville.ms.us
Chamber of Commerce
228-392-2293
https://www.dsmchamber.com
The youngest city on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, D’Iberville is so closely associated with the unincorporated community of St. Martin in Jackson County that the two share a chamber of commerce. Overlooking Biloxi’s Back Bay, D’Iberville enjoys an ideal location between Mobile and New Orleans along Interstate 10. Seafood, lumber, and agri-business have been traditional economic drivers, although the introduction of Keesler Air Force Base and Biloxi-area beachfront casinos also stimulated residential and retail growth in D’Iberville. The city now offers a pleasing array of contemporary stores and shops that cater to residents and visitors alike. Newcomers will still find a relaxing, picturesque fishing village atmosphere where the scenery is breathtaking and the recreational opportunities—particularly fishing and water sports—are among the finest in the nation.
Gulfport, Saucier
City Offices
228-868-5700
https://www.gulfport-ms.gov
Chamber of Commerce
228-604-0014
http://mscoastchamber.com
Home to the Mississippi State Port Authority, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, three military bases, and nationally recognized banking, Gulfport is a major player in the state economy. The list of assets includes several colleges, two major hospitals, and upscale retail centers. Outstanding attractions range from family-friendly venues like the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center to fabulous visual arts museums, venues that showcase national talent, and local performing arts companies. Newcomers will discover diverse residential settings, including wonderful neighborhoods on either side of picturesque Bernard Bayou and new developments like Florence Gardens, designed to reflect the charm of an historic small-town community. Cozy urban neighborhoods contrast with lovely homes on spacious grassy lots in Gulfport, while the unincorporated community of Saucier along US Highway 49 adds options for residential living and an open country feeling at the very edge of the vast Little Biloxi State Wildlife Management Area.
Long Beach
City Offices
228-863-1556
https://www.cityoflongbeachms.com
Chamber of Commerce
228-604-0014
https://mscoastchamber.com
Nestled between bustling Gulfport and the community of Pass Christian, Long Beach continues to show up on “Best of” lists for livability and overall appeal. The city features wonderful residential developments and many fine homes, along with local residents who have substantially higher household incomes than the Mississippi average. Home to the University of Southern Mississippi, Long Beach has all the vibrancy, intellectual stimulation, and cultural enrichment of a college town. Residents enjoy an active lifestyle with regional state parks and wildlife preserves, great golfing, and endless opportunities for water-oriented recreation. Long Beach is a popular choice for those who work in Gulfport and Biloxi and want to return each evening to a beautiful, serene retreat. Families appreciate the outstanding school system and high quality of life but many retirees are drawn to the community as well. Downtown revitalization is paving the way for new shops, restaurants, and businesses in this growing area, already home to many high-tech manufacturers in Long Beach Industrial Park.
Pass Christian, Henderson Point
City Offices
228-452-3311
https://pass-christian.com
Chamber of Commerce
228-604-0014
http://mscoastchamber.com
Characterized as a serene and lovely resort community, Pass Christian draws new residents to a relaxed atmosphere, coastal charm and timeless beauty. The seafood industry has long been the mainstay of the local economy with abundant oyster reefs nestled just offshore. The community grew up as a weekend and summer getaway for wealthy New Orleans visitors and still welcomes many visitors to charming bed and breakfast inns, great restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and a stunning harbor scene. Known as the Yachting Capital of the South, Pass Christian’s scenic marina even features an oyster bar overlooking the deck. Assets like a state-of-the-art school, an active community center, and a local Boys and Girls Club appeal to families. Residential options are diverse and attractive, from cozy neighborhoods and subdivisions to beachside mansions. The nearby unincorporated community of Henderson Point expands the residential options in this beautiful area in close proximity to urban amenities.
