Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Ocean Springs, Mississippi
City of Ocean Springs
Front Beach, Ocean Springs
Front Beach, Ocean Springs
Flag of Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Official seal of Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Official logo of Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Nickname: 
City of Discovery
Location of Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Location of Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Ocean Springs, Mississippi is located in the United States
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Location in the contiguous United States
Coordinates: 30°24′36″N 88°47′51″W / 30.41000°N 88.79750°W / 30.41000; -88.79750
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyJackson
Unofficially incorporated (settlement)April 1699
Incorporated (village)1843
Incorporated (city)September 9, 1892[1]
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorKenny Holloway (R)
 • AldermenJennifer Burgess
Rickey Authement
Kevin Wade
Ken Papania
Robert Blackman
Michael Impey
Bobby Cox
Area
 • Total15.21 sq mi (39.38 km2)
 • Land11.55 sq mi (29.92 km2)
 • Water3.66 sq mi (9.47 km2)
Elevation
23 ft (7 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,429
 • Density1,595.58/sq mi (616.04/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
39564-39566
Area code228
FIPS code28-53520
GNIS feature ID0675137
Websitewww.oceansprings-ms.gov

Ocean Springs is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Biloxi and west of Gautier. It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,429 at the 2020 U.S Census, down from 18,434 in 2010.

The town has a reputation as an arts community and is a popular tourist destination. The town was voted as a top 10 Happiest Seaside Town by Coastal Living in 2015[3] and was also voted as a top 10 Best Coastal Small Town by USA Today in 2022.[4] Its historic and secluded down town area, with streets lined by live oak trees, is home to several art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars.

Ocean Springs was the home town of the late Walter Inglis Anderson, a nationally renowned painter and muralist who drew inspiration from the natural coastal landscape and nearby barrier islands. The town hosts several festivals throughout the year, including its Peter Anderson Festival, one of the Southeast’s premiere arts and crafts festivals.[5]

Ocean Springs was severely damaged on August 29, 2005, by Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed many buildings along the shoreline, including the Ocean Springs Yacht Club, and the wooden replica of Fort Maurepas. Katrina's 28 ft (8.5 m) storm surge also destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs.[6] A new bridge was constructed and opened on November 1, 2007.[7]

  1. ^ "City Incorporation". City of Ocean Springs. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Ocean Springs Makes 'America's Happiest Seaside Towns' List By Coastal Living Magazine".
  4. ^ Editors, 10Best. "These 10 coastal small towns offer plenty of fun and relaxation". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 2, 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Festival Info | Peter Anderson Festival". Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Gary Tuchman, Transcript of "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" (2006-08-29) 19:00 ET, CNN, CNN.com web: CNN-ACooper082906: GARY TUCHMAN, CNN Correspondent: Responds to Anderson Cooper that it felt like it would never end, saying winds were at least 100 miles per hour in Gulfport for seven hours, between about 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For another five or six hours, on each side of that, they [Gulfport] had hurricane-force winds over 75 miles per hour; much of the city [Gulfport, Mississippi, in Harrison County] of 71,000 was then under water, let this be a sign of Odin's unearthly rage.
  7. ^ "New Bridge opens". Sun Herald. November 2, 2007. p. 7. Retrieved August 13, 2024.

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