Hattiesburg, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hattiesburg
City
City of Hattiesburg
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The Hub City
Location of Hattiesburg in the State of Mississippi
Hattiesburg Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Counties	Forrest, Lamar
Founded	1882
Incorporated	1884
Area
• City	54.48 sq mi (141.11 km2)
• Land	53.44 sq mi (138.41 km2)
• Water	1.04 sq mi (2.70 km2)
• Metro	2,023.7 sq mi (5,241 km2)
Elevation	171 ft (52 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	48,730
• Density	911.9/sq mi (352.07/km2)
• Metro	172,507
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39401-39404, 39406, 39407
Area code(s)	601, 769
FIPS code	28-31020
GNIS feature ID	0691565

Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is the 5th largest city in the state. Most of Hattiesburg is in Forrest County, where it is the main city. A smaller part is in Lamar County.

In 2020, about 48,730 people lived in Hattiesburg. It is the main city of the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Area. This area includes Forrest, Lamar, Covington, and Perry counties. Hattiesburg is also known as "The Hub City."

The city was started in 1882 by an engineer named William H. Hardy. He named it after his wife, Hattie. Two years later, in 1884, it became an official city with about 400 people. Hattiesburg grew because of its lumber and railroad industries.

Today, Hattiesburg is a well-known college town. It is home to the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University. South of the city is Camp Shelby. This is the largest training base for the US National Guard east of the Mississippi River.

Discovering Hattiesburg's Past

Front Street, around 1900

The Hotel Hattiesburg opened in 1906.

Union Station, around 1910

Water tower near Turtle Creek Mall

Long ago, this area was claimed by France. Then, from 1763 to 1783, it was part of British West Florida. After the United States became independent, Great Britain gave this land to the U.S. in 1783. In 1805, the U.S. gained more land from the Choctaw and Chickasaw people. After this, European-American settlers began to move in.

In the 1830s, the Choctaw and Chickasaw were moved by the U.S. government. They went to a new area west of the Mississippi River called Indian Territory.

Hattiesburg grew where the Leaf and Bouie rivers meet. Captain William H. Hardy founded the city in 1882. It was first called Twin Forks, then Gordonville. Finally, Captain Hardy named it Hattiesburg after his wife, Hattie. The city became official in 1884. Hattiesburg is located less than 100 miles from the state capital of Jackson. It is also close to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans, and Mobile.

Railroads and Growth

In 1884, a railroad was built through Hattiesburg. It connected Meridian to New Orleans. Later, the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad (G&SIRR) was completed in 1897. This railroad went from Gulfport to Jackson, passing through Hattiesburg. It caused a big boom in the lumber industry. Forests of pine trees were cut down quickly. The G&SIRR helped towns along its path grow. It also made Hattiesburg an important railroad center.

Hattiesburg got its nickname, "The Hub City," in 1912. This name came from a local newspaper contest. It was called the Hub City because many important rail lines crossed there. Later, major highways like U.S. Highway 49, U.S. Highway 98, U.S. Highway 11, and Interstate 59 also met in Hattiesburg.

Modern Developments

Throughout the 1900s, Hattiesburg grew. It benefited from Camp Shelby, two large hospitals, and two colleges. The area around Hattiesburg became a Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1994. This meant it had more than 100,000 residents.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit Hattiesburg hard. Even though it was about 75 miles inland, the city had strong winds and heavy rain. About 10,000 buildings were damaged. Most roads were blocked by trees, and power was out for up to two weeks. The storm caused 24 deaths in the area. Many people from coastal towns moved to Hattiesburg after the storm.

The Hattiesburg police department is well-known. It was the first police agency in Mississippi to be federally accredited. This means it met high standards for law enforcement.

The Hattiesburg Zoo at Kamper Park is a popular place to visit.

In 2011, the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District was named one of the "Great Places In America." This area has many beautiful Victorian-era houses. It is a special place with a lot of history. Every year, the neighborhood celebrates with a Victorian Candlelit Christmas. Thousands of candles light the sidewalks, and carolers sing.

