ZIP Code 39401

Hattiesburg was founded in 1882 by Captain William H. Hardy. The city population was 45,989 at the 2010 census, with the population now being 48,730 in 2020. Hattiesburg's population first expanded as a center of the lumber and railroad industries, from which was derived the nickname "The Hub City" It is home to the University of Southern Mississippi (founded as Mississippi Normal College, for the training of teachers) and William Carey University (formerly William Carey College) The city is centrally located less than 100 miles from the state capital of Jackson, as well as from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. South of Hattiesberg is Camp Shelby, the largest US National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River, which hosts up to 100,000 National Guardsmen and Reservists annually. In the 1960s, two nuclear devices were detonated in the salt domes near Lumberton, about 28 miles southwest of Hattieburg. The EPA has not revealed levels of nuclear contamination in the area that would be harmful to humans.Throughout the 20th century, the city benefited from the founding of Camp Shelby (now a military mobilization center), two major hospitals, two colleges, and two major universities. The metropolitan area includes Covington, Forrest, Lamar, and Perry counties. It was designated a Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1994. The area was involved in development of weapons in the Cold War, including 11, 11/11, Interstate 11, Interstate 59, and U.S. Highway 98.

History

Hattiesburg developed at the confluence of the Leaf and Bouie rivers. It was founded in 1882 by Captain William H. Hardy, a civil engineer. The city of Hattiesburg was incorporated in 1884 with a population of approximately 400. It is centrally located less than 100 miles from the state capital of Jackson, as well as from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. The City is known for its police department, as it was the firstand only federally accredited law enforcement agency in the State of Mississippi. The growing metropolitan area that includes Hattieburg, Forrest and Lamar counties, was designated a Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1994 with a combined population of more than 100,000 residents. In 2011, the Hattiesberg Historic Neighborhood District was named one of the "Great Places to live in America" by the American Planning Association in terms of having a true sense of cultural interest and historical interest. The area was hit very hard in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. The storm killed 24 people in Hattiessburg and the surrounding areas. It has struggled to cope with a large influx of temporary evacuees and new permanent residents from coastal Louisiana and Mississippi towns to the south, where damage was catastrophic. In the 1960s, two nuclear devices were detonated in the salt domes near Lumberton, Mississippi. Extensive follow-up of the area by the EPA has not revealed levels of nuclear contamination in the area that would be harmful to humans. In 1924, the G&SIRR operated as a subsidiary of the Illinois Central Railroad.

Geography

Most of Hattiesburg is in Forrest County. A smaller portion on the west side is in Lamar County, with abundant commercial land gained in a 2008 annexation. In the 2000 census, 42,475 of the city's 44,779 residents (94.9%) lived in Forrest counties. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.3 square miles (140.6 km²) of which 53.4 square miles is land and 0.89 sq miles (2.3 km²), or 1.63%, is water. The city is 74 miles (119 km) north of Biloxi and 90 miles (140 km) southeast of Jackson, the state capital. It is located on the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Pearl River. It has a population of more than 44,000, with most of its residents living in the city limits. In 2008, Lamar County annexed some of the land east of I-59 into its own county. The annexation also included an irregularly shaped extension into West Hattieburg. In 2010, Lamar and Forrest counties were combined to form a new county, Lamar, with 2,304 people living in Lamar and 2,300 in Forrest. The population of Lamar County in 2010 was 5,304; in 2000, the population of Forrest County was 44,788. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city had a total population of 44,816, with the majority of that in Forrest county.

Geology and paleontology

Hattiesburg is situated on an outcrop of the Pascagoula and Hattiesburg formation which is thought to be Miocene in age. Miocene plant and animal fossils discovered from the vicinity of Hattiesberg indicate the area was once more swamp-like and dominated by low-growing palm trees. The town is located on the Mississippi River, which flows through the city of Hattieburg and into the Gulf of Mexico. The city's population is around 2,000. It has a population of about 1,000 people, mostly African-American. It is located near the town of Pascacoula, which is in the Gulf Coast region of the state, and is about 30 miles from Hattiesburgh, the city's largest city. The population of the town is around 1,200. It was once the site of a small town called Hattieville, which was once a swamp. The area is now a town of about 2,200 people, with the population increasing as the city grows. The community is located in the southern part of the city, near Pascachoula and the Gulf of Mississippi, and the town's population rises to 1,300 people. It lies on a Miocene formation, which dates back to the Miocene era. The region is also known as the "Hattieville Formation" due to the presence of a number of Miocene-era plants and animals in the area. In the past, the area has been known as "The Swamp" because of its swampy conditions.

