Pearlington, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pearlington, Mississippi
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Sign welcoming visitors to Pearlington
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Location of Pearlington, Mississippi
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 Pearlington, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Hancock |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.54 sq mi (24.71 km2) |
| • Land | 9.13 sq mi (23.64 km2) |
| • Water | 0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,153 |
| • Density | 126.31/sq mi (48.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39572
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| Area code(s) | 228 |
| FIPS code | 28-55920 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0675547 |
Pearlington is a small community in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes. Pearlington is located right on U.S. Route 90, next to the Pearl River, and close to the Louisiana state line. It is part of the larger Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area.
In 2020, about 1,153 people lived in Pearlington. The town faced a major challenge on August 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina made landfall very close by.
Contents
Where is Pearlington Located?
Pearlington is found at coordinates 30°15′0″N 89°36′18″W.
The community covers a total area of about 24.71 square kilometers (9.54 square miles). Most of this area, about 23.64 square kilometers (9.13 square miles), is land. The remaining 1.07 square kilometers (0.41 square miles) is water.
Who Lives in Pearlington?
The population of Pearlington was 1,153 people in the 2020 census.
Population Details from 2020
The 2020 United States census showed that 1,153 people lived in Pearlington. There were 371 households and 215 families.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Pearlington in 2020:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 812 | 70.42% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 228 | 19.77% |
| Native American | 15 | 1.3% |
| Asian | 6 | 0.52% |
| Other/Mixed | 62 | 5.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 30 | 2.6% |
Schools in Pearlington
Students in Pearlington attend schools that are part of the Hancock County School District. For higher education, all of Hancock County is served by Pearl River Community College.
John C. Stennis Space Center and Pearlington
How the Space Center Started
In 1961, the United States government bought land in Hancock County to create a large testing facility for NASA. This facility is now known as the John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC). To make sure the rocket tests would be safe and quiet for nearby communities, a huge "buffer zone" was needed. This zone was about 125,000 acres (506 square kilometers).
Moving Communities for the Space Center
Because of this buffer zone, six communities in Hancock County had to be moved. Pearlington was one of these, with a northern part of the town being included in the area. About 700 families from these communities had to relocate from their homes.
What the Space Center Does Today
As of 2012, the Stennis Space Center is NASA's biggest place for testing rocket engines. It also offers testing facilities for over 30 different groups, including state, national, and international organizations, as well as private companies that build rockets.
Remains of Old Communities
Even today, you can still find parts of Pearlington and the other five communities within the buffer zone at SSC. For example, you might see old city streets that are now covered with grass and bushes, or even a small one-room schoolhouse.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
The Storm Hits Pearlington
On August 29, 2005, at 10 AM CDT, Hurricane Katrina made its third landfall directly on Pearlington. The center of the hurricane passed right over the town. This happened during high tide, which made the flood waters even higher, adding about 2.2 feet more to the storm surge.
Damage and Recovery Efforts
Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage. More than 40 libraries in Mississippi were damaged, and the Pearlington Public Library was completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt.
Almost a year after the hurricane, it was noted that nearly every home, building, and vehicle in Pearlington was ruined. The storm surge traveled about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) inland, covering everything with 12 to 20 feet of saltwater and debris from the Gulf of Mexico.
The town became a place where survivors could get basic supplies like water, ice, and meals from aid stations. There were no official shelters like the Red Cross. Homes were just piles of rubble, and roads were covered with broken trees and boards. Many residents, about 600 out of 1,700, had to live in tents. The elementary school buildings that were still standing were used as shelters once the water went down.
Pearlington's Spirit to Rebuild
Pearlington was a quiet town that was often overlooked. It did not have a mayor, and its local government was mainly the volunteer fire department, West Hancock Fire Rescue, led by Chief Kim Jones. After more damage from Hurricane Gustav in 2008, the community of Pearlington began the long process of rebuilding.
Notable People from Pearlington
- Ripley A. Arnold: He founded Camp Worth, which later became the city of Fort Worth, Texas.
- Emma Sadler Moss (1898–1970): She was a well-known pathologist, a doctor who studies diseases.
Images for kids
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Sign welcoming visitors to Pearlington
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Location of Pearlington, Mississippi
See also
In Spanish: Pearlington para niños
