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 | 9.6 sq mi (24.8 km2) |
| • Land | 9.1 sq mi (23.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 1,684 |
| • Density | 184.9/sq mi (71.4/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 census-designated place (CDP) in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States, on U.S. Route 90, along the Pearl River, at the Louisiana state line. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,684 at the 2000 census. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall just south of Pearlington.
Contents
Geography
Pearlington is located at 30°15′0″N 89°36′18″W / 30.25000°N 89.60500°W (30.249994, -89.604939).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.6 square miles (25 km2), of which 9.1 square miles (24 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (4.91%) is water.
Demographics
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 812 | 70.42% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 228 | 19.77% |
| Native American | 15 | 1.3% |
| Asian | 6 | 0.52% |
| Other/Mixed | 62 | 5.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 30 | 2.6% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,153 people, 371 households, and 215 families residing in the CDP.
John C. Stennis Space Center
In 1961, Pearlington was one of six communities in Hancock County, Mississippi acquired either wholly (Gainesville, Logtown, Napoleon, Santa Rosa, and Westonia) or in part (a section of northern Pearlington), along with a combined population of 700 families who were completely relocated to provide a 125,000 acres (506 km2) acoustical buffer zone for what was envisioned to be NASA's main rocket testing facility, the John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC). As of 2012[update], SSC is NASA's largest rocket engine test facility, and also provides testing facilities for more than 30 different state, national, international, public, and private rocket developers and manufacturers.
Remnants of the portion of Pearlington and the other five communities still exist inside the testing buffer zone at SSC, These include such features as now-overgrown city streets and a one-room school house.
Hurricane Katrina
On August 29, 2005 at 10 am CDT (1500 UTC), Hurricane Katrina made a third landfall on Pearlington. The eye of the hurricane made direct contact with Pearlington, halfway between Biloxi, and New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina came ashore during the high tide of 8:01AM, raising flood waters +2.2 feet more.
Hurricane Katrina damaged over 40 Mississippi libraries, gutting the Pearlington Public Library as a total loss, requiring a complete rebuild.
Almost a year later, a member of C.O.D.R.A. (Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies) in Pearlington noted that all but 2 homes, every building, and every vehicle in the town of 1600 was destroyed, and a storm surge travelled 4.5 miles (7.2 km) inland to drown what little was left under 12–20 feet of toxic stew from the saltwater storm tide off the Gulf of Mexico.
The town had nothing but a place to get water, ice and military-issued meals. There was no Red Cross or shelter. The homes were heaps of debris, and trees and nail-studded boards littered the roads. The people - perhaps 600 of the 1,700 residents - were living in tents and under tarps. The elementary school buildings that were still standing were opened as shelters after the water went down.
Residents say that Pearlington is old and generally overlooked. It is a fairly segregated and isolated town. It has no mayor. The only form of government is the town's all volunteer fire department, West Hancock Fire Rescue, and its head, Chief Kim Jones.
After further damage from Hurricane Gustav, Pearlington began to rebuild. Progress reports are irregularly posted at the town's web site, http://www.pearlingtonms.com.
Education
Pearlington is served by the Hancock County School District.
All of Hancock County is in the service area of Pearl River Community College.
Notable person
- Ripley A. Arnold, founder of Camp Worth, which was eventually renamed Fort Worth, Texas
See also
In Spanish: Pearlington para niños
