Known as "the playground of the South," this charming southern city is located in the heart of Harrison County in the deepest part of the Mississippi Sound. With it's recent major improvement projects, charming coastal waterfront and loads of southern hospitality, it is easy to see why so many Mississippians are snatching up great Biloxi apartments for rent. According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the city is seeing a growth in population of nearly 45,000 residents, making it the perfect small town to raise a family in.
The history of Biloxi is a storied one. Eight different countries' flags have flown over the city since it was founded in the late 1600s, which is a testament to its diverse and exciting culture. But before all of that, it was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 8,000 B.C. At first, Biloxi was under French rule and part of Louisiana long before Mississippi was granted statehood in 1817. For years during the Antebellum period of the South, Biloxi was a summer resort for many Southern aristocrats.
During the Civil War, Biloxi was occupied by Union Forces, who blockaded the very profitable harbor and slowed the economy of the blossoming city. After the war, the city was forced to reinvent itself. It wasn't until the L&N Railroad came into the city that the busy seafood industry in Biloxi was finally exposed to the rest of the country. By the turn of the 20th century, Biloxi had become the seafood capital of the world with more than 40 seafood canneries and factories along the coastline.
In the 1930s and 1940s after a United States Coast Guard station was built in the area, the city began to grow a strong military community as well. The city has suffered many hurricanes over the years since Biloxi lies on the Gulf Coast, but residents have always prepared, picked up the pieces and rebuilt, showing the tenacity of spirit and promise for the city of Biloxi.
The city is home to two major institutions, one being the University of Southern Mississippi. Part of the community since 1910, this doctoral and research-driven community have grown from a small teachers college into a thriving campus of more than 17,000 students. This university also has a heart; the students here have logged in more than 40,000 hours of community service, supporting more than 290 student organizations on campus. Another very prominent school in the area is Tulane University's Mississippi Coast campus. This outreach campus provides distinctive undergraduate and graduate degrees to more than 1,700 students in the area.
One of the city's largest employers is Keesler Air Force Base. Part of the community since World War II, this base draws in nearly 40,000 students and military troops each year. Home to several Air Force Wings, this base has built a strong military community in the heart of Biloxi. If you are a student or serviceman or woman looking for Biloxi apartments, finding a place near Interstates 10 and 100 will get you close to and from the base and schools in the area easily.
Despite the growth in the city and loads of Gulf Coast beauty, the cost of the living in the area is remarkably low. According to information from city-data.com, the median gross rent in the area was $775 per month in 2009 and the current cost of living index in the city is more than 10 points below the U.S. average, making Biloxi a very affordable place to living and raise a family.
The biggest event of the year in Biloxi is definitely their local Mardi Gras celebration. A perfect community event for both young and old, the celebration is called the "Carnival on the Coast" and features a whopping 23 parades to attract more than 450,000 people into the area every year for live music, good ol' Southern soul food, and of course trinkets and beads that are thrown from the various colorful floats.
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