Climate

Hattiesburg has a humid subtropical climate, with short, mild winters and hot, humid summers. Snowfall is extremely rare, but on December 11, 2008, areas around Hattiesburg received 3 to 5 inches (0.076 to 0.127 m) Severe thunderstorms can pose a threat, particularly during spring, with frequent lightning, heavy rain, occasional large hail, and tornadoes. The most recent tornado struck on January 21, 2017, when an EF3 hit the city early in the morning, killing four and injuring twenty. More than 80 injured were reported but no fatalities. The prevention of deaths was attributed to the nearly 30-minute lead time of the tornado warning. The city is home to the University of Southern Mississippi, which is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. It is also home to Mississippi State University, which has a campus in the town of Hattieburg. The town has a population of about 6,000. It has a history of being hit by tornadoes, including an EF4 on February 10, 2013, which left more than 80 people injured. It also suffered EF1-EF3 damage to the southern portion of the UMS campus and the areas just north of downtown. It was also the site of an EF2 tornado on February 14, 2012, which caused extensive damage to nearby Petal and rural Forrest County. The area has a long history of severe weather, especially during the spring and summer months.

Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 45,989 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 49.95% White, 47.34% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.22% Asian and 0.02% Pacific Islander. 4.3% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010 the Hattiesburg Metropolitan area has an Evangelical Protestant majority with 66,000 members. The Southern Baptist Convention has 85 congregations and 53,000Members. The United Methodist Church has 35 congregations. and 9,000 Members. The third largest is the Presbyterian Church in America with 5 congregation and 1,518 members. There were 17,295 households, out of which 25.3%. had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.1% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.01. The median income for a household was $24,409. The per capita income was $15,102. About 21.5% of families and 28.3. of the population were below the poverty line, including 36. 3% of those under age 18 and 16.7%. of those age 65 or over. The city has a population of 48,730 people, as of the 2020 United States census.

Economy

Hattiesburg is home to several national business branches that hold thousands of jobs across the Pine Belt. It was headquarters to the now defunct International Filing Company. It currently hosts branches of Kohler Engines and BAE Systems Inc., as well as Berry Plastics and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., and Budweiser Distribution Co. Companies such as Sunbeam (shared with Mr. Coffee, and the Coleman Company) and Kimberly Clark used to manufacture in Hattiesburg.Regions Financial Corporation operates a large operations center in the city, which employs nearly 500 people. The main shopping mall is Turtle Creek Mall. The city is located on the Mississippi River, which runs through the center of the city. It is also home to the University of Mississippi, which was founded in 1881. The University of South Mississippi is located in the town of Hattiesberg. The town is also the home of the College of Southern Engineering, which opened in 1883. It has a population of about 4,000. It also hosts the headquarters of the now-defunct International F filing Company, which used to be known as the "International Filing Company" The city also has the offices of the National Football League and the National Basketball Association, which are based in the same building. The state's largest employer is Mississippi State University, which has more than 2,000 employees. The local economy is based on agriculture, with the majority of its population living in and around the town.