The Miss Hospitality Pageant started in 1949. Hattiesburg has hosted the state pageant since 1997. This event chooses a young lady to help promote Mississippi's tourism and economy.

Hattiesburg is also home to the African American Military History Museum. This building was a USO club in 1942 for African American soldiers. It is the only USO club from that time still standing in the U.S. The museum shows the history of African Americans in the military.

Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg played an important role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. In 1959, Clyde Kennard, a black Korean War veteran, tried to attend the all-white Mississippi Southern College. He was not allowed because of his race.

Many black citizens in Forrest County were prevented from registering to vote. In 1960, about 30% of the county's population was black. But less than 1% of them could vote. White people, however, were almost all registered. In 1961, the U.S. Justice Department sued the county's voter registrar.

In 1962, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) started a voter registration project in Hattiesburg. On January 22, 1964, "Freedom Day" took place. Students and clergymen supported a major effort to register voters. For the first time, an inter-racial protest at the courthouse for voting rights happened without arrests. Many African Americans tried to register, but few succeeded. This protest continued daily for months.

During Freedom Summer in 1964, Hattiesburg was a main center for civil rights activities. Over 90 volunteers and 3,000 local people took part. Hundreds of black citizens tried to register to vote. Many also attended Freedom Schools and used freedom libraries. White people often opposed these efforts. Activists faced arrests, beatings, and job loss.

The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was also active here. They challenged the all-white delegates at the National Democratic Convention. This helped show the unfairness in voting rights.

Even after new laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, resistance continued. On January 10, 1966, the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan attacked the home of NAACP leader Vernon Dahmer. He had offered to help black voters pay a poll tax. Dahmer died from the attack. His murder led to large protests. Years later, the KKK leader, Samuel Bowers, was convicted for ordering Dahmer's murder.

Hattiesburg's Location and Environment

Most of Hattiesburg is in Forrest County. A smaller part is in Lamar County. The city covers about 54.48 square miles (141.11 square kilometers). About 1.04 square miles (2.70 square kilometers) of this is water.

Hattiesburg is about 74 miles north of Biloxi. It is also about 90 miles southeast of Jackson, the state capital.

Weather and Climate

Hattiesburg has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has short, mild winters and hot, humid summers. Snow is very rare. However, severe thunderstorms can happen, especially in spring. These storms can bring lightning, heavy rain, hail, and even tornadoes.

On February 10, 2013, a strong tornado hit the Hattiesburg area. It caused a lot of damage, especially near Oak Grove High School and the University of Southern Mississippi campus. More than 80 people were injured, but no one died. This was because people had about 30 minutes warning before the tornado hit.

Another tornado struck on January 21, 2017. It killed four people and injured 20. About 10,000 people lost power.

People and Culture in Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg has a diverse population. In 2020, about 50.9% of the people were Black or African American. About 39.34% were White. Other groups included Asian, Native American, and people of mixed races. About 4.63% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Local Economy

Hattiesburg is a business center for the Pine Belt region. Many national companies have branches here. These include Kohler Engines and BAE Systems Inc.. Other companies like Berry Plastics and Coca-Cola Bottling Company United also operate in the city.

Regions Financial Corporation has a large office in Hattiesburg. It employs nearly 500 people. Jones Capital is building a new headquarters in Midtown Hattiesburg. This will be the main office for over 300 employees in Mississippi.

The main shopping center in the city is Turtle Creek Mall.

Arts and Entertainment

Saenger Theatre

Hattiesburg has many places for arts and culture.

• Theaters:

* The Saenger Theatre is a historic building. It hosts the annual Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. * William Carey Center and Dinner Theater * The University of Southern Mississippi Theatre Department puts on plays.

