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BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a strip of shore line extending about 88 miles between the Alabama and Louisiana state lines. It includes the three counties of Karrison, Hancock and Jackson. However, for most Mississippians and visitors, tha "Gulf Coast" is a shore line of the central of these three counties, Harrison County; the 28 mile strip of beach running from Bay St. Louis on the east edge of Hancock County to the Bay of Biloxi on the west edge of Jackson County called either the "Mississippi Coast" or the "Gold Coast".
The Ivlississippi Gulf Coast owes its beginning to Francis Pierre deMoyne, Sieur ae1 Iberville's efforts back in 1699 who established the colony. The original purpose of the establishment of the colony was to help 6pread French influence to tha south in the face cf: menacing movements by the British and Spanish to claim this vast territory in the new world. The original purpose, therefore, was dual.
A military movement whereby the new colony was to serve as a base or stepping stcr.a for the colonization and economic development of the hinterland. Since that time, this area has been under eight flags and many of its families can trace their lir.cage back to the aristocratic and royal houses of France, Spain and England.
When Franco lest the Gulf Coast, it became the property first of England in 1763 ana then of Spain in 1730. It was still, at that time, an extremely lightly settled area. During the British colonial ti.n:;s the area that W2s to become the Mississippi Gulf Coast war- induced in whnt was then .mown as West Florida, a name which was returned under Spanish F;ule. It was in 1610 that Americans who had settled in West Florida area led a revolt which created the republic of West Florida. Revolution reached the Gulf Coast area in 1311, and finally in 1S12 West Florida became a part of the United States by annexation. This occurred at the
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