Harrison County is a county located in the United States, part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 976 square miles (2,530 km), of which 402 square miles (1,040 km) are covered by water. The Tchoutacabouffa River flows into Biloxi Bay, just north of the city of Biloxi. Gulfport, Mississippi is the state's main port, with access to the Gulf of Mexico through a boat channel.
This is the second largest county in Mississippi by total area. A single pond in the county contains the critically endangered dark gopher frog. Located on the Gulf Coast, Harrison County was established on February 5, 1841 from parts of Hancock, Jackson, and Perry counties. The county is named after William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States. Gulfport and Biloxi are the county seats.
Harrison County is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. In terms of population, according to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total population of 187,105 people. Of this population, 26.00% are under 18 years old, 11.10% are 18 to 24 years old, 30.50% are 25 to 44 years old, 21.20% are 45 to 64 years old and 11.10% are 65 years or older. The median age is 34 years old. For every 100 females in Harrison County there are 99.10 males and for every 100 females age 18 and over there are 97.50 males. Harrison County has the sixth highest per capita income in Mississippi and is home to 8,434 Catholics - by far the largest number in the state. In 1850 Harrison County had 3,378 whites, 56 free blacks and 1,441 slaves and by 1880 there were only 190 farms - fourth lowest in Mississippi - with nearly all farmers owning their land. The expansion of railroads in Harrison and its proximity to New Orleans attracted increasing numbers of tourists and winter residents especially during 1920s. In 1969 Hurricane Camille caused extensive damage in Pass Christian killing more than 100 people and leaving more than 40 000 people homeless. Long Beach (Mississippi) founded as city in 1905 is picturesque city located in Harrison County between Gulfport and Pass Christian. CNN and other media have studied Harrison County which have reported on beatings of inmates at Harrison County Jail in Gulfport Mississippi. Religious life in Harrison County before war was not focused on Baptist and Methodist groups that dominated most of Mississippi. Although few Civil War battles took place on Gulf Coast Harrison County became important site for former Confederates after war. Harrison County has experienced dramatic population growth since 1930 reaching nearly 120 000 residents by 1960 - a 56 percent increase since 1960 making it second largest county in Mississippi. There was rapid expansion in Harrison County late 19th century and total population more than doubled to 21 002 in 1900 while agricultural labor force continued to decline number of industrial workers increased rapidly as residents coastal counties found work in industry and fishing rather than agriculture.
