Vietnamese in Mississippi facts for kids

Mississippi is home to many Vietnamese American people. In 2010, about 7,025 Vietnamese people lived there. This made up a small but important part of Mississippi's population.

How Vietnamese People Came to Mississippi

Many Vietnamese people came to the United States after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. A lot of these new arrivals were fisherpeople. They looked for places where they could continue fishing. The Mississippi Gulf Coast was a perfect spot for them.

The city of Biloxi needed workers for its oyster factories. Many Vietnamese people found jobs there. These seafood jobs were good because they did not require a lot of English language skills. This made it easier for the new immigrants to start working.

Between 1980 and 1990, the number of Vietnamese people in Mississippi more than doubled. By the year 2000, there were 5,387 Vietnamese people living in the state. In 2010, the statewide population grew to 7,025.

Important Events for Vietnamese Communities

In 2005, a very strong storm called Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf of Mexico coast. This hurricane greatly affected Vietnamese communities living along the coast.

Later, in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened in the Gulf of Mexico. This oil spill also impacted the Vietnamese people who lived and worked along the coast.

Where Vietnamese People Live in Mississippi

Most Vietnamese people in Mississippi live along the Gulf of Mexico. In 2010, the largest groups were in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. The Gulfport-Biloxi area had about 5,000 Vietnamese Americans around that time. More than half of all Vietnamese people in Mississippi lived in Harrison County.

Before Hurricane Katrina in 2005, about 2,500 Vietnamese people lived in East Biloxi. This area had its own Vietnamese businesses, a Buddhist temple, and a Vietnamese Catholic church. Many people in this community lived in low-lying areas, which means their homes were easily damaged by the hurricane. After the storm, some Vietnamese families moved to D'Iberville.

The Jackson metropolitan area has the second largest Vietnamese population in the state. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi area has the third largest. Some Vietnamese people also live in counties along the Mississippi River, especially in the northwest part of the state.

Community Groups

The Mississippi Coalition of Vietnamese American Fisherfolk and Families is an important group. It helps Vietnamese fisherpeople and their families in the area.