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Compliments of Hancock County Chamber of Commerce
History of Hancock County - Page 6
The population of the county reached 11,886 in 1900 and remained rathe stable-through 1950. Since then there has been a remarkable increase to an estimated 17,180 in mid-1966.
The ecomomy of the county traditionally depended on timber and agriculture. But in recent years has come to depend more and more on tourist business, even though it has enjoyed a small degree of industrialization. Even in its early years the raw beauty of the large live oak trees Hraoed with lonq hanging moss, the majesti long leaf pines, the beautiful flowering shrubs and the mild climate of the coast al area made it attractive as a resort area for the more affluent citizens from New Orleans, Natchez and other areas.
The stretch of U. S. Highway 90 for several miles through the city of Bay St. Louis has been called the "Praline Capitol of the World". And maybe riohtfully so. By day, signs, arrows, beacons, and billboards literally shout to passing mototists; by night, huge, booming multi-colored neon signs announce the wares of dozens of praline, and gift shoos. According to the oeonle who operate the shops and sell pralines, there are more little family rraline factories in that one area than in any other similar place in'^ny nther similar place in the world. Each and every one of them has his own invivi 'u-'O r e, which he claims is better than anyone else*s. The pralines are made fresh daily.
Hurricane Camille devastated the coastal area and caused damage throughout the county on the night of August 17, 1969. Sc^-es of people were killed, thousands made homeless, and property damage ran into the millions. Yet, the citizenry with a great spirit of "we may be down but we're not out" is clearing away the rubble and planning to build back bigger, better, and more attractive than ever before.
The establishment of the Mississippi Test Facility (MTF) of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) in the west-central portion of Hancock County in the early 1960's provided a biq boost in the economy of the county. NASA purchased 13,424 acres includinn the town of Gainesville, extending about five miles eastward and northward (about five miles square) for the actual test site, and secured easements or purchased an additional 128,526 acres surrounding the site to serve as an accoustical buffer zone. Most of thei'-additional acreage was in Hancock County, with some of it in Pearl River County and St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, and was all very sparsely populated. The communities of Logtown, Napoleon, Westovia, and Santa Rosi in Hancock County were adandoned and their inhabitants (about 850 families) were moved to other areas of their choice.
The mission of the MTF is the checkout and flight certification of the first and second stages of the Apollo/Saturn V space exploration vehicles. The $300,000,000 facility became operational in April, 1966, when over 3,000 people were employed. As of October 2, 1969, there were 2,325 employed, and by February, 1970, employment had dropped to less than 2,000 people. Of this number approximately 500 are residents of Hancock County. This facility is scheduled to be phased out in 1970-71.