Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Ocean Springs shrimp boats in 2008

The settlement of Fort Maurepas or Old Biloxi, in colonial French Louisiana (New France), began in April 1699 at present-day Ocean Springs, under the authority of King Louis XIV, as Fort Maurepas by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. It was the first permanent French outpost in French Louisiana and was established as a foothold to prevent Spanish encroachment on France's colonial claims. The site was maintained well into the early 18th century.

The name Ocean Springs was coined by Dr. William Glover Austin in 1854. He believed the local springs had healing qualities. Ocean Springs became a prosperous resort town and after several years reinvented itself as a historically-oriented residential community. The history of the town is celebrated annually in re enactments depicting d'Iberville's landing near a replica of Fort Maurepas. The authorities had authorized John Egan to construct and operate a public wharf near this ancient fort site at the foot of Jackson Avenue prior to the Civil War.[5][6]

From colonial times to present day, seafood has been celebrated. The abundance of seafood allowed French and French-Canadian explorers and settlers to thrive within the Fort Maurepas/Old Biloxi area. In the late nineteenth century, the development of ice plant industries along the coast increased seafood sales. Locals and tourists can still purchase freshly harvested shrimp, fish, crabs, and oysters to this day because of this thriving industry.

Ocean Springs was in the international spotlight following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on August 29, 2005. The city, part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast directly hit by the storm, sustained significant damage. The Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge, part of Highway 90 along the beach, was destroyed and was a widely broadcast visual testament to the hurricane's impact.

Biloxi Bay Bridge

Biloxi Bay Bridge, post-Hurricane Katrina, opened in 2007

Hurricane Katrina's 28-foot (8.5 m) storm surge destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge on August 29, 2005, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs. The bridge was completed in 1962, and damaged in 1969 by Hurricane Camille. The Biloxi Bay Bridge replaced the aging War Memorial Bridge which opened in 1930. As of 2007, the majority of the bridge's remains have been removed via cranes based on barges located next to the bridge debris. The bridge ruins, capturing the breathtaking results of the force of Hurricane Katrina, had become a popular spot of photographers both professional and amateur. The construction for the new bridge was completed in April 2008. The new Biloxi Bay Bridge is 95' in height at its main span, and supports six lanes of traffic. Two lanes of the six-lane bridge opened November 1, 2007. The new bridge has a curving roadway due to the implemented design-build process. In order to speed the process of rebuilding, the main body of the bridge was moved outside of the previous bridge's debris area. The landing points for each side of U.S. Route 90 correspond with the previous bridge.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39 km²), of which 11.6 square miles (30 km²) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) (23.57%) is water. The city is classified as having a subtropical climate. This has a hot humid monsoon season beginning in late spring and ending in Early Autumn with frequent common afternoon and evening thunderstorms with torrential downpours thunderstorms usually don't last long but can be strong or even severe. The area is also prone to Tropical Cyclones such as tropical depressions tropical storms and hurricanes. Autumns are cool to warm as well as Spring's being cool to warm. Winters typically are warm with cool spells. Cool spells are accompanied with strong Northerly dry winds which are unexpectedly chilly but do not typically last more than just a couple or few days. Summers are consistently hot and humid both day and night with high temperatures usually in the low nineties and low temperatures oftentimes just barely below 80 degrees.

Ocean Springs, Mississippi (right center) is east of Biloxi, west of Gautier, along the Gulf of Mexico

As of the 2010 census,[9][10] there were 17,442 people, 6,393 households, and 4,717 families residing within the city. The population density was 1,513.5 people per square mile. There were 7,814 housing units at an average density of 678.3 per square mile. The ethnic makeup of the city was 85.4% White, 7.4% African American, 0.40% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.

Of the 6,393 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.1% of all households had householders living alone, and 12.5% consisted of someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 5.6% under the age of 5, 6.7% from 10 to 14, 6.6% from 15 to 19, 4.8% from 20 to 24, 5.1% from 25 to 29, 11.8% from 30 to 39, 15.4% from 40 to 49, 14.8% from 50 to 59, 11.1% from 60 to 69, and 11.6% from 70 and above. The median age was 42.1 years.

The median income for a household in Ocean Springs was $59,516, and the per capita income was $33,107. About 9.7% of the population was below the poverty line.

A pelican in Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs is served by the Ocean Springs School District.[11]

Ocean Springs is served by the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula media market. Its primary daily newspapers are The Mississippi Press and the Sun Herald. There is one weekly newspaper in Ocean Springs, the Ocean Springs Gazette & Record. Three local television stations also serve the area: WLOX, WXVO and WXXV.

• Walter Inglis Anderson, Artist
• Brett Leland McLaughlin, Golden Globe nominated songwriter.
• Alvin Endt, Mississippi legislator and educator
• Jeffrey Guice, Mississippi legislator
• Hank Zuber, Mississippi Legislator
• John. Gill, Alderman Ward 1
• Rickey Authement, Alderman Ward 2
• Joey Bellman, Alderman Ward 3
• Ken Papania, Alderman Ward 4
• Rob Blackman, Alderman Ward 5
• Mike Impey, Alderman Ward 6
• Robert Bobby Cox, Alderman at Large
• Shea Dobson, Mayor
• Gordon Gunter, scientist
• Eric L. Harry
• Jai Johanny Johanson
• Dave Martin, author
• Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe, businessman, Mississippi state legislator, and mayor of Ocean Springs
• Al Young
• Garrett Crochet, Major League Baseball player

A view of Biloxi Bay and the new Biloxi Bay Bridge from Fort Maurepas State Park in Ocean Springs, 2013

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ocean Springs.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

• Official website
• Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Downtown Ocean Springs website