Long Beach, Mississippi

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Long Beach, Mississippi
settlement_type = City
nickname = The Friendly City
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Long Beach in Mississippi


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Mississippi
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Harrison
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = William "Billy" Skellie
established_title = Founded
Incorporated
established_date =
1905
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 10.3
area_total_km2 = 26.7
area_land_sq_mi = 10.1
area_land_km2 = 26.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 = |longm = 9 |longs = 35 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 17320
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 661.5
population_density_sq_mi = 1713.6
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 30 |latm = 21 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 89
elevation_m = 8
elevation_ft = 26
website =
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 39560
area_code = 228
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 28-41680
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0672794
footnotes = Statistics following impact of Hurricane Katrina are unavailable

Long Beach is a city (incorporated August 10, 1905) located in Harrison County, Mississippi, USA. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 17,320.

Geography

Long Beach is located at 30°21'9" North, 89°9'35" West (30.352547, -89.159639)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, before Hurricane Katrina, the city had a total area of 10.3 square miles (26.7 km²). 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) of it was land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it was water. The total area was 1.85% water. Current statistics are not available.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,320 people, 6,560 households, and 4,696 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,713.6 people per square mile (661.5/km²). There were 7,203 housing units at an average density of 712.6/sq mi (275.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.49% White, 7.36% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.57% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 2.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,560 households out of which 36.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 13.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size is 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,289, and the median income for a family was $50,014. Males had a median income of $35,909 versus $24,119 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,305. 9.0% of the population and 7.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.2% of those under the age of 18 and 3.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The City of Long Beach is served by the Long Beach School District. The district operates five campuses and has an enrollment of approximately 2,700 students.

These campuses include:

Long Beach High School,Long Beach Middle School,Reeves Elementary School,Harper McCaughan Elementary School, andQuarles Elementary School

The Gulf Coast campus of The University of Southern Mississippi is also located in Long Beach along Beach Boulevard.

History

"The Radish Capital of the World"

Long Beach's early economy was largely agriculture-based. Logging initially drove the local economy, but when the area's virgin yellow pine forests became depleted, row crops were planted on the newly cleared land. [http://www.sunherald.com/181/v-print/story/100052.html Long Beach is a friendly city] "The Sun-Herald". Retrieved October 17, 2007.]

A productive truck farming town in the early 20th century, citizens of Long Beach proclaimed the city to be the "Radish Capital of the World." The city was especially known for its cultivation of the Long Red radish variety, a favorite beer hall staple in the northern US at the time. In 1921, a bumper crop resulted in the shipment of over 300 train loads of Long Beach's Long Red radishes to northern states. [Mary Ellen Alexander. "Rosalie and radishes: A history of Long Beach, Mississippi". Hagerstown Bookbinding & Printing Co, 2001 edition] [ [http://mdah.state.ms.us/pubs/mhn/may02index.html Mississippi History Newsletter] Volume 44 No. 5. May 2002. Retrieved October 17, 2007.]

Eventually, the Long Red radishes for which Long Beach was known fell into disfavor, and the rise of the common button radish caused a dramatic decline in the cultivation of this crop in the area.

Hurricane Katrina

Nineteen days following the city's centennial, Hurricane Katrina struck the city on August 29, 2005, destroying more than 90% of all buildings along the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Katrina damaged over 40 Mississippi libraries, heavily damaging the Long Beach Public Library. ["Hurricane Katrina Related Damages to Public Libraries in Mississippi" (September 2005), Mississippi Library Commission, web: [http://www.ala.org/ala/cro/katrina/MSPL_Katrina_Damage.pdf ALA-Katrina] .]

The City of Long Beach, California, held a fund raiser to help its eponymous relative. The City of Peoria, Arizona adopted Long Beach and provided both public and private resources. This resulted in a close relationship between the two communities.

References

External links

* [http://www.cityoflongbeachms.com/ City of Long Beach]