Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Encyclopedia : B : BA : BAY : Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,209. It is the county seat of Hancock County^{[Geographic references#6GR6]}. Like other Gulf Coast cities, Bay Saint Louis was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

Geography

Bay St. Louis is located at 30°18'53" North, 89°20'39" West (30.314696, -89.344096)^{[Geographic references#1GR1]}. It is situated on the Bay of Saint Louis, which empties into the Mississippi Sound.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.7 km² (16.9 mi²). 15.9 km² (6.1 mi²) of it is land and 27.8 km² (10.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 63.70% water.

Demographics

As of the census^{[Geographic references#2GR2]} of 2000, there were 8,209 people, 3,271 households, and 2,064 families residing in the city. The population density was 517.9/km² (1,342.1/mi²). There were 3,817 housing units at an average density of 240.8/km² (624.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.23% White, 16.59% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population wasHispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,271 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% have someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,106, and the median income for a family was $41,957. Males had a median income of $32,261 versus $21,308 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,483. 13.2% of the population and 10.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.2% of those under the age of 18 and 11.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

The final death toll from Hurricane Katrina is not yet known.

Before Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 people of Bay St. Louis, or 'the Bay' as it is commonly referred to, were almost all educated and middle-class. The town is notable for being the highest point on the entire Gulf of Mexico coastline (approx. 12 feet), its pristine beaches, esteemed restaurants such as Da Beach House and Dock of the Bay, and being the home of [Saint Stanislaus College], one of the premier Catholic high schools in the Southeastern United States. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the first floor and dormitories of Saint Stanislaus College. Stanislaus re-opened to day students on November 1, 2005. It combined with Our Lady Academy, its sister school. Resident students returned after Christmas holidays at the beginning of January. None of the brothers or boarders were harmed, and most of the students have been accounted for.

USGS Topographical maps show a common 25 feet elevation contour line running throughout a ridge along old HWY 90 (Old Spanish Trail) in the western edge of the city. It was primarily this area which did not see the surge inundation of Hurricane Katrina.

External links

[Sea Coast Echo], the local newspaper
[Bay Saint Louis bridge], after hurricane Katrina

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