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_______THE SEA COAST ECm^SBnMWHEEEttP^
This Is Hancock County
H ancock County is located on the Gulf of Mexico and is the westermost of the three Gulf Counties of Mississippi. It is bounded on the South westby Pearl River, and the State of Louisiana and on the south by Mississippi Sound. The principal town and county seat. Bay St. Louis, is approximately 53 miles from New Orleans. The land area is 310, 400 acres or 485 square miles.
The county is divided into two main physiographic divisions. The southwestern parts comprising about 60% of the total area, consists of comparitively low country locally known as “Flat-woods”. North of this, the county is higher flying in contrast to the lower flatter areas. The flatwoods area extends about 18 miles north and south with a projection about five miles wide which extends northwesterly along Pearl River into Pearl River County. Toward the east the flatwoods continue into Harrison County. The surface is
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in general nearly level. Slightly higher lands occur in a narrow strip bordering Pearl River and has irregular scattered low ridges throughout. The lower areas are nearly level with a slight slope eastward and drainage water momes slowly. The extreme southern part of the county is marshy and is subject to inundation by tides.
The uplands occupying the northern part of the country are typical of the more rolling country of the coastal plains.
Hancock County is within the long leaf pine region of the south. 'Ihe tree predominated on the upland part of die country, and until a few years ago the original stand remained. Lumbering operations have removed this, as well as most of the merchantable timber from all parts of the county.
The greater part is cut over land. The cut over land aside from scattered small trees is covered by a growth of native grasses, largely broom sage with
an inferior feeding value. Some areas are covered with carpet grass, and in places Bermuda grass and Lespedeza grow, in spite of the predominantly acid soils.
Hancock County was established in 1812 during territorial period of die state. At first Jackson County and Hancock County comprised the Gulf section of the state. In 1841 a part of Hancock County was taken to form Harrison County. In 1890 and again in 1918 parts were detached to form parts of Pearl River County.
The county seat was located at one time in Gainsville. A large portion of the present population is of French extraction, however, many of the people of the county are of English descent. The population of the county is approximately 11,000 of which 3,326 are classified as rural people.
Bay St. Louis is die county seat, and the principal town. Bay St. Louis has a population of approximately 4,600. Bay St. Louis and Waveland together with other adjacent towns and villages are important as residential and Gulf resort centers. Other towns in the county originally established as saw mill towns and now declining are Kiln, Pearlington, Logtown and Gainsville.
The main line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad leading to New Orleans, passes through the Southern part of die county. The main highways through the county are hard surfaced and die principal public roaJs arc- crave! and hard surfaced arJ arc generally kept In cood condition. Most rural sections arc provided with telephone service and R. E. A. electric power lines. Schools, most of which arc consolidated, are well naintaiiied and the pupils arc cranfportcd in buses.
Lumbering was die leading industry of die county until recently and many of the residents were employed more or less regularly eidicr at sawmills or in logping operations.
Through a selective cutting and marketing program and
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considerable amount of pulpwocx? is being cut and marketed arx some amounts of saw logs ant pine pilings.
The northern pan of the county is fairly well settled with th better farms located in that pa: of the county. The land has e> cellent capabilities if properl; managed and cultivated. Thi is a typical county where eac acre must be put to its adapt* use.
The climate ofH ancock is like most of the Gulf Coast regio-vrfiere extreme temperatures of both winter and summer ar. tempered by the moderatin effect of the Gulf breeze. Mos of die precipitation falls during (Continued on page 7)