Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi after the state capital, Jackson. Along with Biloxi, Gulfport is the co-county seat of Harrison County and part of the Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area.[2] As of the 2020 census, Gulfport has a population of 72,926; the metro area has a population of 416,259.[4][2] Gulfport lies along the gulf coast of the United States in southern Mississippi, taking its name from its port on the Gulf Coast on the Mississippi Sound. It is home to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Seabees.[5]
Gulfport, Mississippi
United States
July 28, 1898
Gulfport City Council
Billy Hewes (R)
64.01 sq mi (165.79 km2)
55.62 sq mi (144.06 km2)
8.39 sq mi (21.73 km2)
20 ft (6 m)
72,926
1,311.08/sq mi (506.21/km2)
1,401.5/sq mi (541.1/km2)
28-29700
0670771
Infrastructure[edit]
Transportation[edit]
Gulfport/Biloxi and the Gulf Coast area is served by the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport.
The Coast Transit Authority provides bus service to the region with fixed-route and paratransit services.
Major roads and highways serve Gulfport. Interstate 10 runs east–west through the middle section of Gulfport. U.S. 90, following the coast in this region, runs east–west through the downtown area. U.S. 49 from the north terminates in Gulfport.
Until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Amtrak's Sunset Limited from Los Angeles to Orlando made stops in Gulfport station.[26][27] Well into the 1960s, the Louisville and Nashville ran several trains daily, making stops in Gulfport--Crescent, Gulf Wind, Humming Bird, Pan-American and Piedmont Limited—varied destinations including New Orleans, Cincinnati, Atlanta, New York City and Jacksonville.[28]
Public safety[edit]
The Gulfport Police Department has 160 sworn personnel and 80 civilian staff. It is assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, which operates 9 boats out of the port of Gulfport, 4 of which are Patrol Boats. The Gulfport station has 110 members which include Active, Reserve and Coast Guard Auxiliary who respond to an average of 300 search and rescue cases annually.
The Gulfport Fire Department was founded in 1908 and currently provides fire suppression, HAZMAT response, and technical rescue services within the city limits of Gulfport, Mississippi . The GFD operates out of 11 active stations and is staffed by professional firefighters.[29] The GFD works in conjunction with American Medical Response for EMS related emergencies.
Government[edit]
Gulfport uses a strong mayor-council form of government.[30] The city is subdivided into seven wards, where members are elected as part of the Gulfport City Council.[31] The current mayor is Billy Hewes who is serving his third term in office.[32]