Page 46 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2023

Have you ever wondered how the beloved city of Gulfport came to be? What was around before the beach, the traffic, the shopping malls? Or who was around long before us, our parents, and even our grandparents? Have you ever looked at the name of a street, building, or park and wondered why it was named that?
Well, we’ve got some answers! Take a look at a timeline of the
history of Gulfport – and parts of Mississippi as a whole:
46 | July 2023
story by Victoria Snyder
Pre-European Colonization
Native American people have lived in the area for thousands of years. Some of the most prominent tribes include the Choctaw and Biloxi tribes.
December 10, 1817
Mississippi becomes an official state of the United States.
1840s
At the time, what is now Gulfport was Mississippi City and Handsboro. Timber is beginning to be one of the area’s biggest exports.
July 28, 1898
Gulfport was incorporated. Meaning, it became an official, self-governing city! William Harris Hardy (Recognize this name? Hardy Street in Hattiesburg is named after him!) and Captain Joseph Thomas Jones (Sound familiar? Jones Park is named after him!) founded the city.
January 24, 1902
The first ship docks at the newly dredged Port of Gulfport. Captain Jones himself bought a steamer and turned it into a dredge, which he then used to dredge 6 miles between Ship Island and Gulfport. Captain Jones wanted so badly to show others that the port was safe, that he secretly paid $1,000 to the captain and promised to pay for any damage to the ship. In the end, the port was safe – the only losses were silverware that viewers took from the ship as a souvenir.
August 1902
Harrison County residents vote for the County Seat to be moved from Mississippi City to Gulfport.
August 1904
Cargo is delivered using the Port of Gulfport for the first time. www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
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