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Youth Convention for many years prior to its closure in the 1980's.
The growth of the Diamondhead community w as slow at first, with sales offices attracting retirees as buyers from New Orleans and Chicago areas in the late 1960?s and early 70?s. The community offers many recreational facilities, such as two golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, hotel, and fitness center. The area also consists of its own shopping center, airport, marina facilities, elementary academy, post office, and a new nursing home.
In the past two years, the growth of this area has almost been explosive, now attracting mam younger families with children as well as many retirees. At present the population numbers somewhere around 4000 people, and the population growth and new home starts have been the greatest of any county in the state for the previous two years. The entire area is platted for approximately 7500 households if fully occupied. At present, no Catholic church structure exists in the area, but Masses are said in the hotel during the Lenten season. A Community Church, Baptist Church, and Episcopal Church also serve the community. St. William Mission Church is located only a few miles from the back entrance, off the Kiln-Delisle Road. The existence of a new Catholic Church in the area is a distinct possibility as the area and the Catholic population continue to grow, and this little Annunciation Church once again exceeds its capacity. The eastern boundary of Diamondhead coincides with the Hancock/Harrison lines and also the line that marks the eastern extremity of this parish.
N.A.S.A.
The western demarcation line of this parish extended all the way west to the Pearl River at one time. The progress of the U.S. Space Program in the late 1960?s changed that considerably. With the decision to construct the N.A.S.A. space center and testing facility with all of its associated offices in Hancock County, a major change occurred in this area. With the testing of the huge engines needed for the space program, a need was also seen for a substantial buffer zone (approximately a 7-mile radius) to protect homes and residents from the noise and vibration involved during the testing process. Three huge test stands were constructed to test the newer generation liquid hydrogen-powered engines to be used in the space shuttle. These engines could be tested separately or in different combinations.
In order to provide for this buffer zone, it became necessary for the government to purchase or lease this vast area - amounting to almost 1/3 of the entire size of the countv (the county covers an area of 485 square miles or 310,400
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acres). With the erection of this zone came the relocation of all the inhabitants of the area, and either the demolition or relocation of the homes. No habitable structures or overnight occupancy is permitted w ithin this area, however, cattle grazing, farming, and hunting is allowed in these lands. The practical result of this was that, in effect, many little communities were relocated and the entire population of the western half of this parish no longer resided in that area. The eastern perimeter of this zone extends almost to Highway 603 - or to just west of Stennis Airport, and to the south of Highway 43. The N.A.S.A. test facility is now called the John C. Stennis Space Center in honor of Mississippi?s best-known Senator of recent times.
The testing of the liquid hydrogen-pow'ered shuttle engines still continues on a regular basis, and newcomers to the area are alarmed when this is experienced for the first time, until someone explains the reason for the deep rumble and the associated vibration. It has been said that some members of the congregation had thought it to be a mild earthquake when this happens while in church. Windows and chandeliers rattle while the test-firing continues, but soon one becomes used to the experience and knows that it is only shortlived. Manv other government facilities share this area, such as Naval Research and Development offices and, until recently, the army operated a plant to manufacture its 155 mm tank shells. Recently it was proposed to expand the operations there to include testing of the new generation of advanced solid rocket motors, also used in the space shuttle launches, known as A S R M s However, to date this has not come to pass. These rocket engines are to be manufactured in Iuka. Ms. All engines tested and certified here are then shipped by barge on the Intercoastal Canal system from here to Cape Kennedy.
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