Harrison County, Mississippi

Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 187,105,[3] making it the second-most populous county in Mississippi. Its county seats are Biloxi and Gulfport.[4] The county is named after U.S. President William Henry Harrison.[5]

Harrison County
U.S. county
Harrison County Courthouse (constructed in 1903, destroyed by fire in 1970s)[2]
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°25′N 89°05′W
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 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.[6] 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.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2017[3] 2019[12]

As of the census[13] 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.[14] In 2006 and 2007, six Harrison County Sheriff's Department deputies pleaded guilty to crimes related to the abuse of inmates at the jail.[15] 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
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 61.8% 46,822 36.6% 27,728 1.6% 1,218
2016 63.7% 40,354 33.4% 21,169 2.8% 1,790
2012 62.3% 39,470 36.5% 23,119 1.2% 739
2008 62.6% 38,757 36.6% 22,673 0.9% 527
2004 62.7% 39,703 36.5% 23,076 0.8% 509
2000 61.3% 32,256 36.4% 19,142 2.3% 1,218
1996 52.8% 25,486 38.9% 18,775 8.2% 3,974
1992 52.8% 25,049 32.2% 15,268 15.0% 7,090
1988 68.9% 32,892 30.2% 14,439 0.9% 423
1984 72.8% 33,995 26.8% 12,495 0.4% 187
1980 58.7% 25,175 38.1% 16,318 3.3% 1,395
1976 51.7% 19,207 44.6% 16,569 3.7% 1,363
1972 84.0% 28,962 13.8% 4,761 2.2% 747
1968 22.4% 6,542 15.6% 4,549 62.1% 18,157
1964 75.1% 16,301 24.9% 5,393
1960 30.9% 5,177 53.5% 8,961 15.6% 2,621
1956 44.2% 5,742 50.4% 6,549 5.5% 710
1952 45.4% 5,960 54.7% 7,181
1948 5.6% 415 9.3% 692 85.2% 6,351
1944 9.4% 622 90.6% 5,976
1940 10.2% 633 89.8% 5,577 0.1% 4
1936 10.4% 495 88.8% 4,208 0.8% 37
1932 9.7% 449 89.3% 4,124 1.0% 46
1928 28.6% 1,485 71.4% 3,712
1924 14.0% 523 81.4% 3,044 4.6% 172
1920 19.3% 314 78.0% 1,270 2.7% 44
1916 12.0% 197 84.7% 1,395 3.3% 55
1912 2.8% 45 81.0% 1,292 16.2% 259
1908
1904
1900 19.5% 150 79.7% 611 0.6% 5
1896 6.3% 17 87.7% 237 5.9% 16
1892 2.3% 10 85.1% 360 12.5% 53

See also

References
  1. Shaw, Betty Hancock. 2011. Gulfport: Images of America, Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, SC (page 28).
  2. Shaw, Betty Hancock. 2011. Gulfport: Images of America, Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, SC (page 28).
  3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 150.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. Dusky gopher frog
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  12. "QuickFacts. Mississippi counties". Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. "CNN.com - Anderson Cooper 360° Blog". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  15. "Sixth Harrison County Sheriff's Department Officer Pleads Guilty"
  16. 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.

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