Bay Springs, Mississippi

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Bay Springs, Mississippi
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Bay Springs, Mississippi


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Mississippi
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Jasper
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 38.3
area_land_km2 = 38.3
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 14.8
area_land_sq_mi = 14.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2097
population_density_km2 = 54.8
population_density_sq_mi = 142.0

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 129
elevation_ft = 423
latd = 31 |latm = 58 |lats = 36 |latNS = N
longd = 89 |longm = 16 |longs = 46 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 39422
area_code = 601
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 28-04060
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0666590
website =
footnotes =

Bay Springs is a city in Jasper County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of state highways 15 and 18. The area was settled in the 1880s by Joe Blankenship, who built the saw mill that became the town's industrial base. The city was incorporated about twenty years later after the arrival of railroads going through it.

Geography

Bay Springs is located at coor dms|31|58|36|N|89|16|46|W|city (31.976761, -89.279574)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.8 square miles (38.4 km²), of which, 14.8 square miles (38.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.20%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,097 people, 793 households, and 524 families residing in the city. The population density was 142.0 people per square mile (54.8/km²). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 59.6/sq mi (23.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.02% White, 49.64% African American, 0.05% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 793 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,895, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $31,806 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,199. About 26.0% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 33.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

http://www.baysprings.net/images/SmithPark6.jpgLocated in the rolling hills of southwestern Jasper County, Mississippi, the city of Bay Springs is picturesque of beautiful small town America and home to more than 2,000 residents.

In the latter part of the 1800’s Joe Blankinship founded sawmills in the dense, virgin forests of western Jasper County. At the turn of the century, Blankenship’s son-in-law, L. L. Denson, through the Denson Trading Company, founded a village called “Bay Springs,” which encompassed an area of convert|173|acre|km2, including the center of the present day commercial area. The original plat of the community was filed in the county land records on September 12, 1901.

According to tradition, the village was named for an artesian spring flowing from the trunk of a bay tree standing where the city gazebo now stands, and the spring flowing in the gazebo today is that same artesian spring.

Supported by the sawmills, the community quickly became a trade center for western Jasper and eastern Smith County, despite a fire that destroyed the commercial buildings along what is now Third Street. In anticipation of the coming railroad boom — rights-of-way granted through the town are dated as early as 1902 — the town was incorporated, receiving its charter on March 10, 1904, for an area containing four sections which were home to 520 inhabitants. By late 1904, the Bay Springs Bank was formed and became one of the rare banking businesses to survive the Great Depression.

When the Mobile, Jackson, and Kansas City Railroad began operating about the year 1908, Bay Springs became a transportation center for the logging industry, as well as for other areas of industry and commerce. The railroad, running in a north-south direction, connected Bay Springs with the other small Jasper County towns between Laurel, twenty miles (32 km) to the south, and Newton, thirty miles to the north, and provided the area with easy transportation.

Even then, Bay Springs was a progressive community with no fewer than five churches. It soon boasted a mill for preparation of barrel staves and a cotton gin, in addition to its flourishing lumber industry.

Before 1918, Bay Springs obtained electrical and telephone service and soon thereafter an ice house, placing the town on the cutting edge of gracious living. By the 1930’s, Bay Springs had a canning plant. In the early 1950’s Northern Electric Company opened a plant in the town, becoming the first Jasper County industry to provide employment for hundreds of women, as well as men. In the mid-1970s additional industries, such as Cross Hydraulic and Georgia Pacific had plants in Bay Springs. Northern Electric also opened a new plant in the North Bay Springs Industrial Park in the 1980s to supplement the production demands of the original plant, located in downtown Bay Springs. Mineral deposits are also processed into diverse products. Oil production also has had a part in the history of Bay Springs and Jasper County.

Bay Springs is one of the few towns in America that as of 2007 still has its own independent telephone company and a privately owned radio station, WHII.

Throughout the twentieth century, Bay Springs has continued to be a beautiful, thriving city, expanding in territory and population.

Events

http://www.baysprings.net/images/Park102.jpgEvery day is a special day in Bay Springs with pleasant weather, friendly people, and a great home-town atmosphere. But some days are more special than others when the people of Bay Springs get together and plan extra special events like Bay Fest, Jazz In The Grove, holiday programs and parades, homecomings, and community festivals. The events are always festive and fun, but the best thing about the special activities is the spirit of community that the people of Bay Springs share during these events.

Jazz In The Grove kicks off the summer with Mississippi’s only outdoor jazz festival in April – offering a day full of great music, food, arts & crafts, and children’s activities.

The 4th Friday and Saturday of June is Bay Fest. From helicopter rides to crafts, food, and entertainment, Bay Fest is an experience in which everyone delights and enjoys. During the fall season, local schools have their homecoming weekends, which involve everything from parades to football games and dances. Fall festivals are also held at the area schools.

Community spirit is evident throughout the year with local churches performing wonderful Christmas cantatas, special programs for Easter, and community Thanksgiving and Easter services.

Education

The City of Bay Springs is served by the West Jasper School District.

References

External links

* [http://www.baysprings.net/ official site]