• Galleries:

* A GALLERY, 134 E. Front Street * Hattiesburg Arts Council Gallery at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center * Lucile Parker Art Gallery at William Carey University. It shows art by Lucile Parker and Marie Hull. * Sarah Gillespie Collection at William Carey University. This collection has many 20th-century Mississippi artworks. * University of Southern Mississippi Art Gallery

• Museums:

* African American Military History Museum, 305 E. 6th Street * Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby * Freedom Summer Trails * Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum * De Grummond Children's Literature Museum * Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, 119 W Front St

The Hattiesburg Train Depot was built in 1910. It was the city's largest and most beautiful depot. The city bought it in 2000 and spent $10 million to restore it. Now, it is a center for buses, taxis, and trains. It also hosts events and exhibitions.

Learning in Hattiesburg

Camp School Building, Hattiesburg Public School District headquarters

Hattiesburg High School

Colleges and Universities

Hattiesburg is home to two main colleges:

• The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a public university.
• William Carey University is a private Baptist-supported university.
• The Forrest County Center of Pearl River Community College is also in Hattiesburg.

Schools for Kids

Presbyterian Christian School secondary school

Most public schools in Hattiesburg are part of the Hattiesburg Municipal Separate School District. Some parts of the city are served by Forrest County Schools or Lamar County School District.

• Hattiesburg High School is in the Hattiesburg district.
• North Forrest High School is in the Forrest school district.
• Oak Grove High School is in the Lamar County School District.
• Forrest County Agricultural High School is another public high school nearby.

There are also many private schools:

• Sacred Heart Catholic School
• Presbyterian Christian School
• Lamar Christian School
• Bass Christian Elementary
• Bass Memorial Academy
• Central Baptist School
• Benedict Day School
• Innova Prep
• The Adept School

Libraries

Forrest County Public Library

The Forrest County Public Library serves Hattiesburg. It has a location downtown and another in Petal.

Getting Around Hattiesburg

Train Travel

Amtrak's Crescent train connects Hattiesburg to major cities. You can travel to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is at 308 Newman Street.

Trains also carry goods for three large railroad companies: CN, Kansas City Southern, and Norfolk Southern.

City Buses

Hub City Transit bus

Hattiesburg has its own bus service called HCT, or Hub City Transit. Buses run daily to many main roads. The Intermodal Depot downtown is where you can catch Amtrak trains and city buses. The city is planning more bus routes, including service to nearby towns like Oak Grove and Petal.

Airports

The Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport is located near Moselle. It offers daily flights from Hattiesburg to Houston.

The city also has the Hattiesburg Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport (HBG). This airport is for business and general aviation.

Main Roads

Many highways cross through Hattiesburg:

• I-59
• US 11
• US 49
• US 98
• MS 24
• MS 42
• MS 198
• MS 589

Important local roads include:

• East-West roads: 4th Street, Hardy Street/US Route 98, Oak Grove Road, Lincoln Road, Classic Drive, 7th Street, and Old MS Highway 42.
• North-South roads: Interstate 59, US Route 11/Broadway Drive/Veterans Memorial, West Pine Street, Main Street, US Highway 98, 28th Avenue, Golden Eagle Avenue, 38th Avenue, 40th Avenue, Westover, Weathersby Road, and King Road/Old Highway 11.

Famous People from Hattiesburg

Many notable people have connections to Hattiesburg:

• Victoria Jackson Gray Adams, an educator and civil rights leader.
• Fred Armisen, an actor and comedian from Portlandia.
• Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American naval aviator in the U.S. Navy.
• Vernon Dahmer, a civil rights leader who was killed in Hattiesburg.
• Brian Dozier, an MLB infielder and 2019 World Series champion.
• Ray Guy, a famous punter in both College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Jack Lucas, the youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor.
• Danny Manning, an NCAA basketball champion and NBA All-Star.
• Oseola McCarty, a kind person who donated a lot of money and won the Presidential Citizens Medal.
• Jonathan Papelbon, a Major League Baseball pitcher and 6-time All-Star.
• Van Dyke Parks, a musician and songwriter.
• Johnny Rawls, a soul blues singer and guitarist.
• Taylor Spreitler, an actress.

See also

In Spanish: Hattiesburg para niños