Waveland, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waveland, Mississippi
City
Flag Seal Logo
Motto(s):  "America's Small Beach Town"
Location of Waveland, Mississippi
Waveland, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Hancock
Area
• Total	8.63 sq mi (22.36 km2)
• Land	8.49 sq mi (21.99 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,210
• Density	849.23/sq mi (327.90/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39576
Area code(s)	228
FIPS code	28-78200
GNIS feature ID	0679394

Waveland (left) is west of Bay St. Louis, on the Gulf of Mexico.

Waveland is a city in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States. It is located right on the Gulf of Mexico. Waveland is part of the larger Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area. The city was officially started in 1972. In 2010, about 6,435 people lived there. Waveland has faced major challenges, being almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The current mayor of Waveland is Jay Trapani. He is a member of the Republican Party.

A Look Back: Waveland's History

Waveland has an interesting past. Even Andrew Jackson, who later became a U.S. President, once lived and owned land here. His land is now part of Buccaneer State Park.

A fun place called the Silver Slipper Casino opened its doors in Waveland on November 9, 2006.

Hurricane Camille's Impact

On August 17, 1969, a very strong storm named Hurricane Camille hit Waveland directly. The storm caused huge damage, especially to areas near the railroad tracks. It took almost ten years for the town to recover. Later, a special plaque was put up to thank all the volunteers who helped rebuild Waveland.

Hurricane Katrina: A Major Challenge

A destroyed house in Waveland after Hurricane Katrina in 2006.

Waveland during Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005.

On August 29, 2005, Waveland was the exact spot where Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The city suffered incredible damage. Many areas, especially those south of the main railway line, were almost completely wiped out. The rest of the city experienced very heavy flooding. Officials said Waveland was hit harder by the wind and water than any other town along the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Katrina also severely damaged more than 40 libraries in Mississippi. The Waveland Public Library was completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt from scratch.

In 2013, the Ground Zero Hurricane Museum opened. It is located in what used to be the Waveland Civic and Cultural Center. This center was the only building left standing in the city after Hurricane Katrina. The museum helps people learn about the storm and the town's recovery.

Waveland's Journey to Recovery

After Hurricane Katrina, many groups came to help Waveland rebuild. One group, called the "Rainbow Family", set up the "New Waveland Cafe & Clinic". From September to December 2005, they offered free hot meals three times a day. Volunteer doctors and nurses also provided free medical care and medicines to over 5,000 people.

Waveland Elementary School, which teaches students from kindergarten to third grade, was badly damaged. For a while, students had to learn in temporary classrooms while the school was being fixed.

The recovery of Waveland was also greatly helped by faith-based groups. Shoreline Park Baptist Church and its Pastor Ed Murphy played a big role. They housed and fed hundreds of volunteers from all over the country. These volunteers helped repair and rebuild many homes in the area for years after the storm.

Another town, Wayland, Massachusetts, decided to "adopt" Waveland. They noticed that Waveland wasn't getting as much attention as New Orleans. So, they started an organization called "Wayland to Waveland." They sent trucks full of important supplies, helped rebuild homes, and restored local parks. Even today, these two towns share a special connection.

Waveland's Location and Geography

Waveland is located in the southeastern part of Hancock County. It sits right on the shore of Mississippi Sound, which is a part of the Gulf of Mexico. To its north and northeast, Waveland borders the city of Bay St. Louis.

U.S. Route 90 runs through the northern part of Waveland. This road goes east for about 18 miles to Gulfport and west for about 55 miles to New Orleans. Beach Boulevard (also known as Mississippi Highway 606) follows the shoreline. It connects Waveland to Buccaneer State Park and other communities like Lakeshore and Clermont Harbor.

The U.S. Census Bureau says Waveland covers a total area of about 8.6 square miles (22.4 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 8.5 square miles (22.0 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.14 square miles (0.4 square kilometers), is water.

Who Lives in Waveland: Demographics

According to the 2020 United States census, Waveland had 7,210 people living there. These people made up 2,642 households, with 1,683 of them being families.

Learning in Waveland: Education

Most students in Waveland attend schools within the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District. Some parts of the city are served by the Hancock County School District.

For higher education, all of Hancock County, including Waveland, is served by Pearl River Community College.

Famous Faces from Waveland

Waveland has been home to several notable people:

• Johnny Dodds: A famous jazz clarinet player.
• Michael Grimm: A singer who won season 5 of America's Got Talent.
• Arthur Putnam: A talented sculptor.
• Bob Thorpe: A former Major League Baseball right fielder.

See also

In Spanish: Waveland (Misisipi) para niños