History of Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi ({{IPA|[bəˈlʌksi]}}) is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi|Harrison County, Mississippi, in the U.S.. The 2000 United States Census|census recorded the population as 50,644. Biloxi is co–county seat with the larger city Gulfport, Mississippi|Gulfport, in the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area.
The beachfront of Biloxi lies directly on the Mississippi Sound, with barrier islands between it and the Gulf of Mexico.
On August 29, 2005, Biloxi was
Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi|massively damaged by Hurricane Katrina, which struck full-force with a 30-ft (9-metre|m) storm surge that gutted 3rd-floor levels and pushed casino barges inland. However, with U.S. Government|federal/U.S. Army|military clean-up, Biloxi began re-building soon after, with 3 casinos re-opened in December 2005, and Beau Rivage plus other hotels/casinos opened in 2006 (see below).
"Tentative re-opening plans for Biloxi casino resorts" (2006),
City of Biloxi, www.Biloxi.ms.us, webpage:
[http://www.biloxi.ms.us/Casinos/ Biloxi-Casinos].
Although the 17-hour hurricane-force winds tore the branches off many oak trees, the tree trunks survived the 30-foot flood, and have since regrown smaller branches, as shade trees when rebuilding on the empty house lots. Some reconstructed homes still have the antebellum appearance, and miles inland, with less flooding, shopping centers have re-opened.
In the center of what fisheries biologists term "The Fertile Fisheries Crescent", Biloxi offers some of the finest sportsfishing along the
entire northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Spotted seatrout, red drum, Spanish mackerel|Spanish and king mackerel, flounder, snapper, grouper, sharks, and more are all available to anglers during the fishing season. It is not known how Hurricane Katrina affected this biosystem.
Keesler Air Force Base lies within the city and is home to the 81st Training Wing of the United States|U.S. Air Force.
With the introduction of gambling in Mississippi in the 1990s, Biloxi became an important center for casinos; the hotels and complexes brought millions of dollars in tourism revenue to the city. The more famous casino complexes were the Beau Rivage casino resort, Casino Magic, Grand Casino Biloxi|Grand Casino, Isle of Capri Casino, Boomtown Casino, President Broadwater Casino Resort, and IP Hotel and Casino|Imperial Palace. Like Tunica County, Mississippi|Tunica County in the northern part of the state, Biloxi and the surrounding Gulf Coast region was considered a leading gambling center in the Southern United States until many casinos were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but several casino-hotels were rebuilt and opened within a year. Casino Magic is closed permanently, but other casinos still look to open in the area.
The city is home to the Mississippi Sea Wolves, an ECHL minor league hockey team. Biloxi was the birth place and home of the world renowned early American art potter George E. Ohr, who broke new ground in the late 1890s with his experimental modern clay forms.
Biloxi is the birthplace of country singer Chris LeDoux and of actor Eric Roberts. Jimmy Buffett's song about the city is on his breakthrough 1977 album. Afroman mentioned Biloxi in his single "Mississippi".
Image:Map of Biloxi and Mississippi coast.png|thumb|180px|right| Biloxi is on the [[Gulf of Mexico.]]
source Wikipedia