kids encyclopedia robot

Gautier, Mississippi facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Gautier, Mississippi
City Gautier (Go Chay)
Flag of Gautier, Mississippi
Flag
Official seal of Gautier, Mississippi
Seal
Official logo of Gautier, Mississippi
Logo
Location of Gautier, Mississippi
Location of Gautier, Mississippi
Gautier, Mississippi is located in the United States
Gautier, Mississippi
Gautier, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Jackson
Area
 • Total 32.12 sq mi (83.20 km2)
 • Land 30.26 sq mi (78.37 km2)
 • Water 1.86 sq mi (4.83 km2)
Elevation
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 19,024
 • Density 628.75/sq mi (242.76/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
39553
Area code(s) 228
FIPS code 28-26860
GNIS feature ID 0670341

Gautier (/ˈɡʃ/ goh-shay) is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States, along the Gulf of Mexico west of Pascagoula. It is part of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,572 at the 2010 census, up from 11,681 at the 2000 census. In 2002, Gautier had annexed land more than doubling its area.

Gautier is a bedroom resort community surrounded by bayous and wetlands on three sides. The natural environment of Gautier offers many opportunities for recreation and eco-tourism. The Gulf Coast region, of which Gautier is a part, has been considered a relatively high growth area of the state; however, the loss of houses and jobs after Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 led to outmigration in 2006.

History

The town takes its name from the Gautier family that originated in Lyon, France. Fernando Upton Gautier (1822–1891) was born on a cargo ship as his parents were emigrating to New Orleans. In 1867, Gautier established a spacious homestead at the mouth of the Pascagoula River, which still stands. He established a lucrative sawmill business in the area, and the town grew up from it. The home, known by locals as "The Old Place", is owned by the descendants of Fernando Upton Gautier and his wife, Theresa Fayard Gautier (1828–1911), and is used for private and public events.

Geography

Gautier is located in southern Jackson County along Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the West Pascagoula River, locally known as the "Singing River". The city is bordered to the east by the city of Pascagoula (the Jackson county seat) and to the west by Ocean Springs, and to the north by unincorporated Vancleave.

U.S. Route 90 passes through the center of Gautier, leading east 4 miles (6 km) into Pascagoula and 13 miles (21 km) to Ocean Springs. Interstate 10 passes through the northern part of the city limits, with access from Exit 57 (Mississippi Highway 57) and Exit 61 (Gautier Vancleave Road). I-10 leads west 30 miles (48 km) to the Gulfport area and east 42 miles (68 km) to Mobile, Alabama.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Gautier has a total area of 32.1 square miles (83.2 km2), of which 30.2 square miles (78.3 km2) are land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), or 5.90%, are water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1970 2,087
1980 8,917 327.3%
1990 10,088 13.1%
2000 11,681 15.8%
2010 18,572 59.0%
2020 19,024 2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
Mississippi-Coast-towns-NOAA
Gautier (right center) is east of Ocean Springs and west of Pascagoula, off U.S. Route 90, along the Gulf of Mexico.
Gautier racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 10,084 53.01%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 5,828 30.63%
Native American 105 0.55%
Asian 268 1.41%
Pacific Islander 23 0.12%
Other/Mixed 844 4.44%
Hispanic or Latino 1,872 9.84%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,024 people, 7,013 households, and 4,577 families residing in the city.

Education

Most of Gautier is served by the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. Portions are in the Jackson County School District and in the Ocean Springs School District.

The main secondary school in the city, of the Pascagoula-Gautier district, is Gautier High School, whose doors opened in 1996 and which was awarded blue ribbon status by the Department of Education in 2005. The city is also served by Gautier Middle School, Singing River Academy, and three elementary schools.

The Jackson County Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is located in Gautier, as one of four campuses of the community college.

Notable people

  • Walter Inglis Anderson, painter and writer
  • Mario Edwards Jr., professional football defensive end
  • Aaron Jones, professional basketball player
  • Margie Joseph, R&B, soul and gospel singer
  • Kez McCorvey, former professional football player
  • John Read, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gautier (Misisipi) para niños

kids search engine
Gautier, Mississippi Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.