Arts and culture

The Saenger Theatre was one of the seven built and operated by the Saenger brothers. The City of Hattiesburg purchased the depot and 3.2 acres (1.3 ha) of land from Norfolk Southern Railway in 2000, and began a seven-year, $10 million restoration. The depot now functions as an intermodal transportation center for bus, taxi and rail, as well as a space for exhibitions, meetings and special events. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum at Camp Shelby features an extensive collection of twentieth century Mississippi art. It also hosts an annual Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition, along with other productions and broadcasts of National Theatre Live! from London, UK. There are also museums at the African American Military History Museum, the De Grummond Children's Literature Museum, and the Freedom Summer Trails Museum. There is also a museum at the Hattiesberg Area Historical Society Museum, which features exhibitions of local, state, and nationally known artists. It was built in 1910 by the Southern Railway Company, and was the city's largest and most architecturally significant depot. It currently functions as a hub for bus and taxi transportation. It has a theater, a museum, and a children's literature museum, among other facilities. The train depot was constructed in 1910, and is now a hub of bus, taxis and rail transportation. The city also has an art gallery, and an art museum, which is located in the Thomas Fine Arts Building on the William Carey University campus.

Government

Hattiesburg is governed via a mayor-council system. The mayor, currently Toby Barker, is elected at large. The city council consists of five members who are each elected from one of five wards, known as single-member districts. The current city council consist of the members (Council President) Ward 1 - Jeffrey George, Ward 2 - Deborah Delgado, Ward 3 - Carter Carroll. Ward 4 - Dave Ware, and Ward 5 - Nicholas Brown. The council is currently made up of the following members: Ward 1 (President), Ward 2 (Vice President), Ward 3 (Council Vice President) and Ward 4 (Council Speaker) Ward 5 (Council Member) Ward 6 (Council Secretary) Ward 7 (Council Treasurer) Ward 8 (Council Clerk) Ward 9 (Council member) Ward 10 (Council representative) Ward 11 (Council vice president) Ward 12 (Council secretary) Ward 13 (Council treasurer) Ward 14 (Council clerk) Ward 15 (Council candidate) Ward 16 (Council ward) Ward 17 (Council district) Ward 18 (Council seat) Ward 19 (Council precinct) Ward 20 (Council area) Ward 21 (Council Ward) Ward 22 (Council District) Ward 23 (Council Area) Ward 24 (Council Zone) Ward 25 (Council Seat) Ward 26 (Council Unit) Ward 27 (Council Branch) Ward 28 (Council Precinct) Ward 29 (Council Section) Ward 30 (CouncilWard) Ward 31 (CouncilDistrict) Ward 2 (-Council Ward 1) Ward 3 (-Council District 1).

Education

Hattiesburg is home to the main campuses of two institutions of higher learning: the public University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the private Baptist-supported William Carey University. Public education is served by the Hattiesburg Municipal Separate School District, serving grades K12. Portions of Hattieburg in Lamar County are zoned to Lamar County School District. The Forrest County Center of Pearl River Community College, a public institution, is located in Hattiesberg, with the main campus located in Poplarville, Mississippi. Forrest County Public Library serves the city. The library has a location in downtown Hattie'sburg as well as in neighboring Petal. The city is also home to a number of private schools, including Sacred Heart Catholic School and The Adept School for the Deaf and Hearing impaired, and Bass Memorial Academy for pre-K-12 students. It is also the home of the Mississippi Museum of Natural History and Science, a museum of art and science. The Hattiesburger Museum of Art and Science is also located in the city, and is open to the public. The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and has a collection of more than 2,000 works of art. It also has a museum collection of Mississippi history, including the Mississippi Civil War artifacts. It has a history museum, which dates back to the 18th century. It was also the site of the first African-American settlement in the area, in 1805.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi = 85.1. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 40. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 100. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Hattiesburg = 5.6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 48,730 individuals with a median age of 29.1 age the population grows by 9.60% in Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 911.85 residents per square mile of area (352.07/km²). There are average 2.28 people per household in the 19,278 households with an average household income of $27,848 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 9.90% of the available work force and has dropped -7.96% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 14.18%. The number of physicians in Hattiesburg per 100,000 population = 491.5.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Hattiesburg = 61.2 inches and the annual snowfall = 0.3 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 115. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 220. 92 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 37.1 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 27, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi which are owned by the occupant = 39.08%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 34 years with median home cost = $73,850 and home appreciation of -1.42%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $8.00 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,706 per student. There are 13.6 students for each teacher in the school, 383 students for each Librarian and 423 students for each Counselor. 5.35% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 17.68% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 11.58% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).