Biloxi, Mississippi

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Biloxi
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nativity_BVM_Cathedral.jpg
Author: Woodlot


Biloxi is a coastal city in southern Mississippi. It is the county seat of Harrison County. Biloxi covers 46.5 sq mi (120.5 sq km) and has a population of 44,000 people. It used to be the third largest city in the state before it was hit by Hurricane Katrina, which resulted in such a severe loss in population that the position is now assumed by Hattiesburg.

Biloxi is located in Mississippi Sound, separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a string of barrier islands. It experiences a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters. Hottest month is July, when the average high temperature rises to 89°F (32°F). It is also the wettest month, receiving 7.4 in (188 mm) of rain. Coldest month is January, when the average low drops to 43°F (6°C).

The history of Biloxi began with the French under Pierre Le Moyne establishing Old Biloxi, a settlement known today known as Ocean Springs, which is two miles to the east of modern Biloxi. This was in 1699, in what was then French Louisiana. A fort was built there called Fort Maurepas. In 1720, the French relocated the administrative capital of French Louisiana to Biloxi (called Bilocci in French). It remained there for only three years, as the French found the place not suitable due to tides and hurricane. In 1723, they relocated the capital again, to La Nouvelle-Orléns, which is present-day New Orleans.

Biloxi lighthouse
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BiloxiLightHouseandVisitorsCenter.jpg
Author: Woodlot


In 1763, following their defeat in the Seven Years War, France ceded French Louisiana east of the Mississippi to Great Britain while French Louisiana west of the Mississippi, including New Orleans, went to Spain. Biloxi came under British rule from 1763 to 1779 and Spanish rule from 1779 to 1798. Nonetheless the town held on to its French character, at least until after it came under the United States of America in 1811.

Biloxi has been hit numerous times by hurricane, with Hurricane Katrina being the latest big one. It destroyed 90% of the buildings along the coast of Biloxi. Biloxi had several casinos before the storm. Many of these were damaged or destroyed. Even today, the city is still in a rebuilding process.

Visiting Biloxi

Biloxi is linked to the rest of the country by Interstate 10, which runs east west connecting the city with Mobile to the east and New Orleans to the west. The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) receives flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Memphis and St Petersburg/Clearwater

Places of Interest in Biloxi

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.